13 Best Natural Perfume Brands in 2020
Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, meaning we receive a commission if you decide to make a purchase through our links, but this is at no additional cost to you. Please read our disclosure for more info.
Many women have a signature perfume they wear each and every day. And with the global natural cosmetics market size predicted to reach a valuation of 48 billion dollars by the year 2025, more and more beauty companies are creating sophisticated perfumes that are more natural, organic, and non-toxic.
Many of the perfumes found in department stores feature “fragrance” or “parfum” as a primary ingredient. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act does not require cosmetic companies to specify what’s included in “fragrance” or “parfum” which means your favorite perfumes may contain toxic chemicals that are potentially harmful to your health.
Case in point: there are over 2,900 ingredients listed by the International Fragrance Association, and the typical “fragrance” ingredient listed on perfume labels contains several HUNDRED chemicals combined, most of which are synthetic. Studies have shown these fragrances can emit the same amount of chemical vapors as petroleum emissions from cars! These vapors are also known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and can react with proteins in our body resulting in raspatory disruptions, skin irritations, and headaches.
There has never been a better time to make the switch to a more natural, non-toxic perfume, but beware – shopping for a truly clean, natural fragrance can be a bit tricky.
Best Natural Perfume Brands
Good Chemistry | ||
The 7 Virtues | ||
Pacifica | ||
Skylar | ||
Lake & Skye | ||
Kai | ||
Maison Louis Marie |
PHLUR | ||
Pour le Monde | ||
Ellis Brooklyn | ||
Lavanila | ||
by/rosie jane | ||
Providence Perfume Company |
Best Natural Perfume Brands
Good Chemistry | |
The 7 Virtues | |
Pacifica | |
Skylar | |
Lake & Skye | |
Kai | |
Maison Louis Marie | |
PHLUR | |
Pour le Monde | |
Ellis Brooklyn | |
Lavanila | |
by/rosie jane | |
Providence Perfume Company |
1. Good Chemistry Eau de Parfum
Good Chemistry Eau de Parfum features fresh and unique fragrance notes formulated with non-toxic ingredients. Good Chemistry offers over twenty different perfumes with bold essential oil blended scents from 4 fragrance families: Fresh & Clean, Floral & Lush, Warm & Spicy, and Earthy & Woody. All Good Chemistry perfumes are vegan and cruelty-free, and formulated without parabens or propylene glycol.
Pros:
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Paraben free
Cons:
- Includes some synthetic fragrance
2. The 7 Virtues
The 7 Virtues perfume line features a unique combination of organic, fair-trade sourced essential oils bonded with organic sugar cane alcohol to create sophisticated scents.
Choose from a botanical blend such as Blackberry Lily or a citrus-based scent such as Grapefruit Lime. Can’t decide which scent is for you? Try the 7 Virtues Peace Blend Box ($29) to discover your favorite. All 7 Virtues perfumes are vegan, cruelty-free, and hypoallergic.
Pros:
- Paraben and Phthalates-free
- Does not contain formaldehyde
Cons:
- Expensive
- Fragrance blend may contain synthetic fragrance
3. Pacifica Spray Perfume
The Pacifica Spray Perfumes are micro-batched in Portland, Oregon and feature a proprietary blend of natural essential oils and plant-based alcohol.
Choose from a sophisticated and worldly variety of scents such as Tuscan Blood Orange and Indian Coconut Nectar. Pacifica Spray Perfumes are vegan and cruelty-free, and formulated without parabens, phthalates, or petroleum.
Pros:
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Formulated without parabens, phthalates, or petroleum
Cons:
- Unclear whether perfume contains synthetic fragrance
4. Skylar
Skylar perfumes feature modern scents that are never overpowering. Choose from 5 different spray perfumes such as the popular Capri scent, featuring a sophisticated blend of citrus and floral notes.
The Skylar Sample Palette ($20) lets you try a variety of travel-sized mini sprays to find your favorite clean, non-toxic scent. Skylar perfumes are vegan and cruelty-free, and formulated without parabens or toxic chemicals.
Pros:
- Cruelty-free
- Features natural fragrance blend without synthetics
Cons:
- Expensive
5. Lake & Skye 11 11 Eau de Parfum
Lake & Skye’s 11 11 Eau de Parfum features a unique blend of white ambers for a subtle musk scent. This unique scent also comes as a rollerball fragrance oil ($48) for a less expensive option.
Lake & Skye perfumes and fragrances are formulated without parabens, phthalates, or sulfates, and are vegan and cruelty-free.
Pros:
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Paraben and phthalate-free
Cons:
- Very expensive
- May contain synthetic fragrance
6. Kai Perfume Oil
The Kai Perfume Oil features an intoxicating blend of essential oils in a convenient roll-on vial, perfect for on-the-go application.
This perfume oil features a unique combination of gardenias and white exotics. Kai Perfume Oil is vegan and cruelty-free, and formulated without parabens, phthalates, or sulfates.
Pros:
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Paraben and phthalate-free
Cons:
- Contains synthetic ingredients
- Contains synthetic fragrance
7. Maison Louis Marie Perfume Oil
The Maison Louis Marie Perfume Oils feature sophisticated fragrance profiles in an easy-to-apply roll-on bottle. Choose from 10 different scents with a complex blend of top, mid, and base notes for a truly unique fragrance profile.
Maison Louis Marie offers a Perfume Oil Discovery Set ($48) featuring the 5 best-selling fragrances for you to find your personal favorite. The Maison Louis Marie Perfume Oils are cruelty-free and formulated without parabens, phthalates, or sulfates.
Pros:
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Paraben and phthalate-free
Cons:
- Contains parfume, which may include synthetic fragrance
8. PHLUR Eau de Parfum
PHLUR Eau de Parfum features 10 modern fragrances, all formulated with clean, non-toxic ingredients that are sustainably sourced. Try PHLUR’s most popular fragrance Hanami, featuring a clean, minimalist scent with notes of fig, white florals, hazelnut, and sandalwood.
PHLUR Eau de Parfum offers two sizes of its perfumes, including a 3-scent sample set ($18). PHLUR fragrances are hypoallergenic, cruelty-free and vegan, formulated without parabens, phthalates, or nitro or polycyclic musks.
Pros:
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Paraben and phthalate-free
Cons:
- Very expensive
- May contain some synthetic fragrance
9. Pour le Monde
Pour le Monde Perfumes feature 100% natural essential oils combined with grain alcohol for an all-natural perfume.
Choose from 3 unisex scents featuring a unique blend of citrus, woods and floral notes, or try the Natural Perfume Samples ($23). Pour le Monde Perfumes are cruelty-free and free from any synthetic ingredients.
Pros:
- Cruelty-free
- Made with 100% natural essential oils
Cons:
- Expensive
10. Ellis Brooklyn Fragrance Discovery Sets
Still searching for your signature scent? Ellis Brooklyn Fragrance Discovery Sets makes it easy and fun to mix and match your favorite notes to create your own distinct perfume.
Each Discovery Set includes a variety of scents guaranteed to create sophisticated and unique fragrances. All Ellis Brooklyn fragrances are vegan and cruelty-free, and formulated without parabens or phthalates.
Pros:
- Vegand and cruelty-free
- Paraben and phthalates-free
Cons:
- Contains parfum, which may include synthetic fragrance
- May contain synthetic ingredients
11. Lavanila Find Your Favorite Roller Ball Trio
Lavanila’s Find Your Favorite trio includes 3 all-natural vanilla and vanilla blend scents in easy-to-use roller ball bottles.
Featuring aloe to soothe skin and a unique botanical fragrance blend, the Find Your Favorite trio allows for the creation of a variety of unique blends. Lavanila’s fragrances are cruelty-free, and feature all-natural fragrances formulated without parabens or phthalates.
Pros:
- Excellent price
- Paraben, phthalate, and cruelty-free
Cons:
- Limited fragrance profile
12. by/rosie jane Seasons Perfume Oil Collection
the by/rosie jane Seasons Perfume Oil Collection features 5 distinct botanical fragrances to create your own personal scent.
Each travel-sized bottle makes for convenient application on the go. The by/rosie jane Seasons Perfume Oil Collection is vegan, cruelty-free and formulated without parabens and phthalates.
Pros:
- Create your own personal fragrance blend
- Vegand and cruelty-free
Cons:
- May contain some synthetic ingredients
13. Providence Perfume Company Perfume Oil Sample Set
Looking for a mix-and-match natural perfume oil set? The Providence Perfume Company Perfume Oil Sample Set features 6 unique, all-natural perfume oils to create the perfect fragrance blend.
These sample-sized bottles are great for travel, and the perfume oils are formulated without petrochemicals or synthetic fragrances.
Pros:
- Can mix and match to create your own scent
Cons:
- Expensive for the size
- No specific ingredient details available
Your Guide To Natural Perfume
What are the potentially harmful ingredients found in perfume?
Some of the chemical ingredients found in fragrance include benzene derivatives, aldehydes, and phthalates. These chemicals are known to cause cancer, birth defects, nervous system disorders, and allergies – some are even sited on the Environmental Protection Agency’s hazardous waste list! Phthalates have been linked to genetic damage, reproductive issues, and even cancer. Phthalates are also known endocrine and respiratory disruptors, and they can cause headaches.
While this information alone is enough to make the switch to natural fragrance, there are natural ingredients that may also be toxic. For example, Pulegone is a naturally-derived mint fragrance that has been found to cause cancer. Essential oils as fragrance can irritate skin and are considered toxic at certain levels.
The bottom line: to find a truly natural, non-toxic fragrance you must be diligent about reading perfume labels carefully and asking companies to clarify their ingredient list. If you see the ingredient “fragrance” or “parfum” listed, chances are your “natural” perfume contains some synthetic chemical ingredients that could be harmful to your health.
FAQs
Q. How do I know what ingredients are included in “fragrance” or “parfum”?
A. The short answer? You don’t. If you see the ingredient “fragrance” or “parfum” listed on the label, beware of what’s NOT listed. This catch-all ingredient listing is actually comprised of hundreds if not thousands of ingredients, the vast majority of which are derived from petrochemicals. These chemical ingredients include benzene derivatives, aldehydes, and phthalates – chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects, nervous system disorders, and allergies. Some of these chemicals are sited on the Environmental Protection Agency’s hazardous waste list.
Beauty companies are not required to list out the exact ingredients used in their perfumes. The United States government does not require they specify these ingredients and many beauty companies claim this information is protected by trade secret.
If you’re unsure whether your perfume contains potentially harmful, synthetic fragrance, go straight to the source: contact the perfume brand and ask whether they use any synthetic fragrance blends in their perfumes. A truly “clean” and non-toxic perfume company should be able to identify and list out the specific fragrance ingredients used in their perfumes.
Q. Do natural perfumes last as long as perfumes that contain synthetic ingredients and fragrance?
A. No: Natural fragrances are formulated without the synthetic chemicals used to help preserve perfumes. As a result, you may notice your natural perfume must be reapplied during the day for maximum effect.
CONCLUSION
When it comes to discovering your signature scent, you’ll need to use more than your nose. The world of fragrance ingredients is complex and a bit misleading but with some diligence and a little sleuthing you can find an incredible natural perfume free from toxic chemicals.
Now It's Your Turn
Now I’d like to hear from you:
What is your favorite natural perfume brand?
Are you going try any of these brands out?
Either way, leave me a quick comment below to let me know.