Favorite Perfumes of Famous Women (Spoiler: All of Us Have a Chance to Be Like Audrey Hepburn)

2 years ago

Coco Chanel once said: “A woman who doesn’t wear perfume has no future. A trail of a well-chosen perfume always compliments a lady’s style. It usually plays one of the key roles in her persona.” That’s why many famous people, not specifically women, pay attention to the choice of “the” perfume.

We at Bright Side wondered what some of the most legendary women of our past and present time chose to wear as their scent. We also found out which of these perfumes are still produced today and if we could really buy them.

Princess Diana

Princess Diana walked down the aisle bathed in Quelques Fleurs by Houbigant Paris (on top). This flowery perfume was first produced in 1913. The scent features notes of citrus fruits, jasmine, lilac, tuberous, and carnation. Quelques Fleurs was the first-ever perfume that featured several fragrances (outperforming even Chanel № 5).

During the last few years of her life, the princess’ favorite was 24 Faubourg by Hermès, created in 1995. Diana’s personal makeup artist Mary Greenwell confessed that her famous client loved to wear this expensive perfume.

Both perfumes are still being produced. A new version of Quelques Fleurs by Houbigant Paris was created in 2017. The classic version of 24 Faubourg is still popular today; you can find and buy it in any perfume store.

Marilyn Monroe

When Marilyn Monroe was asked what she wore in bed, she replied with the today-iconic phrase “Why, Chanel № 5, of course.” This perfume was one of her favorites and is often associated with the actress’ name. However, in 2002, reports had referred to the fact that during the shooting of Some Like It Hot, Monroe got Rose Geranium by Floris delivered to her Beverly Hills suite. There is even a receipt that proves the fact.

Perfume Rose Geranium has gone out of production and exists in the form of essential oil for baths. Chanel № 5, on the other side, has already had several new editions; one of them was created in 2015.

Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn was Hubert de Givenchy’s muse — the head of the Givenchy fashion house. That’s why it’s not surprising that she favored Givenchy’s perfumes. Perfume L’Interdit was made especially for Audrey in 1957. The perfume’s name means “forbidden” in French. Its composition includes spices, citrus fruits, peach, and strawberry; the heart of the scent includes iris, violet, narcissus, ilang-ilang, lily of the valley, and rose.

Audrey Hepburn asked not to make L’Interdit publicly available (that’s how the perfume got its name). However, in 1960, anyone could buy the famous scent. L’Interdit had become legendary in a blink of an eye because all women wanted to smell like the famous Audrey Hepburn.

We have a chance too because, in 2003 and 2007, L’Interdit was re-launched. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to buy the fragrance in that same bottle design in the form of a cabochon. Its modern design is much simpler — just a rectangular glass bottle with the Givenchy logo.

Elizabeth Taylor

Today many celebrities have their own perfume lines, but Taylor pioneered in it with her own scent. Elizabeth Taylor’s brand created several successful perfumes among which are Black Pearls, Passion, Forever Elizabeth, White Diamonds, and more. White Diamonds was chosen by the actress for herself (on the photo above she’s holding White Diamonds in a special collector’s edition with diamond-encrusted cap).

The actress also favored a perfume called Bal а Versailles Jean Desprez, created in 1962. It’s an oriental scent that includes 300 ingredients; its main notes are sandalwood, patchouli, ilang-ilang, orange blossom, and vanilla.

White Diamonds is a cult perfume that can be bought in any perfume store. As for Bal а Versailles Jean Desprez, it has long become a rare vintage: it’s no longer produced but many perfume enthusiasts can find and purchase it.

Grace Kelly

Grace Kelly was a true fan of Fleurissimo by the British perfume house Creed. It was specially ordered for Kelly’s wedding and complimented the bride’s bouquet. Fleurissimo is a flowery scent that includes notes of bergamot, tuberose, Bulgarian rose, lily, and Florentine iris. The perfume house Creed still produces the legendary perfume in its classic version.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

Kate Middleton’s favorite brand is Illuminum. It’s a British elite perfumery brand established in 2007. Kate chose to wear a perfume called White Gardenia Petals on her wedding day with Prince William. It opens with notes of lily and bergamot, keeping gardenia, ilang-ilang, and jasmine in the heart.

The perfume is being produced and anyone can purchase it. However, it belongs to the category of elite perfumes and is sold only in niche perfume shops.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex

Meghan really loves perfumes. She even confessed that if she left the house and forgot to use her perfume, she would definitely go back. As expected of a member of the British Royal family, Meghan prefers British perfume houses. Her 2 favorite perfumes are Wild Bluebell and Wood Sage & Sea Salt by the niche perfume brans Jo Malone. The first one is a flowery aroma with notes of lily of the valley and rosehip. The second one is woody aquatic. They are both natural and fresh.

For the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Floris London perfume house created an exclusive perfume. It’s the main supplier of perfumes for the British Royal family. It’s a unisex perfume with aquatic and citrus notes.

Meghan’s wedding perfume by Floris London became a part of the private collection and therefore is not available to the public. The perfumes by Jo Malone, on the other hand, are available to anyone.

Penélope Cruz

Penélope Cruz has become a new face of the legendary ladies’ perfume Trésor by Lancome. In her interview, she said she never leaves her house without a few drops of Trésor since her parents gave her this perfume on her 13th birthday. It’s a flowery perfume with notes of pineapple, peach, lilac, and rose. Besides the already classic scent, Lancome regularly re-launches and creates new versions of the perfume.

Nicole Kidman

In her interviews, Kidman said that she loved to create her own unique aroma by mixing different essential oils. Her favorite perfume is Angel created by Thierry Mugler. It has a sweet composition that includes notes of bergamot, tropical fruits, vanilla, caramel, and patchouli.

The first Angel was produced in 1992. This perfume is still being produced and you can wear its unique aroma yourself.

Cameron Diaz

Positive and cheerful Cameron really suits her favorite perfume called Happy. It has been produced since 1997 and is considered to be one of the most successful perfumes created by Clinique. It’s a fruit-and-flower aroma with apple, plum, and bergamot tinges. The heart of the perfume contains the scents of freesia, rose, lily of the valley, and orchid.

This perfume is quite popular and can be easily bought in perfume shops.

Madonna

Madonna is a true perfume enthusiast. One of her favorites is Hypnotic Poison by Dior. It has apricot, plum, and coconut tinges. The perfume’s heart is tuberose, jasmine, lily of the valley, rose, sandalwood, vanilla, and mucus.

Hypnotic Poison was created in 1998; 2018 marks the 20th anniversary of the perfume. The bottle’s shape reminds of an apple that is associated with the forbidden fruit, Eve and Adam. The perfume’s aroma corresponds with its name; the French poet Paul Valéry once said, “Perfume is a poison for the heart.”

Hypnotic Poison can easily be bought in any perfume shop. The newest version of the perfume was produced in 2014.

Vivien Leigh

Joy by Jean Patou was Vivien Leigh’s favorite. It was created in 1930 and became available to the public during the Great Depression. The perfume’s name and its aroma was a great contrast to the grim financial situation in the country and that’s how it became the symbol of hope. Joy was the most expensive one at that time. It has a flowery aroma with Bulgarian and May roses and jasmine tinges. Decades later, the style icon of the 20th century, Jacqueline Kennedy, called it her favorite.