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10 best organic and natural perfumes
Keep it real and steer clear of chemical nasties with these fragrances for spring
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If you have very sensitive skin or simply want to avoid using harsh chemicals that are harmful to your health, we have compiled a list of natural fragrances and organic perfumes.
Some of them are certified by Ecocert, one of the biggest organic certification organisations which is accredited by French authorities and based in Europe. It inspects products in 80 countries to ensure that they are organically sourced.
Not all of these perfumes have the Ecocert label but they all use 100 per cent or mostly natural ingredients. We have picked out the best from trusted brands as well as lesser known ones which we think make the best floral, fruity and earthy scents.
You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
1. L'Occitane Vanille & Narcisse: £52 for 75ml, L'Occitane
L’Occitane’s policy is to use mostly natural, traceable ingredients, keeping track of where they have been sourced from. Over 200 botanical ingredients go into its products, a quarter of which are certified organic. This eau de toilette has top notes of blackcurrant and bergamot, a spicy narcissus and gardenia heart and vanilla base.
2. Abahna Frangipani and Orange Blossom: £15 for 10ml, Abahna
Packaged in a silver atomizer with a purple tassel, this Abahna perfume has a regal feel to it and will have you smelling like royalty but at an affordable price. The combination of soothing frangipani and zesty orange blossom is great if you are bored of other floral scents and are after something distinctive. Abahna does not use SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) and SLES (Sodium Laureth Sulfate) which are both found in 90 per cent of cosmetics, but can cause skin irritation. The brand is also against animal testing.
3. Liz Earle Botanical Essence: £49 for 50ml, Liz Earle
Made by perfume connoisseur Jean-Charles Niel in Grasse, France, Botanical Essence is the first perfume released by Liz Earle. It has been made from 98 per cent natural ingredients: Italian bergamot, high-altitude French lavender, Damask rose from Turkey and Indonesian patchouli. The aroma does not fade throughout the day and is warm and spicy with woody notes.
4. Melvita Roses Sauvages: Melvita.com, £36 for 50ml
Made from ingredients that are organically and responsibly sourced, this perfume meets the criteria of Ecocert. The lovely floral scent, which is light, feminine and subtle, will get you in the mood for spring. This eau de toilette has been made from combining three wild roses: Rosa Canica from Drôme, Rose Gallica from Vercors and Rose Mosqueta from Chile. 99 per cent of its ingredients are natural and 80 per cent are organic.
5. Acorelle Tea Green: £12 for 10ml, SoOrganic
Each of Acorelle’s certified organic perfumes supposedly has a different effect – sensual, calming, enhancing confidence – but this particular one has been made to enhance alertness and vitality, and does exactly what it says. It contains 100 per cent natural essential oils with refreshing notes of lemon and cedar that give you a burst of energy. It comes in a roll-on bottle which is especially handy for when you’re travelling. Suitable for vegans and certified organic.
6. Kuumba Made Black Coconut: £8.56 for 3.7ml, Holisticshop
This sweet, tropical scent will have you yearning for long summer days. Its milky, rich aroma leaves a lingering sweetness throughout the day and you only need a drop to make it last (oil-based products such as this one last longer than alcohol-based fragrances that evaporate quickly). It also doubles as massage oil, or you can also add a few drops to your bath. All the plants and herbs used are grown on certified organic farms or are wild-harvested ethically, and animals are never used for testing.
7. Sharini Parfums Naturels Ambre Essentiel: £52 for 50ml, The Natural Store
This amber potion is earthy and oriental, made from mandarin, bergamot, vanilla, Australian sandalwood and 300 roses. Another key ingredient is labdanum (a sticky resin from the Cistus ladanifer flower) that is responsible for its warm, yellow-brown colour. It uses organic corn alcohol and organic rose flower water which are both gentle on the skin and do not cause irritation. It has a warm, earthy fragrance that is suitable for winter with a citrus kick. Ecocert certified organic and suitable for vegans.
8. Organic Glam Jasmine: £138.95 for 100ml, The Organic Pharmacy
The fragrances here are 100 per cent natural and 85 per cent organic. This beautiful floral perfume contains no artificial or toxic extracts and has not been tested on animals. It’s great for spring and has notes of ylang-ylang and bergamot, smelling like flowers in bloom. The heavy, gold glass bottle with an old-fashioned stopper will look classy and elegant on your dressing table. It’s the most expensive on our list, but it contains exotic ingredients sourced from around the world, like Egyptian jasmine and Sicillian bergamot.
9. Aveda Stress-Fix: £22 for 7ml, Aveda
Made from French lavender, lavandin and clary sage, this organic perfume is sweet and floral with balsamic undertones. It aims to relieve stress and we found it was wonderfully soothing. Ecocert certified organic.
10. Lush Karma: £12 for 10ml, Lush
If karma doesn’t hit you, this spicy and citrusy scent definitely will. It is such a popular one that Lush has created an entire range of Karma products. Just slip this small bottle in your handbag and you can smell like patchouli, lemongrass and oranges wherever you go. Lush has used mostly natural ingredients and two safe synthetics (Fragrance and Orange 4).
Verdict
For a distinctive floral scent with a fruity kick, go for Abahna, or if elegant jasmine is more your thing, opt for Organic Glam. For a multi-purpose perfume try using some Black Coconut as a massage oil or Acorelle to enhance your mood. But our highest praise goes to the Melvita Roses Sauvages. It's a soft, feminine scent that comes in a 50ml bottle and is worth every penny. It lasts all day and little really does go a long way.