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Best Bridal Scents

With the popularity of such reality TV shows such as “Say Yes To The Dress” and “My Fair Wedding”, and “I Found the Gown”, it’s surprising that bridal consultants don’t spend more time with fragrance consultations for the big day. Christian Dior never let a client leave his Paris atelier without a final spritz of fragrance. And that was particularly true with brides for whom he designed couture wedding gowns. “A women isn’t fully dressed until she adds a spritz of perfume,” he used to say.

“Fragrance is the sense most closely associated with memory,” explains Celine Launay, L’Oreal’s Fine Fragrance Expert in Paris. “You can remember a special occasion or place through perfume. It helps us remember happy times.” And nowhere is this truer than on your wedding day. By selecting a fragrance and wearing it throughout the day, you’ll be imprinting the day into your memory. One sniff, even years later, and you’ll instantly remember your wedding day.

oscar de la renta bridal

Here are some pro tips to get the most from your bridal scent.

  1. White floral scents are most traditional. “When I think of a wedding fragrance, I immediately imagine a white floral bouquet,” says Marie Duron, Director of Fragrance Development at L’Oreal in New York. “Jasmine, orange flower and even white rose are in perfect taste for a wedding. Any fragrance with those notes in it will smell beautiful.”
  1. Match the fragrance to your dress style. When selecting a fragrance for your wedding, take a close look at your dress silhouette and design. If you chose a very minimal, streamlined dress, pick a scent with a similar mood. REVEAL Calvin Klein would complement a very simple dress. On the other hand, a heavily embellished gown with Swarovski Crystals and lace detailing needs a more outgoing fragrance. Look for a fragrance that has an exotic ingredient like Tiger Orchid or Passion Fruit Flower.

bridal gown

  1. Buy a new scent exclusively for your wedding day. Start your marriage with a clean slate – literally. It’s time to discard any fragrances you wore with former boyfriends. You starting a new life with your soon-to-be husband so you want a scent that reminds you of him…and only him. Pick out “your” scent as a new couple and save it until the morning of your wedding day. You’ll make olfactory memories that will last a lifetime.
  1. Choose a scent for your bridesmaids. There is nothing worse than walking down the aisle and following the scent trail of one of your bridesmaids. You don’t want someone wearing an overwhelming scent beside you as you exchange vows. By selecting a subtle scent that complements your fragrance, you’ll keep the focus on your signature perfume for the day.

bride

  1. Engrave your perfume bottles. One of the loveliest bridesmaid gifts you can give is an engraved bottle of fragrance. Brands like Burberry, Thierry Mugler and Calvin Klein often host engraving events in department stores. What a great way to mark you wedding day and say “thank you”.
  1. Hair mist. The latest trend in perfume is scented hair mist. Chanel and Dior both offer hair mists of their most popular fragrances. This is a great way to scent your wedding veil. Just don’t spray it directly on your dress or veil. Spray a cloud of scent and wave your veil through the mist of scent.
  1. Switch it up for the reception. Don’t be afraid to chance up your fragrance for the reception and dinner. You might want to add something with a little more energy and spirit to it. You don’t want something overly sexy. But an upbeat floral would be fun.
  1. Match your scent to your floral bouquet. I’m sure when Martha Stewart walked down the aisle she made sure her fragrance matched the flowers in her bridal bouquet. You can always make sure you include flowers that are featured in your perfume.

bridal party

  1. Honeymoon scent. I know of two brides who bought a completely different fragrance just for their honeymoon. This is particularly smart if you are traveling to a very warm, humid climate. Scent molecules expand when heated so the strength of your perfume will increase. Choose an eau de toilette or a cologne version.
  1. Spritz your pillowcase. And finally, spritz your pillow before retiring on your wedding night. You’ll remember the entire day and associate the scent with very happy memories.

Six chic wedding day scents to consider:

 

elie saabElie Saab Le Parfum

miss dior blooming bouquet

Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet

calvin klein eternityCalvin Klein Eternity

chloeChloe

bottega venetaBottega Veneta

ralph lauren romance

Ralph Lauren Romance

63 Comments

  • Reply
    Jean R
    August 18, 2015 at 7:39 pm

    I’ve been to weddings where as the bridesmaids walked down the aisle, their perfumes clashed. I agree with your concept of the perfumes complimenting the bride and not overpowering her fragrance.

  • Reply
    ANGELA PRINGLE
    August 18, 2015 at 5:01 pm

    LOVE IS IN THE AIR!!!!

  • Reply
    nancy reid
    August 18, 2015 at 1:07 pm

    One of the most beautiful days of your life deserves consideration on fragrance.

  • Reply
    Nicole Bertram
    August 18, 2015 at 9:07 am

    Dear Carrie, this story is so sweet! Ist wish you both a really good time! Good luck! ♥ Yours Nicole.

  • Reply
    Elena Bakogiannis
    August 18, 2015 at 3:03 am

    Lovely collection

  • Reply
    Vicky Kovacs Langston
    August 18, 2015 at 12:44 am

    What wonderful aromatic collection. Which one do you recommend, if it rains on your wedding day?

  • Reply
    Laura Nye
    August 17, 2015 at 11:55 am

    Amazing idea that I hadn’t thought of!
    Lovely collection!
    @lauranye570

  • Reply
    Patty Davis
    August 17, 2015 at 11:28 am

    This would be nice for me and my man to win because he is always talking about how good I smell and I want him to have good smelling fragrances too

  • Reply
    Gloria Walshver
    August 17, 2015 at 4:32 am

    Hope I win, love wearing fragrances.

  • Reply
    heba
    August 17, 2015 at 4:05 am

    Fragrance is the sense most closely associated with memory for sure

  • Reply
    Cynthia Smith
    August 16, 2015 at 9:16 pm

    Delicate fragrance for a special event is always most memorable, in the good way.

  • Reply
    Krystal gehrke
    August 16, 2015 at 7:45 pm

    I wore Marc Jacobs DAISY my wedding day. But my husband met me when I wore Bombshell Victorias Secret. I love wearing both on special occasions.

  • Reply
    Leanie
    August 16, 2015 at 7:06 pm

    Interesting article never thought about that!

  • Reply
    Gloria Walshver
    August 16, 2015 at 5:25 pm

    Like the article.

  • Reply
    Stephanie Brown
    August 16, 2015 at 1:23 pm

    That was a great and inspirational article

  • Reply
    Candace Robinson
    August 16, 2015 at 1:05 pm

    Thanks!

  • Reply
    Kam
    August 16, 2015 at 7:25 am

    Dreams do come true – if you believe. A beautiful scent makes sense – it sets the mood for a beautiful day.

  • Reply
    Carrie Talbot-Ashby
    August 16, 2015 at 5:48 am

    Completely reminds me of my engagement day! We were in Bruges, and on the cruise ship (The Oceana) over there my bloke Rich had bought me a perfume of my choosing, and I chose Thierry Muglers ‘Angel’ because my fella always called me his Angel, and the sweet was provocative and sexy, yet sweet & innocent too! And in Bruges Rich kept hammering on about a place we just had to go and take a look at.
    It was a beautiful Lake, the Minnewater, otherwise known as the Lake of Love. When Rich handed me the perfume he’d bought me the day before and asked me to put some on. I did, and then turned to him and saw he’d gone down on one knee, and asked me to marry him. After screaming yes about a million times (much to the amusement of passers by who must have thought I was trying to re-create a ‘When Harry Met Sally’ moment!!) Rich explained that he wanted me to be wearing the perfume the moment he proposed just so that in years to come I could use the scent and always be transported back to the lake of Love, to the moment he proposed to me.
    I really did pick an amazing man, with an amazing scent to remember an amazing day by! xxx

    • Reply
      Krystal gehrke
      August 16, 2015 at 7:44 pm

      Beautiful story!

  • Reply
    Muriel Michael
    August 16, 2015 at 12:32 am

    Enjoyed reading this article..good information.

  • Reply
    nickie
    August 16, 2015 at 12:28 am

    Great information. thank you!!

  • Reply
    misty Deibel
    August 15, 2015 at 6:53 pm

    Boggetta is something I wanna buy

  • Reply
    Cynthia Knisely
    August 15, 2015 at 6:48 pm

    I didn’t realize how important the fragrance you wear on your wedding day was until I read your reveiw. Yes I do remember things with the scent of that special moment.

  • Reply
    Meenal Rathore
    August 15, 2015 at 5:52 pm

    Beautiful brides and a very good article .. @Meenal_Rathore

  • Reply
    Sandra
    August 15, 2015 at 5:48 pm

    I really liked this article; will take all of this into consideration when/ if I get married…

  • Reply
    Abigail
    August 15, 2015 at 4:14 pm

    I found this article very interesting as I have never thought about any of this. Great ideas !

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