
Marilyn Monroe is an icon for many reasons, including her relationship with fragrance and beauty. Monroe is famously known for her love of Chanel No. 5, even revealing in an interview that she wore nothing in bed but the iconic scent. However, there is more to Monroe's fragrance preferences than Chanel No. 5. In this paragraph, we will explore the other fragrances that captivated the world's biggest sex symbol.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Favourite perfume | Chanel No. 5, Floris Rose Geranium |
| Favourite perfume notes | Light, fresh floral scents balanced with deeper musks and woods |
| Number of bottles ordered | Six |
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What You'll Learn

Chanel No. 5
Marilyn Monroe is known for her relationship with fragrance and beauty. She is famously quoted for saying, "So I said I only wear Chanel No. 5", in response to being asked what she wore to bed. This association between her and Chanel's most famous scent has been inseparable ever since. Chanel No. 5 is a light, fresh floral scent that balances deeper musks and woods for a dimensional fragrance.
However, Chanel No. 5 wasn't Monroe's only perfume of choice. Floris's Rose Geranium perfume was another fragrance she adored. In 1959, she ordered six bottles of the scent to be delivered to her in Beverly Hills under a cloak-and-dagger alias during the filming of "Some Like It Hot". Monroe also enjoyed Yardley's Lavender, which she mentioned in an interview in 1956.
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Floris Rose Geranium
Marilyn Monroe is an icon, especially when it comes to her relationship with fragrance and beauty. While she is famously known for her love of Chanel No. 5, there is another fragrance that she was fond of—Floris Rose Geranium.
Monroe's association with Floris Rose Geranium is well-documented. In 1959, under the alias of Miss Dorothy Blass, she ordered six bottles of the perfume from the Floris shop at 89 Jermyn Street, London. The perfumes were to be sent to the Beverly Hills Hotel in California, where she stayed after filming one of her most iconic movies, "Some Like It Hot." The original receipt, which was later amended to read Marilyn Monroe Miller, can be viewed at the Floris 'museum' on Jermyn Street, along with other treasured pieces of the brand's history.
The Floris Rose Geranium fragrance has a special place in the brand's history due to its association with Monroe. It embodies the star's timeless elegance and has become a classic fragrance cherished by those seeking a touch of nostalgia and sophistication. The perfume is a unique blend of floral and citrus notes, creating a harmonious and uplifting scent that captures the imagination.
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Yardley's Lavender
Yardley's, or Yardley London Limited, is a British personal care brand specialising in cosmetics, fragrances, and other personal care products. It is one of the oldest firms in the world, established in 1770 and becoming a major producer of soap and perfume by the 20th century.
The company received its first Royal Warrant in 1921 and today holds two. In 1967, Yardley was acquired by British American Tobacco, and the iconic British model Twiggy became the face of the brand. Yardley became a symbol of the Swinging Sixties, associated with youth culture, Carnaby Street, and mod fashions.
The original Yardley shop was located on Bond Street in London, first at 8 New Bond Street and later at 33 Old Bond Street. The brand has been owned by the Indian multinational conglomerate Wipro Enterprises since 2009.
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Light, fresh floral scents
Marilyn Monroe is known for her iconic quote about Chanel No. 5, but she also loved light, fresh floral scents. In fact, she once said, "I only wear Chanel No. 5", which has become an inseparable association with the perfume and the star. However, it seems that Monroe liked to layer fragrances and step outside the social norms of the time, which often meant having a single scent for every occasion.
One of her favourite perfumes was Floris Rose Geranium, which she ordered in bulk under a cloak-and-dagger alias during the filming of Some Like It Hot. This scent combines fresh citrus touches with a pared-down base of cedarwood. In 1956, she also told a reporter that she slept in nothing but Yardley's Lavender.
Monroe's fragrance choices were often directly inspired by her surroundings. For example, while staying at Claridge's Hotel in London, she visited the Floris boutique in St James's, which is just a short walk away.
If you want to smell like Marilyn Monroe, light, fresh floral scents are a good place to start. But remember to balance these notes with deeper musks and woods for a dimensional fragrance.
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Musks and woods
Marilyn Monroe is known to have worn several perfumes, including the iconic Chanel No. 5. However, her fragrance choices extended beyond this famous scent, and she was also a fan of musky and woody perfumes that balanced light and fresh floral scents with deeper notes.
One of Monroe's favourite perfumes was Floris Rose Geranium, which she ordered in bulk and used during the filming of "Some Like It Hot". This fragrance combines fresh floral and citrus notes with a base of cedarwood, creating a beautifully pared-down and surprisingly unisex scent. Monroe's love for this perfume was so great that she requested six bottles at a time be delivered to her in Beverly Hills. The original receipt from 1959, initially under the name of Miss Dorothy Blass, was later amended to read Marilyn Monroe Miller.
Monroe's fondness for the Floris Rose Geranium perfume is further evidenced by a letter she wrote to the historic British house of Floris, thanking them for sending a consignment of Rose Geranium Bath Essence. This bath essence captures the incredible powdery rose geranium fragrance, enhanced by fresh citrus touches and grounded by the woody base.
In addition to Chanel No. 5 and Floris Rose Geranium, Monroe's perfume choices were often inspired by her surroundings. For example, during her stay in London at Claridge's Hotel in Mayfair, she visited the Floris boutique on Jermyn Street. While in England, she also mentioned wearing Yardley's Lavender to bed, stating, "As I am in England, let's say I sleep in nothing but Yardley's Lavender."
Monroe's choice of perfumes reflects her iconic status and her fondness for fragrances that combined light and fresh floral notes with deeper musks and woods, creating dimensional fragrances that have left an enduring legacy in the world of perfume.
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Frequently asked questions
Marilyn Monroe famously wore Chanel No. 5, which she revealed in an interview with George Plimpton for *Life Magazine*.
Yes, Monroe wore Yardley's Lavender, and Floris' Rose Geranium.
You can find Chanel No. 5 at most department stores. Floris' Rose Geranium is available to buy from the perfume house's London boutique, or online.
Princess Charlene of Monaco wore a fragrance by Krigler, one of the world's most exclusive fragrance houses, on her wedding day. Claudia Schiffer is also a fan of fragrance, wearing Garden Roses and Eau Dynamisante by Clarins.











































