SPIKE
Our premium Art Treehouse Oil of Spike Lavender is imported from France, and evaluated on multiple levels. It is the ultimate less-toxic painting medium! Read our MSDS sheet and our 18-page toxicologist report on Oil of Spike Lavender to find out more. Historical writings indicate that Oil of Spike Lavender was likely a painting medium often used by Leonardo as well as the Netherlands painters. If you have the chance to see paintings from that time period, you will often see a high degree of detail. For example, the work of Hans Memling looks excellant in the art book photos, and when you see it in person, you realise how small and detailed the originals often are.
According to historians, Oil of Spike Lavender was sometimes freely washed over the entire canvas to prepare it for the painting and then it was mixed with the pigments, along with Linseed oil or Walnut oil. Sometimes the artist would actually dip the brush directly in the Spike Oil so that the brush strokes would be smoother. Oil of Spike Lavender was apparently the painting medium of choice from the fourteenth century on, until it was replaced by turpentine. Turpentine was less costly, but of course is more toxic - a fact not widely recognized at the time.
Here are some highlights from the toxicologist report on Spike Lavender:
... Evidential data are supportive that Spike Lavender Oil would not cause a chronic health effect with acute or prolonged dermal or inhalation exposure. The potential for idiosyncratic allergenicity may exist and should be forewarned, but this effect would be readily identified and reversible. It is not proposed as a label caution. Adverse effects during pregnancy are unknown but assumed minimal given the history of product use. It is not proposed as a label caution.
... Evidential data are supportive that Spike Lavender Oil would not cause a chronic health effect with acute or prolonged dermal or inhalation exposure. The potential for idiosyncratic allergenicity may exist and should be forewarned, but this effect would be readily identified and reversible. It is not proposed as a label caution. Adverse effects during pregnancy are unknown but assumed minimal given the history of product use. It is not proposed as a label caution.
... In accordance with Title 21 - Food and Drugs, Chapter I - Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Department of Health and Human Services, Part 182 - SUBSTANCES GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS SAFE (GRAS), Subpart A - Sec. 182.20 General Provisions: Essential oils, oleoresins (solvent-free), and natural extractives (including distillates) that are GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS SAFE for their intended use, within the meaning of section 409 of the Act, includes Lavender, spike (Lavandula latifolia Vill.). Importantly, GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS SAFE (GRAS) is a USFDA designation that a chemical or substance added to food (i.e., food additive) is considered safe by experts, and so is exempted from the usual Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA, the Act) food additive tolerance requirements.
...Accordingly, available evidential scientific literature for Spike Lavender Oil (hereafter, Lavandula latifolia) were reviewed and summarized for conformance to the subject standard, particularly as it would relate to ASTM D4236 - 94 (2005), §3.1 - 5.11. Noteworthy, this review attempts to address all Chronic Hazard Statements as described in ASTM D4236 - 94 (2005), §A1, and the Precautionary Statements (for MSDS use) as described in ASTM D4236 - 94 (2005), §A2.
Conclusion
Evidential data are supportive that Spike Lavender Oil would not cause a chronic health effect with acute or prolonged dermal or inhalation exposure. The potential for idiosyncratic allergenicity may exist and should be forewarned, but this effect would be readily identified and reversible. It is not proposed as a label caution. Adverse effects during pregnancy are unknown but assumed minimal given the history of product use. It is not proposed as a label caution.
Oil of Spike lavender has an appealing uplifiting scent, and only a small amount is needed - a drop or two at a time. We have a 2 oz. version, and a 4 oz. version in the catalog as well -- click here!
