There have been some threads lately about lavender fragrances ranging from Czech & Speake's Oxford and Cambridge to Agua Lavanda Puig. How about a survey of what's out there. What's your favorite lavender?
Best Lavender
- Thread starter The Nid Hog
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I'm a fan of Ox & Camb, myself. I think the Lav/Mint is a great combo, especially for warmer weather.
My favorite is Santa Maria Novella Imperial Lavender. In fact, it's my single favorite fragrance of any scent, period.
My vote would be for Atkinson's Old English Lavender. A sharp,crisp lavender with very little sweetness to it and at a great price point.
I've heard good things about this. So it's a masculine lavender? Is it cloying?
The C&S Ox and Cam is a great lavender scent, but it lacks staying power - on me less then two hours and its gone.
I think a bunch of scents contain lavender. Hammam Bouquet comes to mind, as does Acqua di Parma Absolutta.
I'm not sure which I'd call "best", though.
I'm not sure which I'd call "best", though.
Wow, on me it lasts all day. I must be in the minority in that I don't see the O&C as a "true" lavender scent. Rather, I see it as a unique scent in its own right, with a dominant lavender note; but it is too informed by the other notes in it to be a single-note lavender, at least to my nose. In fact, I was rather disappointed when I got it because I was expecting something more purely lavender than it was. It is very dark and masculine. So much so that my girlfriend at the time hated it - said it reminded her of 80s colognes that macho guys wore to impress people. It has grown on me since then, but it's nowhere near my favorite, and I doubt I would buy it again, at the price.
The Atkinsons is good. Hard to say if it is "masculine" or not. Said girlfriend actually occasionally liked to wear it herself, but it is marketed toward men. It is a straight-up English lavender cologne. If you are familiar with the smell of Coate's lavender shaving cream, or the old TOBS lavender, the smell of the Atkinsons is in that family.
Other lavenders of note: Acqua di Parma's Lavanda Tonica is good - sort of a kissing cousin to the SMN, but a little more feminine. I like SMN better. If Penhaligon's ever decides to rerelease their old lavender water, that would be a must-have. Very good stuff, and very "pure" smelling. D.R. Harris and Trumper also put out nice lavender waters. Between the two, I like the Harris, which is anchored by a musk note, whereas the Trumper has more mint in it.
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- #10
Do you find it very long lasting?
Another Oxford/Cambridge fan here..
I personally find it lasts longer than the Puig, but none of the lavenders I've tried are the last word in staying power, with the exception of the O&C. Again, that's on me.
About average for that type of product, a solid 5-6 hours with a little left close to the skin for much longer.
This is a very good value as well. Compared to Floris/Penhaligons its a real bargain.
Creed Royal Scottish Lavender.
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Not to be confused with Creed Royal Romanian Zamfir, which has more reedy notes in it.
I hate lavender for the most part, but I do like how it's used between the peppermint/spearmint topnotes, and the oakmoss/rosemary/woods(similar to A&F Fierce/curve/garrigue) basenotes of Oxford & Cambridge.
Santa Maria Novella Imperial Lavender is good
Yardley English lavender is pleasant but short-lived
Yardley English lavender is pleasant but short-lived
I'll throw in a plug for Caldey Island Lavender. It's gone in about 5 seconds (at least, it is on me), but while it's there it smells great! Fairly inexpensive too, even w/shipping from the UK.
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- #20
For a one bottle purchase, would you recommend the aftershave or the cologne?
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