LAVENDER CULTIVAR PROFILE/ AVICE HILL
LAVANDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA ‘AVICE HILL’ PBR – SWEET ESTER
Fountains of violet flowers a shimmer in the summer sun describes well a field of Avice Hill at harvest time. Developed in New Zealand from L.a. Munstead seed, by herb grower Avice Hill, and later named and developed commercially by Virginia McNaughton. This most beautiful of lavender cultivars has found a certain place as an essential oil plant at Snowy River Lavender based on consistent high yields and the vibrant floral musky aroma of its oil.
ESSENTIAL OIL
The essential oil of the cultivar Avice Hill is balanced in favour of the ester compounds, up to 50% of the total chemistry, and away from the alcohols which together, and including, the signature lavender compound linalool do not exceed 25% of the phytochemistry. The dominant aromatic character of this oil is a refined fruity floral sweetness typical of high levels of linalyl acetate (on average above 40%) subtly tempered by a herbaceous & woody undertow contributed by a slightly elevated level of terpen-4-ol (3.5-5.5%) and a corollary of deeper sweet compounds present in higher than average concentrations, cis-ß-ocimene (7-13%), trans-ß-ocimene (2.5-6%), ß – caryophyllene (3-4%), 3-octanone (2-3%)and α – santalene (0.8) together hinting at a complexity of musk, honey, pepper, and wood. This oil is sweet but has complex back notes.
HYDROSOL
The hydrosol derived from the Avice Hill cultivar has the piquant honey aroma typical of most angustifolia cultivar. This cultivar’s hydrosol is however is individualised with fruity hints of apricots and the musky wood undertow of cedar. As with all our lavender hydrosols Avice Hill comes off the still with a pH level well below 4.5, giving it a high level of astringency. NOTE: L.a. Avice Hill is a cultivar which is regulated by Plant Breeders Right (PBR). This means it can only be propagated under license to the plant breeder. This plant is sourced from Larkman Nurseries, Victoria. Australia.
TYPICAL PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILE RANGE, L.A. AVICE HILL PBR 2005 – 2014
linalool 12.32 – 18.95 • linalyl acetate 34.06 – 43.43• lavandulol 0.08 – 0. 15 • lavandulyl acetate 1.86 – 3.17 • limonene/ ß-phellandrene 0.37 – 0.87 • octen -3-ol 0.05 – 0.14 • 1,8-cineole 0.60 – 1.21 • cis-ß-ocimene 7.41 – 13.09 • trans-ß-ocimene 2.67 – 6.16 • 3-octanone 1.19 - 3.10 • octen-3-yl acetate 1.59 – 3.25 • geranyl acetate 0.43 – 1.24 • neryl acetate 0.14 -0.48 • camphor 0.17 – 0.52 • borneol 0.83 – 1.39 • terpinen-4-ol 3.55 – 5.47 • α- terpineol 0.32 – 1.7 • ß – caryophyllene 3.06 – 4.10• (E)-beta-farsenene 0.69 – 1.06 • α –santalene 0.81- 1.19