From the field in Dauphiné Provence - Autumn Winter 2025

After a wet winter that helped replenish groundwater reserves, Spring began with a mild and rainy April, keeping the soil’s available water at an optimal level. Crops developed early, and we began distilling thyme in mid-May, nearly 10 days earlier than last year.

However, June, particularly hot (+2.8 °C above seasonal averages) marked a turning point. This excessive heat, combined with a lack of water, caused significant stress on the plants: premature flowering, slowed growth, and reduced biomass. Harvests were moved forward, and production volumes declined.

Yields varied greatly depending on the species and geographic areas. This situation led to a concentration of distillation periods, with several crops needing to be distilled at the same time. Efforts were particularly focused on helichrysum and Roman chamomile. At the same time, most of our partner growers from SICA Bio Plantes distilled their lavender.

A very significant drop in production was observed for Roman chamomile, for example. For lavender, yields were more variable, ranging from a 50% decrease to near-normal volumes depending on the region.

Severe storms, sometimes accompanied by hail, also caused major damage to certain plots, especially clary sage, just before harvest. With reduced volumes and concentrated harvest, the distillation campaign was particularly intense and shorter than in previous years.

August was marked by a heatwave and very little rainfall.

Many crops already harvested, such as mint, lemon balm, and thyme, struggled to resume growth. They had to wait until rainfall returned in September before growing up again. As a result, the final cuts were low, and the 2025 harvest campaign shows a decrease in total production volumes.

With the arrival of Autumn, producers from SICA Bio Plantes and Elixens France meet to review the past year and exchange experiences. These meetings are an opportunity to identify areas for improvement in cultivation practices and to adjust production acreage based on market needs and future outlooks.

Elixens France’s distillery, meanwhile, remains very active throughout the Autumn. After geranium, the final cuts of mint enter distillation, followed by conifers such as cedar and cypress.At the same time, the distillery also continues producing floral waters from this year’s dried plants, including cornflower, common mallow, and calendula.

LAVENDER

Prices are rising again, a direct consequence of lower production yields, likely linked to climate warming. Despite this trend, some opportunistic low-price destocking can still be observed.

Fine lavender (including the Carla and Rapido varieties) shows more significant yield losses than clonal lavender (such as Maillette, Diva, Matheronne, Vista). As a result, part of the demand is expected to shift toward clonal varieties.

Both types of lavender are therefore affected by a gradual increase in prices, while stocks from previous years are beginning to run out. For now, these price increases remain moderate.

In Bulgaria, prices are also rising, although they remain well below French origins. Harvest volumes are decreasing due to price levels still considered unsatisfactory by producers.

LAVANDIN

The market is shifting. Cultivated areas have decreased sharply in recent years, leading to a significant drop in harvested volumes (–30% to –40% compared with last year). At the same time, consumption is beginning to rise slightly again. « Distress sales » (sell-at-any-price practices seen last year) have become less frequent. However, many producers remain in a difficult position, still holding substantial stocks.

Harvest volumes are clearly down, and part of the market supply has been covered through initial destocking. It is estimated that around 20% of current supplies come from previous years’ harvests.

Stock concentration has increased among certain operators who continue to accumulate significant volumes. The CIHEF is encouraging producers to replant, but limited cash flow is slowing initiatives. It is also worth noting that the organic lavandin Grosso market is particularly saturated, as many producers converted to organic in hopes of achieving higher value.

Prices are rising but have not yet returned to market-equilibrium levels. Once existing stocks are absorbed, the market is expected to experience a prolonged period of tightness, likely leading to a sharp upward correction in prices. In this context, Elixens France believes that a window has opened to implement medium-term contractual solutions that include a structured price-setting framework. The purpose of these agreements is to offer clients a balanced and responsible partnership, while anticipating upcoming imbalances in the lavandin market.