Compiled by PHYL CLARKE
English scents
AMONG THE 1,001 boxes needing to be ticked before next Friday’s royal wedding is the one marked “choose a fragrance”. Kate, or the more regal Catherine as we are now asked to call her, must have a battery of advisers on hand to debate every aspect of what goes into her appearance on the big day, but her choice of scent is one decision she can make herself, thank you very much.
A special scent for a special day – ideally one that is new to her and will evoke good memories – can be taken out on anniversaries or secretly spritzed when she wants to be transported back to April 29th, 2011.
She’s likely to look to a British fragrance house, which will narrow the field.
Scent should reflect the character of the bride. She’s a modern girl, but one with firm traditional values; a safe dresser who takes no fashion risks, so rarely gets it wrong. Her chestnut mane and svelte figure ensure she carries off a dullish wardrobe with ease. She wins with an unerring eye for colour, which shows off a bright personality.
When it comes to fragrance, I’d say she is no stranger to the Jo Malone range, which is modern, understated and young – in other words, safe, but not predictable. Red Roses is undoubtedly the most romantic scent in the collection, with its blend of seven rose varieties, balanced with lemon and honeycomb. For a different effect, English Pear and Freesia fuses with the warmth of skin to produce a delicate and understated scent. Also, as freesia is a popular choice for bouquets, there may be no scent crossover. But if it was me choosing from this range, I’d plump for Sakura, bursting with the essence of cherry blossom, the blooms of which are in their prime of delicate beauty right now. Just like the flowers themselves, it’s a limited edition, which makes it even more covetable.
Pushing the boat out for the future queen of England would probably only get her as far as Miller Harris, a luxury fragrance house that respects tradition, but is also innovative in its use of blends by founder Lyn Harris. The classically romantic Coeur de Fleur would fit the bill nicely, with its fruit and floral mix rounded off with vanilla for a warm finish.
Penhaligon’s is very established and so terribly, terribly British – but with a bit of a fusty image. A recent overhaul has added some new scents, including Amaranthine, described as a “corrupted floral oriental for those private moments when everything is anticipation”. Steady on there. The “heady bloom” ylang-ylang is renowned for its aphrodisiac properties. The beautiful bottle looks like it came off your granny’s shelf, and goes to prove you just can’t judge a book by its cover.
Real bottle
I could be completely wrong, but when I saw these bottles by Perfume designer Kim Weisswange, I didn’t smell perfume, I smelled a rat. Those his’n’hers bottles look tacky and not all the kind of thing you’d expect to see on a royal dressing table. But Weisswange is firm in her belief that she was commissioned to design the scents “inspired by the character and personalities” of the royal couple. Offering your services, however kind of you, is not quite the same as having an official order from Buckingham Palace.
