Lavender is in full bloom right now and we’re drawn to beauty buys that make the very best of this fragrant plant. It’s no longer considered an old-fashioned scent associated with ancient lavender bags mouldering in a drawer. Invest in a lavender essential oil from The Nature of Things and drop it into your diffuser or bath to help you relax and rest, and have a better night’s sleep. Lavender also adds a striking herbal note to modern perfumes: should you need convincing, try spraying Tom Ford’s Lavender Extreme (at Brown Thomas) and be converted …

1 Over at Fragrances of Ireland, the air is blue – it’s filled with the scent of the lavender grown in their Wicklow fields. And their legendary annual lavender harvest is taking place over the next four weekends – head over there, to the foot of the Little Sugarloaf, throughout July and enjoy the lavender harvest sale (every Saturday and Sunday in July 10am-5pm). This year, as well as a wide variety of lavender plants for sale, you can buy lavender cologne, oil, soaps and bags, plus the new limited-edition LAVÓ range which includes a luscious lavender hand cream. Support an Irish family business (they’ve been making perfumes and soaps here since 1983) while sorting your garden and stocking up on gifts at the same time (the lavender heat cushion, €10, is perfect for those with stiff necks and backs). Delivery in Ireland is also available. Read more about this Irish family business in our July/August issue, on newsstands now. www.fragrancesofireland.com

2 Aveeno Daily Moisturising Lotion with Lavender is a great everyday summer staple – it delivers long-lasting moisturisation (put it straight onto damp skin after a shower) and has a subtle lavender scent, so it’s relaxing and calming yet without clashing with any perfume you’re wearing. And the generous pump-style bottle will keep you going all summer … €8.79, at pharmacies nationwide and www.aveeno.ie.

3 Hand sanitiser continues to play havoc with our hands. This Works have a Stress Check Hand Shield (€10) that contains a blend of lavender, neroli and patchouli to make the whole hand-protecting scenario more pleasant and calming. At pharmacies nationwide.

4 Bon Parfumeur is an intriguing new French fragrance brand arriving in Brown Thomas from September, and lavender has a starring role in thir most recent perfume, titled 702. It’s described as a fresh fern with a twist of incense, and the heart of lavender is combined with lemon, vanilla and cashmere wood – it sounds delicious and worth exploring when it lands. €82.

5 Anatome Recovery + Sleep Essential Oil Blend. I have tried a lot of lavender pillow sprays and oils for relaxation at night time, but the one I find to have the most strikingly fresh and vibrant lavender note is this one by Anatome – find the brand at Indigo & Cloth boutique in Dublin’s Temple Bar (they’re also one of the few places that stock Aesop so it’s definitely worth a visit). The little glass bottle with dropper contains the most pure and bright-smelling lavender blend (a mix of three types) that has an impact without being overpowering. €75, www.indigoandcloth.com, www.anatome.co. Otherwise, a more affordable option: REN do a good pillow spray & Now To Sleep with lavender. €22, available from www.renskincare.ie).