At RUSSH, we love smelling good. But we're also mindful when it comes to consumption. Sustainability within beauty is about buying selectively — buying what you need — and voting with your dollar when it comes to supporting brands lightening their footprint.

Which brings me to our sustainable perfume edit. All of the below marry sensorial appeal with ethics — none are perfect, but each brand is actively working to reduce their respective impact on the environment, from ingredient sourcing to waste and refillable packaging. Having tested them all, that elusive 'what perfume are you wearing' energy is also there...

The best sustainable perfumes according to RUSSH, below.

Recreation At Night We Dance

This is warm, golden and hazy with notes of spicy musk, vetiver and creamy magnolia. The formula is completely plant-based and vegan, while the bottle made from recycled glass with an aluminium lid. Even the secondary packaging involves recyclable cardboard and bamboo.

Abel Odor Cyan Nori

Based in New Zealand and made from 100% natural plant-based ingredients, Abel redefines what clean fragrance can smell like. Cyan Nori is fresh and salty-sweet with tangerine, peach and briny seaweed. The formula is biodegradable, down to the recyclable glass vessel non-plastic cap that's proven to break down after 20 weeks in the natural environment.

Maison Louis Marie No.04 Bois de Balincourt

Bois de Balincourt is the type of fragrance that transforms as it wears on the skin, like walking deeper into the woods. It's rich in cedar, vetiver, cinnamon and amber — warm but decidedly clean. Maison Louis Marie prioritise clean formulations (it's also vegan) with mostly sustainable packaging. Outside of this, the brand partners with the National Forest Foundation to plant trees, and Climate Neutral to ensure the brand carbon emission rate is net 0%.

Le Labo Santal 33

Smoky, leathery and sexy, Santal 33 is an enduring cult perfume. Plus, Le Labo's refill program lets you top up your personalised bottle in-store, cutting down on waste.

Yves Saint Laurent Libre

Libre is YSL’s empowered take on lavender, orange blossom and musk. It's got an after dark energy about it — think warm and sensual. It's also offered in a refillable format, saving on money and waste.

Giorgio Armani My Way

Like Libre, My Way is another fragrance that's a part of L'Oréal Groupe's wider refillable program. Scent-wise, it's light, feminine and fresh: tuberose, vanilla, jasmine and musk. Its everything you want in a creamy, timeless white floral.

Tulita Mukta

Bright and energising, this scent is designed to ground and motivate. As a brand, Tulita create fragrances that aim to balance the chakras — Mukta is all about the solar plexus, with vibrant grapefruit, lemon and pepper. The entire ingredients listing is disclosed, while packaging is 100% recyclable, plastic-neutral, and uses FSC-certified paper. The brand also offers refill options with recyclable aluminium funnels, while the citrine lid can be removed and used as a facial massage tool. 

Flamingo Estate Euphoria Pulse Point Oil

This luxurious botanical fragrance is designed to instil a sense of peaceful calm. It's herby and fresh: Ionian bergamot, damask rose, white sandalwood. The brand sources ingredients from its own orchard in Los Angeles and partners with local farmers, promoting regenerative agriculture and reducing environmental impact, as well.

The Nue Co. Mind Energy

This functional scent is designed to boost mental clarity with notes like clary sage, juniper and pink peppercorn. The Nue Co. is committed to sustainability across the board, using organic alcohol, refillable bottles and recyclable packaging. It's also a B Corp certified company.

Images: @abelfragrances, @flamingoestate