Lavender has been used for centuries as an all-around soothing, calming scent. So whether you’re looking for a relaxing, calming fragrance for aromatherapy or a pleasant aroma to complement your decorating theme, lavender’s the way to go.
The problem is, how many different scents can there be for lavender? Is there that much variety? Yes! Lavender comes in many various guises, with each scent perfect for a subset of tastes.
If you’re struggling to place what scents go well with lavender, stay calm – it’s this guide’s job to help you discover new ways of enjoying lavender.
Lavender – the universal perfume ingredient
While most of us know that adding a splash of lavender to our bath helps promote sleep, many don’t realize that it works just as well in perfume and cologne.
Lavender blends beautifully with several other popular scents. It is one of the versatile oils in perfumes and colognes, lavender brings lightness to heavier notes while balancing out headier fragrances.
Lavender fragrances for men and women
Lavender oils were once a purely feminine scent. But now, men have joined women to adopt it as their signature fragrance, although it is often mixed with woodsy or spicy notes to add masculinity. Many of the most popular brands of men’s cologne use lavender as a significant ingredient.
Many people keep lavender plants in their homes as they reduce stress and promote relaxation in all who enter the space. These fragrances tend to be very floral but not overpowering. They make good summer perfumes because they’re light and refreshing.
What scents go well with lavender?
Lavender essential oil blends well with many different scents, but experimenting is the key. Different people have different tastes and different reactions to different smells. If you’ve always enjoyed the smell of lavender oil, try mixing it with other perfumes you want.
Mixing lavender with other essential oils can make some beautiful combinations that you’ll want to make over and over again.
The following are just a few of our favorite scent combinations for men and women who love lavender.
1) Rosemary
The best way to describe rosemary is as a complex herbaceous note. It gives your product an earthy, woody scent that is difficult to mistake for anything else.
Rosemary is what you want to use if you’re looking for that fresh-from-the-woods smell. But, unfortunately, it will make your product seem like it was just cut down and dragged into your home.
2) Basil
The fresh and fruity scent of basil makes it a great candidate for pairing with floral, sweet-smelling aromas. It’s one of that scents that everybody should have in their cabinet, so do an internet search for basil scent blend to get a few ideas!
It can be used alone or mixed into another blend. Just make sure that you always use a quality, 100% pure plant-based oil; synthetics don’t compare in terms of quality.
3) Geranium
This scent has an earthy yet herbaceous aroma that can be a great alternative to peppermint oil. Another bonus is that it’s known for boosting concentration, which is ideal if you tend to feel sleepy while smelling your essential oils.
Lavender + Geranium: This particular combination smells fantastic, but it isn’t suitable for everyone.
4) Lime
Anyone who has ever opened a can of lime-flavored seltzer or crunched into a wedge of lime will attest to lime’s clean, fresh scent. It mixes beautifully with lavender fragrance oils, producing an aroma that’s both uplifting and calming at once.
Lime is also known to have some health benefits: Its vitamin C content promotes bone health, while its mild analgesic effects can relieve pain. Lavender essential oil blends well with sweet orange too.
5) Cedarwood
Cedarwood essential oil blends exceptionally well with lavender with a robust and masculine, earthy aroma. Its woodsy scent is a great way to freshen up your bedroom or create an atmosphere conducive to sleep and relaxation.
Cedarwood is also known for its anti-inflammatory properties, which can help alleviate symptoms of eczema and other skin conditions.
6) Cinnamon
Lavender and cinnamon are considered sweet scents, making them an ideal pair. Both fragrances can be found in candles, air fresheners, home decor items, and more.
The comforting aroma of lavender can help balance out an otherwise spicy smell; some say it even smells like french toast when combined with cinnamon!
7) Vanilla
Many people positively associate calming Vanilla with lavender because it is found in perfume and home cleaning products. The sweetness and warmth of Vanilla compliment floral notes of lavender, making it an ideal fragrance.
When combined with lavender essential oil on your pillow, Vanilla’s comforting scent is relaxing and can be a great sleep aid. Vanilla has been used for generations as an aphrodisiac, so why not try adding some to your daily routine!
8) Rose
One of our favorites is rose—it’s a light, flowery scent that goes with anything and has a fresh, slightly fruity floral scent. It makes for a great companion to lavender as it is slightly sweeter, making for an exciting fragrance combination.
A few drops of rose oil mixed with lavender essential oil is a perfect blend to achieve this great aroma. The Lavender rose combination is both calming and uplifting.
9) Bergamot
Bergamot essential oil is extracted from the fruit of the bergamot orange tree, often used in sweets and desserts. It has an intense, slightly bitter, but still pleasant citrus taste. In addition, bergamot oil has a light and fresh smell, while lavender is known for its sweet and calming aroma, making the two a great combination.
10) Peppermint
Peppermint essential oil with lavender is a unique combination of scents. Some find it invigorating while others find it calming and refreshing. Compounds in peppermint oil are believed to help improve memory and prevent hair loss. Lavender oil is used to treat mild depression, reduce inflammation and heal bruises faster.
11) Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus and lavender oils are two of the most popular complementary oils, and they create a fresh, clean aroma that everyone enjoys. However, it is important to note that eucalyptus leaves a somewhat medicinal smell, so you don’t want to use too much eucalyptus oil in a product.
This fun combination is perfect for your home to smell good and wonderfully clean. Use essential oil diffusers to make your place cozy and beautifully fragrant.
12) Sandalwood
You can use lavender’s relaxing scent along with white or red sandalwood, a more natural aroma. Sandalwood soothes your mind and soul when you inhale it, which makes lavender even more effective.
Sandalwood’s woodsy scent and lavender’s floral smell merge perfectly to create a subtle yet incredibly soothing aromatherapy type of experience.
Tips for mixing Scents with Lavender
We consider our list to be a great starting point for those seeking the perfect lavender scent for them. What’s more, we hope that you can use some of our tips and suggestions to experiment with mixing lavender scents as well as to discover your own unique combinations!
Plan ahead
So, the next time you’re spritzing your favorite scent, take a moment to think about what it is that you want to accomplish. Are you trying to set an intimate tone for a date? Or perhaps enhance a workday at the office when you need some pep?
It’s best to start with a single element of the emotion you’re looking to invoke and then pair the scent you choose.
Experiment
The possibilities are endless. Experiment with mixing essential oils with lavender, feel the difference between your mood and your home, and enjoy. You’ll need to experiment with the number of drops you add in the future.
Be warned that it may take a few trials to figure out exactly how much is optimal for your needs. It’s definitely worth taking the time to play around with this practice to develop a sense of when and how to use different ratios in order to produce the best results.
Feel the Peace
The world of scent is in your control, so take a moment to bask in a new aroma. It’s important that you determine this for yourself so that you can always find just the right level of scent as you breathe in and enjoy the fragrance.
Of course, you may want to try out some other scents and fragrances, but keep coming back to that one that makes you feel amazing.
Final Word
Lavender has many scents besides its healthful aroma, including herbal, citrusy, minty, and lemony tones. These other scents can offer another dimension along with the lavender.
It’s also a good idea to keep in mind that when it comes to essential oils, more isn’t necessarily better. Stronger scents have a tendency to overwhelm milder ones, making the final mixture less inviting.
Lavender essential oil blends well with many other essential oils. Essentially you have the freedom to experiment and find what works best for you.
There are no wrong answers or unwanted side effects here. All you need is yourself, some lavender, and a few drops of your favorite essential oil.
Happy Experimenting!
