Prada
The Best Wedding Perfumes For Your Special Day
Feature: Long Read
Words by NASREEN OSMAN, ALICE DU PARQ
I firmly believe that wearing a special perfume on your wedding day is emotionally and physically imperative and no-one should trample on the sacred and joyous act of picking a wedding-day scent. Put simply, there is such a thing as a bridal fragrance. From the creation of Givenchy’s L’Interdit for Audrey Hepburn’s wedding in 1954, to Princess Diana choosing Houbigant’s Quelques Fleurs (rather than her signature Penhaligon’s Bluebell) for her big day in 1981, a bridal fragrance is very much ‘a thing’.
A unique wedding-specific scent will be your olfactive time machine; even more powerful than a photo or song, it will whisk you back to that precious day and remind you of the fun you had. But one thing is, you won’t find muted, apologetic florals here. A change in the bridal breeze is upon us as we’re invited to rip up the tulle rules with next-level eaux that are big, bold, ballsy and beautiful – and that lean into a new mood of individuality and feminism. Tom Crouch, director of private events at The Arts Club in London, captures the mood perfectly: “Brides are no longer conforming to traditions, they are ditching subtle scents for a statement smell…and why not? People have waited long enough to get married, and they are doing it bigger than ever.” Wearing a long-lasting fragrance with voluminous and rich flavours ensures that you’re the stat of your show – and that your perfume becomes part of your outfit and beauty look rather than an afterthought accessory.
Keep In Mind These Perfume Pointers
Ask a bridesmaid or maid of honour to spritz the back of your dress and veil (not too close or you may stain the fabric) to create a scented trial as you enter the ceremony.
On the morning of your wedding, exfoliate and then moisturise (with an unscented lotion); the healthier your skin canvas, the better the fragrance will grip on.
When you’re testing perfumes, visualise the location, the mood, and the atmosphere you want to achieve on the day – doing that will help direct your sensorial radar.
Kilian Musk Butterfly Eau de Parfum
Kilian’s Musk Butterfly may sound fluttery and light, but no, this powdery Parma violet and spiced rose power-fume is the new scented supermodel shimmying her way into Good Girl Gone Bad’s spotlight.
Parfums de Marly Valaya Eau de Parfum
Parfums de Marly’s Valaya is a deep, creamy, and indulgent cluster of heady, fleshy white petals and velvety musk that feels every bit as dramatic and decadent as a Vivienne Westwood bridal gown.
Creed Carmina Eau de Parfum
Creed’s Carmina joins the line-up with a luscious, floral blend of rose de mai, cashmere wood and top notes of black cherry. Crafted to captivate and embody a playful, strong female aura, it’s just the scent you need to feel good on your wedding day. (Well, Creed is, after all, the heritage house that cemented its status as the bridal maestro when it was commissioned to create Fleurissimo for Grace Kelly’s wedding in 1956).
Estée Lauder Private Collection Legacy Eau de Parfum
Want to wear a bouquet before you throw one? Enter Estée Lauder’s Private Collection Legacy Eau de Parfum. Each spritz releases a lush bouquet of bold, green accord with a heart of rose and jasmine. And who better to emulate on your big day than Mrs. Estée Lauder with all her charm and effortless style.
More Floral Fragrances
Edeniste Love Lifeboost Eau de Toilette
If your heart is set on a long-loved scent in your current fragrance wardrobe, you can still give it a glow-up with the latest mood enhancers. Edeniste’s Love Lifeboost is like drizzling a glossy maraschino cherry and sweet rose glaze over any perfume, and it contains proven active ingredients and patented molecules to encourage feelings of self-confidence and love.
Bvlgari Allegra Magnifying Myyrh Eau de Parfum
Then there are Bulgari’s Allegra Magnifying essences, an intense eau de parfum that each celebrate a singular note, such as patchouli, vanilla or rose. The newest one, Myrrh, brings a holy, resinous, and spiritual amber depth befitting a grand cathedral ceremony.
All these extra-special haute-couture fragrances have incredible staying power and will easily last from dressing room to dancefloor. But most of all, they’re the types of perfumes that make you feel extraordinary, that makes you hold yourself just that little bit higher, and that stimulate a sense of self-worth and optimistic passion that you unquestionably deserve on your big day. So don’t let anyone ruin that beautiful, precious ritual.
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