In this article, we are going to talk about the best perfumes that smell like Lilac.
• Demeter Lilac
• Amouage Lilac Love
• Elizabeth Arden 5th Avenue
• En Passant Frederic Malle for Women
• French Lilac Pacifica for Women
Beauty and Rebirth
Although known for its beautiful purple and white florals, the more intriguing feature of the Lilac flower is its sophisticated and intoxicating fragrance. Lilac represents beauty and new beginnings in different cultures. The association with beauty is obvious but the connection with rebirth was made since the flowers peak in bloom during Easter.
Lilac belongs to the olive family of woody floral plants. Amongst the wild varieties of the plant across South-Eastern Europe and China, the most popular is the common Lilac that has the purple and white petals.
The Lilac Accord
The alluring scent of Lilac will remind you of lush gardens and spring. Anyone who has been in the presence of Lilac’s powerful scent understands just how mesmerizing the natural scent is. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been a way to naturally replicate this fragrance from the actual flowers.
Lilac is one of those flowers whose scent can only be achieved by blending an assortment of other ingredients. Similar to other beautiful florals like gardenia, lily-of-the-valley, and freesia, no material from its very own petals can be used to imitate its scent in perfumery.
It was over at least a century ago when perfumers found a way to imitate Lilac’s intricate scent. One of the most effective ways they were able to mimic the aroma was including terpineol to the accord. A concoction of this ingredient blended with a variety of other florals like heliotropes, ylang-ylang, and roses has been a successful attempt at creating the Lilac accord.
If there is one caveat in using terpineol, it is its relation to cleaning products and room sprays. Since a lot of these products include terpineol as an ingredient, our perception of scents including it can sometimes affect our reception to the Lilac accord. There lies the magic in perfumery, though. Getting the right balance is always key to capture amazing scents.
Spicy Florals, Vanilla, and Almonds
In this quest of getting as close as possible to the wonderful Lilac scent, the usual blends can be described as a spicy floral scent with slights hints of vanilla, almond milk, and cinnamon. This could be the most reminiscent of the fragrance of Lilac flowers in bloom. Nothing compares to the actual flowers, of course, but this would be the best replication of the gorgeous scent in fragrance form.
Perfumes that Smell Like Lilac
Demeter Lilac
If you’re off to find a lilac soliflore, then this could be your go-to. This is a clear favorite out of the Demeter scents. One spray and you are officially transported to a thriving garden of Lilac blooms. This one is sweet, creamy, and lovely.
The good thing about it being a linear Lilac scent is that it mixes wonderfully with other perfumes. If you’re one to layer fragrances, then it’s good to have this in your collection.
Performance and Occasions
One of the reasons why this is a Demeter favorite is that it is stronger than their other scents. It has great sillage and it is able to replicate that enveloping nature of the Lilac scent. You’ll find no green notes in this which could be a con to some but it is a full-on Lilac perfume.
It clings on for a good couple of hours and then you have to reapply if you want the scent to linger on a bit longer.
This is a casual springtime floral you can easily wear at the office or simple gatherings.
Amouage Lilac Love
Amouage Lilac Love version of the lilac scent is like being transported to a serene purple garden of lilacs. It feels like discovering a secret sanctuary of flowers. The smell of lilac can be particularly overwhelming to some and that can be the case with this one. This is definitely not a blind buy and can be recommended for those obsessed with the lilac scent.
It is a fine blend of lilac, jasmine, vanilla, heliotrope, tonka bean, and cacao with a musky base at the end. It does take on a gourmand approach and it tends to smell delicious because of the interesting mix of cacao. But all of it goes harmoniously together.
Performance and Occasions
This is a showstopping fragrance that’s ultra-feminine and enticing. People will spot it on you from a distance. It will be a sexy scent you can wear for formal evening affairs and steamy date nights.
It lasts quite long on the skin so you’re good for around four to six hours with this one. Be careful, though. It is on the heavy side of perfumes so it can easily be overwhelming if you spritz on too much of it.
Elizabeth Arden 5th Avenue
Lilac doesn’t always have to be about the gardens and spring. It can actually be an empowering female scent as well.
Inspired by the concrete jungle of New York, 5th avenue is a sensual scent with top notes of lilac, linden blossom, dewy magnolia, mandarin, and bergamot. At the heart, there is Bulgarian pink violet, ylang-ylang, jasmine, tuberose, peach, carnation, and nutmeg. All these amazing notes lay on a musky, woodsy base of amber, Tibetan musk, iris, vanilla, and sandalwood.
What 5th Avenue by Elizabeth Arden does is take on that mysterious strength that lilac has. It’s exotic and delicate at the same time. This will give you the quiet confidence and sophisticated elegance of the modern woman.
The lilac, dewy magnolia gives its this classic, feminine feeling that’s been enhanced by exotic notes of Indian tuberose, while the amber and Tibetan musk remain after dry-down, adding an alluring air of mystery for that appeal, energy of a modern lifestyle.
Performance and Occasions
It is all about business with 5th Avenue. This is more for the mature, corporate businesswoman and it does not seem like a good match for the young and carefree. Wear this at the office for that instant dose of confidence.
This has a moderate sillage to it and will last for a good few hours without losing its depth. You won’t really get a lot of compliments with this one but it is a safe scent that you can rely on.
En Passant Frederic Malle for Women
En Passant means passing through in French. Frederic Malle was able to come up with a dewy lilac scent that will remind you of flowers with a little drizzling left on the petals.
Launched in 2000, it’s a scent that sings of nostalgia and simple memories of peaceful spring gardens. The perfume is a sheer, dewy lilac with watery and green notes of cucumber, petitgrain, wheat, and lilac. This is a calming fresh fragrance that features the tenderness of lilac. You do get a hint of the unusual addition of wheat. It offers sort of a post to the other delicate notes. It makes the scent inoffensive yet present.
Performance and Occasions
En Passant is an understated perfume. Though this is not a perfume that’s meant to impress, there is beauty in its softness. It doesn’t disappoint in performance too. Even in its subtleness, it does linger for several hours.
French Lilac Pacifica for Women
When you speak of lilac perfumes, this is one perfume that probably all the lists include. Brook Harvey-Taylor is the nose behind French Lilac. It was launched in 2008 as a lilac soliflore. This would be the fun, young lilac scent in this list. Probably the most appreciated quality of French Lilac is just how simple and wonderful it represents lilac.
The scent is a delightful combination of hyacinth, ylang-ylang, nectarine, heliotrope, magnolia, and a lilac accord. It does come off somehow soapy but not to the point that it becomes headache-inducing. It can also qualify as gourmand as it has that vanilla-like sweetness and creaminess to it. I wouldn’t say it’s a blind buy but this is a lilac scent that’s easy to enjoy.
Performance and Occasions
French Lilac is pretty and fun. It’s a nice daytime scent for spring. If anything, wearing it feels like a free day in a huge garden of flowers. Another thing to love about it is that it leaves a good trail of scent for hours.
Lilac’s beauty comes not only from its gorgeous purple and white flowers but also from its glorious scent. Although we are only able to experience this through interpretations, it is still a beauty worth knowing and falling in love with.