lavender is interesting stuff. It is chemically one of the most complex essential oils out there. While it does have a reputation for being a sleep aid/relaxant, the fact is, it tends to BALANCE more than anythign else; so in someone feeling fatigued, lavender can act as a stimulant...

It is also an excellent anti-microbial and more pleasant in this regard than tea-tree. It is very safe and non-tpxic and can be used directly on the skin, even on babies. It is effective for healing burns, cuts, abrasions, insect bites, rashes, yeast infections, pimples, and athlete's foot.

It is also a great insect repellent, and adding a few drops to the rinse water when you wash your wool sweaters will keep the moths away...moths like the dirt, not the wool, on your sweaters, so always clean them before storing. You can also store them with small muslin bags filled with lavender flowers...like the Victorians did!

re: fragrances on men. I have really only liked a handful of commercial men's fragrances over the years, inckuding Old Spice, Canoe and the sandalwood-based ones from Crabtree and Evelyn...the contemporary ones are loaded with synthetics and totally nasty in my opinion...

In my experience making fragrance oils for people, the essential oils that work best on men are:
vetiver (yum! very sexy)
sandalwood
patchouli
cedarwood
clary sage
black pepper
violet leaf
juniper berry
frankincense
oakmoss
palmarosa
ambrette (a botanical source of musk)

some of the above are slightly aphrodisiac as well...

if anyone wants a recipe, email me....

Peg