Lavender smells herbal, crisp and faintly floral, with a camphorous top and a soft powdery finish. It is the defining note of the fougere family and the classic barbershop accord.
The raw material is Lavandula angustifolia (true lavender), grown mainly on the limestone plateaus of Haute-Provence in southern France, as well as in Bulgaria and Kashmir. Flowers are harvested in July and steam-distilled to produce a pale yellow oil. Lavandin, a sturdier hybrid, is cheaper and more camphorous and is common in functional perfumery. Fine lavender from Provence carries the AOP designation and is the reference for fragrance.
Lavender sits in the heart but carries like a top. Perfumers use it as the backbone of fougeres alongside coumarin, oakmoss and bergamot, to soften leathers, and to give aromatic lift to amber, vanilla and gourmand bases.
Lavender performs best in spring and summer and in daytime wear. Modern darker lavender compositions extend it into evening and colder months.
