Lavender is the common name for Lavandula, a genus of 47 flowering plants in the mint family Lamiaceae. Lavender is an aromatic perennial evergreen shrub with purple flowers atop stems that rise above the foliage. Use of this sweetly fragrant flower dates back thousands of years; the Egyptians used it during the mummification process, while the Greeks and Romans used it for bathing, cooking and as an ingredient in perfume. Today lavender is one of the most recognized scents in the world.