Lavender (Lavandula sp.) is an evergreen plant from the Lamiaceae family, native to the Mediterranean region. It has a typical semi-shrub habitus. The best-known species from the genus Lavandula are true lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and lavandin (Lavandula × intermedia). Today, its cultivation is widespread due to its essential oils that form on the surface of flowers, leaves and stems in glandular trichomes. A wide range of chemical compounds such as monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids and other terpenoids are found in essential oils, and this diversity is of great interest to both growers and industry. To reach maximum quality and quantity of essential oils obtained from lavender, it is necessary to recognize the factors affecting it. The amount and composition of essential oils is conditioned by the selection of a suitable species, since it has to grow well in the desired area, where the weather conditions with the amount of precipitation and temperatures are of key importance. The cultivation method also has to be adapted accordingly. Moreover, the harvest time cannot be neglected, because it depends on the phenophase of the plant, as well as selection of the distillation method, because it will allow the maximum amount of essential oil to be obtained.
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