Lavandere - Linen Water - Eau Frâiche - Freshening your linens and homes

"While there are still clothes to wash, we can do without men!" sang the Provençal washerwomen by the riverside. These women were called lavandieres, because lavender derives its name from the latin lavare, meaning to wash. Lavender was a favorite ingredient in bath water and was used for washing clothes. Large Provençal wardrobes house piles of beautifully pressed and folded linens exuding the floral and woody undertones of lavender and no one can remember when it wasn't this way.
Washerwomen at the river
Linen water, eau frâiche (fresh water), splash or eau de toilette are all terms to describe scented waters. These waters can be used to scent sheets, clothes, as a pick me up sprayed on the face or to freshen a room. While the original ingredient was lavender many other scents can be used to the same purpose. Below follows a simple recipe if you would like to make your own or click here for a few ready made varieties.

Most of these scented or fresh waters are suitable to pour directly into a steam iron as the oils are diluted throughout the water and will not damage either the iron or the clothes. We prefer to spray them on just dried sheets and linens, warm out of the drier and even spray them on pillow cases just before bed. Towels sprayed with scented waters can also emanate a subtle, clean scent in busy bathrooms.

Ingredients:

As always we recommend using only pure essential oils to assure the highest quality and the most enduring scents.

100 drops (5 ml) lavender oil
1 1/2 fluid oz. (45 ml) 100 proof vodka
20 oz. distilled or still spring water
Find a large lidded, glass container and sterilize before use. Mix the vodka and the water then add your essential oil to the mixture and shake vigorously to disperse thoroughly. Should the linen water appear cloudy, don't be alarmed, it is normal and won't stain linen or clothing. If you can find a fine mist sprayer, this will make dispensing your concoction much easier. Always shake well before you use it.
You may substitute other scents for lavender or add a 5 or 6 drops of peppermint oil or sandalwood. Cinnamon bark oil eau frâiche is spectacular during the holiday season