How to Make a Lavender Wand
This home-made lavender wand is a traditional bug and moth repellent and a perfect way to scent your closet, drawers, gym bag, or car with the scent of lavender.
Servings: 1
Equipment
- 1 Pair of scissors
- 5 feet (1½ meters) Thin ribbon ⅛ inch or 3 mm thick
- 1 Small safety pin optional
Ingredients
- 7-15 stems lavender just make sure you use an odd number
Instructions
- Begin by removing any leaves from the lavender stems.
- Make a bundle by lining up all the flowers, then trim the stems so that they are all the same length.
- Tie the ribbon tightly just below the flower heads.
- Turn the bundle so that the flowers are facing you and the stems are pointing away. Gently bend each stem down towards you, creating a little cage for the lavender blossoms. If any stem breaks off, simply add a new one to replace it—you'll need an odd number stems.
- Tightly weave the ribbon in and out between the stems of lavender, being sure not to change the order of the stems. If it helps, attach a small safety pin to the end of the ribbon that isn't tied to around the bundle.
- If at anytime bits of flower poke through the ribbon, just poke them back into place with a toothpick.
- Continue to weave until you reach the end of the cage that covers the flowers. Go back to the beginning of to of the cage and tighten up any slack that is in the ribbon. The lavender will shrink as it dries, so it is important to make the weaving tight.
- Finish off the wand by winding the ribbon around the stem and tying it off. You can make a little loop to hang it by or a cute little bow.
- Hang the wand in a dark place until fully dry.
Video
Notes
- Use fresh lavender as it will bend easier and be less likely to break. If possible pick your lavender just before using it. For the most fragrant wands, choose lavender that has recently bloomed as the oils will be the freshest. You can use older blooms, but they won't smell as strong and the blossoms are more likely to fall off.
- Use the French, English, or Portuguese lavender—Spanish lavender isn't recommended as it isn't as pungent.
- As this wand is woven, it is essential to have a odd number of stems. Keep a few extra stems of lavender handy incase you break one when making the "cage"and need to replace it.
- You'll want to cut your lavender stems as long as possible—8 inches (20 cm) is a good length.
- If you find that your lavender isn't pungent, try adding a few drop of essential oil to the lavender heads.
- If the ribbon has loosed up after the wand has dried, simply go back and tighten it up—a device like a small safety pin can be useful here.