When you’re picturing your wedding day outfit, you may have thought of everything from the biggie - the dress - to hairstyles best suited for veils and smaller details like the perfect shade of lipstick. But have you considered fragrance?
It’s easy to forget about scent until the last minute, but a dedicated bridal fragrance is about more than trailing a heavenly scent along your walk down the aisle (although that’s pretty important too).
Scent is a powerful memory trigger so a new one will tie your olfactory senses to the special day, helping you recall it years from the I Do’s - especially if it's different to your usual EDP. One whiff will pull you back, as if by magic.
Jo Malone London is a favourite for many brides, with a selection of floral colognes in the main collection that serve beautifully as bridal fragrances. They can even be mixed and matched with your partner to create a couple's wedding scent for the big day. Sign up for the brand’s Scented Wedding Service, offered in stores and virtually, to check out all the options and possible combinations - including scented body products and candles to decorate the venue.
We spoke to Jo Malone's Fragrance & Lifestyle Expert Emma South on all things bridal fragrance.
Why should brides choose a different wedding scent than their usual fragrance?
“To maximise the memory-making power of scent we recommend choosing a fragrance you haven’t worn before, one undiluted by previous associations. Our senses are heightened during new experiences, particularly emotionally charged ones, and the scent you wear will become forever anchored to your special day, a time capsule to relive for years to come.”
Should you change scents for the wedding reception?
“This can be a fun way to switch up the mood, especially if you have a second outfit or make-up adjustments for the evening. Jo Malone London fragrances are all designed to layer with one another so you can create a bespoke pairing of two favourite finds; perhaps a dewy, crisp bouquet for the ceremony, then sultry blooms or hypnotic incense notes for the party.”
What notes are bridal favourites?
“Florals certainly sweep in and steal the show when it comes to weddings; the romantic unfurling of peony petals, or cascade of pristine orange blossoms make Peony & Blush Suede and Orange Blossom [reportedly a Kate Middleton favourite] two of our most popular choices for weddings.
“That said, we wholeheartedly encourage finding fragrances that resonate uniquely with your day. Wood Sage & Sea Salt for example is a favourite choice for coastal settings, and we have increasingly found couples enjoying the irresistible gourmand qualities of Myrrh & Tonka.”
Are there any bridal beauty hacks for making fragrance last all day?
“Apply a layer of body crème in your chosen scent, this enhances both the intensity and the longevity of your fragrance, all whilst nourishing and giving glowing skin. Have one of your close helpers carry a handbag-sized version of your fragrance for any top-ups.”
As South mentioned earlier, florals are a popular choice for bridal perfumes for those who wish to tie their wedding flowers to their personal scent. If you’re planning a destination wedding, you can take your scent cues from your setting; be it by the sea, in the desert or from local fruit-bearing orchards. Apply to your pulse points and always test run it first before the big day.
Ultimately choosing a bridal scent is an incredibly personal thing: there is no right or wrong if it makes you feel comfortable, confident and distinctive.
Whether you want something floral and fresh for your bridal trousseau or a heady fragrance to swap to for the evening reception, see our edit of bridal fragrances to make finding The One easier than ever.
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Jo Malone Peony & Blush Suede
This knockout fragrance is made for peony-appreciating brides. The bloom may only be in season for a short period in the UK (late April to mid-June), but you can harness the scent whatever time of year your big day. Jo Malone London captures them at their blooming best, the petals lifted with notes of red apple, rose, jasmine and gillyflower. It's floral yet fresh, sparkling and soft. One sniff and we understand why it's a bridal bestseller.
Find it in three volumes: 100ml, 50ml and a pocket-sized 30ml.
Buy now £118.00, Jo Malone London
Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom & Honey
Nectarine Blossom & Honey is our second pick from Jo Malone London's sizeable collection of colognes. It's sweeter than Peony & Blush Suede, which is squarely down to the fruit notes.
There’s nectarine, peach and cassis here, but with a freshness that stops it from feeling cloying or overpowering. Acacia honey is also present, adding a warming note. In all, a comforting yet bright combination that captures spring sunshine in a bottle.
It is available in 100ml and 30ml sizes with bottle engraving for an extra special touch.
Buy now £118.00, Jo Malone London
Elie Saab Le Parfum In White Eau de Parfum Spray
Couture designer Elie Saab’s fragrance line is made for the elegant, modern bride.
Le Parfum In White syncs wonderfully with weddings; it’s full of decadent fruit and floral notes making it a lovely choice for spring or summer weddings held outdoors.
Buy now £41.65, Escentual
Creed Queen of Silk
Established in 1760, British brand Creed was once a favourite in Queen Victoria's court. It was also the choice for Grace Kelly, who wore Creed's sparkling floral Fleurissimo for her wedding to Prince Rainier of Monaco in 1956. Continually evolving, Creed’s latest launch is Queen of Silk which uses exotic blooms from the East - think China, Java and Madagascar.
As such, it's a heady floral amber fragrance that brings enchanting evenings to mind, making it better suited to receptions rather than the main ceremony. If you’re going for a purple theme, the bottle will be perfect for BTS ‘getting ready’ shots.
Available in 75ml and 30ml measures.
Buy now £260.00, Harrods
Tiffany & Co Eau de Parfum
Nail your something blue with Tiffany’s EDP. Just like the jeweller’s precious gems, this scent sparkles. A light floral musk centred around the iris flower (a recurring motif in Tiffany’s designs), it’s ideal for weddings whatever the season.
Find the faceted blue-tinted bottle in three volumes: 75ml, 50ml and 30ml.
Buy now £74.00, John Lewis
Serge Lutens Fleurs D'Oranger
A favourite of one Kate Moss, Serge Lutens's Fleurs D'Oranger is for the bride who dares to do things differently.
A spritz initially reveals orange blossom before opening an Egyptian jasmine heart and finally, white rose at the base, blooming like a bridal bouquet. Intoxicating and refined. While Mossy never revealed what fragrance she wore as a bride, this is the educated guess.
Buy now £125.00, Lookfantastic
Maison Margiela REPLICA From the Garden Eau de Toilette
Reconnect with nature through the olfactory journey of Maison Margiela’s From the Garden. The lively notes capture the complexities of a sprouting outdoor oasis with fresh green mandarin to capture a sun-soaked afternoon picking ripe fruit, to the woody elements of patchouli and geranium to mimic that of the earth. It’s an uplifting, vibrant olfactory experience.
Buy now £120.00, Cult Beauty
Giorgio Armani My Way Eau de Parfum Nectar
In line with the My Way fragrance collection, the new Nectar variation is an ultra-feminine scent that calls on the juiciness of pear and creamy tuberose at its heart. While juxtaposing in nature, the two elements are in harmony in this floral fusion. The eau de parfum has an interesting development.
The freshness at the opening with the pear as well as bergamot and orange blossom is immediately out of the ordinary with the aromatic addition of rhubarb. This is then furthered by the warming base of vanilla bourbon, cedarwood and white musk.
Buy now £67.00, lookfantastic
Olfactive O Floral Eau de Parfum 30ml
Floral yet light, this square bottle from Olfactive O is made to shine at summer weddings. The enchanting combination opens with English chamomile and magnolia before opening to an elegant heart of osmanthus, rose and tuberose.
The elegant scent dries down to reveal musk, jasmine and cedarwood at its base, offering a romantic sensory journey to accompany you through the day.
Buy now £65.00, Lookfantastic
Lancôme La Vie Est Belle Eau de Parfum 100ml
This gourmand scent is a must-have for brides who prefer their fragrances on the sweeter side. It feels optimistic and bursting with joy, making it perfect for the occasion, channelled through notes of iris and orange blossom.
There’s also an EDT version for those who prefer a lighter take or want softer top-ups throughout the day.
Buy now £106.25, Boots
Floral Street sweet almond blossom eau de parfum 50ml
The perfumer's collab with Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum is ideal for those who love fruity, floral scents.
The vegan-friendly gourmand spritz, which comes in three sizes, is refreshing and evokes thoughts of bright blue skies - even if the weather outside is anything but. The pretty bottle comes in sustainable packaging made from the pulp of a coffee cup so it ticks the eco box too.
Why not try a discovery set first which offers eight vials of the brand’s bestsellers to find your favourite?
Buy now £74.00, Floral Street
Giorgio Armani Si Passione Eclat
Say yes to this intense fragrance from the house of Armani, which comes in four levels of intensity so you can start with a lighter version for your walk down the aisle and build it up in time for the first dance.
Sì Passione Eclat holds floral notes of jasmine absolute, vanilla, bergamot and blackcurrant with Centifolia and Damask holding court at the heart, giving it a passion that’s perfect for misting before a summer’s reception.
Available in 100ml.
Buy now £130.00, Selfridges
BYREDO Flowerhead Eau de Parfum 100ml
Inspired by the exchange of haars (flower garlands) that is a key wedding ritual in traditional Indian ceremonies, Byredo’s Flowerhead is a joyful explosion of angelica seed, Sicilian lemon, rose petals, dewy tuberose, amber and suede.
Bold and bright, it’s a unisex fragrance that you can both wear for the ultimate show of unity.
Buy now £150.00, Harvey Nichols
