Here’s more proof lavender has a calming effect. In a USstudy, researchers ran lavender and non-lavender scented baths, in whichmothers then bathed their young infants. The researchers found that the mothersin the lavender bath-oil group were more relaxed, and smiled and touched theirinfants more during the bath. Their babies looked at them a greater percentageof the bath time, cried less and spent more time in a deep sleep after theirbath. The cortisol levels of this group of mothers and infants significantly decreased,which meant an increase in relaxation for both the mums and babies.