Confession, I am super sensitive to scents. I used to work next to a woman who wore a certain perfume (that I shall not mention) and every day I would cough continuously throughout the day. It left me feeling exhausted and it took me months to finally figure out that I was having an allergic reaction to her perfume. Once I made the connection, I had to ask my coworker (politely) if she was willing to change up her fragrance. Luckily, she did and my symptoms went away. It’s one of the reasons why I switched to clean beauty products and started to exclusively wear natural fragrances, made without harmful chemicals and synthetic ingredients that traditional perfumes are often made with.
Here are the Top V Clean Fragrances that I am currently loving and that are made by some of the best non-toxic perfume brands. Not only do they smell amazing but I love that they are made with clean, sustainable ingredients.
I.
Le Labo: Santal 33 Eau de Parfum
Yes, Santal 33 is fabulous and yes, it’s pricey! Based in New York City, this fragrance house was created in 2006 by two friends who wanted to shake up the fragrance industry by creating unique unisex scents using a combination of natural ingredients. Le Labo’s signature fragrances are not only cruelty-free but are also free from phthalates, parabens and other environmentally harmful ingredients that conventional perfumes have. Santal 33 is known as the brand’s signature scent and it has notes of cardamon, iris, violet, leather, sandalwood and spice. I purchased my bottle of Santal 33 a couple of years ago while traveling in Austin and the scent actually makes me want to throw on a pair of vintage Levis and watch a western movie. (Plus I love their refillable glass bottles!)
(1.7 fl oz $230)
II.
Maison Louis Marie: No. 04 Bois de Balincourt
This intoxicating fragrance lasts all day thanks to the combination of essential oils. This was the first Maison Louis Marie scent that I tried and I was immediately hooked. Named after founder Marie du Petit Thouars’s family country home outside of Paris which was called Ballincourt, this scent was inspired by her long walks in the woods. This eco-conscious, clean and very sexy fragrance has notes of my favorite essential oils: sandalwood, vetiver, cedarwood and there is also a hint of cinnamon. While sprays last for 1-3 hours per use, fragrance oil can last 6-15 hours because they are more concentrated. Whenever I wear it, I am constantly smelling my wrists and it is the scent that gives me the most compliments and inquiry into what I wearing.
(0.50 fl oz $65)
III.
Sana Jardin: Berber Blonde Eau De Parfum
I fell in love with Sana Jardin last summer while staying at the Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire, England. (More on this amazing vacation site in a future article!) Sana Jardin is a socially conscious, luxury fragrance house that employs sustainable practices in the making of their perfumes. Part of their vision is the empowerment of women and they work with female harvesters to upcycle and sell the floral waste from the perfume making process to reduce their environmental impact. Their ingredient lists are free of toxic chemicals and this scent, Berber Blonde, has a fruity, feminine fragrance thanks to notes of bergamot, orange flower, neroli and a hint of musk. This natural fragrance gives me an uplifting boost whenever I wear it and I also have the scent in a candle that I keep in my kitchen.
(1.7 oz $145)
IV.
Uni: 24- Hour Serum
I know that this isn’t a traditional fragrance but it should be. This light-weight, fast absorbing, non-greasy moisturizing serum has been winning awards in the beauty industry since it debuted a few years ago. I purchased my first bottle in June and not only does it smell absolutely amazing, it leaves my skin feeling super soft. When people ask me what’s the name of this unique scent, they are shocked to hear that it’s a body serum. This is all thanks to a combination of clean ingredients: cedar, juniper and sandalwood. I absolutely love how it smells and I love how my skin feels. This serum has permanently been added to my everyday “can’t live without” products.
(12.5 fl oz $43)
V.
Heretic: The Entomologist
This favorite scent of mine is an EPA-compliant, 100% natural insect repellent. It was created to keep bugs away but it’s the smell that I was first attracted to. The botanical ingredients of cedar, geranium, thyme, rosemary, lemongrass, peppermint, cinnamon and clove all work together to create a spectacular yet functional fragrance that has uplifting benefits. Heretic is a botanical-based line founded by Douglas Little in Los Angeles. He makes his fragrances in small batches using ancient perfumery traditions. I would love to spend the day inside his production site. I think it would feel and smell like walking through Monet’s Garden.
(1.7 fl oz $45)
If you are looking for a new scent and want to move beyond synthetic fragrances and into clean formulas, I highly recommend you check these out as they are some of the best clean perfume brands in the industry. Their unique scents made with organic ingredients sourced from the best raw materials are enough to convert even the biggest skeptic! As if that wasn’t enough, many use recycled glass for their perfume bottles to reduce their carbon footprint and have social impact initiatives that help the communities of people within their supply chain that bring their fine fragrances to life.
