This fragrant plant will help calm you. Carry a lavender sachet with you in your car, purse or pocket and smell when needed.

Lavender is touted for its relaxing properties. You can find lavender candles, lavender bath wash, and lavender room fragrance in any grocery store. Johnson and Johnson makes a nice lavender baby wash and shampoo with lavender.

I grow lavender in my garden and harvest it once a year. The lavender buds stay fragrant for years after they are dried and harvested. I only have 2 lavender bushes so I covet the small amount I gather each season.

However, I do know where you can get your own lavender stash.

You can purchase some great lavender products from Alii Lavender Farm on Maui. http://www.aliikulalavender.com/

I recently visited the lavender farm on Maui and enjoyed the lavender scones with a cup of lavender tea. My friend Katherine and I sat on the lanai high up on the mountain and sipped the most incredible tea marveling at the view of the whole island of Maui.

I took home a bottle of lavender lemonade which was sweet and soothing. I tried the lavender water but it had a bitter taste. It smelled good though.

I also purchased a lavender plant which is beautiful and fragrant.

The lavender brownies were a pleasant mix of lavender and chocolate and had purple frosting drizzled on top. The lavender chocolate bar had that same taste that the lavender water had, which is the true lavender flavor (bitter and strong). Lavender is not sweet on its own.

I make my own lavender water by adding a teaspoon of lavender buds to a quart of boiling water. I bring it to a boil for 10 minutes then turn off the heat. I let the mixture cool and then strain out the buds. Pour the fragrant water in a spray bottle and use to spray your clothes before ironing. You can spray it on any surface that is washable to leave that lavender smell.

I spray my dog gently on his back only. He smells good and it calms him. Never get lavender in your eyes or an animal’s eyes as it burns.

I mix a teaspoon of dried lavender buds in a cup of sugar and store it in a jar in a dry place. This lavender sugar can be added to your tea or sprinkled on sugar cookies before baking.

To make your own lavender seasoned salt add 1 teaspoon of dried lavender buds to a cup of Hawaiian sea salt. This mixture makes a great gift. It can be rubbed on a turkey or chicken skin before baking. The fragrance it gives off as it is cooking is remarkable. I make a lavender turkey each Christmas holiday. You have to taste it to believe how good it is. The French cook with lavender and they sell it as a spice in France.

If you go to Maui and visit the Alii Lavender Farm tell Lani that I sent you. They will treat you as royalty in the true spirit of the Islands of Hawaii.