How to Dry Lavender: 4 Simple Drying Methods

One of the greatest joys of growing lavender is being able to enjoy it year-round. After three decades of growing several varieties in my zone Massachusetts garden, I've found that drying lavender is one of the most rewarding ways to preserve this versatile herb.

The good news? Drying lavender is surprisingly straightforward once you understand the basics. With properly dried lavender flowers, I make everything from heavenly lavender candles with the fresh scent of lavender, an all lavender bouquet even lavender sugar cubes throughout the winter.

When it comes to drying methods, you've got options depending on your needs. The traditional hanging method is perfect for preserving color and fragrance, while oven drying works when you need dried lavender quickly. If you have a food dehydrator, you'll get consistent results with minimal effort. In a real pinch, did you know you can use your microwave for small amounts of lavender in just minutes?

Each drying method has its strengths and trade-offs. Here's a quick comparison to help you choose the right approach for your needs:

Lavender Drying Methods Comparison

(scroll for full chart)

Method	Time Required	Best For	Preserves Color	Preserves Scent	Preserves Flavor	Batch Size	Equipment Needed
Air Drying	1-3 weeks	Overall quality	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	Large	String/rubber bands, hooks
Oven Drying	30-60 minutes	Quick results	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	Medium	Baking sheet, oven
Dehydrator	1-4 hours	Consistency	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	Large	Food dehydrator
Microwave	1-3 minutes	Emergency use	★★☆☆☆	★★☆☆☆	★★★☆☆	Small	Microwave, paper towels

This chart should help you choose the best method for your specific needs. If you're drying lavender for sachets or decorative purposes where color and scent matter most, traditional air drying is worth the wait. Need dried lavender buds for cooking tomorrow? The oven method might be your best bet.

No matter which method you choose, the most important part of the process is harvesting your lavender at exactly the right time. Let's talk about how to do that before diving into the detailed instructions for each drying technique.

Four Ways to Dry Lavender

There isn't just one "right way" to dry lavender. In this guide, I'll walk you through four proven methods:

1. Traditional Air Drying - The classic hanging method that preserves color and fragrance beautifully
2. Oven Drying - A faster approach when you need dried lavender in hours not weeks
3. Food Dehydrator Method - Consistent results with minimal effort
4. Microwave Drying - The quickest solution for small batches when you're in a hurry

Before diving into each method, let's talk about the most important part of the process - harvesting your lavender at exactly the right time.

Growing Healthy Lavender for Drying

The quality of your dried lavender starts long before harvest time. I've found that lavender grown in the right conditions produces the most fragrant, colorful dried flowers.

For the best drying results, focus on these growing basics:

Soil Matters: Lavender thrives in well-draining, slightly alkaline soil. In my garden, the plants I grow in poor, rocky soil actually produce more concentrated essential oils than those in rich garden beds. For detailed guidance on creating the perfect growing medium, check out my lavender soil guide.

Less is More with Fertilizer: One common mistake is over-fertilizing lavender. These Mediterranean natives prefer lean conditions - too much nitrogen produces lush foliage but fewer flowers and less lavender essential oil. I cover the right approach in my fertilizing lavender post.

Companion Planting Benefits: I've noticed that my lavender produces better when grown alongside compatible plants. The right neighbors can improve growing conditions, attract more pollinators, and even enhance essential oil production. My lavender grows beautifully next to rosemary, thyme, and other Mediterranean herbs. For the best plant combinations, see my complete lavender companion plants guide.

Year-Round Care: While summer harvesting is the focus for drying, proper care throughout the seasons ensures healthy plants with abundant flowers. During winter months, I follow the methods in my keeping lavender alive indoors guide to protect more tender varieties.

Lavender that's grown in optimal conditions not only produces more flowers for drying but also creates dried lavender with better color, stronger fragrance, and more potent flavor for culinary uses.

Now that you understand how to grow lavender for optimal drying results, let's look at when and how to harvest it...

Choosing and Harvesting Your Lavender

Best Time to Harvest

Timing is everything when it comes to drying lavender. The best time is when about one-third of the flower buds have opened - this is when the lavender has the highest concentration of essential oils.

In my Massachusetts garden, early summer is typically the sweet spot, usually between late June and mid-July. I always harvest on a warm day after the morning dew has completely dried, usually mid-morning.

Watch the weather forecast before harvesting. If rain is coming in the next day or two, wait until after the wet weather passes. Dry conditions both before and after cutting give you the best results.

Best Varieties for Drying

English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) varieties are generally the best for drying. These types of lavender grow well in zone 6 and retain their color and scent better than other varieties when dried.

For culinary uses, stick with English lavender varieties - they have a sweeter, less intense flavor that works well in my whipped herb-infused butter and rosemary lavender cookies.

Traditional Air Drying Method

Preparing Your Lavender for Hanging

For the best results, create small bunches of lavender stems - about 15-20 stems per bundle. This allows for better air circulation and is the best way to prevent mold.

Tip: for larger harvests the rule of thumb is no more than roughly 200 to 250 stems. 

Use a rubber band to secure your bundles, rubber bands work best as they contract with the flower stems as they dry. If using twine, tie it tighter than seems necessary to account for shrinkage. To create a hanger, I find it's easiest to open a paper clip and run it through the rubber band, making it simple to hang your lavender bundles in a dark, dry, well-ventilated area.

Setting Up Your Drying Environment

The drying environment is crucial for success:

• Dry location - A dry place like spare rooms, attics, and garages work well; avoid basements
• Good air circulation - Hang bunches on a drying rack or other hanging system with space between them
• No direct sunlight - Bright but indirect light preserves color and oils
• Low humidity - Use a dehumidifier if needed in humid climates

Hang your bunch of lavender upside down and expect the drying process to take 2-6 weeks. You'll know they're completely dry when the stems snap cleanly rather than bend.

Quick-Dry Method: Oven Drying

If you need dried lavender quickly, oven drying works well:

1. Preheat your oven to the lowest setting (ideally 170°F or less)
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
3. Lay lavender stems in a single layer with space between them
4. Check every 10 minutes, turning gently for even drying

The process takes 30-60 minutes total. The lavender is done when the flowers feel completely dry and the stems break rather than bend.

Dehydrator Method: Consistent Results

A food dehydrator gives the most consistent results:

1. Set your dehydrator to 95-115°F (the herb setting)
2. Arrange stems in a single layer, slightly separated
3. Check hourly, removing pieces as they finish drying

This method typically takes 1-4 hours for dry flowers and helps preserve both color and essential oils.

Emergency Method: Microwave Drying

For small amounts of lavender needed urgently:

1. Place a paper towel on a microwave-safe plate
2. Arrange lavender in a single layer
3. Cover with another paper towel
4. Microwave on high for 30 seconds, then check
5. Continue in 15-30 second bursts, checking between each

This usually takes 1-3 minutes total. Be careful not to overdo it - microwaved lavender can quickly burn.

Storing Your Dried Lavender

Glass jars with tight-fitting lids work best for dried lavender flowers. Store them in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight and heat.

Properly dried and stored lavender can keep its scent and usefulness for a year or more. I label my airtight container with the harvest date and variety to help me use older batches first.

Tips for Success

The three factors that make the biggest difference are:

• Harvest timing - Catching lavender at that perfect moment
• Bundle size - Keeping bundles small enough for good airflow
• Drying environment - Creating the right balance of warmth, darkness, and air circulation

Harvesting Blooms vs. Buds: How to Process Your Dried Lavender

Once your lavender is perfectly dried, you have options for how to process it depending on your end goals. In my years of working with lavender, I've found that different projects require different parts of the plant.

When to Keep Stems Intact

For decorative purposes, keeping the entire stem intact creates the most visual impact:

• Bouquets and Arrangements: Those beautiful dried lavender bunches you see in farmhouse décor? They're simply dried stems kept whole. I hang these in my kitchen year-round.
• Wreaths and Garlands: The long, sturdy stems provide structure when weaving decorative pieces. My front door wreath combines dried lavender with eucalyptus for a welcoming scent.
• Swags and Door Hangers: Intact stems can be arranged in fan patterns and tied with beautiful ribbons.
• Wands and Weavings: Traditional lavender wands use whole stems woven with ribbon to create scented keepsakes.

For these projects, simply leave your dried bundles intact after drying. A light shake to remove any loose buds is all the processing needed.

When to Strip the Buds

For many uses, you'll want just the concentrated, fragrant buds:

• Culinary Applications: When making lavender sugar, tea blends, or baking mixes, you want only the buds. Stems can impart a woody, bitter flavor.
• Soaps and Cosmetics: For that lovely exfoliating texture in homemade soaps, stripped buds work best. I find stems can sometimes scratch sensitive skin.
• Sachets and Potpourri: Pure buds release more fragrance and create a better texture.
• Candle Making: Clean buds without stem fragments embed beautifully in candle wax.
• Bath Products: For lavender bath salts or bath bombs, stem-free buds dissolve more pleasantly.

How to Strip Lavender Buds

Stripping buds couldn't be easier once your lavender is properly dried:

1. Hold the dried stem by the woody end over a clean bowl or paper
2. Gently run your thumb and forefinger down the stem from top to bottom
3. The dried buds will easily fall away from the stem

For larger quantities, try this efficient method:

1. Place dried stems into a colander with holes large enough for buds to fall through
2. Set the colander over a large bowl
3. Gently rub the lavender between your hands
4. The buds will fall through while the stems remain in the colander

The key is being gentle enough to prevent crushing the buds (which releases oils prematurely) while using enough pressure to separate them from the stems.

Removing Chaff and Debris

For the purest buds, especially important for culinary uses:

1. After stripping, pour your buds between two bowls several times in front of a gentle fan
2. The lightest chaff will blow away while the heavier buds fall into the catching bowl
3. Pick out any remaining stem pieces by hand

This extra step is worth it for special projects like my lavender shortbread cookies, where texture matters as much as flavor.

Remember, there's no waste in lavender processing - I save the stripped stems to burn as aromatic fire starters during winter months. They add a lovely scent to my fireplace and are a wonderful reminder of summer gardens during snowy Massachusetts days.

Using Your Dried Lavender

Culinary Uses

• Simple Syrup: Add 2 tablespoons of dried buds to 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water
• Cooking: Try it with chicken, in stews, or with chocolate
• Tea Blends: Steep 1 teaspoon buds in hot water for 5 minutes
• Baking: Gently crush buds before adding to rosemary lavender cookies
• Use Lavender in your special butter recipes including blossom butter and herb-infused whipped butter
• Lavender-Infused Honey: One of my favorite gifts to make! The pure buds infuse beautifully in local honey without adding any unwanted woodiness. I keep a jar on hand year-round for drizzling over yogurt or using in tea.

Craft Projects

• Lavender Bouquets: Beautiful standalone arrangements and gift jars
• Lavender Sachets: Perfect for drawers and closets
• Dried Stems: Use for wreaths or scented fire starters
• Infused Oil: Base for homemade lavender soap and balms

The dried lavender you grow yourself always seems more special than anything store-bought. There's something deeply satisfying about completing the full cycle - from planting to growing to harvesting to drying to creating something beautiful or delicious with your own hands.

I hope you found these 4 different ways to dry lavender helpful! What will you make with your dried lavender? I'd love to hear your ideas in the comments below!

Happy growing friends!