The Queen's Fragrance: Does She Wear Perfume?

does queen elizabeth wear perfume

Queen Elizabeth II reportedly had a signature scent: Guerlain L'Heure Bleue, a spicy citrus fragrance with a powdery dry down. It has been speculated that the late Queen also wore Chanel No. 5, Floris White Rose, Creed Fleurissimo, Chloe Narcisse, Elizabeth Arden Blue Grass, and Bijan By Bijan For Women. The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, is also known to be a fan of fragrances, with Wild Bluebell by Jo Malone London being one of her favourites.

Characteristics Values
Queen Elizabeth's perfume Guerlain L'Heure Bleue, Floris White Rose, Creed Fleurissimo, Chloe Narcisse, Elizabeth Arden Blue Grass, Bijan By Bijan For Women, Yardley Lavender
Shared perfume with Marilyn Monroe
Chanel No. 5 A birthday present from Prince Philip's chief of staff Frederick Arthur Montague Browning in 1955
Lubin's Black Jade A reincarnation of a fragrance with rose, jasmine, cinnamon, incense, and sandalwood created for the Queen in 2011
Duchess of Sussex's perfumes Wild Bluebell by Jo Malone London, Oribe Côte d'Azur
Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton's perfumes Illuminum White Gardenia Petals, Jo Malone's Orange Blossom Cologne

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Queen Elizabeth's signature scent

The signature scent of Queen Elizabeth II has been reported to be Guerlain L'Heure Bleue, a spicy citrus fragrance with a powdery dry down. It has been a classic for the fragrance house since its creation in 1912. The late Queen was also a fan of Chanel No. 5, as revealed in a 1955 letter to Prince Philip's chief of staff, Frederick Arthur Montague Browning. In the letter, she thanked him for the birthday present of the Chanel scent.

Queen Elizabeth's other reported fragrances include Floris White Rose, Creed Fleurissimo, Chloe Narcisse, Elizabeth Arden Blue Grass, and Bijan By Bijan For Women. Lubin, a storied French fragrance house, also created a custom fragrance for the Queen called Black Jade, which included notes of rose, jasmine, cinnamon, incense, and sandalwood.

While the Queen's favourite fragrances may have varied, they all evoke feelings of luxury and elegance. Fragrance has the power to elevate any outfit, moment, or mood, and it is no surprise that the royal family has become a source of inspiration for many in their choice of scents.

One of the Queen's signature scents, Guerlain L'Heure Bleue, was also reportedly favoured by Marilyn Monroe, showcasing the fragrance's iconic status. The royal family's influence on fragrance trends is undeniable, with their chosen perfumes often becoming popularised and sought-after.

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Guerlain L'Heure Bleue

Queen Elizabeth II reportedly wore Guerlain L'Heure Bleue, a scent created in 1912. L'Heure Bleue is part of Guerlain's Les Légendaires collection, a series of legendary fragrances composed by five generations of perfumers since 1828. The perfume is inspired by love stories, both real and imagined, and is designed to capture the glorious scent of emotion.

L'Heure Bleue is an Eau de Parfum spray for women, with top notes of aniseed and bergamot, heart notes of neroli and carnation, and base notes of iris, vanilla, benzoin and tonka bean. The vanilla used by Guerlain is a signature ingredient, forming an essential part of "Guerlinade". The perfume is described as "Terribly Parisian", both delicate and sensual, with an unforgettable trail.

The iconic "inverted heart" bottle was designed by Raymond Guerlain in 1912 and is underscored with graceful scrolls typical of Art Nouveau. The stopper, in the form of a hollowed heart, is an avant-garde design that evokes the delicate romanticism of the perfume.

L'Heure Bleue is said to invoke the spirit of the "blue hour" in Paris, when day turns to night and the sky is painted a distinctive shade of blue. Jacques Guerlain described this as the moment when "the night has not found its star yet", representing the softness of life and romanticism.

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Chanel No. 5

Queen Elizabeth II was a fan of Chanel No. 5, a scent that has been described as "the indisputable queen of all scents". In a letter dated 26 April 1955, the then-princess thanked her husband's chief of staff, Sir Frederick "Boy" Browning, for a bottle of the perfume as a birthday gift. She wrote that it was “just the very thing I particularly wanted” and that she was “already using it and, I hope, smelling all the better for it!”.

The letter was addressed to “Dear Boy” and was exhibited at the V&A museum's retrospective on Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel. Chanel No. 5 was the first scent launched by Chanel, and it has been a favourite of many other royals and celebrities, including Marilyn Monroe and Lady Diana Spencer.

Queen Elizabeth II was also known to wear other fragrances, including Guerlain L'Heure Bleue, a spicy citrus with a powdery dry-down, and Black Jade by Lubin, a mix of rose, jasmine, cinnamon, incense, and sandalwood.

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Floris White Rose

Floris London's White Rose is a timeless fragrance with a rich history. Crafted in the early 1800s by Mr John Floris, it became a favourite of Florence Nightingale, who had bottles shipped to her while nursing in the Crimean War. With its heart in London's Mayfair, surrounded by beauty, art, fashion and architecture, White Rose is an elegant contradiction of silk and spice.

The fragrance intertwines velvet roses with subtle hints of warm amber and rich, earthy musk. It has fresh green top notes with a fleeting aldehydic sparkle, giving way to a rich and vibrant floral fragrance with rose, warmed by the spicy notes of carnation. The scent is enriched with delicate violet and jasmine and wrapped in the soft, sweet base notes of iris, amber and musk.

The White Rose collection includes an Eau de Toilette, a bath and shower gel, and an enriched body moisturiser. The body moisturiser contains glycerine, sweet almond oil and anti-ageing vitamin E, keeping skin soft, smooth and supple, while jojoba oil provides deep nourishment. The bath and shower gel contains olive oil to gently soften the skin while maintaining its natural balance.

White Rose is a romantic and fresh bouquet of white roses, with a delicate, yet noticeable scent. It is a profoundly English perfume, refined and polite, with a light and airy feel. The scent is long-lasting, providing an aura of fresh floral cleanliness.

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Yardley Lavender

It is rumoured that the late Queen Elizabeth II wore Yardley Lavender perfume. Yardley is a well-known English perfumery that has been around since 1770. Their signature scent, English Lavender, is a unique blend of lavender leaves, neroli, and clary sage, with a heart of lavender oil and geranium. The base notes of sandalwood and tonka bean give the fragrance a deeper, more sophisticated feel. It has been described as a "wonderfully simple, gentle, sweet, and demure scent" by some customers.

However, some customers have expressed disappointment with the scent, claiming that it has been altered from its original formula. One customer review states that the new formula is "strong and overpowering," with a "phony" smell. Another review mentions that the scent is "very musky" and "chemical-like." Despite these negative reviews, Yardley's English Lavender remains a classic and elegant fragrance with a dedicated customer base.

In addition to Yardley Lavender, Queen Elizabeth was also known to wear other perfumes such as Guerlain L'Heure Bleue, a spicy citrus scent with powdery notes, and Black Jade by Lubin, a fragrance with notes of rose, jasmine, cinnamon, incense, and sandalwood. She also reportedly wore Chanel No. 5, as revealed in a letter she wrote to Prince Philip's chief of staff in 1955.

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