Lavender summer

In a sunny valley, fields of lavender grown organically take away the stress of the road. Upon reservation, Odile will have prepared a picnic basket.

Tapenades, quinoa salads, truffle ravioli, goat cheeses, local cold meats, sorbets with flavors from the Drôme can be enjoyed in the shade of truffle oaks close to the lavender fields (reserve 24 to 48 hours in advance).

Lavender or lavandin? Odile explains the difference. In short: the flower stem of lavender is approximately 50 cm with a single flower spike while lavandin stems are longer with several spikes.

She talks about the cultivation of this plant which requires so much elbow grease in organic cultivation, highlights the virtues of lavender essential oil (soothes stress) and lavandin (calms mosquito bites).

“The plants stay in place for a maximum of ten years before being pulled out for a crop rotation of at least three years. In winter, a farmer delivers us new plants which we cut and replant after nine months every 50 centimeters. With eight of us, it takes about two and a half days to plant 40,000 plants. After transplanting, a fierce fight against unwanted weeds begins".

Using a small glass still, we follow the distillation process transforming the flowers into essential oil.

The water from the distillation, loaded with lavender aromas, is used in particular for skin care. Odile has also developed a small range of products.

By reservation, visitors can also benefit from a relaxing body massage with shea butter and lavandin essential oil in the middle of the lavender fields. It's wonderfull !

It's been around fifteen years since Odile swapped her city life and her job in a large company for a life in the countryside. By chance, she “found” a few hectares of lavender and lavandin. While working her fields in an artisanal manner – organic from the start – she followed professional training to develop cosmetic products.

Odile has her production distilled at the cooperative. On the small roads of Drôme Provençale, tractors transport their fragrant cargo in lavender-colored skips towards the distillery where water vapor extracts the essential oil which is the basis of the products produced by Odile.

In order to share her passion for lavender, Odile opens her farm for visits, cosmetic workshops, professional meetings, and parties.

The young independent winegrowers also grow lavender, thyme and apricot trees. “We like to share, and as each wine tells a story, I take visitors on a little discovery hike, between flavors, scents and good humor,” explains Aurélia.

A great way to discover the local heritage, the work in the vineyard, the cultivation of lavender. The latter is less and less profitable, due to strong competition from other regions and countries like Bulgaria. But there is no question of abandoning it. “Lavender is a bit of the emblem of Drôme Provençale! » says Aurélia as she offers the estate's vintages during a picnic in the vineyards.

She is often inspired by nature to create unique jewelry. “I make prints of lavender chalices,” explains the young woman.

She then mounts them into pendants and earrings. An original and precious souvenir to remember these happy vacation moments.