Vanille Glacé is a marron glacé finished with vanilla in place of chestnut. The sugar isn’t in a hurry. It soaks in one layer at a time, finishing with a glossy sheen. The first impression is brown sugar syrup, with cinnamon drawing the syrup into sharper focus. At its heart, the vanilla leans heavy rather than white and airy. Freshly baked madeleine adds soft warmth, and espresso casts a thin, bitter shadow at the edge of the sweetness.
The drydown gives full reign to blond woods, tonka bean and musk, lending reassurance to the indulgence.
Best Lavandula by Penhaligon's Alternatives & Similar Perfumes
Lavandula by Penhaligon's is an aromatic fragrance blending herbal freshness with warm spices and a subtle sweetness. The scent opens with basil and black pepper, followed by a heart of lavender, clary sage, and cinnamon, balanced by soft floral hints of lily-of-the-valley. Its base combines musk, vanilla, tonka beans, and amber, creating a nuanced and comforting profile. Those drawn to aromatic scents with a balance of spice, herbal greens, and gentle sweetness may find this fragrance appealing.
Giardinodiercole by Agatho £305.00
- Key notes:
- black pepper
- cashmeran
- cedarwood
- juniper
- lavender
- patchouli
- Aromagroups:
- spicy
- woody
It is the energy of myth and the elegance of the garden that inspire a refined and vigorous essence.
Bergamot and juniper berries become full-bodied on a carpet of incense, fading into the persistent fascination of oriental wood.
The presence of a marble Hercules in the garden of the perfumer’s house, triumph of courage and immortality, elevates to myth the creations of Agatho and the Giardinodiercole becomes a perfume.
Pitch and Toss by MINT £170.00
- Key notes:
- amber
- basil
- patchouli
- Aromagroups:
- aromatic
- fruity
- woody
Azure line
Perfumer: Hamid Merati-Kashani
This perfume is an interesting parade of herbs morphing into fresh woods and back again with soft velvety amber in the background. There is also a surprise twist: a tiny drop of a fruity rose hidden between the basil and bergamot.
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While ‘green’ is more or less well explored and accepted as a way of describing a perfume character no other color has really made it into the connoisseurs’ terminology.
In their azure line M.Int are experimenting with the idea of azure scents: think sky, great fresh expanses of sunny meadows, clouds as seen by the first pilots of the first planes, athletes dashing forward in a field and so on.
Each scent in the azure collection has a fresh impulse going in the direction of a sunny horizon through cool herbs, zesty citruses, fresh woods and discrete tender flowers.
Lilac Wine by Art Meets Art £110.00
- Key notes:
- cedarwood
- clary sage
- lavender
- Aromagroups:
- aromatic
Perfumer: Frank Voelkl translated this captivating and romantic jazz piece with Jeff Buckley's interpretation in mind.
Provence by Nissaba £150.00
- Key notes:
- clary sage
- fougere
- hyssop
- lavender
- pepper
- spearmint
- Aromagroups:
- aromatic
- woody
A rich, aromatic bouquet with a modern Provençal twist — this contemporary fougère blends spicy, herbal and green notes into a sophisticated accord. The crisp freshness gently gives way to warm, woody depths, creating an evolving scent that lingers with elegance. Featuring ultra-premium “Diva lavender”, this elevated lavender sings out alongside fellow Provençal ingredients — fruity-earthy clary sage and lemony-minty hyssop — to reveal its distinctive character.
Vanille Glacé by Insenf £125.00
- Key notes:
- brown sugar
- cinnamon
- coffee
- sandalwood
- tonka beans
- vanilla
- Aromagroups:
- edible
- woody
Abode of Brahma 梵天境 by Zhiwuzhi 挚物志 £120.00
- Key notes:
- basil
- galbanum
- green leaves
- incense
- neroli
- Aromagroups:
- green
In the Hindu tradition, Brahma is the creator god, responsible for knowledge. Abode of Brahma conjures bright alertness with spiritual stillness. Starting open and alive with a luminous burst of sharp basil and tart rhubarb, it softens with the diffusive green of galbanum mixed with delicate white florals. Grounding the experience are transparent threads of incense, sandalwood and ambergris.
Perfumer: Maxime Exler
Bambou by Molinard £65.00
- Key notes:
- bamboo
- basil
- cardamom
- Aromagroups:
- aromatic
- green
Step into the bamboo forest with this beautifully refreshing perfume. A new addition to the Molinard’s iconic La Fraîcheur collection.
Brume Matcha by Marie Jeanne £60.00
- Key notes:
- basil
- cedarwood
- geranium
- mint
- Aromagroups:
- aromatic
- green
Perfume: Sidonie Lancesseur
A roasty-toasty nose of matcha tea is your entry point to this delightful essay on the joys of the gently-reviving hot beverage. The nutty bitterness is supported by a beautifully calibrated blur of basil, peppermint, geranium and cedar.
Dragonfly (2021) by Zoologist £200.00
- Key notes:
- basil
- cashmeran
- geranium
- mimosa
- rice
- Aromagroups:
- floral
- green
Giant lotus pads part to make way for buds that pierce the surface of the jade green pond. They raise their faces to the sun, their delicate fragrance floating around them. In the shadow of the flowers, tiny dragonfly nymphs also emerge from the shallows. They spread their fragile wings and shyly take flight, ready to explore a world beyond the water. Shimmering pools of nearby golden rice fields call to the dragonflies. Their long, quivering bodies flit across the cascading terraces to alight upon swaying stalks, sparkling with sunlight caught in droplets on iridescent wings.
Like a lotus spreading its petals, Zoologist Dragonfly opens with a rush of beautiful aquatic florals. Hints of rice, powdery iris, and mimosa diffuse from within a lush shroud of green, beneath the intimate aroma of an imminent summer shower. Dragonfly encapsulates the richness and romance of impressionism, a canvas of florals under a watery veil.
This perfume is a new interpretation by perfumer Celine Barel. The original version, designed by Juan Perez, is discontinued and no longer available.
Pâquerettes (Daisies) by Milleseve £115.00
- Key notes:
- basil
- carrot seeds
- green beans
- hyacinth
- lilac
- pear
- tomato leaves
- Aromagroups:
- floral
Hands in the soil. Fruits, vegetables and flowers mingle in the joyful disorder of a sun-drenched family garden. Daisy bouquets, juicy mirabelle plums and sweet raspberries. A harvest of crunchy beans and a table decorated with roses, freesias and hydrangeas. A sheen of green: green grass, green beans, green sap.
About Lavandula by Penhaligon's
- What makes Lavandula by Penhaligon's distinctive in its aromatic family?
- Lavandula combines herbal notes like basil and clary sage with spicy elements such as black pepper and cinnamon, balanced by soft florals and a warm base of musk, vanilla, tonka beans, and amber. This blend results in a nuanced aromatic fragrance that balances freshness with warmth.
- How does Lavandula differ from these fragrances listed here?
- Lavandula is characterised by a specific combination of warm spices, aromatic herbs, and floral notes, including cinnamon and lily-of-the-valley, which many of the listed fragrances do not replicate fully. Several alternatives focus on greener, fresher profiles or introduce gourmand or smoky elements absent in Lavandula.
- Can I find a fragrance with a similar basil note but less sweetness than Lavandula?
- Yes, fragrances like Giardinodiercole by Agatho or Provence by Nissaba highlight basil with less emphasis on sweet or vanilla accords. They often incorporate other herbal or woody notes for a fresher or more textured aromatic experience.









