Arguably the most personal and intimate of beauty products, the choice of perfume reveals volumes about its wearer—orientals are sexy and exotic, aldehydes bold and daring, florals romantic. Marilyn Monroe famously told interviewers that she wore Chanel No. 5 to bed (and nothing else), but it wasn't her only favorite.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
1
Marilyn Monroe: Floris Rose Geranium
Like millions of other women, Monroe was a fan of Chanel No 5. However, in 2002, it was revealed that she also had a secret penchant for Floris Rose Geranium. The eau de toilette was delivered in bulk to her at the Beverly Hills Hotel under a cloak and dagger alias while she filmed Some Like It Hot. Featuring notes of rose, geranium, citronella and sandalwood, the British eau de toilette has been discontinued and its scent is now only available as a bath essence.
2
Jackie Kennedy: Joy by Jean Patou
While Jackie wore several perfumes throughout her life, including Krigler Lovely Patchouli 55, a spicy, woody blend of patchouli and bergamot and leather, her favorite was the classic Joy by Jean Patou, known for years as the most expensive perfume in the world. For just one ounce of the heavily floral scent, more than 10,000 jasmine flowers and 28 dozen roses are required—a risky business decision, especially since the scent was created in 1929 at the start of the Great Depression. The aura of uber-luxury and prestige worked: Joy went on to become one of the most successful fragrances of all time, and was voted Scent of the Century in 2000 at the Fragrance Foundation's FiFi Awards.
3
Grace Kelly: Creed Fleurissimo
When Grace Kelly became Her Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco in 1956, walking down the aisle of Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Monaco in front of guests including Cary Grant and Ava Gardner, she did so wearing Creed Fleurissimo. The fragrance, from the esteemed family-owned fragrance house, was commissioned specially by Prince Rainier for his bride to compliment her wedding bouquet and contains notes of bergamot, tuberose, Florentine iris, and Bulgarian rose.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
4
Elizabeth Taylor: Jean Desprez Bal a Versailles
Nowadays, every boldface name has their own fragrance line—but Elizabeth Taylor was a pioneer when she launched her revolutionary perfume empire, spanning blockbuster scents like White Diamonds, Forever, and Passion. (To this day, White Diamonds remains the bestselling celebrity fragrance of all time.) In earlier days, however, Liz wore Jean Desprez Bal à Versailles, an oriental scent with notes of rosemary, orange blossom, sandalwood, and vanilla created in 1962. Taylor wore it on the set of Cleopatra, and also gifted the scent to Michael Jackson, who wore it for the rest of his life.
5
Natalie Wood: Jungle Gardenia
An eternal fan of the delicate, romantic gardenia flower (there's even a gardenia on her gravestone), Natalie Wood wore Jungle Gardenia—first given to her by Old Hollywood star Barbara Stanwyck while filming The Bride Wore Boots in 1946. Known as "the most exotic fragrance in the world," the original juice contained notes of bitter orange, tuberose and heliotrope, and was famously reimagined—as an unsuccessful flop—by Coty in the 90s. This year, her daughter Natasha Gregson Wagner released a modern gardenia-laced fragrance in her mother's honor, called, simply, Natalie.
6
Princess Diana: Quelques Fleurs
A more modern but no less indelible icon, Princess Diana walked down the aisle at St. Paul's Cathedral bathed in Quelques Fleurs, a floral scent featuring notes of tuberose, rose, and jasmine. (Rumors abound that she accidentally spilled the juice on her wedding dress while trying to top up just before getting out of the carriage.) Later in life, Princess Diana was a fan of 24 Faubourg by Hermès, created by in 1995 by perfumer Maurice Roucel and named for the address of the Hermès flagship store in Paris. A sunny scent, it contains notes of orange blossom, peach, gardenia, and amber.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
7
Dorothy Dandridge: Tabu by Dana
The first black woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress, Dorothy Dandridge wore Tabu by Dana, a sexy fragrance that was supposedly created by perfumer Jean Carles with the risqué instructions to make a scent that a prostitute would wear. (Its tagline was "Tabu—the forbidden fragrance.") Notes include bergamot, clover, oriental rose, amber, moss, musk, patchouli, sandalwood, and vetiver.
8
Ava Gardner: Creed Fleurs de The Rose Bulgare
Ava Gardner was reportedly partial to Creed Fleurs de The Rose Bulgare, a rose scent that bergamot and green tea notes. Other scents favored by the Best Actress nominee included Guerlain Mitsouko and the bergamot, mandarin, and lilac-infused Fracas by Robert Piguet. While she was married to Frank Sinatra, stories circulated that she'd signal an end to one of their regular, titanic fights by spritzing the stairway with perfume as an invitation.
9
Audrey Hepburn: Givenchy L'Interdit
Created specially for Audrey Hepburn by Hubert de Givenchy, L'Interdit—which means "forbidden" in French—was created in 1957. Rumors spread that Audrey didn't want Givenchy to release the scent, but it was ultimately made available for wide purchase in the 1960s. A floral aldehyde, L'Interdit's notes include bergamot, rose, jasmine, iris, violet, narcissus, and sandalwood. In later years, Audrey wore Creed Spring Flower, another scent created just for her.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
10
Katherine Hepburn: Guerlain Vol de Nuit
Aviation enthusiast Kate Hepburn was a fan of Jacques Guerlain's 1933 scent Vol de Nuit, which was created in homage to the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry book Night Flight. (The same author wrote the children's classic The Little Prince.) A woodsy and spicy floral, its notes included bergamot, jasmine, and vanilla, and the bottle displays a relief of a moving airplane propeller.
11
Rita Hayworth: Guerlain Shalimar
Often photographed spritzing on perfume, Rita Hayworth was a fan the blockbuster 1925 oriental fragrance Guerlain Shalimar—which was rumored to have been created when Jacques Guerlain dumped vanillin into a bottle of the celebrated fougère scent Jicky as an experiment—as well as Lanvin Arpege, a sensual aldehydic floral.
12
Josephine Baker: Guerlain Sous Le Vent
A world-famous American in Paris—as well-known for what she was wearing (a skirt made from bananas) as what she wasn't (clothing)—Josephine Baker liked to spritz herself in Guerlain Sous Le Vent. Created specially for her in 1934 by Jacques Guerlain, the scent fit the era's chypre trend, including oakmoss, dried tobacco leaves, basil, tarragon, and galbanum resin.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
13
Lauren Bacall: Diptyque L'Ombre Dans L'Eau
The sultry half of one of Hollywood's greatest love stories was a fan of French luxury perfume house Diptyque Paris, wearing its blackcurrant and Bulgarian rose-scented L'Ombre Dans L'Eau and Opone (a woody Chypre featuring saffron, cumin, leather, and smoke).
14
Vivien Leigh: Joy by Jean Patou
When the real-life Scarlett O'Hara first met Clark Gable before filming Gone With the Wind, he is said to have noticed that she smelled like violets. However, like many starlets of the era including Olivia de Haviland, Mary Pickford, and Gloria Swanson, the British actress was a well-documented devotee of Joy by Jean Patou.
Nadine Jolie Courtney
Nadine Jolie Courtney is a lifestyle writer whose work has appeared in Town & Country, Robb Report, and Angeleno; a graduate of Barnard College, her fourth book, All-American Muslim Girl, was named a Kirkus Best Book of 2019. She lives in Santa Monica, California, where she posts too many photos of her daughter on Instagram.
FAQs
What was Marilyn Monroe's favorite perfume? ›
Like millions of other women, Monroe was a fan of Chanel No 5. However, in 2002, it was revealed that she also had a secret penchant for Floris Rose Geranium. The eau de toilette was delivered in bulk to her at the Beverly Hills Hotel under a cloak and dagger alias while she filmed Some Like It Hot.
What are the top 5 most sold perfumes? ›- Dior Sauvage: This one is undoubtedly due to the Depp v. ...
- Bleu de Chanel: ...
- Chanel Chance: ...
- Chanel Coco Mademoiselle: ...
- Armani Acqua di Gio Eau de Toilette: ...
- Yves Saint Laurent Y: ...
- Carolina Herrera Good Girl: ...
- Dior Miss Dior:
Creed claims that Spring Flower was her personal scent, while there is no doubt that L'Interdit was indeed tailor-made for Audrey and counted among her favorites. Flipping through my notes and magazine cuttings with Audrey's interviews, I discovered several other fragrances she enjoyed.
What perfume does Michelle Obama wear? ›Creed Love in White Edp is Michelle's go-to scent as it reflects perfectly the freedom to choose and act. The top-notch quality scent has a sophisticated blend of ingredients and floral scents that creates a refreshing impression and an even alluring aura.
What was Princess Diana favorite perfume? ›Van Cleef & Arpels First Eau de Toilette.
What perfume does Oprah wear? ›Bijan Classic Fragrance for Women.
What is the number 1 best smelling perfume? ›- Best Overall: Chanel Coco MadeMoiselle Eau de Parfum Spray at Sephora. ...
- Best Value: Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa at Amazon. ...
- Best Luxury: Tom Ford Parfum at Sephora. ...
- Best Floral: Carolina Herrera Good Girl Eau de Parfum. ...
- Best Woody: Maison Margiela Replica at Nordstrom. ...
- Best Citrus: ...
- Best Fruity: ...
- Best Musky:
- Chanel No. Launched: 1921. ...
- Le Labo Santal 33. Launched: 2011. ...
- Thierry Mugler Angel. Launched: 1992. ...
- Chanel Coco Mademoiselle. Launched: 2001. ...
- Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue. ...
- Dior Eau Sauvage. ...
- Tom Ford Black Orchid. ...
- Giorgio Armani Acqua di Giò
1 Imperial Majesty- $12,722 per oz. Designed by famous British perfumer Roja Dove, this perfume boasts a majestic ingredients list and is composed of rose oil, jasmine, and Tahitian vanilla. It is packed in a real hand-crafted Baccarat crystal bottle with an 18-karat gold neck and a 5-carat diamond cap set.
What is Melania Trump's favorite perfume? ›Dolce and Gabbana for Women Eau De Toilette
Together, these scents combine to form an intoxicating perfume for women.
What perfume did Marilyn Monroe wear? ›
Diamonds are a girl's best friend, but Marilyn Monroe's favorite fragrance costs much less. The star famously swore by a spritz of Chanel No. 5, a scent that's proven almost just as iconic as the actress herself.
What was Elizabeth Taylor favorite perfume? ›(To this day, White Diamonds remains the bestselling celebrity fragrance of all time.) In earlier days, however, Liz wore Jean Desprez Bal à Versailles, an oriental scent with notes of rosemary, orange blossom, sandalwood, and…
What scent does Jennifer Lopez wear? ›Jennifer Lopez Glow by Jennifer Lopez
She first got in the perfume game with the release of "Glow" in 2004, and has since also launched "Still," "Deseo," and "Live."
Lancome has announced a new La Vie Est Belle flanker in celebration of the perfume's 10 year anniversary. The fragrance is represented by Pretty Woman co-star Julia Roberts, who has successfully been the face of the fragrance since its conception.
What perfume did Whitney Houston wear? ›Her favorite perfume was called Worth. But of course, with the wardrobe, fragrances like Bvlgari, Givenchy, Annick Goutal—she liked Petite Cherie..She was definitely a champion for aromatherapy, fragrances and her skin feeling soft.
What is Cher's favorite perfume? ›Finally, there is the singer's favorite: '90s Couture, a rich floral scent with sandalwood and peach nectar, which Cher describes as "heady". Each bottle is on sale for around EUR 30 at scentbeauty.com.
What scent does Queen Elizabeth wear? ›Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth reportedly wore Guerlain L'Heure Bleue, a spicy citrus with a powdery dry down. It's been a classic for the fragrance house ever since the scent was created in 1912.
According to Vogue, Kate's signature scent is Jo Malone's Orange Blossom. In fact, she loves it so much that she reportedly even chose to have the citrusy aroma waft through Westminster Abbey on her wedding day to Prince William in 2011.
What perfume did Angelina Jolie wear? ›'Guerlain is really a favorite of mine. Z [Zahara] and I share the perfume products, such as the lotion and the body wash. I love that she and I will remember each other by a smell. Especially as my first memory of Guerlain was the scent of my mother's powder.
What was Jackie Onassis favorite perfume? ›Her signature scent
If you were wondering what Jackie smelled like, look no further than luxury French perfume brand, House of Krigler's Lovely Patchouli 55, a leathery scent which housed notes of amber, bergamot, patchouli, and citrus. She wore it daily.
What perfume do Beyonce wear? ›
Beyonce's favorite perfume is Emporio Armani Diamonds by Giorgio Armani. A clean, fresh and elegant scent in a sparkling way. It fits women of all ages: it is sophisticated and soft enough for those in search of mature olfactory notes, but crispy and sexy for those ladies who are just coming out of their girly shells.
What is considered old lady perfume? ›But what exactly is an Old Lady Perfume? The term is generally applied to perfumes launched between the 1920s to the 1980s. And though the fragrances that fall under the Old Lady Perfume umbrella aren't a monolith, there are some common threads. The best known Old Lady Perfume is probably the classic Chanel No.
Which is best perfume for female? ›- Chanel No. ...
- Viktor&Rolf Flowerbomb.
- Le Labo Another 13.
- Gucci Bloom.
- Maison Francis Krukdjian Baccarat Rouge 540.
- Mugler Angel Eau de Parfum.
- Maison Margiela By the Fireplace.
- Maurice Roucel Frederic Malle Musc Ravageur.
Acqua di Colonia Santa Maria Novella
The oldest of their perfumes still in production is their Acqua di Colognia which was first bottled in 1533 by the Dominican friars that ran the apothecary. This perfume was created for Catherine de' Medici and the main notes are rose and citrus.
No. 1 Majesté impériale by Clive Christian Perfume: $215,000. Parfum VI by Gianni Vive Sulman: $89,000. 1 million, LUXE edition by Paco Rabanne: $57,000. Les Larmes Sacrées de Thebes by Baccarat: $6,800.
What is the number one selling fragrance in America? ›Boasting more than 10,000 almost perfect reviews on retailers such as Ulta Beauty, Sephora and Amazon, it's no surprise philosophy amazing grace eau de toilette ($52) ranks as the number-one selling fragrance in America. Even crazier, the brand reports one bottle of the fragrance sold every 39 seconds last year alone.
What is the world's favorite smell? ›A study conducted by researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and the University of Oxford has found that vanilla is the world's most universally-loved scent.
What is the number one fragrance in France? ›Chanel. Chanel is arguably the best French perfume brand on the market. It's proof that art and style often go hand in hand, producing a range of timeless fragrances that rightfully deserve a spot on every woman's dressing table.
What does Michelle Obama perfume smell like? ›Michelle Obama enjoys a scent a that is clean and fresh citrus fragrance. Her signature scent is a delicate blend of orange blossoms and citrus notes that dries down to a soft and powdery musk finish.
What perfume does Madonna wear? ›Madonna is well-known to be a lover of perfume and is reported to be a loyal wearer of Fracas and practically anything containing tuberose, including her very own (and rather good) fragrance 'Truth or Dare' which launched a few years back.
What is Kim Kardashian's favorite scent? ›
Gardenia in particular has been singled out as Kim Kardashian's favorite fragrance note, and that's what shines through most vividly in the heart of this perfume that Kim K loves.
What perfume did Freddie Mercury use? ›In the early 80s there were two standard colognes with him wherever he went, Aramis and Lagerfeld. He did try others occasionally but always reverted back to those. Later, when he was spending more time in Switzerland he discovered L'Eau Dynamisante by Clarins which he wore much of the time.
What perfume does Meryl Streep use? ›Meryl Streep – she is a fan of Guerlain Shalimar – no wonder, given the fact that both the perfume and the actress are exceptionally feminine and refined. Its mystifying sensuality has won not only Meryl Streep's heart…
What was Elvis Presley's favorite perfume? ›Lenel for Men is a fragrance with classic notes that has been around for decades. Lansky Bros. has sold Lenel since the 1950s and most notably, it was Elvis Presley's favorite cologne brand. The Lenel Natural Spray Cologne is 3.4 FL. OZ.
What is Adele's favorite perfume? ›The "Easy On Me" singer has worn Dior Hypnotic Poison ($72) since she was 15, she told Australia's 60 Minutes in 2015. The singer said she'd never endorse a perfume or make her own. "I wouldn't wear my own perfume.
What is Katy Perry's fragrance? ›Katy Perry's Indi by Katy Perry is a floral woody musk fragrance inspired by the one thing we all have in common: our individuality. Top notes are white tea, plum and bergamot; middle notes are cyclamen, lily-of-the valley and white cedar extract; base notes are amber, tonka bean and musk.
What perfume did Joan Crawford wear? ›Her favorite perfume was Estee Lauder Youth Dew from 1952. It has a rich spice and jasmine scent and a little goes a long way. Joan's other favorite perfume was Jungle Gardenia from 1932. It is full of jasmine and lily, it's very floral and not overpowering.
What scent is Kim Kardashian perfume? ›It starts out green grassy Gardenia. Then enters this creamy bubble gum Jazzy Jasmine. Only Kim K can come out with a sweet bubblegum Jasmine fragrance that enters and leaves you hanging for more.
What scent does Meghan Markle wear? ›What scent does Meghan Markle like to wear? The Duchess of Sussex reportedly loves Côte d'Azur by Oribe. This is an Amber Floral fragrance for women and men.
What is Rihanna's favorite scent? ›If you're looking for another, slightly sweeter option, Rihanna is also famously known to wear Kilian's Love, Don't Be Shy perfume. This delicate scent is a blend of orange blossom, vanilla absolute, and marshmallow, all suspended in a rich amber base.
What perfume does Marilyn Monroe? ›
Monroe was recounting an anecdote for Time magazine in which she said she was constantly asked what she wore to bed. In response, she answered “Chanel No. 5.” The iconic perfume has been around since 1921, if you can believe it.
What does Marilyn Monroe perfume smell like? ›Top notes are Sea Notes and Green Mandarin; middle note is Jasmine; base notes are Vanilla, Salt, Amber and Sandalwood. This fragrance was launched by Designer Fragrances (UK) in collaboration with Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products.
What was Marilyn Monroe's favorite lipstick? ›What lipstick did Marilyn Monroe wear? Not only did she put Chanel No. 5 on the map, but she also cemented her go-to red pout into pop culture history.