Like sophisticated vanilla perfumes and delicate rose fragrances, lavender perfumes are perennial for a reason. “Lavender is one of the most beautiful oils by itself,” says David Seth Moltz, co-founder of D.S. & Durga. “It recalls a journey through European fields with age-old associations; it can denote cleanliness and is usually powdery for people who dig that,” he notes.
Used as far back as ancient Egyptian times, lavender has also been shown to have soothing and calming properties. So whether you’re looking to wind down for the weekend or are just getting into a jam-packed work week, a few spritzes of lavender perfume may just help you dissipate stress (and smell amazing in the process).
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Despite its light and airy nature, lavender shouldn’t only be considered a daytime or spring-ready scent, however. Actually, it’s quite versatile. “Lavender is one of the canonical aromas of perfumery, so can work for both day and night and in any season,” says Seth Moltz, adding that it’s especially fitting for the evening when mixed with deeper floral or amber scents. According to the expert, lavender blends well with other florals like jasmine and rose, as well as herbs and citruses for a crisp medley.
Eager to add a lavender fragrance to your lineup or replenish your go-to stash? Ahead, shop top-rated lavender perfumes that rightfully earn a spot on your vanity.
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Best Woodsy Lavender Perfume
Burning Barbershop, $189, D.S. & Durga
Key Notes: Spearmint, lime, hemlock spruce, lavender
Size: 50 ml.
Cult-loved fragrance brand D.S. & Durga is exceptional at creating unexpected, visionary scents, so you can bet its take on lavender is far from basic. Evoking the smell of burnt aftershave—which the brand imagines to have wafted through the air of a New York-based barbershop that historically burned down in 1891—it showcases notes of spearmint, lime, vanilla, and charred lavender. The result: A smoky-sweet aroma even your BF will be tempted to steal.
Pros: Unique Scent
Cons: Pricey
Nordstrom rating: 5/5 stars
A Nordstrom reviewer says: “I have nearly 100 bottles of cologne. Burning Barbershop is BY FAR the best fragrance I have ever smelled. Definitely a more masculine scent but not your traditional woodsy type of smell. I took a leap of faith and hadn’t smelled it prior to my purchase, and now my only regret is that I didn’t opt for the larger bottle. Worth every penny and more.”
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Best Musky Lavender Perfume
Libre Eau de Parfum, $280, Yves Saint Laurent.
Key Notes: Lavender, orange blossom, musk
Size: 90 ml.
A refreshingly modern option, YSL Libre offers a dark floral mix of lavender, orange blossom, and musk accord.
Pros: Long-lasting, Warm scent
Cons: May be too strong for some users
Nordstrom rating: 4.6/5 stars
A Nordstrom reviewer says: “Love it; this perfume lasts all day. I still smell it on my clothes when I’m about to wash them. It’s a statement piece.”
Best Citrusy Lavender Perfume
Colonia Eau de Cologne, $223 Acqua di Parma.
Key Notes: Lemon, sweet orange, calabrian bergamot, lavender
Size: 50 ml.
From the famed Italian fragrance house Acqua di Parma comes this bright formula that will help put a pep in your step on even the gloomiest days. Top notes of lemon, orange, and crisp bergamot make way to lavender and rose, which are then grounded by earthy sandalwood and patchouli.
Pros: Fresh scent
Cons: May be too masculine of a scent for some users
Nordstrom rating: 4.6/5 stars
A Nordstrom reviewer says: “This is incredibly beautiful and classically elegant. It starts off a little strong and citrusy but drys down slowly to subtle perfection of rose and lavender. It lasted a day and a half on my skin, which is unheard of in today’s fragrance world.”
Best Romantic Lavender Perfume
The Alchemist's Garden Moonlight Serenade Floral Water, $357, Gucci.
Key Notes: Lavender, sage, tonka bean
Size: 150 ml.
Love potions may be the stuff of mythology, but this sexy Gucci scent is perhaps the next best thing. Spritz on the lavender, sage, and tonka bean-infused fragrance; your enchanted date won’t know what hit them. Meticulously crafted with eaux de parfum, aromatic oils, and acque profumate (“scented waters”), the formula is also designed to be easily layered with other scents in the collection.
Pros: Layerable
Cons: Pricey
Nordstrom rating: 4/5 stars
A Nordstrom reviewer says: “A mystical transport back in time of lovely floral aromas.”
Best Unisex Lavender Perfume
Boy Chanel Eau de Parfum, $385, Chanel.
Key Notes: Lavender, geranium, woody notes
Size: 75 ml.
Chanel perfumes are iconic, and its unisex Boy de Chanel scent is bound to become one of your new favourites. Paying homage to Gabrielle Chanel’s great love, it boasts a calming yet bold combo of lavender, geranium, grapefruit, and sandalwood.
Pros: Bold, universal scent
Cons: Pricey
Chanel rating: 5/5 stars
A Chanel reviewer says: “It smells expensive and exclusive. It starts kinda powdery and dry. It evolves into a slightly citrusy and fresh aroma. This scent is subtle, perfect for every day. I love it.”
Best Classic Lavender Perfume
Atelier des Fleurs Lavanda Eau de Parfum, $408, Chloé.
Key Notes: Lavender
Size: 150 ml.
This straightforward scent by Chloé is a surefire pick for any lavender purist. Per the brand, it’s inspired by perfumer Quentin Bisch’s childhood memories of his mother walking through their garden toting a bushel of lavender.
Pros: Lavender-centric scent
Cons: Pricey
Nordstrom rating: 4.7/5 stars
A Nordstrom reviewer says: “I love lavender but don’t like my perfume to be too singular or literal and find most lavender scents to be a little screechy and synthetic. But this Chloe perfume is top-notch in my book. It smells as if someone laid a freshly cut bunch of lavender next to a strong cup of black tea. It isn’t particularly potent, lasting about five hours on my skin, and stays close and subtle. Absolutely lovely!”
Best For Nighttime Wear
Amber & Lavender Cologne, $223, Jo Malone London.
Key Notes: Lavender, amber, petitgrain
Size: 100 ml.
Among Jo Malone’s repertoire of clean, luxurious fragrances is this lavender perfume with a warm and spicy twist. Including notes of rich amber and herbaceous petitgrain, it’s deep enough for evening wear and is bound to invigorate the senses.
Pros: Sultry scent
Cons: May be too strong for some users
Nordstrom rating: 4.7/5 stars
A Nordstrom reviewer says: “This is my favourite Jo Malone fragrance! It is at once both fresh and spicy, with a lovely top note and sensual dry down. I love that the lavender note doesn’t get lost in the heady amber base. The two seem like such a contradiction, yet work beautifully together. I wear this scent alone during the day and layer it with a bit more spicy perfume at night, and people are always asking what I’m wearing.”
Best Splurge
Petit Matin Eau de Parfum, $315 Maison Francis Kurkdjian.
Key Notes: Litsea cubeba, Calabrian lemon, lavender from Provence, orange blossom, musk
Size: 70 ml.
While Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s artisanal perfumes will cost you a pretty penny, they’re backed by an astounding amount of hype (in fact, the brand makes one of the most popular perfumes ever to grace TikTok). This version from the label stars lavender from Provence, plus citrusy Litsea cubeba from Indonesia and Calabrian lemon. Rounding out the complex aroma are musky, ambery notes to ensure you earn endless compliments.
Pros: Complex scent
Cons: Very pricey
Nordstrom rating: 4.5/5 stars
A Nordstrom reviewer says: “It’s light and fresh yet not powdery. Smells bright with lemon but sexier than that. When I walk into a room, my boyfriend will comment that I smell fantastic. It’s very different than anything else I’ve tried from this brand.”
Best Subtly Sweet Lavender Perfume
Mon Guerlain Eau de Parfum, $210, Guerlain.
Key Notes: Jasmine, lavender, vanilla
Size: 50 ml.
If you want something feminine but not too overpowering, go for this top-rated option from Guerlain. It combines jasmine, lavender, and vanilla for what customers call a well-balanced fragrance.
Pros: Warm scent
Cons: May not be as long-lasting as other scents
Sephora rating: 4.4/5 stars
A Sephora reviewer says: “This has such a unique smell, makes me feel like a boss b*tch when I wear it to work. It’s not super floral, sweet, or musky. A perfect clean scent.”
This article was first seen on ELLE US.