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Monday, February 18, 2013

My Top Twelve Lavender Perfumes



 Lavender can be an acquired taste. The association with laundry and dainty linen handkerchiefs starched and ironed in forgotten old drawers.  But I do like lavender on its various facets: herbal, astringent, floral and sometimes sweet, and enjoy the many ways perfumers put it into good and often complex use. These are my top favorite lavender fragrances, in no particular order:

  • Serge Lutens-  Fourreau Noir, Gris Clair, and Encens et Lavande. No one injects as much complexity to lavender perfumes as well as Uncle Serge. Smoke, incense, ash, wood or an oriental base, it's all there.
  • Caron- Caron Pour Un Homme. An elegant musky-aromatic classic. I bought a bottle for my father recently.
  • Parfums de Nicolai- Maharadjah. A spicy floral over a rich sandalwood base. They say it's a masculine, I say: whatever.
  • Maxim de Paris- Maxim's pour Homme. A little known treasure of leather and aromatics. 



  • Diptyque- Eau d'Elide. One of the most intriguing lavender compositions. Candied orange and a Mediterranean air.
  • Mona di Orio- Chamarre. Discontinued but beautiful, musky and full bodied.
  • Jean Patou- Ma Liberte. Another lost treasure. Crisp and clear with the elegance of Patou.
  • Guerlain- Jicky. One of those perfumes that always feel right. Hard to believe it was around in one form or another since 1889.

Honorable mention: Penhaligon- Sartorial (Bertrand Duchaufour's homage to Saville Row), CB I Hate Perfume- Lavender Tea (what it says with a side of patchouli), Molinard- Lavande (A cheap thrill if there ever was one. I use it as a linen spray).

Images-
Pat Silveri Photographs - Lavender Fields forever
Purple Fields-Gerd Ludwig
Bee on a Lavender- missbeehavenlavender.com
Serge Lutens Gric Clair via Serge Lutens Facebook page.

8 comments:

  1. Very interesting list...I would add Luberon by Maria Candida Gentile. A herbal Lavender, almost camomile-like. A well done perfume!

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  2. This has come at a really good time - I need something to wake me out of my winter sleep and lavender sounds like a great choice. And I'm wondering why haven't I worn Jicky for the longest time? Because you are correct, it always feels right. :)

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  3. Great list - would add By Kilian A Taste of Heaven. ~~nozknoz

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  4. Lovely list of one of my favourite notes in perfume.
    I have a few to add as well.
    Histoires de Parfums 1725 ( Casanova)
    Parfums de Nicolaï: Nicolaï pour Homme ( discontinued)
    Caron: Les plus belles Lavandes.
    Caldey Island: Lavender Water

    Austenfan

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  5. i would add le troisieme homme de caron - it's far sexier than un homme de caron (with which i spray my bedsheets).

    and i lucked upon an old lancome - lavandes - in a huge decanter-style bottle. now that is lavender!

    also love french lavender essential oil, and bulgarian lavender eo.

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  6. Oh I love lavender! Jicky eau de parfum (my preferred concentration) is heaven in a bottle to me. And Lutens Encens et Lavande gave me goosebumps the first time I sniffed it. Maybe I need a bottle. Vero Profumo Kiki has been on my list for ever....time to find some!
    I also like Guerlain Acqua Allegoria Lavande Velours and even the much maligned in the perfume world Chanel Jersey ;-)

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  7. I love lavender, and enjoy many on your list, especially the Jicky edp and Gris Clair. I'd add my two other loves Vera by Roxanna Illuminated and Wrappings by Clinique.

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