Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I have 40 French Lavender plants that are about 7 years old. I don't think any other variety is worth growing than the French if one's goal is fragrance and you are able to grow this variety in your climate zone. The more cold hardy varieties like Munstead are nice but nothing compares to the French lavender for fragrance. Been harvesting the lavender buds off half the plants (leaving the rest for the bees) for about the last 5 years and typically get about 5 gallons of buds. Harvesting is a long, tedious process. Cut the heads off the stems, dry them, remove the buds from the steams, and then sieve the buds through 1/4 inch and then 1/8th inch hardware mesh to remove any debris. First couple years I put all the stems on a tarp in the driveway to dry and then beat them with a broom to release the buds from the stems. Yes, my neighbors thought I was nuts. Now I roll the flower heads between my hands. Not as fast, but the "dance of the brooms" got too many snickers from the neighbors. Even after all that work I still get some twigs and leaves. This French Lavender Dried Lavender Buds - 1 pound is a wonderful product. It is intensely fragrant - more so than that I grow and it is the same variety of lavender (French). It is also very clean. I found no twigs, just a very few leaves and a tiny bit of bud "dust". I have read some reviews that complained that the buds were not as blue/lavender colored as that shown in the picture That is true. But the picture was probably taken with a flash and that intensifies the color. Natural lavender isn't going to be bright, blue-lavender unless a colorant is sprayed on it. The color of this product is more blue-lavender than my home grown which is more of a gray blue. Why mine isn't as colorful I don't know. I don't fertilize not knowing how that will affect the local bee hive. There is a narrow window of time to harvest before the buds open (flower). These buds were harvested correctly. I typically buy 4x6 inch organza bags to make sachets which I use in closets (tested to be the best natural moth repellent) and to freshen the house. I give many as gifts. This one pound bags made over 14, 4x6 inch bags, filled approximately 1/2 full. The 4x6 bags took about 3, heaping 1/2 cups per bag. Any fuller and the fragrance would be too intense IMO and room is needed to release the fragrance. Some also complained that the fragrance didn't linger. The trick with lavender is that when the fragrance dies out, lightly crush the sachet bag with your hands, rolling the buds about. This crushes the buds a little and releases the fragrant oil again. I have had large (12 x 10 inch) bags of lavender in the living room for over three years. Each time I think one of the bags should be replaced, I am surprised at the fragrance released by crushing and shaking the bag again. So don't toss it because you can't smell it - revive it by lightly crushing to move some of the fragrance oils to the surface. This is a great price too. The fragrance, color and price are so good that I plan to leave my lavender for the bees. They will be deliriously happy. And no more crazed woman, beating lavender in the driveway.