This excellent aromatherapy book gives instructions for distilling your own essential oils
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book-...4679770&sr=8-1
The oregano used in the "oil of oregano" products is often sold in garden stores with a name such as "Hot and Spicy Greek Oregano." Check the tags to verify the latin name. It's a potent and tasty garden herb, I'll tell you that
There are multitudes of lavender varieties, most of which have been bred for showier flowers and other reasons. The most desirable medicinal variety (in terms of the essential oil from the flowers) is the original lavender - known as
Lavandula angustifolia or
Lavandula officinalis. This lavender has a balance of chemical components that are stimulating and ones that are relaxing. Spike lavender (
Lavandula latifolia) produces more essential oil, but it contains little of the relaxing chemicals and more of the stimulating chemicals. Good for sports rubs, not good for sleep sachets
Lavandin varieties are a hybrid of spike and true lavender; their scent is somewhere between the two but like the spike lavender, they also have more of the stimulating chemicals and higher oil production.