Lavender perfumes
Lavender smells herbal, clean and slightly sweet, and it’s the heart of the classic barbershop fougère. Modern perfumes soften it with vanilla and tonka, or pair it with orange blossom, as YSL Libre does, to take it beyond men’s colognes. Editorial inference
Perfumes with lavender notes
Lavender is a key note
-
Sauvage Eau de Parfum
- Aromatic / amber
- Bergamot
- Lavender
- Vanilla
The Sauvage opening with lavender and a trace of vanilla underneath: smoother, warmer and a little sweeter than the EDT.
Perfumer: François Demachy
-
Libre Eau de Parfum
- Floral / fougère
- Lavender
- Orange blossom
- Vanilla
French lavender and Moroccan orange blossom over vanilla and musk. Polished and floral, clean enough for the office, warm enough for the evening.
Perfumers: Anne Flipo, Carlos Benaïm
-
Le Male Eau de Toilette
- Amber / aromatic
- Mint
- Lavender
- Vanilla
Cool mint and lavender over warm vanilla and tonka, like a barbershop that smells of cake. Soft, sweet and comforting, and a 1990s icon.
Perfumer: Francis Kurkdjian
Lavender in the full note list
These don’t lead with lavender, but it’s in their published notes, usually in the base.
-
Sauvage Eau de Toilette
- Fresh / spicy
- Bergamot
- Pepper
- Ambroxan
Sharp pepper and bergamot over a dry, mineral base. Loud for an EDT, so one or two sprays is plenty.
Perfumer: François Demachy
-
Cloud Eau de Parfum
- Gourmand / musky
- Pear
- Coconut
- Praline
A fluffy, sweet musk of pear, coconut cream and praline. Easy to like, inexpensive, and softer than it first seems.
Perfumer: Clément Gavarry
Comparisons
- Comparison Sauvage EDT vs EDP Dior Sauvage Eau de Toilette vs Eau de Parfum: the notes Dior lists for each, how they differ from opening to dry-down, and which to sample first.
- Comparison Sauvage vs Acqua di Giò Dior Sauvage vs Giorgio Armani Acqua di Giò: two fresh bestsellers compared, with the notes each brand lists, how they differ and which to sample first.
- Comparison Sauvage vs Bleu de Chanel Dior Sauvage vs Bleu de Chanel: the two best-known fresh men’s scents compared, with the notes each brand lists, how they differ and which to sample first.
- Comparison Dylan Blue vs Sauvage Versace Dylan Blue vs Dior Sauvage: two fresh, peppery blue men’s scents compared, with the notes each brand lists, how they differ and which to sample first.
- Comparison Cloud vs Baccarat Rouge 540 Ariana Grande Cloud vs Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540: the notes each brand lists, how they really differ, and whether Cloud works as a cheaper stand-in.
- Comparison Le Male vs Eros Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male vs Versace Eros: two sweet mint-and-vanilla men’s scents compared, with the notes each brand lists, how they differ and which to sample first.