Which Royal woman spends SIX TIMES as much as her rivals on the most expensive scent? And from Eau de Soir to simple Wild Bluebell, can you guess who wears what?
‘No elegance is possible without perfume,’ said Coco Chanel. ‘It is the unseen, unforgettable, ultimate accessory.’
Royal women seem to agree – choosing from a range of leading scent manufacturers to complete their individual ‘look’.
Most keep to the average of £100-£120 for upmarket perfume such as Chanel no 5.
But one or two push the boat out.
Thrifty Princess Anne appears to have surprisingly expensive taste, for example. Although it is possible that her choice of Calèche by Hermès goes further than its rivals.
But there is one royal woman who’s in a different league when in comes to splashing out – as our run-down of royals and their favourite scents explains.
Catherine, Princess of Wales
Jo Malone Orange Blossom Cologne – £118 per 100ml
The Jo Malone scent featured at Kate’s 2011 wedding to William when it burned in candles down the aisle
Created in 2003, the Jo Malone fragrance is described as modern and refreshing
Kate Middleton is said to be a fan of Jo Malone London’s Orange Blossom Cologne, which is a warm and bright floral scent.
It has been reported that the scent featured at her wedding when it was burned in abundance in candle form as she walked down the aisle.
Created in 2003, the cologne is described as modern and refreshing on the first sniff, before it dries down to a ‘warm and eventually soft, powdery aroma’.
White Gardenia Petals by Illuminum – £100 per 100ml
The Princess of Wales wore a springtime scent with white floral notes by British Perfumer Illuminum on her wedding day
If the candles were scented with orange blossom, the bride wore a springtime fragrance with floral notes by little-known British Perfumer Illuminum.
The White Gardenia Petals scent promptly sold out everywhere.
A floral concoction made up of cassis, lily, gardenia, ylang ylang and jasmine, White Gardenia Petals is reminiscent of a fragrant bouquet.
The Late Queen Elizabeth II
Chanel No. 5 – £136 per 100ml
The late Queen Elizabeth favoured three luxury perfumes throughout her lifetime
She became a fan of the timeless classic Chanel No. 5 scent after receiving it as a gift
The late Queen Elizabeth was reportedly a fan of the classic Chanel No. 5 scent
In a 1955 letter to Prince Philip‘s chief of staff Frederick Arthur Montague Browning, the Queen wrote: ‘As usual, you have discovered just the very thing I particularly wanted, and I want to thank you very much indeed for the birthday present of the Chanel scent.
‘I am already using it and, I hope, smelling all the better for it!!’
Guerlain L’Heure Bleue – £120 per 75ml
Queen Elizabeth was also said to favour Guerlain’s L’Heure Bleue, which is described by the luxury brand as ‘the fragrance of suspended time’.
The scent was first created in 1912 and features a spicy citrus note with a powdery dry down.
Guerlain’s L’Heure Bleue was first created in 1912
White Rose by Floris – £100 per 100ml
Floris London is known to be the Queen’s go-to perfume brand and was even granted a royal warrant
Another of her favourite scents was White Rose by Floris, a rich and vibrant floral fragrance.
The Queen was said to have worn it on her wedding day
The perfume was launched in 1800 and is one of the oldest ever created by the House of Floris. It features the scents of fresh white roses with notes of amber, musk, iris, jasmine and violet.
It was the only perfume brand to be granted a royal warrant from the Queen.
Princess Diana
Penhaligon’s Bluebell – £125 per 100ml
The late Princess of Wales had a few favourites, but this scent by the British heritage brand was Diana’s go-to throughout her adult life
Princess Diana’s go-to perfume was Penhaligon’s Bluebell, which was the perfect balance of fresh, floral and warm
It has been rumoured for many years that one of Princess Diana’s go-to perfumes was Penhaligon’s Bluebell.
The late Princess of Wales had a few favourites, but this scent by the British heritage brand remained Diana’s go-to throughout her life.
The fragrance has citrus headnotes, mixed in with essences of Lily of the Valley, jasmine and rose, as well as a drop of clove and cinnamon, making it the perfect balance of fresh, floral and warm.
Houbigant Paris Quelques Fleurs L’Original – £165 per 100ml
The late Princess of Wales wore Houbiquant’s Quelques Fleurs on her wedding day to Prince Charles in 1981
The late Princess of Wales wore Houbiquant’s Quelques Fleurs, a blend of tuberose, jasmine, lily of the valley, and rose on her wedding day to Prince Charles in 1981.
Houbiquant was established in Paris in 1775 and became parfumier to royal houses across Europe.
It is said that Diana was so nervous about the wedding ceremony that she spilt the perfume all over herself while getting ready to talk down the aisle.
Van Cleef & Arpels First Eau de Parfum – £99.80 per 100ml
In his memoir, Spare, Prince Harry revealed one of his mother’s favourite scent was First by Van Cleef & Arpels
In his memoir, Spare, Prince Harry revealed one of his mother’s favourite scent was First by Van Cleef & Arpels.
The Duke of Sussex noted that its smell was so closely associated with Diana, that years later, breathing in the scent during a therapy session brought back memories of her.
‘I read somewhere that smell is our oldest sense, and that fitted with what I experienced in that moment,’ he wrote, ‘Images rising from what felt like the most primal part of my brain.’
He referred to the fragrance, with its notes of hyacinth, rose, jasmine, amber, and sandalwood as ‘Mummy’s favourite perfume’
Meghan Markle
Wild Bluebell by Jo Malone – £118 per 100ml
It often seems that Meghan Markle has taken pages out of Diana’s beauty book over the years, but the pair are also linked through their choice of fragrances
The former actress revealed that one of her go-to fragrances is Jo Malone’s Wild Bluebell
It often seems that Meghan Markle has taken pages out of Diana’s beauty book over the years, but the pair are also linked through their choice of fragrances.
The Duchess of Sussex has previously said that one of her go-to fragrances is Jo Malone’s Wild Bluebell. It is described as ‘the delicate sweetness of dewy bluebells suffused with lily of the valley and eglantine, and a luscious twist of persimmon’.
This favourite fragrance appears to have echoes of the Penhaligon’s Bluebell that Princess Diana loved to wear.
They share a host of the same notes including a citrus floral with notes of lily of the valley, rose, jasmine, and clove.
It was said that Prince Harry was ‘overwhelmed’ by memories of his mother Diana during his first date with Meghan.
Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne by Jo Malone – £118 per 100ml
Another scent loved by the Duchess is the Wood Sage & Sea Salt Colognes by Jo Malone
Another scent favouredby the Duchess of Sussex is the Wood Sage & Sea Salt Colognes by Jo Malone.
While sharing her favourite perfumes, she told the Express: ‘Fragrance is my favourite thing – so much so that if I leave the house and I don’t put any on, I’ll turn around and go back home. I alternate between a few scents.’
Oribe Côte d’Azur Eau de Parfum – £121 per 100ml
Meghan also revealed that she likes to wear the fruity scent of Oribe Cote D’Azur
In the same interview, Meghan also revealed that she likes to wear Oribe Cote D’Azur.
It is described as a holiday-ready smell with fruity notes of freshly-squeezed lemon, blackcurrant, bergamot and Sicilian orange while staying grounded in sandalwood and crisp amber.
And According to her former lifestyle blog The Tig, Meghan is fan of Dahlia Divin, a fruity-floral scent.
Givenchy Dahlia Divin Eau de Parfum – £117.50 per 100ml
Meghan likes Givenchy fashion and its Dahlia Divin scent
Princess Anne
Calèche by Hermès – £204 per 100ml
Princess Anne has remained loyal to Calèche by Hermès over the yaers
The fragrance is ‘warm and sensual’ and features a feminine smell of wood, chypre and flowers
Princess Anne has a particular taste when it comes to fragrances as she has remained loyal to only one over the years: Calèche by Hermès.
This fragrance was created in 1961 and is the first from the fashion house.
The fragrance is ‘warm and sensual’ and features a feminine smell of wood, chypre and flowers, with top notes of Neroli, Lemon, Orange Blossom and Mandarin Orange.
Princess Beatrice
Princess Beatrice was given a scent named after her on her 21st birthday back in 2009
On her 21st birthday back in 2009, Princess Beatrice was gifted her very own scent.
It was reported at the time that one of the top perfumers in Paris was commissioned to create a one-off fragrance for the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of York, simply called ‘Beatrice’.
However, the identity of the person who gave her the perfume has remained a closely guarded secret.
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh
Ralph Lauren Romance Eau de Parfum – £100 per 100ml
Sophie opted for the subtle scent of Romance by Ralph Lauren when it came to her wedding day to Prince Edward
Ralph Lauren’s scent combines sensual, velvety woods with beautiful floral notes and comforting musks to create a unique modern floral
Sophie opted for the subtle scent of Romance by Ralph Lauren, described as ‘timeless, feminine and romantic’, for her wedding day to Prince Edward in 1999.
Ralph Lauren’s scent combines sensual, velvety woods with beautiful floral notes and comforting musks to create a unique modern floral. It features a romantic and beautiful floral bouquet of Rose Damascena, Jasmine absolute, Marigold essence to create a timeless fragrance of femininity.
Princess Margaret
Oscar by Oscar de la Renta – £67 per 100ml
Princess Margaret, the younger sister of the late Queen, wore the finest of fragrances
For over two decades, the Countess of Snowdon wore Oscar By Oscar De La Renta
It is believed that for more than two decades, from the late 1970s onwards, Princess Margaret wore Oscar De La Renta.
Created in 1977, the founding perfume of the well-known brand has a sharpening floral note. It features a blend of lavender, rosemary and carnation with a combination of orange blossom, peach and gardenia.
Grace Kelly
Creed Fleurissimo Fragrance – £260 per 75ml
Prince Rainier of Monaco reportedly commissioned Fleurissimo by Creed as a wedding gift for his bride-to-be, Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly’s Fleurissimo features a light and feminine scent with tuberose, iris and violet
Prince Rainier of Monaco reportedly commissioned Fleurissimo by Creed, which had been a royal favourite since 1780, as a wedding gift for his bride-to-be, Grace Kelly, in 1956.
The American film star adopted the fragrance as her signature scent from there onwards. Fleurissimo features a light and feminine scent with tuberose, iris and violet.
Not reserving itself just to royalty, the scent would later become a favourite of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy.
Princess Charlene of Monaco
Extraordinaire Camelia 209 by Krigler – £600 per 100ml
Princess Charlene of Monaco has expensive taste when it comes to her perfume
Charlene began using Extraordinaire Camelia 209 around the time of her engagement
Princess Charlene of Monaco started using Extraordinaire Camelia 209 around the time of her engagement and has since become a big fan.
Krigler describes it as ‘marrying two varieties of camellias with Indian cardamom, pink peppercorn, Chinese tea, cedar, musk, lemon, and vanilla with pride in the exceptionally warm and virtuous result.’
Queen Letizia of Spain
Eau Du Soir by Sisley – £220.00 per 100ml
Queen Letizia of Spain is known for her impeccable taste
The mother-of-two favours a French perfume called Eau Du Soir by Sisley
In addition to being one of the most stylish royals, Queen Letizia of Spain has impeccable taste in perfume.
The mother-of-two favours a French perfume called Eau Du Soir by Sisley, which stands out for its citrus notes and clean scent that lasts for hours.
The luxury brand describes the scent as ‘a stroll through the gardens of Alcazar in Seville, in Spain, at dusk, when the Syringa flower exhales its fragrance’, making it a fragrance fit for Spanish royalty.
