What Is Lavender 40/42?
What It Is
Lavender 40/42 is a standardised essential oil produced from Lavandula angustifolia. The name refers to a controlled aromatic composition, particularly its linalool and linalyl acetate content. Standardisation is intended to reduce natural batch-to-batch variation in the raw material.
What It Does
Its primary cosmetic role is to provide a consistent lavender aroma and sensory character. The source also discusses documented physiological effects associated with inhaled lavender constituents, while distinguishing inhalation from skin absorption.
How It Functions in a Formulation
In a bath formulation, warm water promotes release of volatile aromatic compounds into the air above the bath. The source therefore frames the relevant exposure route as aromatic inhalation rather than assuming that the ingredient produces its effects through systemic skin absorption.
Safety and Tolerance
Safety depends on concentration, formulation, storage and individual sensitivity. The source identifies particular considerations for young children, pregnancy, oxidation of linalool-containing material and known lavender allergy. Essential oils should not be treated as automatically risk-free because they are plant-derived.
What the Source Supports
The source supports standardisation as a quality-control feature and identifies linalool and linalyl acetate as major constituents. It discusses evidence for inhaled lavender effects but does not establish equivalent effects from skin absorption in a bath.