Lavender is a fragrant purple-flowered plant used for perfume, oils, and decoration; the word also names its soft purple color.
From Old French *lavandre*, from Medieval Latin *lavandula*, a plant name possibly related to *lavare*, to wash, because it was used in bathwater and laundry. Its scent made it popular in cleaning and personal care.
Lavender’s name may be tied to washing, which fits its long history of being tossed into bathwater and linen chests. The plant managed a rare trick: it became both a smell, a plant, and a color in everyday language.
Lavender has been associated with femininity in fashion and domestic products, and in the 20th century it also gained associations with queer identities (e.g., 'lavender scare' in the US). These associations reflect gendered and sexualized coding of colors and scents.
Use 'lavender' neutrally as a color or plant without assuming gendered preferences. Avoid using it as shorthand for femininity or to stereotype queer people.
Lavender has been reclaimed in some LGBTQ+ contexts as a symbol of pride and resistance, including by women and nonbinary activists targeted in earlier 'lavender scare' campaigns.
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