White Linen

White Linen, inspired by Estée Lauder White Linen (1978)

White Linen opens with a starched, clean sparkle usually attributed to aldehydes and citrus, rather like sheets drying on a line. Underneath, damask rose, jasmine and muguet (lily of the valley) form a pale bouquet with a cool, soapy edge. Violet and orris add a faint powder in the middle stage. The finish is dry and green, with vetiver and moss doing most of the work and amber taking the chill off.

About the original

Sophia Grojsman composed White Linen for Estée Lauder in 1978, and the brand still sells it as an eau de parfum. People often mix it up with Pure White Linen, a later flanker, and with White Linen Legacy, a reworked version released in 2024 within a collection curated by Frédéric Malle. This page refers to the original 1978 scent. Some longtime wearers say current bottles smell different from older ones.

Our version

Ours is an independent eau de parfum made to evoke the same character. It is not Estée Lauder stock, not an official relaunch and not the original formula.

Who it suits

Women who like a buttoned-up floral for the office or daytime will find it easy to wear in any month. Its aldehydic, soapy manner can seem formal or old-fashioned next to fruity and gourmand perfumes, and there is little sweetness to cushion it.

Related scents

• Estee Lauder Private Collection
• Estee Lauder Modern Muse

Notes of the original fragrance, as published by the brand.

Top notes: Damask Rose, Jasmine, Muguet

Heart notes: Violet, Orris

Base notes: Vetiver, Moss, Amber

The opening is clean and slightly piquant, the kind of fizz people associate with laundry. Rose, jasmine and lily of the valley appear almost at once.

In the heart, violet and orris bring a dry, powdery note that stops the flowers turning sweet.

Vetiver and moss settle the base, earthy and green, with amber giving a little roundness at the end.

Is this White Linen or Pure White Linen?

This is inspired by the original White Linen from 1978. Pure White Linen is a separate, later flanker.

How is it different from White Linen Legacy?

White Linen Legacy (2024) is a reworked version from Estée Lauder's Legacy Collection. Our scent takes the original White Linen as its reference.

Is White Linen a sweet perfume?

No. It is clean, soapy and dry, with florals over vetiver and moss rather than sugar or vanilla.

Inside the EU, delivery is free on orders of €49 or more. Below that it is a flat €4.99. Outside the EU, delivery is a flat €4.99 on every order. We send every order in 1 to 2 working days. It arrives in 3 to 7 days across the EU and in 7 to 14 days outside the EU. You have 14 days to return an unopened bottle.

Estee Lauder and White Linen are trademarks of their respective owners, and all rights remain with them. Parfumour is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or connected to Estee Lauder in any way, and no business relationship of any kind is implied. Our product is an original interpretation created to evoke a similar scent profile, and the trademark names are used purely for honest, descriptive comparison, so that you can quickly identify the style and fragrance family you are looking for. We make no claim to sell the original product, and we do not use the same ingredients or formula. Any similarity lies in the overall impression of the scent as interpreted by our own perfumers, not in the source materials.