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Lavender: Ingredient Guide, Info, Smell & More!

Lavender is distinctive for its light, fresh floral scent, and aromatic herbal notes.

Depending on the exact variety of lavender, the fragrance can range from sweet and mild to rich and spicy.

The unmistakable aroma of lavender and its soothing properties make it a staple of perfumery and aromatherapy.

Whether it’s used to adorn herb gardens or to alleviate anxiety, lavender’s signature smell helps to bring a sense of calm and relaxation.

So, what does lavender smell like?

Lavender has a versatile scent that can be enhanced or more muted depending on how it’s blended.

It is unique, however, for its widely recognizable botanical fragrance with herbal notes and a hint of spice.

Continue reading this post to learn more.

What is Lavender?

What we commonly call lavender is actually a genus of 47 plants belonging to the mint family called Lavandula.

This aromatic flowering plant is a firm favorite for its distinctive floral scent and calming qualities.

With its vivid purple flowers and unique floral notes, this common garden plant is a world-wide symbol of calm and relaxation.

For this reason, lavender is distilled into essential oil and is used in everything from perfumes and cosmetics to cooking and cleaning products.

The lavender plant lends its attractive flowers and delicate smells to herb gardens around the world, and lavender essential oil can be found in almost every retail store as an ingredient in health and wellness products.

What Does Lavender Smell Like?

Despite its recognizable and unique fragrance, it can be hard to pin down exactly what makes lavender smell so good. So, what does lavender smell like?

For many, lavender essential oils are reminiscent of summertime and sweet botanical gardens. They impart a sense of cleanliness, freshness, and balance.

The herbaceous and aromatic notes of the lavender plant contribute to its unique fragrance, while its gentle spice distinguishes it from any other essential oil.

However you might describe it, one thing is for sure—it’s hard to breathe in the gentle aroma of lavender without feeling that sense of calm and serenity for which it is famous. Its essential oil is one you’ll surely want in your bedroom!

What Scent Family is Lavender?

Lavender belongs to the aromatic or fougere scent family, along with green herbs like thyme and sage.

The smells of cut grass, foliage, pine, and coumarin also fall under the same category.

Aromatic scents blend well with almost any essential oil from the woody, spicy, and citrus scent categories.

What are the Benefits of Lavender?

As evident in this post, there’s more than meets the eye (and the nose) with this fragrant garden shrub.

Lavender essential oil is widely used for its stress-relieving qualities.

Its delicate herbaceous-floral scents are shown to reduce anxiety and even promote more restful sleep.

Lavandula Angustifolia, commonly known as English lavender, is the most popular choice due to its alluring note, soothing scent, and healing properties.

Aromatherapy taps into the many health benefits of lavender to treat everything from headaches and insomnia to skin irritation, post-operative discomfort, and cancer-treatment side-effects.

Studies have shown that lavender essential oil can significantly reduce anxiety, making it a safe and affordable therapeutic option. What’s more, it has been linked to improved sleep and emotional well-being.

Is Lavender Feminine or Masculine Scent?

The delicate and mild floral notes of lavender are traditionally used in feminine fragrances.

However, the versatility of this scent makes it a popular choice in men’s colognes and unisex perfumes.

It blends well with a wide range of essential oils to deliver either soothing or stimulating properties.

When blended with the essential oils from the citrus family, lavender can take on a spicier, more stimulating scent which is often found in colognes for both men and women.

It’s most delicate and soothing when blended with sweet and aromatic herbs such as marjoram, or woody plants such as cedarwood and vetiver.

Best Perfumes with Lavender Notes

Incorporate the unique fragrance of lavender into your perfume collection with the top picks on this post.

From light floral bouquets to potent herbaceous blends, lavender lends itself well to a wide range of perfumes and styles.

1. L’Occitane en Provence Lavender

This light and breezy eau de cologne captures the captivating scent of the fields of Provence.

With a musky base and top notes of bergamot and citrus, this perfume enhances the sweet and herbal fragrance of lavender for a burst of summertime sun.

2. Tom Ford Lavender Extreme

For a fresh reworking of lavender’s distinctive scent, try this aromatic perfume by Tom Ford.

Perfect for both men and women, it blends the warm spice of cinnamon and coumarin with sweet rose and tangy lemon.

3. Guerlain Mon Guerlain Florale

An ode to femininity, this eau de parfum blends lavender essential oils with the delicate scents of rose and iris flowers.

With base notes of Tahitian vanilla and Australian sandalwood, Mon Guerlain shows how lavender can be enhanced with sweet and woody undertones for a fresh and aromatic fragrance.

The Bottom Line

Between its mood-boosting qualities and its ability to reduce stress and anxiety, lavender has much to offer.

You can reap the benefits of this aromatic plant through the essential oil of Lavandula Angustifolia, or add a burst of delicate freshness with one of the lavender perfumes posted here.

Whether you’re trying to sleep better or you simply want to smell like you’ve just walked through a lavender field in Provence, there are plenty of ways to incorporate that unique lavender aroma into your life.

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