Scent Almanac

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Lilac

Lilac

Middle (heart) note Floral Fragrance oil

Sweet, powdery spring lilac with green, slightly almondy freshness. Many versions lean soapy or old-fashioned.

Made from
A blended fragrance oil built from aroma chemicals (and sometimes naturals); a true lilac oil isn't commercially produced because the flowers yield almost nothing on extraction.
Strength
●●●●○
Cost
Moderate
Moods
NostalgicRomanticCalming
Seasons
Spring
Rooms
Bedroom, Living room, Entryway
Follow the supplier's safety data sheet and certificate for use levels.

How it behaves

CandlesGreat

Floral fragrance oils generally throw well in soy and paraffin; check your supplier's recommended load.

Wax meltsGreat
Reed diffuserGood
Room & linen sprayGood

Needs a solubilizer (such as polysorbate 20) to mix into a water-based spray.

Electric (water) diffuserAvoid
Cold-process soapWorkable

Lilac oils have a reputation for accelerating and seizing in cold process; choose one the supplier has soap-tested.

Melt-and-pour soapGood
Laundry & cleaningGood

Pairs well with

Lily of the Valley
Lily of the Valley
Middle · Floral
Fragrance oil
Violet
Violet
Middle · Floral
Fragrance oil
Lavender
Lavender
Middle · Floral
Essential oil
Honeysuckle
Honeysuckle
Middle · Floral
Fragrance oil
Peony
Peony
Middle · Floral
Fragrance oil
Fresh Linen
Fresh Linen
Top · Fresh & clean
Fragrance oil
White Tea
White Tea
Top · Fresh & clean
Fragrance oil
Bergamot
Bergamot
Top · Citrus
Essential oil

Don't have it? Try Lily of the Valley, Violet.

In these blends

Cottage Garden
Tomato vines, cut grass and armfuls of peonies and lilac in a May garden.
Peony · Lilac · Tomato Leaf · Fresh-Cut Grass · Oakmoss · Virginian Cedarwood
Top 29% Middle 47% Base 24%
UpliftingNostalgicSpringSummer
Lilac Porch
Grandma's lilac hedge by the porch steps in late spring.
Lilac · Bergamot · Virginian Cedarwood · Honeysuckle · Fresh-Cut Grass · Vanilla
Top 25% Middle 50% Base 25%
NostalgicCalmingSpring

A little lore

Lilacs belong to the olive family, and their blossoms yield so little oil that perfumers have always rebuilt the scent from other materials.

← LemongrassLily of the Valley →