Royals and their favourite fragrances
Royals and their favourite fragrances
Most of us have a favourite perfume, or three, and the royals are no different.
From classic brands including Chanel to Creed, to Hermes and Penhaligon's, what fragrance a person chooses to wear is incredibly personal.
Thankfully for us mere mortals hoping to emulate our favourite royal, most of the following fragrances can still be purchased today.
Continue through to see what perfumes the royals have loved through the years.
King Charles III
Later this year, royal perfumers Penhaligon's will release its second fragrance created in collaboration with King Charles III.
Inspired by the scents experienced within the gardens at his private residence, Highgrove, the perfume's name has yet to be announced.
In 2022, Penhaligon's – which has held a Royal Warrant since 1903 – launched Highgrove Bouquet, also inspired by the King's home.
The renowned British perfumer was given a brief to recreate the scent of the gardens in the summer, in particular, it was asked to "capture the moment of opening the windows in Highgrove and inhaling the scent from the blossom of the weeping silver lime trees that line the driveway", reports The Telegraph UK.
A 100ml bottle costs $375.
King Charles III
In his 2023 memoir Spare, Prince Harry wrote about the King's "personal scent".
The Duke of Sussex said of Charles and his preference for wearing Eau Sauvage, by Dior: "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."
A 100ml bottle costs $208
The Duke of Marlborough
Penhaligon's first created Blenheim Bouquet Eau de Parfum for Charles Spencer Churchill, the Duke of Marlborough in 1903.
The late Duke of Edinburgh is also said to have worn the citrussy scent and King Charles is apparently still a fan, with the Blenheim Bouquet soap and hand cream on display at Highgrove.
A 100ml bottle costs $285.
Diana, Princess of Wales
The late Diana, Princess of Wales, wore Houbigant's Quelques Fleurs on her wedding day to Prince Charles in 1981.
It is described as being "sensual and charming, its heart speaks of pure emotion, underpinned by jasmine, tuberose, lily of the valley, rose, ylang-ylang, carnation, broom flower, orange blossom and clove".
But Diana had a bit of a mishap with the fragrance on her special day and spilt several drops of the French perfume on her gown.
Diana's makeup artist Barbara Daly later said the princess was able to conceal the stain by placing her hand on that part of the fabric as though she was holding up the front of her dress to walk.
A 100ml bottle costs $175.
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana was also said to have enjoyed a fragrance by Penhaligon's.
Bluebell was said to have been one of her favourites and it is described as being the brand's take on the smell of a woodland in full bloom of bluebells in early May, using using hyacinth and lily of the valley.
A 100ml bottle costs $250.
Diana, Princess of Wales
In Spare, Prince Harry wrote about the power of scent and memory, recalling one of the perfumes his late mother wore.
He described First by Van Cleef & Arpels as "Mummy's favourite perfume".
Harry said he took a bottle to his therapist as part of his sessions in helping him cope with the death of Diana, all these years later.
"At the start of our session I lifted the lid, took a deep sniff," Harry wrote.
"Like a tab of LSD. I read somewhere that smell is our oldest sense, and that fitted with what I experienced in that moment, images rising from what felt like the most primal part of my brain."
A 100ml bottle costs around $200.
Princess Grace of Monaco
Princess Grace of Monaco wore Creed's Fleurissimo on her wedding day in 1956.
The brand describes the scent as containing "fresh notes of sparkling bergamot [that] give way to a sophisticated floral signature that marries tuberose, violet, iris and Bulgarian rose in a glamourous feminine Eau de Parfum".
The fragrance was said to have been commissioned by Prince Rainier III to match his bride-to-be's wedding bouquet.
A 75ml bottle costs $439.
Catherine, the Princess of Wales
When she married Prince William in 2011, then-Kate Middleton chose a lesser-known fragrance to wear.
Kate chose Illuminum London White Gardenia Petals Eau de Parfum, a springtime scent with buttery white floral notes.
It is no longer available online.
Catherine, the Princess of Wales
The Princess of Wales is also said to use Jo Malone's Orange Blossom Cologne, a light floral fragrance with subtle notes of vetiver and lily of the valley.
Westminster Abbey was scented with the matching candles that were lit during Prince William and Kate's royal wedding.
A 100ml bottle costs $256.
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