Is Lavender Farming Profitable? Products, Markets and Costs

What it takes to start a lavender farm, products that earn money (bundles, oil, agritourism), main costs, years to income and the risks of lavender farming.

Muhammet Elma 3 November 2026 2 min read

Lavender farming can be profitable, but rarely from selling raw flowers or bulk oil alone. Small farms that succeed usually sell value-added products and experiences: dried bundles, sachets, culinary lavender, soaps, U-pick days, weddings and farm tours. Plants take 2–3 years to reach a full harvest.

Ways a Lavender Farm Earns Money

Dried and fresh bundles: high value per stem, labour-intensive.
Essential oil: requires a still and lots of plant material; lavandin gives the most oil.
Value-added products: sachets, soaps, lotions, culinary buds, honey.
Agritourism: U-pick, festivals, photo sessions, events.
Plants: selling potted lavender from cuttings.

Main Costs

Plants (often thousands per hectare) and soil preparation.
Weed control, especially in the first two years.
Harvest labour or machinery.
Distillation equipment, drying space and packaging.
Marketing, licences and insurance for public visits.

Risks

Wet winters and heavy soils causing root rot.
Low bulk oil prices dominated by large producers in France and Bulgaria.
Labour availability at harvest.

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