Members of the royal family are known for setting many a sartorial trend. Whether it was Kate Middleton reinventing the modest wedding dress or Meghan Markle championing the cape gown, the royal stamp of approval makes for an instant classic. But what about their tastes for the ephemeral—specifically, the personal scent?
You can't see perfume or cologne, but it leaves an indelible mark on the memory. Not to mention it can elevate just about any outfit, moment, or mood. The right spritz can put a bounce in one's step or make one feel utterly sophisticated—so there's no better group of individuals to model one's fragrance tastes after than the royal family.
Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth reportedly wore Guerlain L'Heure Bleue, a spicy citrus with a powdery dry down. It's been a classic for the fragrance house ever since the scent was created in 1912.
The late queen was also, apparently, a fan of Chanel's classic No. 5 scent. In a 1955 letter to Prince Philip's chief of staff Frederick Arthur Montague Browning, which appeared in the V&A museum's retrospective on Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, Elizabeth 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!!"
King Charles
In his 2023 memoir Spare, Prince Harry revealed that his father takes scent very seriously. "He was always sniffing things. Food, roses, our hair. He must’ve been a bloodhound in another life," Harry wrote. "Maybe he took all those long sniffs because it was hard to smell anything over his personal scent. Eau Sauvage. He’d slather the stuff on his cheeks, his neck, his shirt. Flowery, with a hint of something harsh, like pepper or gunpowder, it was made in Paris. Said so on the bottle. Which made me think of Mummy."
Kate Middleton
For her 2011 wedding to Prince William, the Princess of Wales chose a springtime scent that was redolent with buttery white floral notes by little-known British Perfumer Illuminum.
Princess Diana
Princess Diana wore Quelques Fleurs by Houbiquant for her wedding to Prince Charles.
Much like her future daughter-in-law, Princess Diana picked a soft white floral scent for her wedding day in 1981. The late Princess of Wales wore Houbiquant's Quelques Fleurs, a sumptuous blend of tuberose, jasmine, lily of the valley, and rose to marry Prince Charles.
In his memoir, Spare, Prince Harry also revealed his mother's favorite scent—First by Van Cleef & Arpels. In fact, that the fragrance, with its notes of hyacinth, rose, jasmine, amber, and sandalwood, was so closely associated with his mother that years later, breathing in the scent during a therapy session brought memories of her flooding back.
"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."
Marie Antoinette
Lubin, a storied French fragrance house (and one of the nation's oldest) uncovered a formula for the fragrance that they made for the Queen prior to her death. So in 2011 they created a reincarnation with a mix of rose, jasmine, cinnamon, incense, and sandalwood, and named it Black Jade. If wealth were a smell, it would certainly be this.
Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly famously wore a fragrance from Creed, a royal favorite since 1780, to marry Prince Rainier of Monaco. Her husband-to-be had in fact commissioned Fleurissimo as a wedding day gift for his bride. The aristocratic spritz dries down to a bouquet of tuberose, violet, iris, and Bulgarian rose.
Meghan Markle
In an interview with the Express, the duch*ess of Sussex explained that she loves fragrance so much that she has three that she alternates between, including Wild Bluebell by Jo Malone London.
Deputy Digital Lifestyle Director
As the deputy digital lifestyle director at Town & Country, Roxanne Adamiyatt covers fashion, beauty, wellness, design and travel.
When it comes to the nuances of fragrances, it's like exploring a hidden world of scents and memories. My expertise in fragrances spans both historical and contemporary contexts, delving into the preferences of individuals, including royals, and the distinct fragrances they've favored over time. The personal scent is a subtle yet definitive signature, and studying the choices of figures like Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles, Princess Diana, and other members of the royal family provides a fascinating glimpse into their preferences and personalities.
Let's break down the scents mentioned in the article:
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Queen Elizabeth II:
- Guerlain L'Heure Bleue: A spicy citrus fragrance with a powdery dry down, a classic from 1912.
- Chanel No. 5: A timeless scent famously acknowledged in a 1955 letter to Prince Philip's chief of staff.
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King Charles (Prince Charles):
- Dior Eau Sauvage: Described as flowery with a hint of something harsh, possibly pepper or gunpowder.
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Kate Middleton:
- White Gardenia Petals: The scent she chose for her wedding, with buttery white floral notes from Illuminum.
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Princess Diana:
- Quelques Fleurs by Houbigant: A sumptuous blend of tuberose, jasmine, lily of the valley, and rose.
- Van Cleef & Arpels First Eau de Parfum: With notes of hyacinth, rose, jasmine, amber, and sandalwood.
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Marie Antoinette:
- Lubin Black Jade Eau de Parfum: A fragrance reimagined based on a formula created for the Queen by Lubin, featuring rose, jasmine, cinnamon, incense, and sandalwood.
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Grace Kelly:
- Creed Fleurissimo Fragrance: Commissioned by Prince Rainier of Monaco, consisting of tuberose, violet, iris, and Bulgarian rose.
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Meghan Markle:
- Jo Malone London Wild Bluebell Cologne: Among the three fragrances she alternates between, known for its wild bluebell notes.
Each royal figure had a distinct preference, often leaning towards floral or powdery scents. These choices often reflected not just their personal preferences but also cultural and historical significance, making their selected fragrances more than just a pleasant scent—they were symbolic and memorable.