Lavender & Lavandin: A Tale of Scent and Origin
The scent of lavender is memory made fragrant, sunlight over fields, linens dried in the wind, and a quiet comfort.
In perfumery, lavender holds a timeless place, and in our maison, it holds a personal one too.
From Provence to Perfumery
The word lavender comes from the Latin lavandaria, meaning “to wash.” Historically, it perfumed freshly laundered linens, tucked into armoires, sachets, and silks. In France, especially in Provence, lavender became part of daily ritual and seasonal rhythm. The fields bloom each summer in waves of violet, their fragrance carried by the wind.
Lavender is a mauve-colored shrub, its aroma bright, clean, and herbaceous. It is often used as a top note to open a composition with light and clarity.
True Lavender vs. Lavandin
There are many varieties of lavender, but perfumers make a clear distinction:
True Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): Grows at high altitudes. Subtle, elegant, and the preferred choice for fine perfumery.
Lavandin: A hardy hybrid between true lavender and aspic. Grown in larger quantities. Its scent is sharper, more camphorated and often used in massage oils and aromatherapy rather than luxury fragrance.
As one specialist from Grasse once told me: “Lavandin is practical. But for perfume, we choose poetry.”
Personal Memory: Suzanne
The scent of lavender carries a personal echo for me. It reminds me of my childhood, when my grandmother Suzanne, whose name inspired one of our perfumes, would place dried lavender in our cupboards. The scent was calming and comforting.
When I created Suzanne, I wanted to offer not just the aroma of the South of France, but the feeling of tenderness and elegance she carried with her. A perfume that speaks of memory. Not of flowers, but of affection.
A Note of Reflection
Lavender divides people. Some love it instantly. Others hesitate, sensing something too familiar. But for those who understand its nuance, lavender is a note of serenity, refined, bright, and deeply rooted in tradition.
Lavender may be common. But in the hands of a perfumer, it becomes uncommon again. Reframed, refined, remembered.
