Lavender or lavandin? We bet you’ll get it wrong!

10 March 2026
All about lavender

Let’s be honest: even here, on the Valensole plateau, some people get mixed up. Between fine lavender, the wild gem that grows at altitude, and lavandin, its sturdier, more generous cousin, the line can be blurry for the uninitiated.

That’s why at Maison Berenger we decided to have a little fun with you in our shops.

Lavender and lavandin: two plants, two worlds

People often confuse them, and that’s understandable. Close cousins, both grown on the Valensole plateau for generations, lavender and lavandin have a lot in common. But look – and above all smell – a little closer, and they are actually very different.

True / fine lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is the finest and most delicate. It grows at altitude (from 500 m up), on wild, stony land. Its scent is soft, subtle and slightly floral. It is said to be soothing and healing, ideal for helping you sleep and calming minor skin irritations.

Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia) is a natural hybrid of lavandula angustifolia and spike lavender. Sturdier and richer in essential oil, it gives off a stronger, slightly camphorated, invigorating scent. It is the one you often find in household products, laundry detergents and purifying preparations.

Two plants, two scents, two uses – and a wealth the Berenger family has been growing and distilling since 1932, organically.

Find out more: The benefits of lavender – Our lavender essential oils – Our lavandin essential oils

The Sense Experience: a sensory adventure in our shops

What if, instead of explaining it, we let you experience it?

That’s the idea behind “The Sense Experience”, our new workshop available in all our shops. A fun, free experience led by our advisers, designed for everyone – the curious, enthusiasts and plant lovers alike.

The idea is simple: blindfolded, you let your sense of smell do the talking.

Dried flowers, hydrosols, essential oils, cosmetics… at each step you smell, you feel, you try to identify which variety you’re dealing with. Lavender or lavandin? Fine or spike? And while you search, our advisers share the secrets of each plant: its origins, its properties, its everyday uses.

A way to (re)discover products you may already know, from a completely new angle.

Practical information

“The Sense Experience” is available free of charge throughout the day in each of our shops during opening hours. No booking needed – just walk in.

Visit us in our shops

Valensole shop Rue Albert Richaud – 04210 Valensole. Every day from 1 March to 31 October, hours vary with the season

Manosque shop 45 rue Grande – 04100 Manosque. Open all year, 9am to 7pm, closed on Wednesdays and Sundays

Forcalquier shop 18 boulevard Latourette – 04300 Forcalquier. From 1 April to 31 October, Thursday to Monday, 10am to 7pm

The Hut on the plateau Route de Manosque (D6) – 04210 Valensole. From 1 June to 31 July during the flowering season, every day from 8am to 10pm – all year round by appointment

Provence in every bottle, since 1932

At Lavande Bio Berenger, we don’t just produce lavender: we live it, we pass it on, we share it. For four generations our family has been growing and distilling organically on the Valensole plateau, convinced that quality is built with respect for the land and for time.

“The Sense Experience” is an invitation to step into this world – for a pause, a deep breath, a discovery.

We look forward to seeing you.

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