For the Love of Lavender

For the Love of the Scent of Lavender

When it comes to global fragrance trends, lavender is second to vanilla in 2024. What’s surprising is the fragrant herb is appearing in a wide range of women’s fragrances as well as  men’s. There is an almost chameleon-like character to lavender which can have a delicate, sweet floral smell, an evergreen woodsy aroma, a powdery facet or even a smoky scent. Some perfumers describe it as having a balsamic resin fragrance.  It’s a complex and multi-faceted ingredient. A member of the mint family, lavender does have a ‘clean’ smell which is why you find it in laundry detergents and household cleaners today. Aromatherapy experts recommend lavender to relax the senses and help promote deep sleep.

Lavender has been used widely in our daily life since ancient times for both medicinal and cosmetic purposes. The fragrant oil is extracted from the purple blossoms through steam distillation. It’s interesting to learn that the name comes from the Latin word ‘lavare’ which means ‘to wash’. The ancient Egyptians used the plant to produce healing ointments, perfumes and embalming.

Arguably the finest lavender is grown in the United Kingdom. French Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) has a delicate sweet floral aroma while Dutch lavender (Lavandula intermedia) has a more aromatic, crisp odor. If you see the word ‘lavandin’ listed in a perfume’s ingredient list, that is the essential oil extracted from Dutch lavender. It has a ‘refreshing’ character to it.

If you love the calming aroma of lavender, you might want to read Ellen Spector Platt’s informative book  “Lavender: How to Grow and Use the Fragrant Herb”. We particularly enjoyed the section on how to grow and nurture lavender plants in home gardens, an easy way to bring the scent of lavender into your home. She’s even included a section on festivals and farms for those who want to experience lavender culture.

Three Lavender-themed fragrances we love:

Atkinsons Lavender on the Rocks

Atkinsons Lavender On The Rocks is an amber-floral fragrance for her or him that is best described as an icy and complex cocktail that exudes luxury. It blends notes of aromatic basil, rose, lavender and geranium with a surprising hay and honey note. Saffron adds a hint of spice while agarwood and amber provide a smooth dry down. Truly elegant.

The scent was created to “transform the familiar into the fabulously unfamiliar in a way that is distinctive and intriguing.”

Scent Style: an amber-floral scent for her or him

Key ingredients: basil, geranium, rose, lavender, hay, honey, almond, saffron, agarwood, guaiac wood and amber

Lacoste L.12.12 Blanc Eau Intense

Lacoste L.12.12 Blanc Eau Intense is a woody-spicy scent for him composed by perfumers Jean-Christophe Hérault and Delphine Lebeau. The pair combine notes of mandarin orange, turmeric, lavender, cardamom and clary sage with smooth sandalwood, leather and vetiver. It’s masculine and stylish.

Scent Style: a woody-spicy fragrance for him

Key ingredients: turmeric, lavender, mandarin orange, cardamom, clary sage, leather, sandalwood, vetiver

Montblanc Legend Eau de Toilette

Montblanc Legend Eau de Toilette is an aromatic-fougere fragrance for him composed by renowned perfumer Olivier Pescheux. He creates a rich and complex scent by handpicking ingredients such as lemon verbena, red apple, pineapple and geranium. It’s a scent with character that changes as it dries down on skin and slowly reveals its notes

Scent Style: an aromatic-fougere fragrance for him

Key ingredients: lavender, pineapple, bergamot, lemon verbena, red apple, dried fruits, oakmoss, geranium, coumarin, rose, tonka bean, sandalwood

Ellen Spector Platt’s book is available on amazon.ca

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