(Updated Dec 7, 2024) I’ve tested dozens of non toxic perfume brands over the years so it’s about time I created the ULTIMATE guide to clean, natural and organic perfume brands to help you find the best one for YOU. The fragrance world can get confusing, so we’re here to take the guesswork out for you.

I brought on award-winning botanical perfumer Charna Ethier, founder of Providence Perfume Co. for a top expert’s insight and tips. Our comprehensive guide deep dives into what clean perfume is, why it’s important to switch to a non-toxic one and answers your most frequently asked questions. Keep reading to find out my favorite perfumes that are safe and smell amazing!

What is Clean Perfume?

The safest clean perfume is 100% natural and made without any synthetics, petrochemicals, fragrance oils, dyes, parabens, pthathlates or chemical fragrances. Conventional fragrances, on the other hand, are a synthetic cocktail that can be made up of hundreds of chemicals that don’t have to be disclosed due to trade secret laws.

In fact, there are around 3,000 chemicals used in fragrance and many of these are known hormone disrupters and endocrine disrupters (while others have never been studied at all). Not to mention they give plenty of people, including myself, a migraine!

The safest way to enjoy perfume is by avoiding synthetics and choosing trustworthy non toxic fragrance brands that use botanicals extracts from nature instead.

It’s important to remember that most clean perfume brands today are not 100% natural and include synthetics. This is true for all mass-manufactured brands at Sephora like The 7 Virtues, Ellis Brooklyn and Dime Beauty. And I don’t say this to demonize them but to present all the info accurately, so you can make the best informed decision.

We’ve divided our list into two categories, so you know which brands are all natural and which are not.

The Difference between Non-Toxic Perfume and Clean Perfume

There are two main categories within clean perfume:

1. 100% natural perfumes without any synthetics
2. Clean perfumes with synthetics

Low-tox perfumes that include synthetics (like Phlur) will have more similarities to conventional fragrance, and they last longer than essential oil perfumes.

If you’re a diehard mainstream fragrance fan, but still want to try to choose cleaner options, then #2 is the easiest transition for you. Many of these brands also make body mists. Keep in mind that when brands say “safe synthetics” they mean that it is hypoallergenic and safe for sensitive skin, not that it’s been tested for human health.

All-natural or organic perfume brands do not formulate using synthetics, petrochemicals, dyes, parabens, pthathlates, chemical fragrances or even fragrance oils. Instead, they use whole botanicals, resins, plants, flowers and woods and create in small batches using time-honored ancient perfumery techniques.

I find the quality of all natural perfumes to be the highest. But because of the exceptionally high quality of their raw materials, truly non-toxic perfumes can cost anywhere between $100 and $200 or higher which might be out of your budget.

How to Choose a Non Toxic Perfume

Providence Perfume Co owner & master botanical perfumer Charna Ethier shares her tips for discerning if a fragrance is truly natural or botanical (made from plants and flowers, not aroma chemicals). Ethier says, “

1. Is the perfume colored or is it clear? It’s almost impossible to make a true natural perfume that’s clear as most natural essences are brightly colored when distilled. For example real jasmine absolute is a dark orange brown color.

2. Is it expensive? Most natural perfumes are costly as the materials are very expensive in comparison to synthetic aroma chemicals. If the fragrance is a bargain I highly doubt it’s natural.

3. Does it smell familiar or like other perfumes you’ve worn for years? If so, it’s likely got synthetic ingredients in it. Natural perfumes smell a little different from mainstream perfumes which are about 98% synthetic. Real sandalwood smells nothing like synthetic sandalwood, same for rose and jasmine. The real flower smells different from the chemical version!”

Best Clean Perfume Brands

Here is the full list of clean perfumes that actually last! Many of these are available at Sephora for you to try in person before buying.

I tried Sana Jardin

One of my favorite healthy and feminine fragrance lines I like to recommend is Sana Jardin. I can’t get enough of their Incense Water perfume! I found Sana Jardin perfumes to be beautifully feminine and easygoing with a decent amount of complexity. I think Incense Water is such a sophisticated dewy rose perfume that reminds me of a rose garden after the rain. Jaipur Chant is my other favorite Sana Jardin scent and it’s a gorgeous white floral tuberose scent that’s creamy and delicate. Plus how chic is their new packaging!

Sana Jardin is a socially conscious, luxury fragrance house whose vision is to use clean and sustainable perfume as a vehicle for social impact and the economic empowerment of women.

Use “ORGANICBEAUTYLOVER” to save 20% (excludes sample sets).

Price: $35 for 0.34 oz rollerball / $145 for 1.7 oz 
Longevity 4/5

I tried By Rosie Jane

By Rosie Jane is my top pick and recommendation if you love wearable and delicate feminine scents that aren’t overpowering. I’ve tried all their scents and find them soooo easy and light, perfect for those who don’t want overly synthetic smelling perfumes but still want something that performs close to conventional perfume. I also find them much more affordable compared to other similar clean perfume brands, which often retail for over $100.

Californian perfume brand By Rosie Jane offers vegan and clean perfumes, and discloses each synthetic they use in the name of transparency. My personal By Rosie Jane favorites are Dulce (a creamy vanilla amber), Lake (a citrus vanilla) and Rosie (a super light rose skin scent)! Dylan is a great woodsy, creamy, grounding scent for winter.

Price: $29 for 0.25 oz travel spray / $80 for 1.7 oz / $48 for 0.25 perfume oil
Longevity 4/5

I tried Maison Louis Marie

I tested all of Maison Louie Marie’s bestsellers and find this line to be a collection of sophisticated and elegant perfumes that are more affordably priced compared to other similar quality clean perfume brands. Their bestseller Bois de Balincourt is seriously sooo good and a standout among woodsy fragrances in clean beauty. Check out what one of my readers says about all the Maison Louis Marie perfumes she tried here.

Created by Belgian native Marie along with her LA native husband, Maison Louis Marie is an eco-conscious clean fragrance line balancing both synthetic and natural ingredients. Maison Louis Marie only uses synthetic ingredients in order to protect the planet from the over-harvesting of endangered plants, to avoid animal products, and to protect against known natural allergens. 

Price: $65 for 0.50 oz perfume oil / $93 for 1.7 oz 
Longevity 4/5

I tried The 7 Virtues

This is a great B Corp certified clean perfume brand that you can try out in person at Sephora. I love that they are mission driven and create clean perfumes with vegan, sustainably sourced ingredients. Vanilla Woods is just the perfect vanilla scent and Vetiver Elemi is so grounding with a darkly sweet facet.

Founded by author and activist, Barb Stegemann in 2010, The 7 Virtues is a socially driven perfume brand focused on helping nations rebuild after war or strife. All of The 7 Virtues natural, organic and fair trade essential oils are ethically sourced. A lot of people think The 7 Virtues is all natural, but they do use synthetics along with essential oils! 

Price: $32 for 0.34 oz travel spray / $94 for 1.7 oz 
Longevity 4/5

I tried Bohemian Reves

Bohemian Reves is a fantastic affordable clean perfume brand that’s a great place to start if you want to wear something mostly natural that doesn’t break the bank!

Plant-based, hand-crafted beauty line Bohemian Reves creates a handful of 100% botanical perfumes that they hand blend in their Florida studio and finish in their heavy weight geometric glass vessels. Desert Fleur is a sultry and simple mix of patchouli and vanilla, that’s both romantic and grounding. The longevity is about 4-5 hours.

Price: $30 for 0.34 oz rollerball
Longevity 3.5/5

I tried Phlur

Phlur is a Sephora clean perfume brand that I would characterize as having strong, heady scents that are similar to fine fragrance. They can be quite heavy if you have a sensitive nose. My personal favorite Phlur perfume for everyday wear is Phloria, a sumptuous creamy white floral that smells SO good and for summer Apricot Privee!

NPhlur creates modern fine fragrances that are mindfully formulated, responsibly sourced and crafted by world-class perfumers. I find that Phlur performs closer to a conventional fragrance and has strong projection and longevity. I’m dying to try their Vanilla Skin Body Mist!

Price: $29 for 0.32 oz travel spray / $99 for 1.7 oz 
Longevity 4/5

I tried Ellis Brooklyn

I tested all of Ellis Brooklyn’s bestsellers and find the line to be very easy and feminine and  great for perfume beginners and younger individuals. Ellis Brooklyn perfumes are PETA Certified vegan and cruelty free. I really like their honeyed fragrance called Bee and find all their fragrances to be super wearable and approachable. They also seem to smell a tad less synthetic than other clean fragrance brands to my sensitive nose. 

Price: $33 for 0.33 oz travel spray / $110 for 1.7 oz 
Longevity 4/5

I tried Henry Rose

I tested all the Henry Rose perfumes and would characterize this as a rich, heavy line of scents. If you’re looking for easy, light and ultra feminine scents Henry Rose is not for you! They’re very intense scents in general but I did enjoy their darker vanilla scents like Torn and a creamy floral scent Flora Carnivora.

Henry Rose was founded by actress Michelle Pfeiffer who gave up mainstream toxic fragrance after becoming a mom. But her desire to wear fragrance led her to create her own fragrance brand that measured up to her standards. Henry Rose is EWG verified and was developed by luxury fragrance house perfumers from a list of just 300 allowed ingredients from 3000.

Price: $35 for 0.34 oz travel spray / $120 for 1.7 oz 
Longevity 4/5

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I tried Clean Beauty Collective

I find Clean Beauty Collective fragrances to be  simple and uncomplicated with strong performance. If you’re looking for a clean fresh laundry scent without harmful phthalates and parabens, their Warm Cotton scent captures it perfectly!

Founded in 2013, Clean Beauty Collective has been making clean perfumes with natural and safe synthetics for over a decade with their Clean Reserve and Clean Classic fragrance lines. Clean Beauty Collective works with partners that use green manufacturing practices and chooses responsibly sourced, sustainable ingredients that give back. 

Price: $44 for 1 oz/ $74 for 2.11 oz 
Longevity 4/5

I tried Floral Street

Floral Street is a great clean perfume brand for floral lovers since every scent focuses on flowers! I’ve tested the entire Floral Street line and my personal favorites from the Floral Street line are Arizona Bloom and Wild Vanilla Orchid. Arizona Street is just the perfect creamy floral coconut for everyday wear. I also like to layer this with my darker, woodsier perfumes during the winter. Floral Street is a modern fragrance brand with sustainability at its core. They use synthetics to perform like a fine fragrance and are vegan, cruelty free and sustainably sourced. 

Price: $35 for 0.34 oz travel spray / $97 for 1.7 oz 
Longevity 4/5

I tried Lavanila The Healthy Fragrance

Lavanila is a vanilla lover’s dream come true with their wide range of vanilla focused scents. I found their perfumes to be simple (in a very good way) and clean smelling. Plus the bottle is absolutely huge and lasts foreeever. This is one of the most affordable clean perfumes I’ve tried. They contain skin-nourishing ingredients along with pure essential oils, nature identical oils, and botanically derived aromas.

Price: $16 for 0.32 oz travel spray / $48 for 1.7 oz 
Longevity 4/5

I tried NOYZ Perfumes

I tried out NOYZ perfumes and their bold and modern look immediately stood out to me. Plus I love that they’re formulated without parabens, phthalates, synthetic dyes, and animal byproducts and are certified vegan by The Vegan Society and cruelty free by PETA. I find Unmute to be bold, warm, sweet and woodsy and just a great cozy and yummy winter scent. It’s a gender neutral type of vanilla gourmand with notes of Cashmere Woods, Spanish Ciste, Black Plum, Vanilla and Amber. I find that it lasts at least a few hours and lingers for a while after, but Shitty Day is more subtle and doesn’t linger as long.

Price: $85 for 1.69 oz
Longevity 4/5

I tried ALT Fragrances

ALT makes super affordable clean, vegan and cruelty-free perfumes under $50 that are designed to closely mimic famous perfumes by Le Labo, Baccarat Rouge, Byredo, Kilian and more. I find them to be a happy medium between low-tox fragrances that aren’t as horrible for your health and conventional fragrances. If you’re looking for something that smells similar to the cult favorite luxury perfumes that line department store shelves but is waaaay more affordable and less toxic, ALT Fragrances is a good starting point. I tried ALT’s Duchess perfume (inspired by Delina) and find it to be a super feminine, flirty and bright floral fruity perfume. This feels young and girly to me without being too juvenile.

Use ORGANICBEAUTYLOVER for 10% off

Price: $29-$39 for 1 oz / $39-$69 for 3.3 oz 
Longevity 4/5

I tried Abbott NYC (Best Cologne for Men!)

This is clean cologne brand inspired by the American outdoors, but some of their fragrances can be worn by women too! I tested the entire Abbott range and liked Montecito, Sequoia and Telluride the most. Founded by Jose Alvarez and Michael Pass and now in Sephora stores, Abbott is clean, PETA certified vegan and cruelty-free and eco-driven.

Their mission is to create healthy and conscious fragrances using the cleanest and most sustainable ingredients. Abbott scents are designed by two senior perfumers who have made scents for Burberry, Givenchy and Marc Jacobs among others. This is a unisex fragrance line that would be most liked by men, but can also be enjoyed by women. 

My Fave 100% Natural Perfume Brands!

I tried Wild Veil Perfume

I literally just discovered Wild Veil Perfume, an all natural indie perfume brand that uses plants grown in-house here in the US and extracted using the old methods of enfleurage and tinctur. This brand feels like it lives on an entirely different plane of esoteric existence, one where the wild woman would live and plants are considered sacred and ritualistic. I tried a variety of samples like Big Sur, Hecate, Hothouse, Rose Milk and Banana Dreams. Their biodynamic extracts are incomparable in my opinion – Calamondin enfleurage, Khadrawi dates, Multani Mitti clay from volcanic ash, wild ferns from De Luz jungle, henna absolute…I’m too stunned to grasp what any of these truly are.

Use ORGANICBEAUTYLOVER for 25% off

Shop Here

I tried Wit & West

I tried nine of Wit & West’s natural perfume bestsellers and found their 100% natural perfumes and colognes to be soooo interesting and complex. This is one of my top three brands I would recommend starting with if you’re new to 100% natural perfumes with zero synthetics (the other two being Providence Perfume Co and Living Libations). Wit & West Perfumes is a Colorado-based 100% all-natural botanical perfumery with a focus on rare natural ingredients and unique scents for those who don’t want to smell like everyone else. Their perfumes are handcrafted completely in-house in small-batches using only the finest, high-quality 100% natural whole botanicals and naturally derived ingredients. 

Use OBL to save 20%

Price: $60 for 0.32 oz travel spray / $160 for 1.7 oz 
Longevity 3.5/5

I tried Providence Perfume Co

My top pick and recommendation for luxury seekers who love beautiful and feminine scents is Providence Perfume Co’s 100% natural perfumes. I recommend starting out with their perfume oil sample set because every scent is simply gorgeous and it feels like you’re smelling the real flower or plant. Providence Perfume Co is an award-winning 100% natural perfume company using the finest botanical ingredients from around the world.

They have their own perfume bar in Rhode Island where perfumery classes are also taught. Providence Perfume Co fragrances are Fifi award nominated, which is the highest honor in the industry. Providence perfumes do not contain: synthetics, petrochemicals, fragrance oils, dyes, parabens, pthathlates or chemical fragrances. I find the longevity is around 3 hours with 4-5 spritzes.

Price: $45 for 0.13 oz travel spray / $200 for 1.7 oz 
Longevity 3.5/5

I tried Living Libations

Living Libations has a wide array of 100% natural and non toxic perfumes made in a base of organic biodynamic alcohol and infused with essential oils. They have SO many beautiful natural perfume creations, including colognes, and they’re all really good. I’ve gotten great feedback on my readers who have tried their 100% natural perfumes. I know there’s a lot of jasmine lovers out there, so I’d recommend their Jasmine Julep if that’s you! Automatically save 15% with my link.

Price: $82 for 1 oz travel spray / $115 for 1.7 oz 
Longevity 3.5/5

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I tried Heretic Parfum

Heretic is what I’d describe as an avant-garde LA perfume brand and they make one of my favorite clean perfumes ever – Dirty Hinoki! It is such an alluring woodsy scent with a sweet undercurrent.

Heretic Parfum makes handcrafted fragrance made from 100% naturally derived botanical ingredients blended in organic sugarcane alcohol. Their fragrances are Unisex, vegan, and cruelty-free and handcrafted in small batches at their Los Angeles studio. Some Heretic perfumes are 100% natural and some include synthetics (check individual perfume).

Price: $45 for 0.34 oz rollerball / $65 for 0.34 travel spray / $165 for 1.7 oz 
Longevity 4/5

 

I tried Aftelier Perfumes

Another 100% natural perfume brand I recommend for luxury shoppers is California-based Aftelier Perfumes. Their non toxic perfumes are a bit more advanced and cater to the fragrance nerd, but anyone can enjoy their luxe blends.

They use the finest natural essences found around the world, and Mandy Aftel who is deemed the godmother of natural perfumery, uses organic or wild-crafted oils whenever possible. Fun fact: She has also taught many up and coming natural perfumers, including the founder of Heretic Parfum!

Price: $60 for 0.07 oz mini / $220 for 1 oz 
Longevity 3.5/5

I tried Leahlani

I’ve tried all three of Leahlani’s natural essential oil perfumes: Bless, Pua Lei and Pamplemousse. These come as rollerball applicators and my favorite is the gorgeous Hawaiian tropical scent of Pua Lei. If you’ve been on the hunt for a vanilla citrus that isn’t too sharp or bright, their new Pamplemousse perfume knocks it out of the park.Leahlani is a Hawaiian 100% natural nd organic skincare brand that also makes a handful of natural perfumes inspired by the lush landscapes of Hawaii.  

Price: $49 for 0.5 oz rollerball perfume oil
Longevity 3.5/5

Use  OBL for 15% off

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I tried Strange Invisible

I tried five Strange Invisible perfume bestsellers and loved most of them! Many of the scents smell like an actual garden while others are for the advanced nose or lean masculine.

Created by botanical perfumer Alexandra Bahaloutis, Strange Invisible creates 100% natural, botanical, and hydrodistilled fragrances from biodynamic, wild-crafted, and certified organic plants. Strange Invisible never uses synthetic aromas, perfume flavorings, or isolates and all raw materials are sourced or made by their master distiller.

If you’re in Southern California, you can experience the perfumes in person at their cute little Venice store in Venice Beach, CA.

Price: $70 for 0.5 oz rollerball / $210 for 1.7 oz 
Longevity 3.5/5

I tried One Seed Perfumes

One Seed Perfumes makes 100% natural perfumes that are at least 80% organic and made with pure, botanical and cruelty free ingredients. I tested the entire line of One Seed Perfumes and love their vanilla focused scents like Solitude and Seeker and their gourmand scents like Bohemia.

Their award-winning line of fragrances have complex scent profiles and you can can even decide which one you like based on what mainstream perfume you usually enjoy like Chanel or Estée Lauder.

I tried La Fleur by Livvy 

I tested seven of La Fleur by Livvy’s 100% natural perfumes and find their scents to be deeply and authentically inspired by exotic places. My favorite has to be A Parisian Affair, a very sensual yellow floral amber scent that’s so sumptuous!

Founded by self taught perfumer Olivia Larson in 2013 in Colorado, La Fleur By Livvy is an all natural perfume brand with florals at the heart of the line. Their fragrances are themed around Journeys and Travel. La Fleur By Livvy offers both 100% botanical perfumes and “mixed” perfumes that include aroma chemicals, natural isolates and synthetic musks for better longevity and sillage.

Use “LAFLEURS” for 25% off

Price: $20 for 0.17 oz travel spray / $125 for 1.7 oz 
Longevity 3.5/5

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Aren’t Natural Perfumes Long Lasting?

One of the most common complaints with clean perfumes is they don’t LAST. Natural perfumes simply don’t have the same performance as their mainstream counterparts, because they don’t contain lab-engineered ingredients that artificially extend their wear.

Conventional fragrance contain a ton of chemical additives that increase the longevity of a fragrance, most commonly hormone-disrupting phthalates. Their potential health risks are what spurred the likes of Hollywood A-lister Michelle Pfeiffer to forgo fine fragrances entirely and create Henry Rose. Master botanical perfumer Charna Ethier adds,

Natural essences are super expensive, so I think some of the issue with longevity or potency with naperfumes occurs when perfumers don’t formulate their fragrances with enough essence.

Mainstream perfumes cost about $3.00 to make and that includes the bottle and the box! Whereas every drop of real rose oil costs $1! My profit margin is dramatically lower as it costs me much more to create my fragrances.

If you’re choosing a clean perfume for your health, then performance is something you’ll need to be willing to compromise. In my experience with clean fragrances, most will last a few hours and some will even last up to 5-7 hours as they gradually subside. Even among clean perfumes that contain synthetics, there are some brands that last longer than others.

For example, By Rosie Jane and Ellis Brooklyn have somewhat less longevity than other brands like Phlur and Floral Street. Clean perfumes that have more synthetics in their formula will have better performance. Natural perfumes are meant to be re-applied, which is why perfume oils are a great option if you want your fragrance to last all day and into the night. I recommend spritzing at least 4-5 times for clean perfumes to last at least 3-4 hours.

Another thing to note is that a perfume’s longevity is also affected by the temperature and the level of moisture in your skin. Pro tip: Make sure to moisturize your skin before applying perfume to help it last longer. Fragrances also travel better in the heat during warmer months.

You might also notice natural perfumes smell different on your friend than yourself. Mainstream perfumes smell the same on every person but natural perfumes are affected by an individual’s unique body chemistry and can smell different from person to person.

Oil vs Spray: Which Should You Pick?

If you’re wondering whether to purchase a clean perfume oil or perfume spray, Charna breaks down the pros and cons of each.

Oil based perfumes should last longer on the skin because oil evaporates off the skin at a slower rate than alcohol. That being said, oil based perfumes have very little sillage or scent projection.

Oil perfumes are very close to the skin and are a good choice for someone who likes a subtle scent. Someone would have to lean in very close to smell a natural oil based perfume on your skin.

Alcohol based fragrances have much more “scent throw” than oil based fragrances. It’s very hard for natural perfumes to rival the potency of perfumes made with petrochemicals and aroma chemicals. Natural essences are softer and dissipate faster than chemicals.

That being said, one of my claims to fame as a botanical perfumer is creating long lasting more potent fragrances. I achieve this through creating most of my fragrances at an eau de

Non Toxic Perfumes at Sephora (2024 List)

Sephora carries a wide range of clean perfume brands, though most of these brands do mix in synthetics.

• Clean Reserve
• Skylar
• The 7 Virtues
• Dedcool
• Phlur
• By Rosie Jane
• Ellis Brooklyn
• Abbott
• Floral Street
• Heretic Parfum

Best Vanilla Perfumes

I’m recommending my top picks for a couple popular scent categories that I think anyone could enjoy! My top four recommendations for someone looking for a clean vanilla perfume are:

• Lake By Rosie Jane: So easy & lovely to wear by anybody
• The 7 Virtues Vanilla Woods: Also a crowd pleaser that you can’t go wrong with
• Floral Street Wild Vanilla Orchid

Best Rose Perfumes

My top picks I would recommend someone looking for a clean rose perfume are:

• Rosie By Rosie Jane (very light skin scent)
• Sana Jardin Incense Water
• Providence Perfume Co Rose 802 (perfume oil) – organic

Best Woodsy Perfumes

• Heretic Parfum Dirty Hinoki
• Maison Louis Marie Bois De Balincourt

Best Floral Perfumes

These are some Organic Floral Perfumes that I personally love that I haven’t already mentioned in the other scent categories above:

• Providence Perfume Co Sweet Jasmine Brown
• Neshama Perfumes Souls On Fire (Osmanthus Spicy Floral)
• Henry Rose Flora Carnivora: warm/creamy/sensual white floral (synthetics)

Best gourmands

• La Fleur by Livvy A Parisian Affair
• NOYZ Unmute
• Day Three Fragrances La Tacita de Cafe
• any of Wild Veil Perfume’s gourmands

Best for summer

My top picks and recommendations that I’m obsessed with for summer if you’re looking for a clean summer fragrance:

• Ellis Brooklyn Salt: sensual tropical
• Floral Street Arizona Bloom: coconut floral tropical scent
• By Rosie Jane Madie: Note that is is a sunscreen scent, also smells of ocean and salty skin after a long day at the beach