Anisha Riggs
Princess Diana's favourite perfume was First by Van Cleef & Arpels, a floral fragrance with notes of hyacinth and orchid on an amber base. Created by Jean-Claude Ellena in 1976, it was one of the first fragrances by a jeweller. Princess Diana wore First on her wedding day and, according to her son Prince Harry, it helped him process his grief after her death. While it is unclear whether Princess Diana wore Dior perfume, Dior's J'Adore fragrance was reportedly inspired by her and later became Rihanna's signature scent.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Princess Diana's favourite perfume | First by Van Cleef & Arpels |
| Inspiration for Dior's J'Adore | Princess Diana |
| Other perfumes she wore | Hermès 24 Faubourg, Penhaligon’s Bluebell |
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What You'll Learn
Princess Diana's favourite perfume was First by Van Cleef & Arpels
Princess Diana's favourite perfume was reportedly First by Van Cleef & Arpels. According to her son, Prince Harry, his mother loved the scent created by Jean-Claude Ellena in 1976. In fact, Harry recalled in his book, Spare, how he would bring "a bottle of Mummy's favourite perfume" to his therapy sessions to help him deal with the grief following Diana's untimely death. He wrote about how he would lift the lid and take a deep sniff, and how images would rise from what felt like the most primal part of his brain.
First by Van Cleef & Arpels is a floral fragrance with notes of hyacinth and orchid on an amber base. While it was an instant hit in France, it wasn't initially popular or even available in the UK. However, Princess Diana managed to get her hands on it and made it her signature scent. The perfume was one of the first fragrances created by a jeweller and the first scent launched by the French company Van Cleef & Arpels.
Although First was Princess Diana's favourite, it wasn't the only perfume she wore. For her wedding to King Charles III, she wore Hermès 24 Faubourg, a fragrance with notes of jasmine, orange blossom, and vanilla. This choice was considered unusual, as brides tend to avoid strong perfumes to avoid overpowering the scent of the wedding flowers. However, as one source notes, "if we know one thing about Diana, it's that she was a rule-breaker!"
Another fragrance often associated with Princess Diana is Dior's J'Adore, which was reportedly inspired by the princess and later became Rihanna's signature scent. The perfume's original conception in 1999 was reportedly code-named "Diana," as Princess Diana was very close to the House of Dior.
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She wore Hermès 24 Faubourg on her wedding day
Princess Diana's perfume was a well-kept secret during her lifetime, but her son, Prince Harry, revealed in his book, Spare, that her favourite fragrance was First by Van Cleef & Arpels. However, it seems that this was not the only perfume Princess Diana wore. According to her makeup artist, Barbara Daly, Princess Diana wore Hermès 24 Faubourg on her wedding day.
Hermès 24 Faubourg is a floral fragrance with notes of jasmine, orange blossom, and vanilla. It was created by Jean-Claude Ellena in 1976 and has been described as "an invisible jewel" by the brand. The scent is said to be inspired by sunshine, and it was reportedly a favourite of Princess Diana's.
On her wedding day to Prince Charles, Princess Diana spilled some of the perfume on her dress, as reported by Barbara Daly. The choice of this particular perfume may have been unusual for a wedding, as brides tend to avoid strong perfumes to not overpower the scent of the flowers. However, Princess Diana was known for being a rule-breaker, and she chose a scent that reflected her unique style.
The perfume has a special significance for Prince Harry, who has spoken about how it helped him process his grief after his mother's tragic death. In his therapy sessions, he would bring a bottle of his mother's favourite perfume and take a deep sniff, triggering vivid memories and emotions.
While Princess Diana's wedding perfume may not be as well-known as her signature scent, First, it holds a special place in the hearts of those who loved her. The choice of Hermès 24 Faubourg on her wedding day showcases Princess Diana's unique sense of style and her love for fragrances.
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Princess Diana's son, Prince Harry, used her perfume in therapy
Princess Diana's favourite perfume was First by Van Cleef & Arpels, a floral fragrance with notes of hyacinth, orchid, and amber. Created in 1976, it was one of the first fragrances by a jeweller and the first scent by the French company Van Cleef & Arpels. In his memoir, Spare, Princess Diana's son, Prince Harry, revealed that he used his mother's favourite perfume in therapy to help him process her tragic death. Harry was only 12 years old when Princess Diana passed away in August 1997. In his book, he describes how he brought a bottle of his mother's perfume to a therapy session, recalling:
> "At the start of our session, I lifted the lid, took a deep sniff. Like a tab of LSD, images were rising from what felt like the most primal part of [my] brain."
Harry's therapist urged him to explore his emotions using the scent as a trigger, and he writes about how the perfume helped him process his grief. The sense of smell is intrinsically linked to memory, and it is not surprising that Princess Diana's favourite perfume played a role in Harry's grieving process.
Interestingly, there is also speculation that Meghan Markle, Harry's wife, wore Princess Diana's favourite perfume when they first met. Royal biographer Angela Levin suggested that Meghan's choice of fragrance gave her an advantage in winning Harry's affection, as the scent would have evoked strong emotions and memories of his late mother.
While Princess Diana's favourite perfume was First by Van Cleef & Arpels, she reportedly wore other fragrances as well, including Penhaligon's Bluebell, a floral green scent, and Houbiquant's Quelques Fleurs on her wedding day in 1981. Additionally, Dior's J'Adore perfume was reportedly inspired by Princess Diana, and it later became the signature scent of singer Rihanna.
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Dior's J'Adore perfume was inspired by Princess Diana
Princess Diana's favourite perfume was reportedly First by Van Cleef & Arpels, a floral fragrance with notes of hyacinth and orchid on an amber base. According to her son, Prince Harry, she "always wore fragrance", and this particular scent helped him process his grief after her tragic death.
While Princess Diana's favourite perfume may have been First, she also reportedly loved several other elegant perfumes during her lifetime. One of these was Hermès 24 Faubourg, a fragrance inspired by sunshine with notes of jasmine, orange blossom, and vanilla. This was allegedly the perfume that Princess Diana wore for her wedding to King Charles III.
In addition to these fragrances, Princess Diana may have also been a source of inspiration for Dior's J'Adore perfume. J'Adore was launched as a tantalizing counterpart to the sweet and pink Miss Dior fragrance, which was released in 1947. The teardrop-shaped bottle of J'Adore, designed by Hervé Van der Straeten, is a take on the female form, adorned with gold rings. The perfume has since become Rihanna's signature scent, and she has collaborated with Dior on a new launch.
Creative Director Francis Kurkdjian revealed that he was very close to the original conception of J'Adore in 1999 and that its code name was 'Diana'. This suggests that Princess Diana may have been a muse for the fragrance, even if she did not wear it herself. The inspiration behind J'Adore is unclear, but it is possible that the scent was designed with Princess Diana in mind, capturing her elegance and grace in a bottle.
While it cannot be confirmed whether Princess Diana wore Dior's J'Adore perfume, its code name and creative director's comments suggest a connection between the iconic fragrance and the late princess. J'Adore has since become synonymous with glamour and sophistication, perhaps reflecting the timeless style and beauty that Princess Diana embodied during her lifetime.
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Princess Diana wore several other unconfirmed perfumes
Princess Diana's perfume was a well-kept secret during her lifetime, but her son, Prince Harry, revealed in his book, Spare, that her favourite perfume was First by Van Cleef & Arpels. Created by Jean-Claude Ellena in 1976, First is a floral fragrance featuring hyacinth and orchid on an amber base. Harry recalls how the scent of his mother's perfume helped him process his grief in a therapy session following her death.
While First was reportedly Princess Diana's favourite, she wore several other perfumes, although these have not been confirmed. One of these unconfirmed perfumes is said to be Hermès 24 Faubourg, a fragrance inspired by sunshine and featuring notes of jasmine, orange blossom, and vanilla. Interestingly, this perfume was reportedly spilled by Diana on her wedding dress on the morning of her wedding to King Charles III.
Another unconfirmed perfume that Princess Diana may have worn is Penhaligon's Bluebell, which is quite similar to Wild Bluebell by Jo Malone, a fragrance favoured by Meghan Markle, Diana's daughter-in-law. It is speculated that Meghan may have chosen her wedding scent, a custom Floris perfume featuring bergamot and orange blossom, due to its similarity to Princess Diana's wedding scent.
While the above-mentioned perfumes have some connection or speculation linking them to Princess Diana, there are likely many other fragrances that she wore or favoured. It is important to note that fragrance preferences are highly personal, and while some of Princess Diana's choices may have been revealed, it is respectful to also acknowledge and maintain the privacy of her personal preferences.
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Frequently asked questions
According to her son, Prince Harry, Princess Diana's favourite perfume was First by Van Cleef & Arpels.
Princess Diana wore Hermès 24 Faubourg, a scent inspired by sunshine, on her wedding day. She also wore a fragrance by jeweller Van Cleef & Arpels called So First.
First was one of the first fragrances created by a jeweller and the first scent by Van Cleef & Arpels. It was created by Jean-Claude Ellena in 1976.
In his book Spare, Prince Harry revealed that he brought a bottle of First to a therapy session to help him deal with the grief following his mother's death.
Rihanna has been the ambassador for Dior's J'Adore, a perfume inspired by Princess Diana.
