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Lavender is one of the oldest and most widely used notes in perfumery. Its scent is universal —everyone recognises lavender— and yet in the hands of a skilled perfumer it can be transformed into something completely unexpected. The lavender of classic fougères has nothing in common with the lavender of modern niche perfumes.
Types of lavender in perfumery
- Fine lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): the most prized. Floral, herbal, with almost fruity notes. It grows at high altitude —the best comes from Provence, above 1,000 metres. Much more expensive than lower-quality lavender.
- Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia): a hybrid between fine lavender and spike lavender. More rustic, more herbal, more intense. Far more abundant and economical. This is the lavender of detergents and mass-market perfumery.
- Spike lavender (Lavandula latifolia): rustic, mentholated, almost medicinal. The most rugged of the three.
Lavender: a masculine, feminine or unisex note?
Lavender has a reputation for being "masculine" due to its massive use in fougères and men’s colognes during the 20th century. But before that, lavender was unisex. And in contemporary perfumery it has become so again: fine and delicate lavenders in wholly feminine fragrances, spiced lavenders in unisex scents, creamy lavenders in gourmands for all genders.
Lavender beyond the fougère
The most innovative perfumers have used lavender in completely unexpected contexts:
- Lavender + leather = an unexpected duo that produces smoky and sophisticated accords
- Lavender + vanilla = an extraordinary aromatic gourmand
- Lavender + oud = an Arab-Provençal combination that works surprisingly well
- Lavender + spices = an oriental with a unique herbal heart
Lavender at divain
In our aromatic and fougère fragrances, lavender is the star note that brings freshness and herbal character. We work with superior-quality lavender so that the result is floral and elegant —not the industrial lavandin that smells of household cleaner.
