Purple reign

The astonishing light and beautiful landscapes of Provence in southern France have delighted millions of tourists – they also inspired Vincent van Gogh to produce some of his most beguiling art. The pretty region is famous for its soft light, ramshackle old farmhouses and countless fields of lavender that stretch into the horizon, populated by bees that sleepily buzz around this wonderfully scented flower.

Van Gogh, who even has a type of lavender named after him, once said, “For one’s health, it is very necessary to work in the garden and see the flowers growing.” No wonder, then, that the great painter loved his time in Arles and Saint-Remy in Provence, where he was surrounded by dozens of types of flower. Van Gogh’s Lavender Fields with a Rising Sun is a piece of art that captures this flower in all its glory.

Believed to have powerful purifying properties for both mind and body, lavender has had a hold over us for centuries. Ancient civilisations – especially the Romans – used this member of the mint family in baths to aid relaxation and soothe the skin. Lavender gets its name from ‘lavare’, the Latin word for wash and has been found to lower the heart rate and combat stress.

A hardy shrub that loves the sunshine, lavender is even a star of Instagram, providing a beautiful purple backdrop to photographs. This richly scented flower is a beloved fragrance found in many products that can be brought into the home.

Shampoo and conditioners from Dove and Urtekam; soaps and shower gels from Alchimia, Ma Provence and The Camel Soap Factory; bath sponges from Zeca; bath salts by Corine de Farme and Dr Teal’s; liquid hand soaps from Method, Ecover and Fiorile are all scented with lavender to make your bathroom a zone of Zen. Take inspiration from the Romans and upgrade your bath ritual with a scented essential oil from Now that blends lavender and tea tree.

Once your bath is ready, why not light a lavender candle? Aladino make tea lights and candles housed in jars that will add lavender’s relaxing fragrance to your well-deserved soak. Alternatively, a room spray from the Waitrose Home range will bring lavender and wisteria’s calming aroma to your living space.

Into the laundry room and lavender is commonplace among detergents, fabric softeners, room sprays, air fresheners and carpet fresheners from top brands such as Persil, Febreze, Comfort, Glade, Downy and Air Wick.

Seeing lavender’s popularity continuing from ancient times into 2021 is a clear signal that some scents are universal and timeless – as Van Gogh would no doubt agree.