There's a moment at the end of every Door County trip when you start looking for something to bring home. Something that holds a little of the peninsula: the smell of a summer field, the color of the bay at sunset, a taste of the orchards. If your visit falls during lavender season, you're in luck. Lavender makes some of the most lasting, useful and beautiful souvenirs you can find.
Here's our guide to the best Door County souvenirs to bring home from lavender season, from dried bundles to pantry treats to small pieces of Door County art.
Why Lavender Makes a Great Souvenir
Many souvenirs end up in a drawer. Lavender tends to get used. It goes into the kitchen, the bath, the linen closet and the bedside table. And every time you smell it, it brings you back to the trip.
Lavender also travels well. Dried lavender is light and sturdy, and many lavender products are shelf-stable, which makes them easy to pack in a car or suitcase.
In Door County, lavender season usually peaks in July. At Wilder Farms in Baileys Harbor, we grow more than 20,000 plants without chemicals or pesticides. Our Ephraim shop carries more than 160 lavender products, so there's plenty to choose from.
1. Dried Lavender Bundles
If you bring home just one thing, make it dried lavender. A bundle captures the look and scent of the fields, and it lasts for months.
Our large dried lavender bundle is a simple, classic souvenir. A few ways to use it at home:
- In a vase. Dried lavender needs no water. Set it in a pitcher or jar for an easy, long-lasting arrangement.
- Hung by a door. A bundle tied with twine makes a fragrant welcome.
- In a drawer or closet. Snip a few stems and tuck them among linens or sweaters.
- As a gift. Wrap a bundle in brown paper for a thoughtful, inexpensive present.
Different varieties dry differently. Royal Velvet dries to a dark, rich purple, while lavandins like Phenomenal have long stems and a strong fragrance. Hidcote keeps a deep color and a sweet scent.
To refresh the fragrance over time, gently squeeze the buds between your fingers.
2. Culinary Lavender and Pantry Treats
Food souvenirs are a great way to keep the trip going at home. Lavender's floral, slightly sweet flavor pairs well with lemon, honey, berries and vanilla.
A few ideas:
- Lavender extract. Our lavender extract is an easy way to add lavender to lemonade, whipped cream, cookies and cakes. A few drops go a long way.
- Jams and spreads. Our shop carries a blueberry lavender jam, a sweet way to start your mornings with a taste of the trip.
- Lavender lemonade. Wilder Lavender Lemonade is a cool, refreshing treat to sip on the drive home or bring back for friends.
- Lavender coffee. A bag of lavender coconut flavored coffee makes mornings at home feel a little more like vacation.
Culinary lavender comes mostly from English lavender varieties like Hidcote, which have a sweeter, gentler flavor than lavandins. When you cook with lavender, start small. A little goes a long way.
3. Bath and Body Care
Lavender bath and body products are practical souvenirs that bring the calm of the fields into your daily routine.
Look for:
- Soaps and body washes. Lavender soaps make great gifts and are easy to pack.
- Lotions. A lavender hand or body lotion is a nice everyday reminder of your trip.
- Body scrubs. Lavender body scrubs feel like a small spa treat at home.
- Skin care. Our lavender facial serum and lavender cuticle serum are small, easy additions to a personal care routine.
These products are especially good gifts for people who couldn't make the trip with you.
4. Home Fragrance
If you want your home to smell a little like Door County, home fragrance is a great choice.
- Reed diffusers offer a gentle, steady scent without a flame.
- Candles are a cozy way to enjoy lavender in the evening.
- Linen and room sprays freshen pillows, towels and small spaces.
Lavender's fresh, herbal scent fits almost any room, from the kitchen to the bedroom.
5. Door County Art and Paper Goods
Not every souvenir has to smell like lavender. Small reminders of Door County itself make lovely souvenirs too.
Our shop carries Door County-themed posters, including designs inspired by classic peninsula experiences like a fish boil, a lookout tower and life on Washington Island. A poster like the Harmony in Door County poster is a lovely way to bring a little of the peninsula to your walls.
Smaller paper goods make easy souvenirs too:
- Postcards to send to friends or keep as a record of your trip
- Lavender bookmarks for the reader in your life
- Tea towels with lavender designs, both pretty and useful
6. Pieces for the Home
Simple home pieces can turn your lavender souvenirs into a display. A tall glass vase holds a dried lavender bundle beautifully, and a lavender tea towel brings a little color to the kitchen.
Mixing a few of these items creates a small lavender corner at home: a bundle in a vase, a candle on the table and a Door County poster on the wall.
Choosing Souvenirs as Gifts
Lavender souvenirs make easy gifts because they suit almost anyone. A few simple pairings:
- For the cook: lavender extract and a jar of blueberry lavender jam
- For someone who needs a break: a lavender lotion, a body scrub and a candle
- For the home lover: a dried bundle in a glass vase and a lavender tea towel
- For the Door County fan: a peninsula poster and a stack of postcards
Grouping two or three small items in a basket or tote makes a thoughtful, personal gift that feels like a piece of your trip.
How to Pack Lavender Souvenirs
A few tips to get your souvenirs home in good shape:
- Wrap dried bundles loosely. Lay them flat in a box or wrap them in paper. They may shed a few buds, which is normal.
- Keep heat-sensitive items cool. Candles, lotions and treats don't like a hot car. A cooler bag helps on summer days.
- Pack liquids carefully. If you're flying home, check airline rules for liquids and place bottles in sealed bags.
- Keep food items upright. Jars and bottles travel best packed snugly so they don't tip.
Where to Shop
Our shop, Island Lavender by Wilder, is in Ephraim on Eagle Harbor, along Highway 42. It carries more than 160 lavender products, from dried bundles to pantry items to bath and body care.
The shop is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 to 5. Hours can change with the seasons, so call ahead at 920-737-1531 if you're visiting outside of summer.
If you'd like to see where much of our lavender grows, Wilder Farms is at 9668 State Highway 57 in Baileys Harbor. Check wilderdoorcounty.com for current visiting information.
And if you're making a longer trip of it, The Wilder Inn is an adults-only inn on Eagle Harbor in Ephraim, within walking distance of restaurants and beaches.
Bring a Little Door County Home
The best souvenirs are the ones you use. A bundle of dried lavender in the kitchen, a jar of jam on the breakfast table or a poster on the wall can bring back the feeling of a Door County summer long after the season ends. We hope you'll stop in, smell everything and find something that reminds you of your time on the peninsula.
