Why lavender is trending in perfumery
When you think of trending ingredients in the global fragrance industry, gourmand notes like vanilla, cocoa and sweet benzoin immediately spring to mind. Or new high-tech green notes that mimic ocean breezes or sun-kissed beaches. Lavender isn’t likely one you’d imagine is having a moment in 2024. But the calming and restful note is surprising complex in makeup. The herbaceous-aromatic aroma hides many different facets that perfumers can draw out depending on what other notes they pair it with. Here’s the fascinating story of a powerhouse ingredient.
Lavandula, commonly called lavender, is a genus of 47 known species of perennial flowering plants in the mint family. Yes, lavender is related to the refreshing herb that is frequently used to flavour toothpaste, chewing gum and even ice cream. It flourishes in the drier, warmer regions of mainland Eurasia and the Mediterranean coast. The lavender blooms are contained in ‘whorls’, held on spikes rising above the foliage and can be blue, violet or lilac in colour. The plant dates back to Roman times, the Middle Ages through to modern day. The name, lavender, is said to have come to use in the 13th century, generally thought to derive from the French term ‘lavandre’. Did you know that lavender was one of the most popular notes to wear by women in 1882? It was a favourite of British Royalty.
One of the keys to the complexity of this ingredient comes from its biology. Lavender contains 100 individual phytochemicals including linalyl acetate, linalool, tannins and caryophyllene. What this means is there is depth and character to the aroma that other notes may not have. You can experience when you eat a dish made with culinary lavender which has a sweet aromatic fragrance with a hint of lemon and citrus. It’s used as a spice in desserts, salad dressings, pastas and baking.
During Roman times, lavender flowers were sold for 100 denarii per pound, or about a month’s wages for a farm laborer. The essential oil was commonly used for medicinal purposes as a treatment for insomnia, intestinal discomfort and cardiovascular issues. In France, it is a tradition to sleep with a sachet of lavender close to your pillow.
So why is this ancient flower so popular today? Lavender offers a clean, smooth aroma with a refreshing green facet which works beautifully in men’s and women’s fragrances. It can enhance other spicy ingredients in a composition or it can add a delicate aromatic herbal heart to a scent. A new generation of perfumers are using lavender for its mood-boosting properties. As Gen Z consumers look to fragrances to make them feel better, lavender offers a calming, soothing and relaxing quality. Quite simply, lavender scents can help you deal with the stress of modern-day life.
The finest quality lavender for fragrances is grown in England and Provence, France where the moderate climate and soil conditions are conducive to great lavender harvests. The fragrant essential oil is extracted using steam distillation.
Here are five of our favourite fragrances that feature lavender.
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
Boucheron Singulier
This elegant aromatic-woody scent for him is crisp and clean. The grapefruit in particular creates a fresh facet. It blends nicely with the earthy vetiver and calming lavender.
Scent Style: an elegant aromatic-woody scent for him
Key ingredients: bergamot, grapefruit, lavender, sage, geranium, cedar, vetiver, patchouli
MCM Onyx
MCM Onyx, a youthful woody-fougere for him is uplifting and energizing thanks to a kick of ginger, burst of grapefruit and dash of basil. The bottle design mimics the famous backpack design MCM is known for.
Key ingredients: ginger, pink pepper, grapefruit, violet leaf, basil, lavender, clearwood, Haitian vetiver, tonka bean
Jimmy Choo Man
Jimmy Choo Man is a fruity-aromatic fragrance for him. Perfumer Ann Flipo blends notes of honeydew melon, pineapple leaf, and pink pepper with lavender and patchouli. She slyly adds in a hint of suede to give it an added smoothness. It’s modern and stylish.
Scent Style: an aromatic-fruity fragrance for him
Key ingredients: honeydew melon, pink pepper, pineapple leaf, lavender, patchouli, suede
Versace Dreamer
Versace Dreamer is an amber-fougere fragrance for him that was launched in 1996. Perfumer Jean-Pierre Behouart blends notes of lavender, sage and mandarin orange with tobacco, rose and carnation. A hint of geranium adds freshness. The drydown layers notes of tonka bean, fir, vetiver and cedar.
Made in Italy.
Scent Style: an amber-fougere fragrance for him
Key ingredients: lavender, sage, mandarin orange, tobacco, rose, carnation, geranium, tonka bean, fir, vetiver, cedar
Each of these lavender-themed fragrances is available on scentlodge.com
Angela Citrigno
June 20, 2024 at 11:15 pmI appreciate the smell of a lavender oil when mixed with distilled water and spray my lining. I’ll be honest cheap lavender products turn me off. We have lovely Lavender farm not far from us. We also have restaurant in town that serves crème brûlée with lavender. My favourite dessert. 🍮
Marla Veis
June 17, 2024 at 1:17 pmHi Dave, l think you should put all of the Scent lodge newsletter into a book. Everything is so informative and interesting
Trisha Pedros
June 17, 2024 at 7:30 amI love the history you share! It’s so cool to learn people have always loved lavender. It’s also interesting to learn lavender is part of the mint family.
LindaL
June 16, 2024 at 12:59 pmSo much interesting information in this article. I enjoy growing lavender in my garden and drying it to create sachets . Such a calming scent!
Liz Howard
June 15, 2024 at 4:44 pmSuch a beautiful and soothing fragrance!
@tserings
June 15, 2024 at 1:19 pmOmg the Versace DREAMER is absolutely stunning 😍 This is a *need* not a want #hearthstolen #dreameractivated
Roberta MacQuarrie
June 15, 2024 at 11:53 amSo interesting about the history and biology of lavender. Lavender is a favourite for its soothing qualities and fields of lavender are heavenly! I always use lavender sachets in my drawers and closets.
September Dee
June 15, 2024 at 8:45 amI love the soothing quality of lavender. Recently bought a lavender scented natural laundry powder to try and I like to spritz my bed linenes with the scent. Also, it is a much nicer way to repel moths than moth balls.