Best Lavenders

[The Chandos]

I know lavender is a pretty common favorite amongst the B&B community and that there are hundreds to choose from. I came across this article today on The Non-Blonde about lavenders and thought it'd be a useful discussion topic. There are some I've never heard of, some I've tried and would wholeheartedly agree with (or disagree), and some that are obviously missing (namely, Antiheroes).

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:

• Vero Profumo- Kiki. A deliciously naughty gourmand.
• Tauer Perfumes- Reverie au Jardin. An Alpine garden on a July afternoon.
• 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 Duchaufur'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).

 

[Mick]

Thanks for sharing this collection of different lavender products. Sartorial is the only one I have personal experience with out of your list.

 

[Lamb Root]

I have never tried Kiki, Tauer, Fourreau Noir, Maxim de Paris and Ma Liberte. That's about half of what she mentioned.

• the fact that Maxim de Pris produces a scent with lavender hurts like hell. I was on Charles de Gaulle airport yesterday for four hours thinking that there are no lavender frags left to buy for me there. I bought some Maxim's chocolate instead.
• I tend to agree with her on her Maharadjah. Unisex would be a better description. Whatever.
• Chamarre, well, I've tried that one too but lavender in Chamarre in not a prominent note, not even very distinctive.
• Eau d'Elide, unfortunately I don't like very much.

Thanks for posting this. I feel miserable now, but next time if I have the chance I'll look for this Maxim's pour Homme. Sounds very interesting.

 

[musicman1951]

I like Azzaro pour Homme.

 

[Archerfire]

I'd have to add Caldey Island Lavender by the Caldey Abbey monks to the list! It's an amazing bargain, imo. I just went for a quick look and, unfortunately, I don't see it offered on their website anymore and now everything 'perfume' is UK only.

 

[Niles]

I love the Caron and Guerlain as well as By Kilian's A Taste of Heaven.

 

[GarrettReid]

I have a weird relationship with Lavender because I don't hate the smell of it, I do actually like the smell. But when I actually smell it I tend to be disgusted.

 

[xillion]

Czech & Speake Oxford and Cambridge is one of my favorites.

I also enjoy Lavanda Agua Colonia.

I tried a sample of Acca Kappa Blue Lavender not too long ago. It smelled nice on my skin but it didn't last very long.

 

[Evbo]

It's been discontinued (unfortunately), but Creed's Royal Scottish Lavender is among my favorites. Old world & distinguished. I'll miss it when my bottle's gone.*



​*Which isn't going to be for quite some time.

 

[The Knize]

I did not realize you were quoting the article. I have not even heard of some of those either! I like the ones I have tried in this thread. I cannot right off think of a lavander I dislike.

Certainly ELdO Antiheroes is one for the list.

C&S O&C is probably still my favorite. Ach Brito Claus Porto Lavanda Eau de Cologne smells wonderful, although it has little tenacity. Very inexpensive. Mouchoir de Monsieur, like Jicky.

They have stopped selling Caldy Island? That is a shame!

Where to stop with what is a lavander scent? If Sartorial is on the list, why not every traditional fougere?

The thing that got me hooked on lavander scents is SCS Bulgarian lavander shave cream. There is a truly masculine lavander. So earthy!

 

[jakespoppy]

I've only tried a few of those, but James mentioned my favorite lavender frag, A Taste of Heaven.

Since we are talking lavender, I wanted to share one of my favorite shampoos. I first tried Paul Mitchell Tea Tree shampoo, and love the tea tree tingle. Then I tried Paul Mitchell Lavender Mint shampoo, and I love the lavender scent. It still has the same quality as the original, but if you like lavender, this a shampoo that you might enjoy using for the scent as much as I do.

 

[sarimento1]

Ok, I realize this thread is more about straight fragrances than soaps or creams.
However, my personal exposure to lavenders is still largely connected to the soaps I've been experimenting with.
Still, just today I tried the AOS AS Lavender balm at the mall and really liked it.
It has a strong citrus side note.
Other than that, I've only used the T&H Lavender shave cream, which is sweet and nice.
There are a few other lavenders in my sample drawer that I look forward to trying.
Bottom line...for years I had shunned lavender, fearing it was too floral.
Now, what the heck, I really like it and have no reservation to using it.

 

[john parker]

Suspect that the answer is "because they are not eau de toilettes", but, to ask the question anyway, why are no lavender waters mentioned? Along with my Caron PH, I enjoy TOBS Lavender Water for its herbalness and the late, lamented C&E Lavender Water for its sweet simplicity.

 

[petr]

No fans of Santa Maria Novella? It's a punch right in the face sort of thing to me.

I left lavenders a while back ... citrus and sandalwood captured my imagination. But, who knows?

 

[The Chandos]

No fans of Santa Maria Novella? It's a punch right in the face sort of thing to me.

It's one of the few SMN I've yet to try! And one day I will. I swear I will.

 

[The Knize]

It's one of the few SMN I've yet to try! And one day I will. I swear I will.

Me either, for unknown reasons. There are very few SMN frags that I do not like, or, better put, that I do not think are fine examples of their stated genres!

 

[Lamb Root]

SMN uses lavender in many of their scents. I don't know why but I'm not a very big fan of their Lavanda ambrata or Lavanda imperiale. Especially the latter. Other than that, I agree with anyone who thinks that SMN is a great frag house. Given the time that passed between the date of creation of some of their scents and today, SMN obviously had centuries to perfect their scents and their own expression. The ones that I want to have are Fieno, Colonia Russa and Ginestra. First two of these have some lavender too.
And I wouldn't recommend blind buying Lavanda ambrata when looking for an easy-to-wear lavender.

 

[hedonist222]

Lorenzo Villoresi's Wild Lavender is a very earthy, natural and intense lavender.

I am infatuated with Fourreau Noir and Encens et Lavand. Bell jars...

 

[Cuttingboard]

Creed's Royal Scottish Lavender is my favorite but I've had to settle for Oxford & Cambridge. I would to try Lavanda Agua Colonia or Agua Lavanda Puig or another of the old world lavenders.

Which one did Sinatra wear?

 

[The Knize]

Which one did Sinatra wear?

They say Agua Lavanda Puig.