| The
Middle Ages |
Fine
lavender grows in the herbalists' gardens and in the monastery gardens.
|
| 16th
century |
Development
of medicinal uses due to the Montpellier medical school. |
| 1656 |
The
status of the " master merchant Glovemakers and Perfumers"
is confirmed. |
| 1759 |
Creation
of the guild of the master-perfumers in Grasse |
| Second
half of the 19th century |
Sharp
growth in demand for essential oil, marked increase in the production
of essential oil made from wild lavender. |
| 1905-1914 |
The
"baïassières" or wild lavender stands, begin
to be improved. More and more open-fire stills and increased family
distillation.
The first " factories " and steam stills appear. |
| 1914-1928 |
Expansion
of the gathering zones and increased planted areas. |
| 1929 |
First
sharp drop in price due to world-wide depression. |
| 1928-1932 |
The
hybrid lavandin crop develops. |
| 1932-1959 |
Very
sharp growth in crops. Gradual disappearance of the open-fire stills
to the benefit of steam. Decreasing number of distilleries, however,
increased capacities. Increasingly widespread mechanisation. |
| 1958-1962 |
Serious
economic crisis which causes production to drop and crop area to shrink.
|
| 1970-1978 |
The
widest-spread planting of lavender: fine lavender in the mountains
and hybrid lavandin in the plains and on the plateaux. |
| 1979-1980 |
Serious
lavender crisis. |
| 1994-1999 |
The
area planted in lavender stabilises. Distillation in tanks becomes
more widespread. |
