With so many decisions to make leading up to your wedding, choosing a perfume for your big day may be the last thing on your mind. It doesn’t help that fragrance choices are basically infinite—with scents ranging from sweet and fruity to powdery and fresh. Talk about analysis paralysis! This fragrance conundrum may explain why Escentual.com experienced a recent surge in the search term “best wedding fragrance.”
So how does one truly find fragrance inspiration in a pinch? Allow us to turn your attention to the stars (and the royals, of course). We chatted with Chelsey Edmunds to find out what famous aromas the stars wore to their wedding. Hopefully, it’s just the inspiration you need to make a scent memory on your special day.
To help make life a little easier, the Communications and Campaigns Manager of Escentual shared a list of fragrances worn by all our favorites. Below, see the famous perfume that left an unforgettable scent down the wedding chapel aisle.
Princess Diana’s Wedding Perfume
(Photo by Terry Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images)
When: July 29, 1981
Fragrance: Houbigant Quelques Fleurs Eau de Parfum
Originally launched in 1912, Quelques Fleurs by Houbigant Paris is a vivid scene with a rich history. It was relaunched by request in 1988 for a new generation of appreciative wearers.
The fragrance features top notes of greens, bergamot, and orange blossom with middle notes of rose, jasmine, tuberose, and lily-of-the-valley. Finally, base notes include sandalwood, oakmoss, amber, and musk to complete the scent.
The Scent Story: Diana’s make-up artist, Barbara Daly, recounted in Rosalind Coward’s book, Diana: The Portrait, that the soon-to-be princess spilled some of her Quelques Fleurs perfume on her Emanuel bridal gown on the morning of the wedding. To hide the stain, the bride tucked the front of the dress. Smart move!
Audrey Hepburn’s Wedding Perfume
(Photo by Getty Images)
When: January 18, 1969
Fragrance: GIVENCHY L’Interdit Eau de Parfum Spray
Initially launched in 1957, L’Interdit was a floral-powder scent. The 2018 reboot contains a floral woody composition. However, both the bottle and the fragrance stay true to the origin.
The scent features top notes of pear and bergamot. Middle notes of tuberose, Orange Blossom, and Jasmine Sambac and base notes of patchouli, vanilla, ambroxan, and vetiver round out the fragrance.
The Scent Story: For her second turn as a bride, Hepburn wore a pale pink funnel-neck minidress made by her friend Hubert de Givenchy. She paired the stunning look with a bespoke Givenchy fragrance that the star’s favorite designer and collaborator created for her in 1957.
According to Escentual, the fragrance’s name comes from the phrase “Je vous l’interdis” (translation: I forbid you), which was Hepburn’s light-hearted rebuke to Givenchy when he asked to commercialize her scent.
Kate Moss’s Wedding Perfume
(Photo by Indigo/Getty Images)
When: July 1, 2011
Fragrance: Serge Lutens Fleur d’Oranger Eau de Parfum Spray
Launched in 2003, Fleurs d’Oranger is a sweet unisex fragrance that boasts orange blossom, white jasmine, and Tuberose notes. With an ultra-complex nature, the ever-changing perfume is highlighted with a hint of citrus and enhanced with wisps of warm spice.
The Scent Story: While Kate Moss never revealed the fragrance she wore at her wedding, she did once divulge in an interview that Serge Lutens fruity-floral was one of her favorite perfumes.
Adele’s Wedding Perfume
(Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
Fragrance: DIOR Hypnotic Poison Eau de Parfum Spray
Dior’s Hypnotic Poison has been stimulating our senses with its amber vanilla fragrance since 1998. The scent includes top notes of coconut, plum, and apricot. The middle notes carry Brazilian rosewood, jasmine, caraway, tuberose, rose, and illy-of-the-valley, while the base notes boast vanilla, almond, sandalwood, and musk.
The Scent Story: Though much of Adele’s wedding was kept private and no pictures from the nuptials were ever published, she previously mentioned during a chat with 247 Magazine in 2011 that Hypnotic Poison was her go-to perfume.
Kate Middleton’s Wedding Perfume
(Photo by Stephane Cardinale/Corbis via Getty Images)
When: April 29, 2011
Fragrance: White Gardenia Petals by Illuminum
This fragrance is not only well-loved, but it is so exclusive that it is tough to purchase. The scent boasts top notes of bergamot, lily, and cassis. Gardenia, lily-of-the-valley, jasmine, and ylang-ylang provide feminine floral middle notes. Finally, the base notes include precious woods and amber.
The Scent Story: What Kate Wore Founder Susan Kelley says that the Duchess of Cambridge wore this floral fragrance by the boutique British perfumier.
The scent features top notes of pear and bergamot. Middle notes of tuberose, Orange Blossom, and Jasmine Sambac—plus base notes of patchouli, vanilla, ambroxan, and vetiver—round off the scent.
Meghan Markle’s Wedding Perfume
(Photo by Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage)
When: May 19, 2018
Fragrance: Bergamotto di Positano Eau de Parfum by Floris London
Created in 2015, this genderless aroma is for everyone. The fragrance consists of top notes like bergamot, sea notes, and mandarin orange. The middle notes are vanilla, green tea, orange blossom, and ginger, and the base notes include vanilla, amber, spices, woodsy notes, and ambrette (musk mallow).
The Scent Story: According to Hello Magazine, Meghan wore a bespoke fragrance by the Queen’s perfumer Floris London.
Princess Elizabeth’s Wedding Perfume
(Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
When: November 20, 1947
Fragrances: GUERLAIN L’Heure Bleue Eau de Parfum Spray or Floris London White Rose Eau de Toilette
The Scent Story: The Queen has never confirmed her wedding fragrance, but there are two contenders that royal experts have pointed to for years. You Magazine has reported that Guerlain L’Heure Bleue, a classic amber floral for women first created in 1912, and Floris London White Rose are likely picks.
Top Notes for Guerlain L’Heure Bleue are anise, neroli, coriander, bergamot, and lemon. Middle notes include heliotrope, carnation, violet, cloves, neroli, ylang-ylang, Bulgarian rose, jasmine, orchid, and tuberose round out the fragrance. Lastly, base notes are iris, vanilla, benzoin, sandalwood, Tonka bean, musk, and vetiver.
Floris White Rose is an even older scent dating back to 1800. The top notes have an earthy, green scent, courtesy of aldehydes, and carnation. Middle notes are rose, violet, iris, and jasmine. Finally, the base notes are powdery notes, musk, and amber.
So, there you have it, all the most famous wedding scents in history! While this information may serve as inspiration for your big day, it is always best to choose a scent that makes you feel beautiful. After all, it is your day—go with what feels right.