My Top 5 Clean Fragrances
I’ve done the legwork testing clean fragrances. Here are my top 5 picks! Plus, how to make your own.
The issue: Every day countless chemicals are used to create fragrances for our products. Some of these chemicals have been linked to health problems ranging from hormone imbalance to increased risk of cancer. Even worse, manufacturers aren’t listing these harmful ingredients on their labels. Clean perfumes and fragrances allow people to avoid dangerous chemicals and protect their health. Check out my top perfume picks below!
This post is not sponsored. The following content contains some affiliate links.
1. Lotus Pear
by The 7 Virtues
Fragrance Family: Fruity/Floral
Notes: Pear, Lotus, Orange Flower
Price: $32-$88
Lotus Pear by The 7 Virtues is truly joyful! It’s a great scent for spring or summer, with Pear, Orange Flower, Lotus, and Gardenia. This fragrance smells feminine and youthful. I got mine from sephora.com
About the brand
Founded by author and activist, Barb Stegemann, The 7 Virtues has been making clean, vegan, sustainably sourced perfume since before it was cool. Sustainability runs in their DNA, from natural ingredients to eco-conscious packaging.
Features
Clean Formula
Hypoallergenic
No Phthalates
Vegan
Unisex
Cruelty-Free
2. Skin
by Clean Reserve
Fragrance Family: Floral/Musk
Notes: Vanilla, Peony, Orchid, Cedar
Price: $29-$110
One of my favorites! This is a fragrance that I often wear and I even purchased it for my mom. It’s rich, youthful, warm, a little sweet, and smells expensive. It has floral notes, yet isn’t overly feminine, with musk and cedar base notes. I got mine from sephora.com
About the brand
Clean Beauty Collective uses sustainable farm-to-fragrance ingredients, ethically sourced and blended into unforgettable scents. They make simple, conscious products and vet ingredients for safety—without sacrificing complexity.
Features
Clean Formula
Sustainable
No Phthalates
No Parabens
Gluten-Free
Eco-Conscious Packaging
Vegan
No Synthetic Colors
3. Dirty Vanilla
by Heretic Parfum
Fragrance Family: Amber/Woody
Notes: Cedar, Vanilla, Sandalwood, Patchouli
Price: $65-$165
I have a background in branding, and honestly… I love this brand! The art direction of the photography is beautiful and the scents are a work of art in themselves. Dirty Vanilla by Heretic gives Vanilla an edgy twist with notes of Amber and Sandalwood. Also, I love that this fragrance is unisex (which I’ve loved since CKOne). I got mine from hereticparfum.com
About the brand
Heretic is quickly becoming one of my favorite clean fragrance brands because each ingredient is 100% natural. Their artfully crafted, natural fragrances surpass all industry standards of “clean” with their naturally derived ingredients blended in organic, non-GMO sugarcane alcohol.
Features
100% Natural
No Phthalates
No Parabens
No Synthetic Colors
No Formaldehyde
Vegan
Cruelty-Free
4. Lake
by Rosie Jane
Fragrance Family: Earthy & Woody
Notes: Citrus, Sandalwood, Pine, Vanilla
Price: $28-$70
When I look for fragrances, I’m always attracted to citrus. Lake, by Rose Jane, is inspired by Lake Tahoe and combines crisp, clean citrus notes of bergamot and lime with woody notes of pine and sandalwood, capturing a rich balance that creates sophistication and depth in the fragrance. I got mine from amazon
About the brand
Rosie Jane is a CLEAN / COOL / EVERYDAY beauty and fragrance brand dedicated to feeling good, smelling good, and doing good. Their collection of products is also vegan and cruelty-free.
Features
Clean Formula
No Phthalates
No Parabens
Sustainable Packaging
Vegan
Cruelty-Free
5. Sheep’s Clothing
by Henry Rose
Fragrance Family: Floral/Woody
Notes: Pink Peppercorn, Rose, Orange, Amber
Price: $35-$120
Sheep’s Clothing has an unexpected burst of peppercorn which creates a great juxtaposition with Turkish rose and amber. This fragrance is a little sweet with a masculine edge. I got mine from henryrose.com
About the brand
Founded by Michelle Pfieffer, Henry Rose is the first fragrance brand to be both EWG Verified™ and Cradle to Cradle Certified™. Each ingredient has been rigorously vetted against the strictest standards for health and safety.
Features
Clean Formula
Hypoallergenic
No Phthalates
No Parabens
No Formaldehyde
EWG Verified™
Cradle to Cradle Certified™
Cruelty-Free
How to make your own.
In a 4 oz. glass mist spray bottle, combine…
1 tbsps carrier oil (I like this jojoba oil)
4 tbsps perfumers alcohol, 95-100 proof (I like this ethanol)
1 tbsps distilled water
100 drops of essential oils (I like this variety set)
(20 drops top notes, 60 drops middle notes, 20 drops base notes) Choose your favorites and have fun with them!Secure the lid, shake it, and let it sit for 48 hours.
Here is my favorite combination of oils: top notes: orange/bergamot, middle notes: jasmine, base notes: sandalwood.