The foliage can be dried and used in breads. The oils are widely used in perfumes, other cosmetics, and soaps. L. angustifolia is the commercial source of lavender oil. L. stoechas, the spanish or italian lavender, has a fragrance of camphor and lavender with minty undertones, and is a declared noxious weed in Victoria. L. dentata, the french lavender, produces short, soft-stemmed, plump spikes of dark lavender flowers, and has a strong lavender scent tinged with a light camphor fragrance.
Lavender is a good moth repellent.
Ornamental shrub, hedge, tub plant. A semi-hardy clump forming grass to 1.8 m tall in warmer climates, but only to around 1 m tall in cooler temperate areas. Prefers full sun to light shade. More suitable to sub-tropical and tropical areas. Prefers a moist, well drained, organic rich soil or compost.