The Scent of the Island – Lavender
No doubt the smell of Hvar is synonymous with lavender among other alluring scents that come to mind when thinking about this beautiful island. The light scent of the shore, mixed with the heavy aroma of pines combine to make this destination the pure essence of simplicity and harmony.
The island that basks in the sun for over 2700 hours every year, provides perfect conditions for growing lavender. On the Eastern side of this sunny island, lavender fields abound to form an impressive purple carpet.
Until a couple of decades ago, Hvar produced 10% of the world’s lavender production. Sadly this ancient tradition has now dramatically scaled down, however there are still some people growing lavender commercially.
Among them is the Ćurin family, whose tradition goes back to 1955. They are one of the few who are still using old traditional methods and as little mechanical procedures as possible, from harvesting the lavender with sickle to pressing the herbs with their feet for distillation. Despite frequently upscaling their operation, cultivation remains manual and ecological, due to their awareness that this brings higher quality to the product.
Lavender has many positive effects on our well-being. The flowers are not only nice to look at, but also have many uses in our everyday lives. The lavender essential oil is the most common oil to be used in aromatherapy. It is also added to food products such as chocolate, ice cream, and as syrup in drinks. Lavender honey is considered a delicacy. Lavender soap can be found in many bathrooms, as well as scented bags in closets acting as a moth repellent.
This purple flower also constitutes an important part of our story, as the villas are named by two lavender cultivar denominations, Anouk and Belpur. We have planted lavender bushes outside both villas and the interiors are tastefully decorated with a selection of bouquets to create a relaxing atmosphere. Upon arrival, our guests receive a home-made lavender syrup which is a perfect refreshment on hot days.