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10 Best Lavender Perfumes to Soothe Your Senses

Inhale—that's the smell of relaxation.

Headshot of Sam PetersBy Sam Peters
lavender perfumes

Like sophisticated vanilla perfumes and delicate rose fragrances, lavender perfumes are perennial for a reason. “Lavender is one of the most beautiful oils by itself,” says David Seth Moltz, co-founder of D.S. & Durga. “It recalls a journey through European fields with age-old associations; it can denote cleanliness and is usually powdery for people who dig that,” he notes.

Used as far back as ancient Egyptian times, lavender has also been shown to have soothing and calming properties. So whether you’re looking to wind down for the weekend or are just getting into a jam-packed work week, a few spritzes of lavender perfume may just help you dissipate stress (and smell amazing in the process).

  • 1
    Burning Barbershop Eau de Parfum

    Best Woodsy Lavender Perfume

    D.S. & Durga Burning Barbershop Eau de Parfum

    $190 at Nordstrom
    Read more
  • 2
    Libre Eau de Parfum

    Best Musky Lavender Perfume

    Yves Saint Laurent Libre Eau de Parfum

    Read more
  • 3
    Colonia Eau de Cologne

    Best Citrusy Lavender Perfume

    Acqua di Parma Colonia Eau de Cologne

    Read more
  • 4
    The Alchemist's Garden Moonlight Serenade Floral Water

    Best Romantic Lavender Perfume

    Gucci The Alchemist's Garden Moonlight Serenade Floral Water

    Read more
  • 5
    Boy Chanel Eau de Parfum

    Best Unisex Lavender Perfume

    Chanel Boy Chanel Eau de Parfum

    Read more

Despite its light and airy nature, lavender shouldn’t only be considered a daytime or spring-ready scent, however. Actually, it’s quite versatile.“Lavender is one of the canonical aromas of perfumery, so can work for both day and night and in any season,” says Seth Moltz, adding that it’s especially fitting for the evening when mixed with deeper floral or amber scents. According to the expert, lavender blends well with other florals like jasmine and rose, as well as herbs and citruses for a crisp medley.

Eager to add a lavender fragrance to your lineup or replenish your go-to stash? Ahead, shop 10 top-rated lavender perfumes that rightfully earn a spot on your vanity.

1
Best Woodsy Lavender Perfume

D.S. & Durga Burning Barbershop Eau de Parfum

Burning Barbershop Eau de Parfum
1
Best Woodsy Lavender Perfume

D.S. & Durga Burning Barbershop Eau de Parfum

$190 at Nordstrom$144 at Walmart$190 at Todd Snyder
Pros
  • Unique Scent
Cons
  • Pricey

Cult-loved fragrance brand D.S. & Durga is exceptional at creating unexpected, visionary scents, so you can bet its take on lavender is far from basic. Evoking the smell of burnt aftershave—which the brand imagines to have wafted through the air of a New York-based barbershop that historically burned down in 1891—it showcases notes of spearmint, lime, vanilla, and charred lavender. The result: A smoky-sweet aroma even your BF will be tempted to steal.

Nordstrom rating: 5/5 stars

A Nordstrom reviewer says: “I have nearly 100 bottles of cologne. Burning Barbershop is BY FAR the best fragrance I have ever smelled. Definitely a more masculine scent but not your traditional woodsy type of smell. I took a leap of faith and hadn’t smelled it prior to my purchase, and now my only regret is that I didn’t opt for the larger bottle. Worth every penny and more.”

Key NotesSpearmint, lime, hemlock spruce, lavendar
Size1.7-3.3 fl. oz.
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2
Best Musky Lavender Perfume

Yves Saint Laurent Libre Eau de Parfum

Libre Eau de Parfum
2
Best Musky Lavender Perfume

Yves Saint Laurent Libre Eau de Parfum

Now 15% Off
Pros
  • Long-lasting
  • Warm scent
Cons
  • May be too strong for some users

A refreshingly modern option, YSL Libre offers a dark floral mix of lavender, orange blossom, and musk accord.

Nordstrom rating: 4.6/5 stars

A Nordstrom reviewer says: “Love it; this perfume lasts all day. I still smell it on my clothes when I’m about to wash them. It’s a statement piece.”

Key NotesLavender, orange blossom, musk
Size1-5 fl. oz.
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3
Best Citrusy Lavender Perfume

Acqua di Parma Colonia Eau de Cologne

Colonia Eau de Cologne
3
Best Citrusy Lavender Perfume

Acqua di Parma Colonia Eau de Cologne

Pros
  • Fresh scent
Cons
  • May be too masculine of a scent for some users

From the famed Italian fragrance house Acqua di Parma comes this bright formula that will help put a pep in your step on even the gloomiest days. Top notes of lemon, orange, and crisp bergamot make way to lavender and rose, which are then grounded by earthy sandalwood and patchouli.

Nordstrom rating: 4.6/5 stars

A Nordstrom reviewer says: “This is incredibly beautiful and classically elegant. It starts off a little strong and citrusy but drys down slowly to subtle perfection of rose and lavender. It lasted a day and a half on my skin, which is unheard of in today’s fragrance world.”

Key NotesLemon, sweet orange, calabrian bergamot, lavendar
Size3.3-6 fl. oz.
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4
Best Romantic Lavender Perfume

Gucci The Alchemist's Garden Moonlight Serenade Floral Water

The Alchemist's Garden Moonlight Serenade Floral Water
4
Best Romantic Lavender Perfume

Gucci The Alchemist's Garden Moonlight Serenade Floral Water

Pros
  • Layerable
Cons
  • Pricey

Love potions may be the stuff of mythology, but this sexy Gucci scent is perhaps the next best thing. Spritz on the lavender, sage, and tonka bean-infused fragrance; your enchanted date won’t know what hit them. Meticulously crafted with eaux de parfum, aromatic oils, and acque profumate (“scented waters”), the formula is also designed to be easily layered with other scents in the collection.

Nordstrom rating: 4/5 stars

A Nordstrom reviewer says: “A mystical transport back in time of lovely floral aromas.”

Key NotesLavender, sage, tonka bean
Size5 fl. oz.
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5
Best Unisex Lavender Perfume

Chanel Boy Chanel Eau de Parfum

Boy Chanel Eau de Parfum
5
Best Unisex Lavender Perfume

Chanel Boy Chanel Eau de Parfum

Pros
  • Bold, universal scent
Cons
  • Pricey

Chanel perfumes are iconic, and its unisex Boy de Chanel scent is bound to become one of your new favorites. Paying homage to Gabrielle Chanel’s great love, it boasts a calming yet bold combo of lavender, geranium, grapefruit, and sandalwood.

Chanel rating: 5/5 stars

A Chanel reviewer says: “It smells expensive and exclusive. It starts kinda powdery and dry. It evolves into a slightly citrusy and fresh aroma. This scent is subtle, perfect for every day. I love it.”

Key NotesLavender, geranium, woody notes
Size2.5-6.8 fl. oz.
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6
Best Classic Lavender Perfume

Chloé Atelier des Fleurs Lavanda Eau de Parfum

Atelier des Fleurs Lavanda Eau de Parfum
6
Best Classic Lavender Perfume

Chloé Atelier des Fleurs Lavanda Eau de Parfum

Pros
  • Lavender-centric scent
Cons
  • Pricey

This straightforward scent by Chloé is a surefire pick for any lavender purist. Per the brand, it’s inspired by perfumer Quentin Bisch’s childhood memories of his mother walking through their garden toting a bushel of lavender.

Nordstrom rating: 4.7/5 stars

A Nordstrom reviewer says: “I love lavender but don’t like my perfume to be too singular or literal and find most lavender scents to be a little screechy and synthetic. But this Chloe perfume is top-notch in my book. It smells as if someone laid a freshly cut bunch of lavender next to a strong cup of black tea. It isn’t particularly potent, lasting about five hours on my skin, and stays close and subtle. Absolutely lovely!”

Key notesLavendar
Size5 fl. oz.
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7
Best For Nighttime Wear

Jo Malone London Amber & Lavender Cologne

Amber & Lavender Cologne
7
Best For Nighttime Wear

Jo Malone London Amber & Lavender Cologne

Now 15% Off
Pros
  • Sultry scent
Cons
  • May be too strong for some users

Among Jo Malone’s repertoire of clean, luxurious fragrances is this lavender perfume with a warm and spicy twist. Including notes of rich amber and herbaceous petitgrain, it’s deep enough for evening wear and is bound to invigorate the senses.

Nordstrom rating: 4.7/5 stars

A Nordstrom reviewer says: “This is my favorite Jo Malone fragrance! It is at once both fresh and spicy, with a lovely top note and sensual dry down. I love that the lavender note doesn’t get lost in the heady amber base. The two seem like such a contradiction, yet work beautifully together. I wear this scent alone during the day and layer it with a bit more spicy perfume at night, and people are always asking what I’m wearing.”

Key NotesLavender, amber, petitgrain
Size3.4 fl. oz.
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8
Best Calming Lavender Perfume

Heretic Dirty Lavender Eau de Parfum

Dirty Lavender Eau de Parfum
8
Best Calming Lavender Perfume

Heretic Dirty Lavender Eau de Parfum

Pros
  • Contains CBD for potential relaxing benefits
Cons
  • The lavender in this scent may not be as potent

This gender-neutral fragrance mixes bitter orange oil, neroli blossoms, sacred palo santo, vetiver, and sandalwood for a finish that’s part sweet, part woody, and slightly grassy. To help you relax, it’s also infused with CBD.

Rating: 5/5 stars

A reviewer says: “An intriguing mix of florals and yard-work smell, in the best way possible. The neroli wears the pants in this scent, and the lavender is just enough to keep me interested. Great to wear out or for staying in.”

Key NotesBitter orange, cedarwood, lavender, neroli
Size1.6 fl. oz.
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9
Best Splurge

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Petit Matin Eau de Parfum

Petit Matin Eau de Parfum
9
Best Splurge

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Petit Matin Eau de Parfum

Pros
  • Complex scent
Cons
  • Very pricey

While Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s artisanal perfumes will cost you a pretty penny, they’re backed by an astounding amount of hype (in fact, the brand makes one of the most popular perfumes ever to grace TikTok). This version from the label stars lavender from Provence, plus citrusy Litsea cubeba from Indonesia and Calabrian lemon. Rounding out the complex aroma are musky, ambery notes to ensure you earn endless compliments.

Nordstrom rating: 4.5/5 stars

A Nordstrom reviewer says: “It’s light and fresh yet not powdery. Smells bright with lemon but sexier than that. When I walk into a room, my boyfriend will comment that I smell fantastic. It’s very different than anything else I’ve tried from this brand.”

Key NotesLitsea cubeba, Calabrian lemon, lavender from Provence, orange blossom, musk
Size6.8 fl. oz.
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10
Best Subtly Sweet Lavender Perfume

Guerlain Mon Guerlain Eau de Parfum

Mon Guerlain Eau de Parfum
10
Best Subtly Sweet Lavender Perfume

Guerlain Mon Guerlain Eau de Parfum

Pros
  • Warm scent
Cons
  • May not be as long-lasting as other scents

If you want something feminine but not too overpowering, go for this top-rated option from Guerlain. It combines jasmine, lavender, and vanilla for what customers call a well-balanced fragrance.

Sephora rating: 4.4/5 stars

A Sephora reviewer says: “This has such a unique smell, makes me feel like a boss b*tch when I wear it to work. It’s not super floral, sweet, or musky. A perfect clean scent.”

Key NotesJasmine, lavender, vanilla
Size1-3.3 fl. oz.
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Meet the Expert

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David Seth Moltz is a scent expert and co-founder of D.S. & Durga.

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Why Trust ELLE Beauty

elle line break

Sam Peters is a seasoned commerce writer and editor with over five years of experience covering fashion, beauty, and lifestyle topics. For this roundup, she consulted a scent expert about the benefits of lavender perfume and considered a range of top-rated lavender perfumes on the market, evaluating each on their customer feedback.

Headshot of Sam Peters
Sam Peters
Senior Commerce Editor

Sam Peters is a Senior Commerce Editor at Hearst covering fashion, beauty and lifestyle. Her writing has appeared in WWD, Footwear News, Real Simple, PopSugar and Bridal Guide, among others. She enjoys unpacking the latest trends and testing and reviewing some of the most innovative, emerging products on the market. 

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