12 Creative Ways to Use Your Lavender Harvest, From Food to Décor and More

Dry and Display Lavender Bouquets

To naturally dry out fresh lavender, wrap the stems in a tight bundle and hang upside down for at least two weeks or until all the moisture has been released from the bouquet. Pop your bouquet in a vase for a lovely piece of scented home décor.

Freshen Your Carpets and Rugs

Sprinkle lavender on soft flooring (like rugs and carpets) before vacuuming to help freshen up the textiles. After sucking it up, your vacuum will reap the deodorizing benefits, too, and it can help spread the scent across your floors.

Make Pressed-Flower Bar Soap

Craft the prettiest bars of soap you ever did see. Lavender is the perfect choice for a fragrant lather and this melt-and-pour technique is easy enough for beginners.

Draw a Lavender Bath

Soaking in warm lavender is such a simple luxury. To make your bath extra soothing, add lavender flowers and buds to a thin sachet or tea bag (to prevent them from clogging the drain) and steep them in your bath like tea. Discard before draining.

Infuse a Simple Syrup

A simple bottle of lavender simple syrup can create lavender-flavored lattes, tea drinks, lemonades, cocktails, and more.

Add equal parts white sugar and purified water to a medium saucepan and simmer on medium-low heat with your desired quantity of lavender buds. (Start with about 3 tablespoons, adjusting your recipe to preference.) Stir to help the sugar dissolve, and then strain out the buds. Transfer to a sealed jar and store in the fridge.

Elevate Your Hydration Game

Infused water is a refreshing—and delicious—way to hydrate. You can make lavender-infused water by allowing lavender and any complementary ingredients (such as sliced strawberries and blueberries, or herbs like thyme or rosemary) to steep in a pitcher of water overnight in the fridge. The next day, strain and enjoy.

Decorate Desserts

Skip the sprinkles and use fresh lavender buds as a topping for frosted desserts, like cakes and cupcakes. You can also use dried lavender to make homemade icing for cookies, cakes, and more.

Steep Lavender Tea

Trouble getting a good night’s sleep? According to some studies, lavender can have sleep benefits. Consider sipping a steamy cup of lavender tea at night to gently wind down. Add lavender and chamomile leaves to a tea bag or reusable steeper and allow to steep for 15 minutes. Sweet dreams.

DIY Lavender Oil

Add lavender buds to a jar and cover with a neutral oil, such as jojoba oil. Allow to steep in the sun for a couple of weeks, testing the oil to ensure it’s achieved your desired potency. Then, use it as a calming agent by inhaling the smell or dabbing it on your wrists. You can also use it to create a diffuser by pouring the oil into a small vase and adding bamboo sticks.

Slather on a Lavender Body Scrub

Exfoliate from tip to toe with this relaxing homemade body scrub. Body scrub is super easy to make, and can be scented however you wish. Customize these easy DIY salt and scrubs with homegrown lavender oil. Have a jar at the ready to store the goods in.

Deodorize Small Space

Fill sachets with dried lavender and stash them in any small space you'd like to continuously deodorize. Think: dresser drawers, closets, and bathrooms.

Sustainably Wrap Gifts

Instead of reaching for bows or ribbons, adorn gifts with a stem or two of lavender. It looks charming, smells lovely, and is kind of a small gift in itself. Use a bit of twine to complete the cottagecore-like feel.