In 1970, lavender was brought to Kashmir from Bulgaria by Dr Akhtar Hussain, the then Scientist In-charge of the Field Station and founder Director of the Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), Lucknow. He introduced lavender cultivation at Field Station Pulwama which is about 35 km south of Srinagar. Although lavender was also introduced in Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and other northeastern states, excessive rainfall during the flowering period hindered its expansion in these areas.

According to Dr Abdul Sami Shawl after extensive efforts on varietal improvement, a new variety of lavender was developed and its large-scale cultivation began at the Pulwama Station. Further genetic improvements led to the introduction of the variety known as B-18. With the propagation of this new variety among farmers, Kashmir used to produce around 700-800 kg of lavender oil.

Lavender cultivation was also promoted through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, providing entrepreneurs with technical assistance and knowledge sharing for large-scale production. Distillation facilities at the Field Station were made available to growers under the PPP mode for oil extraction. In around 2005, then Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed developed a lavender park in Pahalgam.

Currently, Bhaderwah is recognised as the epicentre of the Purple Revolution, with farmers adopting lavender for its increased profitability compared to traditional crops. Since 2009, thousands of rooted lavender plants from the Pulwama Station of CSIR have been taken to Bhaderwah, promoting large-scale cultivation. As a result, more farmers are switching to producing lavender oil and dry flowers.

The CSIR Aroma Mission, an initiative under the Ministry of Science and Technology, has significantly promoted the cultivation of various industrially important aromatic crops, including lavender. The essential oils produced in the valley meet international standards, comparable to those produced in Bulgaria and France.

Lavender is widely used in perfumery, the floral industry, and aromatherapy. It has medicinal properties, including antibacterial and antidepressant effects. Aromatherapists use lavender in inhalation therapy to treat headaches, nervous disorders, and exhaustion, while herbalists treat skin ailments such as fungal infections, wounds, eczema, and acne with lavender oil. It is also used in healing baths for joint and muscle pain. Once planted, lavender can remain productive for around 20 years without the need for replanting.