An essential sector

A bit of history: a few important dates

Up to the beginning of XXth century, lavender was traditionally picked and distilled in its natural harvest area, the dry Mediterranean mountain zone.

• From 1905, faced with increased demand from perfumers, popular lavender stock planting trials were carried out. These trials were very conclusive and the culture developed between the wars motivated by Grasse perfumers.
• In 1926, Chiris was to produce the first experimental lavandins by crossing spike lavender with fine lavender.
• Between 1920 and 1960, lavender production had widely contributed to the wealth of the dry mountain area of the South-East of France, very difficult to enhance due to its aridity and the fact that up until then it had been very poor.
• In 1960, a record production of 150 tonnes of lavender produced was reached.
• In 1981 the l’AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) Huile Essentielle de Lavender de Haute-Provence was created.
• Following this, with the competition from lavandin and synthetic products, production was to decline until it reached its lowest point in 1992 with less than 25 tonnes.
• From 1994 to 2000 a recovery plan for the production of lavender in France was launched. The production area doubled in size over 6 years and distilleries were renovated and modernized.
• In 2000, professionals from the sector implemented a regulation procedure for the marketing of lavandin essential oil by means of sales quotas managed by CIHEF.
• A vast promotion operation for the sector was started in 2001: 500 000 visitors were able to visit a field of lavender recreated in Paris on the Place des Vosges.
• In 2008, the Minister of Agriculture Michel Barnier and the professionals in charge of the sector signed a sustainable development charter for lavender and lavandin essential oils.