Lavandula angustifolia — one of the most important and widely used ingredients in perfumery. The essential oil is steam distilled from flowers and flowering tops. Terroir matters significantly — French Lavender from the Plateau de Valensole differs meaningfully from Bulgarian lavender.

Mediterranean origin, primarily Provence (France), Bulgaria and England. The finest quality is Lavandula angustifolia from high altitude French farms.

Simultaneously floral and herbal — that is lavender’s defining paradox. Clean, slightly medicinal, with a cooling quality approaching menthol without being mint. Slightly sweet, slightly woody, slightly camphorous underneath the flowers. Real lavender is significantly more complex than the synthetic lavender of cleaning products.

Lavender is perfumery’s great mediator. It bridges citrus and wood, floral and aromatic, fresh and warm. It softens sharp edges, lifts heavy compositions and adds wearability to challenging ingredients. It is the backbone of the Fougère family — the note around which oakmoss and coumarin organize themselves. It also appears in Oriental, Fresh and Chypre compositions as a supporting aromatic.

Also appears in: Fougère, Fresh, Oriental / Amber, Chypre