Fresh · Natural material · Top notes, Heart notes
Lavender
Lavender is a fragrant oil steam distilled from the flowers of the Lavandula plant. It smells herbal and clean, a little camphor-like at first, then turns soft and slightly sweet. Lavender fills the top or heart notes of many perfumes and is the core of the fougère family.
· Written by the FRAG team
What does lavender smell like?
Lavender smells clean and herbal, with a soft floral side. It opens with a fresh, camphor-like edge. That edge fades, leaving something warmer, slightly woody and a little honeyed. Many people know the smell of lavender from soap, laundry products and room sprays.
In perfume, lavender usually feels finer and richer than in household products. With vanilla or tonka, lavender turns sweet and soft. With woods or leather, lavender reads drier and more polished.
Lavender and lavandin: what is the difference?
True lavender is Lavandula angustifolia, grown in the highlands of Provence in France and in Bulgaria. Bulgaria is now the largest producer of lavender oil, followed by France. The oil is steam distilled from flowering spikes. Its main components are linalool and linalyl acetate.
Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia) is a cross between true lavender and spike lavender. Lavandin yields far more oil per hectare, but it smells sharper because it contains more camphor. On note lists, both are often simply called lavender.
Lavender and the fougère family
Lavender usually sits in the top and heart notes. Lavender is the core of the fougère family, a style born in the late 19th century that combines lavender, coumarin (the smell of tonka beans) and oakmoss. That structure still underpins many men's perfumes today.
Common partners are bergamot, geranium and clary sage, with tonka, vanilla or oakmoss in the base. Perfumers also pair lavender with leather, tobacco or resins to move it away from soap and toward something warmer.
When to wear a lavender perfume
A lavender perfume built with citrus and herbs feels light and suits daytime or the office. Blends of lavender with vanilla, tonka or amber are warmer and sweeter, so they fit late afternoon, evening or air-conditioned rooms.
