Review on 🌸 DriedDecor.com French Lavender Dried Lavender Buds - 1lb - Fragrant Dry Flowers for Natural Home Decor by Shaneequah Craig

I have 40 French lavender plants that are about 7 years old. I don't think it's worth growing any strain other than French if flavor is your goal and you can grow that strain in your climate zone. Hardy varieties like Munstead are fine, but nothing beats French lavender for aroma. I've harvested lavender buds from half the plants (leaving the rest for the bees) in the last 5 years and have usually gotten about 5 gallons of buds. Harvesting is a long and laborious process. Cut the heads off the stems, dry them, remove the buds from the fumes, and then strain the buds through a 1/4-inch hardware sieve, then a 1/8-inch sieve, to strain to remove all residues. For the first few years, I put all the stems on a tarp in the driveway to dry, then tap them with a broom to separate the buds from the stems. Yes, my neighbors thought I was crazy. Now I roll the flower heads between my hands. Not so fast, but the "broom dance" made the neighbors laugh too much. Even after all this work I still get some twigs and leaves. These Dried French Lavender Buds - 1 Pound are a wonderful product. It's very fragrant - especially since I grow it and it's the same variety of lavender (French). It's also very clean. I didn't find any twigs, just a few leaves and some "dust" from the buds. I read some reviews complaining that the buds were not as blue/lavender as shown in the picture. It is true. The picture was probably taken with a flash, which makes the color more intense. Natural lavender will not be bright blue lavender unless sprayed with dye. The color of this product is more lavender blue than my home grow which is more grey-blue. I don't know why mine isn't as colorful. I don't fertilize without knowing how it will affect the local hive. There is a narrow window for harvest before the buds (flowers) open. These buds were harvested correctly. I usually buy 4x6 organza bags to make bags to use in closets (tested as the best natural moth repellent) and to freshen up the house. I give away a lot. These one pound bags filled about 1/2 full over 14 4x6 bags. It took about 3 pieces of 4x6 bags, 1/2 cup per bag. Any fuller flavor would be too intense in my opinion and space is needed for the flavor to unfold. Some have also complained that the scent doesn't last. The trick with lavender is that as the scent fades, lightly crush the sachet with your hands as you roll the buds. This will crush the buds a bit and release the fragrant oil again. I've had large (12" x 10") lavender sachets in my living room for over three years. Every time I think one of the sachets needs replacing, I'm amazed at the aroma released by squeezing and shaking the sachet. So don't throw it away because you can't smell it - liven it up by gently crushing it to bring some of the aromatic oils to the surface. It's a great price too. The scent, color and price are so good that I plan to give my lavender to the bees. You will be very happy. And no more crazy woman spraying lavender in the driveway.