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Subtly floral, bright and zesty, or heavy and oriental — we love matching a scent to our mood. But at the same time, we’d rather leave conventional perfumes, and their synthetic ingredients, behind. In this piece, we introduce three exciting brands whose natural perfumes genuinely won us over.
By: Sarah Marx
A perfume is typically built from alcohol, water, and undiluted fragrance oils, which can be either natural or synthetic in origin. The percentage of fragrance oil in the mix is what earns a composition its title — Eau de Parfum, Eau de Toilette, or Eau de Cologne.
Unfortunately, it’s not just noses that wrinkle when people test a new perfume — contact allergies are a real and recurring issue. Back in 2012, the EU had already identified 82 different fragrance compounds and essential oils shown to trigger allergic reactions. According to Öko-Test, natural perfumes tend to be gentler on the skin than their conventional counterparts, with no less exciting a scent experience to show for it.
High-quality scents and natural perfumes
While researching luxury fragrances from the organic and natural cosmetics world, it quickly became clear that this remains something of a niche market. High-quality, purely natural fragrance ingredients — ideally certified organic, vegan, and cruelty-free, and backed by a genuinely sustainable company philosophy — are still harder to find than we’d have liked. Which made it all the more satisfying to spend real time testing the natural perfumes of farfalla, Organic Glam, and myrto-naturalcosmetics, three companies whose values are well worth supporting.
They say a perfume smells different on everyone. So our entire editorial team took on the task of evaluating the scents from these three standout beauty brands, independently of one another.
farfalla — Follow the Butterfly
Since its founding in 1982, the Swiss company farfalla has built its identity around natural aromatherapy and the versatile use of essential oils. At its center are various plants and their ethnobotanical applications, with the goal of bringing both body and mind into balance while helping people feel healthy and naturally beautiful, inside and out. Every farfalla product is made without synthetic ingredients, and all are vegan and cruelty-free. The aromatic plants are grown under controlled organic conditions across more than 40 countries, financed through fair trade projects, while the fragrance production itself takes place exclusively in Switzerland under the strictest quality standards. True to its philosophy of acting ecologically, humanely, and consistently, out of respect for the dignity of people, animals, and nature, the company also supports farfalla Hebammenhilfe, an initiative working to reduce maternal mortality in the world’s poorest countries.
farfalla wins us over with a genuinely diverse lineup — ten feminine compositions and one masculine scent in total. The range spans fruity, refreshing notes, sensual floral accents, and deeper, earthier tones, so there’s genuinely something for every taste.
We were especially taken with nuvola, with its fresh top note giving way to a powdery, soft heart. The composition includes neroli, bergamot, ylang-ylang, vanilla, and sandalwood. The scent stays pleasant on the skin for hours, growing lighter over time without losing its character. We weren’t the only ones impressed — Ökotest awarded this perfume its top rating of SEHR GUT (very good) in its December 2011 test series. Nuvola is available through the brand’s own online shop for €54.00 / 50ml.
Organic Glam
Organic Glam belongs to The Organic Pharmacy, a British beauty brand that produces not just perfumes but also organic skincare and makeup from natural ingredients, all out of its London manufacturing facility. The Organic Pharmacy’s philosophy is grounded in the core principles of homeopathic and naturopathic medicine. That holistic approach, free of toxins and synthetic ingredients, runs through every product line and promises health and well-being in equal measure. Among the ingredients the company describes as its “star ingredients” are aloe, rosehip, rose, shea butter, and calendula.
Organic Glam promises that every perfume contains 100 percent natural ingredients, 85 percent of which are certified organic. All of its fragrances also skip petrochemicals, animal and artificial fragrance compounds, phthalates (fragrance fixatives), and artificial colors and preservatives. Organic Glam also champions fair trade and conducts no animal testing.
Of the seven Organic Glam perfumes currently available, most built around floral and citrus notes, our favorite was Jasmin. This warm, Mediterranean scent, like the others in the range, lasts remarkably well on skin and clothing, so a single spray is all you need. Even hours later — sometimes even the next day — that fresh, spa-like scent is still there. The composition blends jasmine and ylang-ylang blossom with bergamot, celery seed, and sandalwood. Organic Glam Jasmin perfume is available online, for instance through Saint Charles Apothecary, for €159.00 / 100ml.
myrto-naturalcosmetics
myrto-naturalcosmetics stands for innovative organic cosmetics built from the best natural ingredients, for healthy hair and beautiful skin. The company, based in Bergisch Gladbach, avoids palm oil entirely, relying instead on fruit and vegetable fibers as emulsifiers in its skincare products. Everything is produced in-house without preservatives and packaged, wherever possible, in environmentally friendly glass bottles and jars. According to the brand, many of its raw materials — including argan, babassu, and avocado oils, as well as shea butter — come from fair trade cooperatives that support both organic farming and traditional processing methods within small, self-organized businesses. myrto-naturalcosmetics is firmly opposed to animal testing, and with the exception of its hair wax, which contains untreated beeswax, every product is vegan.
Two myrto-naturalcosmetics perfumes are currently on the market: ARABESQUE (unisex) and GIZEH (masculine). We can wholeheartedly recommend ARABESQUE to anyone looking for a scent that’s both sensual and sharp, with a refreshing edge. The composition centers on essences of ylang-ylang and rose blossom, along with coriander, grapefruit, patchouli, and genuine vanilla. We were equally impressed by how long the scent lingers. The 100 percent natural Eau de Parfum comes in an elegant glass bottle for €75.00 / 50ml, and is also available as a travel-sized roll-on (€10.50 / 5ml). More scents are reportedly in the works — we’re curious to see what’s next.
The bottom line
Even if luxury natural perfumes remain something of a niche market, our test selection left us thoroughly impressed. The variety already on offer, combined with these companies’ drive to keep expanding their ranges, points to real demand for high-quality fragrances that are kind to both skin and environment. All three brands featured here are especially worth supporting, given their commitment to social responsibility alongside genuine organic and fair trade partnerships.
