Product Review of Williams-Sonoma's French Lavender Essential Oil Hand Lotion

Any experienced baker or cook knows how rough the time spent in the kitchen can be on their hands. The constant exposure to moisture and heat can wreak havoc on skin. Williams-Sonoma, a leader in kitchen supplies, has a line of hand soapsand lotions formulated specifically for cooks.

I personally go through hand lotion very quickly, so I am always trying new brands. I hate dry hands, so I apply hand lotion throughout the day. I like a lotion that is rich and long-lasting, but not too greasy-I do not want to leave oily fingerprints on everything I touch! I also like a light, pleasant scent, one that is not too cloying or medicinal.

I recently received Williams-Sonoma's French Lavender Essential Oil Hand Lotion as a gift. In addition to the essential oil of lavender, it also contains olive oil, glycerin and shea. The olive oil is for moisturizing purposes, the glycerin for skin-softening and the shea for soothing. French lavender is purported to have antimicrobial abilities; it is also a commonly used in aromatherapy for its calming capability.

Williams-Sonoma's French Lavender Essential Oil Hand Lotion comes simply, but attractively, packaged in a clear plastic 16-ounce bottle with an understated green-and-white label and a silver top. The top can be replaced by the accompanying pump, which allows for easy dispensing. The lotion itself is a pretty very pale lavender color. The clean lines of this packaging make it a nice addition to the kitchen's counter-top décor.

The first thing that struck me as soon as I opened my bottle of lotion was the scent. The lavender scent is quite strong. If you love the smell of lavender, you will adore this hand lotion's scent. I also found that the scent lingers for quite awhile after application. Since I really do love lavender, I appreciated the staying power of this scent.

Upon applying the lotion to my hands, I found it to have the exact texture I like-rich and soothing without being oily or sticky. It also absorbs quickly, leaving no greasy feeling on hands.

I did find that it leaves my hands feeling almost powdery after the lotion absorbs. My skin did not feel or look dry, but felt as if a fine powder was dusted across it. It drove me nuts when I first began using this hand lotion, and I did not use it very often. I can honestly say, though, that with continued use, I do not notice this feeling anymore.

Despite my initial dislike of the Williams-Sonoma French Lavender Essential Oil Hand Lotion, I have come to count it among my favorite hand lotions. With its rich texture and soothing lavender scent, it is the perfect hand lotion for a cook's tired hands after a long day in the kitchen.