In May last year, on a particularly balmy day for the season, I was lucky enough to come sweaty face-to-face with David Beckham in the flesh (me, not him).
Now, I’m not telling this anecdote solely to name-drop, although, as celeb names go, that’s a pretty big one. After posting the meet on my Instagram stories, I was bombarded by questions - but not the kind I could have ever predicted. It wasn’t where I was - at the launch of a new Haig Club flavour, incidentally - or what he was like (very lovely) but the same query came up over and over again. “What did he smell like?”. The people demanded to know, and I’ve made it my mission to deliver.
For you see, while celebrities are well-versed in the value of their own fragrance lines and brands regularly call upon famous faces to star in the campaigns of their new aromas, the reality is, A-listers will wear scents they really like and not just the ones they’re paid to wear. They really are just like us.
The market is awash with some really great and now iconic fragrances thanks to Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez and of course, Beckham himself, but with unlimited resources, it will come as no surprise that A-listers call on the experts for their scent trail. After all, perfume is a truly personal thing. Our chosen notes can say a lot about who we are and what we are trying to portray - why wouldn’t they too, prefer to indulge in the sensual scents from the likes of Frédéric Malle and By Killian?
Shop the scents sniffed on your favourite celebs below
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Frédéric Malle Portrait of a Lady
Worn by: Victoria and David Beckham
While it is well-reported that the former Spice Girl adores Room Service by Vilhelm Parfumerie, it seems she can’t resist a spritz of husband David’s favourite Portrait of a Lady - and we don’t blame her. The iconic scent is a bestseller in the Frédéric Malle collection with notes of rose essence and patchouli heart. It’s sophisticated, smells like luxury in a bottle and has real lasting power.
Buy now £200.00, John Lewis
Kilian Paris Angels Share
Worn by: Beyonce
When Beyonce brought her Renaissance world tour to the UK, it appears she made the most of her time with the best that Britain has to offer, from her near-£2000 Nando’s takeaway to stopping by Harrods after hours where it was reported that she took the opportunity to stock up on By Kilian’s Angels Share.
Not even Queen Bey could resist that beautiful flacon or the cognac-inspired aroma that was inspired by the perfumer’s heritage as the eighth generation of Hennessy (yup, the very same). The name comes from the product lost during the practice of wine-making, while the caramel colour mimics that of the legendary liquor.
As for the scent, it opens with cognac oil, oak absolute, cinnamon essence and tonka bean absolute before leaving sandalwood, praline and vanilla in its wake. It’s strong, intense and incredibly long-lasting.
Buy now £185.00, John Lewis
Le Labo Santal 33
Worn by: Niall Horan and Jodie Comer
Instantly recognisable, it comes as no surprise that Le Labo’s Santal 33 is a hit among the celebrity set, namely One Direction and Killing Eve alum. The heady scent is addictive, and one whiff is never enough as notes of cardamom, iris, violet and ambrox evolve into the sensual leather and musk aroma that leaves an elegant scent trail that lasts all day.
Buy now £65.00, Cult Beauty
Ex Nihilo Fleur Narcotique Eau de Parfum
Worn by: Hailey Bieber
Divulging the contents of her beauty bag with Harper’s Bazaar, the model and beauty entrepreneur revealed that the scent she’s been wearing for years and is “always going back to” is Fleur Narcotique from Parisian perfume EX NIHILO. The fragrance is defined by its fresh floral notes. It’s like a blossoming bouquet that’s a delight for the senses where peonies meet woody accords that develop after an opening of fruity lychee, peach and orange blossom.
Buy now £180.00, Selfridges
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540
Worn by: Olivia Rodrigo
“I like perfumes that have a natural musk”, detailed the Deja Vu singer in an interview with Vogue. The American multihyphenate has great taste in scenting with the luxury notes of the Baccarat Rouge 540 on her bathroom shelf.
The fragrance was created to celebrate the French crystal label’s 250th anniversary and was created by the nose behind such legendary fragrances as Jean-Paul Gaultier Le Mâle, Elie Saab Le Parfum and Iris Nobile for Acqua di Parma. The floral-woody aroma is created from notes of jasmine, saffron, ambergris and cedarwood.
Buy now £235.00, John Lewis
Byredo Gypsy Water
Worn by: Kate Bosworth and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
“I am a lifelong brand devotee of Byredo, and Gypsy Water has been my signature scent for as long as I can remember”, explained Bosworth to Porter. She joins English model Rosie in waxing lyrical about the transportive power of this smouldering scent. Pine needles, sandalwood, amber, pepper and a twist of lemon create the fresh, light yet woody aroma that was created to put the feeling of wanderlust and freedom into scent form.
Buy now £140.00, Selfridges
Frédéric Malle Carnal Flower Eau de Parfum
Worn by: Mila Kunis, Paloma Elsesser and Simone Rocha
The That 70’s Show star joins the American model and Irish fashion designer as a fan of luxury fragrance house Frédéric Malle and in particular, the deep, seductive concoction of Carnal Flower, an ode to forbidden pleasure.
What begins as a fresh, fruity fragrance with notes of melon and citrus leaves, is quickly anchored by sensual tuberose. A play on the olfactories, coconut is thrown in as well as camphora to ignite the senses.
Buy now £60.00, Cult Beauty
Le Labo Another 13
Worn by: Alexa Chung, Ryan Reynolds, Justin Bieber, Billie Eilish and Paul Mescal
The long celebrity fan base for Le Labo’s hypnotising Another 13 is a testament to its universal appeal. The fragrance was created as part of a collaboration with AnOther Magazine and is made up of 13 ingredients as is detailed in the New York perfume house’s numerical titles.
Ambroxan is the star, a unique component that gives this perfume its distinctive edge. It is combined with notes of moss, jasmine and ambrette seeds, an earthy yet subtly sweet and decidedly heady cocktail that is genderless and alluring.
Buy now £168.00, Selfridges
Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille
Worn by: Harry Styles
The As It Was singer is no doubt drawn to this sophisticated Tom Ford scent for its warm, seductive fragrance. The head of the fashion and fragrance house created it as a homage to London and so it is fitting that Styles, who resides in our fair capital, spritzes himself with its spicy notes. The aroma pairs creamy tonka bean, vanilla and cocoa with dry fruit accords and sweet wood sap.
Buy now £220.00, John Lewis
Guerlain L’Heure Bleue Perfume
Worn by: Kate Moss
Hot on the heels of launching her own beauty label Cosmoss, the supermodel told Vogue that her signature scent is the floriental aroma of L’Heure Bleue. Perfumery at its finest, the aroma plays off floral elements with aromatic ones that will keep you on your toes.
The opening of fresh bergamot is immediately offset by aniseed, while at the heart carnation and neroli accord brings a spice. At the base is the powdery element of iris and violet and vanilla, benzoin and tonka bean for warmth.
Buy now £290.00, John Lewis
Kilian Paris Love, Don’t Be Shy
Worn by: Rihanna
While famously secretive about her fragrance, the aroma of Love, Don’t Be Shy was unmissable to one astutely-nosed fan. While this was documented before her own fragrance drop as part of her renowned Fenty Beauty collection, we wouldn’t be surprised if the nine Grammy award-winner still has Love, Don’t Be Shy in her scent rotation.
The eau de parfum sits in the oriental scent family with floral, sweet and smoky notes playing off of each other before drying down with a warm amber base. It has notes of neroli, orange blossom and marshmallow.
Buy now £220.00, John Lewis
Tom Ford Santal Blush
Worn by: Taylor Swift
If you weren’t able to get a ticket to the instantly sold-out Eras tour, fear not for this fragrance will give the scent of Swift in your aura with its woody, earthy aroma that is set to be the signature of the singer. The perfume is part of the Tom Ford Enigmatic Woods collection and celebrates sandalwood given a spicy twist with warm cinnamon and ylang-ylang.
Buy now £220.00, Selfridges
