As a self-proclaimed fragrance person, I’m always intrigued by the scents people choose to wear. For instance, what makes the ideal job-interview fragrance? First-date fragrance? Perhaps my most burning question when it comes to scents is the most personal—what’s the perfect wedding-day fragrance?
Of course, every bride is different. Some brides choose a scent based on nostalgia (whether their mom wore it or it reminds them of something), some brides choose a scent that they wear every day, and some brides opt for a light fragrance that enhances their natural scent. No matter what, a wedding-day fragrance should feel like an encapsulation of who the bride is, which can be easier said than done.
I decided to ask 12 people who work in the beauty industry what scent they wore on their wedding day and why they decided to wear it. Keep reading to learn about the perfumes they chose to wear on their wedding day.
“I take fragrance very seriously, and choosing the scent for my wedding day was no oversight. After all, I was the beauty editor at Vogue at the time and had hundreds of bottles of perfume sitting at my desk alone. After testing many, many fragrances, I landed upon Le Labo’s Jasmin 17 for the weekend, customized with our wedding date. Jasmine holds a special place in my heart—it grew (and still grows) all over the yard of my childhood home. Because of the sentiment, we decided to have a few fragrant and stunning bushes of jasmine brought into our intimate wedding ceremony to surround us as we said, ‘I do.’ It was perfect, needless to say, and the scent [was] heavenly.” — Jenna Rennert, beauty and fashion expert, former beauty editor, Vogue
“I don’t wear fragrance day to day, but for my wedding, I knew I wanted to wear something special. Super Amber by Ellis Brooklyn felt like the right choice because it works with your skin’s chemistry to enhance your own scent. It just makes you smell like the best version of yourself—the perfect scent for just a little enhancement.” — Priscilla Tsai, founder and CEO, Cocokind
“I wore Baccarat Rouge on my wedding day. I’ve been spritzing it for years on special occasions, and to me (and many others), it is the perfect fragrance. Warm and soft yet strong and dynamic—you really can’t put your finger on it. But it lingers and is a scent you never forget.” — April Franzino, beauty director, Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, and Prevention magazines
“Maison Margiela Replica Flower Market! I was wearing it the day I got engaged in Paris, and it just reminded me of that very special moment in time. It’s such a versatile floral scent I never regret wearing. It’s delicate and fresh and reminds me of strolling through a charming flower market on a brisk day. Plus, it has major staying powers, which was totally necessary for a New Year’s Eve wedding!” — Caitie Schlisserman, beauty director, branded content, Who What Wear
“I wore DedCool’s Taunt and Milk (both!) because they’re my absolute favorite scents. I just wanted to smell like the ideal, most alluring version of myself.” — Rachel Lapidos, senior lifestyle and beauty editor, Bustle
“I wore Tom Ford Sole di Positano on my wedding day because we were married in Positano, and it has always been the most special place to us. The scent is citrusy and floral and truly evokes the dreaminess of the Amalfi Coast. I love that it is sunny and fresh but also soft and romantic. Every time I wear it, it transports me back to our wedding day overlooking the water in Positano and will always be the most special scent in my fragrance collection!” — Annie Lawless, founder and CEO, Lawless Beauty. *Editor’s note: Neroli Portofino is a different but similar fragrance from Tom Ford.
“I wore Pherómone by Marilyn Miglin. It was special back then when it was only sold at Saks Fifth Avenue. Although I’ve moved away from it because it became a mass-market item, I still bring it out now and then. For years, it really was my favorite fragrance. Not too in your face but not wimpy either.” — Alison Blackman, editor in chief, The Advice Sisters
“I wore Armani Sì! I just loved how lightweight the scent is, and it always puts me in a good mood.” — Nikita Charuza, founder and CEO, Squigs
“I wore L’Heure Magique by Laura Mercier. It is a soft fragrance that settles beautifully into skin and never overpowers. It is a little powdery and musky but light at the same time. Perfect for a wedding day when you want to smell great but not have a fragrance that walks into the room before you do. Sadly, it isn’t available in the UK anymore, so when I came to the USA in October, I stocked up!” — Arabella Preston, co-founder, Votary
“I work in beauty PR and chose to wear Glossier You as a bond with my bridesmaids. Many of my close friends don’t work in beauty and are mystified by the whole industry. Because of that, I thought it would be fun to make my bachelorette feel like a little bit of a brand trip—complete with gift bags for them of some of my favorite beauty finds. I gifted everyone the Glossier You solid perfumes, and they were all obsessed. It almost magically smelled good on everyone. The scent brings me back to that weekend and how special it felt, which is why I decided to wear it on my wedding day.” — Monica Almeida, senior media relations strategist, beauty, Hill+Knowlton Strategies
“[I wore] Saks for Her by Bond No. 9 because my mom wears it.” — Madeline Dunham, director of communications, Chantecaille Beauté
“I got married in 2015, and I wore Lancôme Trésor because it was my mother’s signature scent, and I wanted a bit of her with me on my wedding day. She’d passed away in 2012.” — Lisa Marie Guastella, senior director, Jennifer Bett Communications
