How will you choose your wedding perfume, will you go the classic route with something elegant and timeless, or are you more attracted to a fragrance that niche and exclusive? Some couples like to pair their wedding day perfumes, opting for two scents that work harmoniously, but there is another way to find inspiration for the fragrance that will remind you of your big day for many years to come. Your bouquet flowers!
If you’ve looked into the meaning of different flowers for your wedding day bouquet, you will choose blooms that are deeply personal to you and your partner. So, why not apply the same method for choosing your wedding day scent? We spoke with Paul Benbow, National Trainer Educator and Luxury Fragrance Educator at Coty to find out more about the specialrelationship between flowers and wedding scents.
How Your Bouquet Flowers Will Enhance Your Wedding Perfume
Paul says a fragrance consultation should include your choice of flowers, not just from your bouquet but also the venue. WWe often ask brides what their floral arrangements are in their bouquet, the church/venue, at the wedding breakfast or the wedding reception. What are the gentlemen wearing in their buttonholes? Are there fragrances out there which carry those flowers? It’s a beautifully personal touch that the bride might overlook. And if you can match a fragrance with the flowers that remind her of her special day, it adds to that magical element where the fragrance is concerned.”
And it’s not just the bride who is looking for the perfect wedding perfume, Paul is seeing fragrance pairings extending to the entire wedding party to create a harmonious atmosphere of scent. “There are fragrances out there which will complement not just the bride, but also the bridesmaids and mother of the bride or groom. Then there’s a whole story being told within the fragrances and when any of those people smell any of those scents, it should trigger happy memories,” he adds.
A wedding bouquet is not just a pretty accessory for your big day. The use of symbolic flowers is a tradition that’s thousands of years old, known as floriography – the language of flowers. In the Victorian era especially, the special meaning of different flowers through their type, colour and quantity was a code to send a secret message. For example, if you sent a single red rose to a crush, your message is pretty clear. If they sent you back a yellow carnation then they want to keep you firmly in the friend zone. Here are some of the most popular bridal flowers and what each of them represents.
The Rose is the Flower of Queens, the romantic Rose symbolises love, beauty and passion
Hydrangea is available in a whole host of white, pastel blue and pink tones, the dramatic Hydrandgea symbolises love and sincere emotions.
A wonderful summer bloom, peonies in a wedding bouquet represent prosperity and good fortune.
Lush white florals with a heavenly scent, gardenias stand for purity, refinement and gentleness
Bold blue and purple Irises represent faith, hope and wisdom in floriography.
Romantic jasmine symbolises sensuality, grace and elegance – a very apt wedding flower choice!
Wedding Scent Suggestions Based On Your Bouquet
Rose – Prada Infusion De Rose Eau de Parfum, €169.50/100ml
A very modern rose, Prada Infusion De Rose Eau de Parfum has two rose varieties, Turkish and Bulgarian, at the top followed by popular orange blossom and mandarin. Feminine and classic, this is a perfect wedding scent for the sophisticated bride.
Rose – Van Cleef & Arpels Rose Rouge Eau de Parfum, €188/75ml
Rose Rouge is a sweet and jammy juice with blackcurrant absolute and Turkish Rose essence at the top. It has an unexpected gourmand note of cocoa absolute and the dry-down is patchouli and vetiver. A sexier wedding scent, and a joyous one at that.
Hydrangea – Byredo Gypsy Water Eau de Parfum, €240/100ml
Gypsy Water Eau de Parfum has become a signature scent for so many and it’s a hugely popular wedding scent. Unisex, it could be worn by both newlyweds or as a solo scent. It has uplifting notes of lemon, juniper and pine needles. Hints of vanilla and sandalwood provide that comforting and powdery dry down people adore in scent.
Hydrangea – Floral Street Wonderland Peony Eau de Parfum, €99/50ml
Floral Street’s Wonderland Peony Eau de Parfum has a host of pretty florals in its bouquet, from peonies to violets and hydrangea. Pink berries inject a little sweetness and cedarwood adds some depth. Vetiver in the dry down gives a hint of hazelnut to this dreamy essence.
Peony – Acqua Di Parma Peonia Nobilis Eau de Parfum, €270/100ml
You will feel regal on your big day if Peonia Nibilis from Acqua Di Parma is your wedding scent. The main accords in this heady blend from perfumer François Demachy are peony, Turkish Rose, raspberry, patchouli, musk, freesia and amber. A wedding day fragrance for a Queen, for sure.
Peony – Clinique My Happy Peony Picnic Eau de Parfum, €88/100ml
Happy, infectious and romantic, Clinique’s My Happy Peony Picnic is a cheery crowd pleaser. Fruit features heavily here with strawberry, plum, blackcurrant blossom and passionfruit alongside peony and rose. The dry down here is sublime – vanilla, cedarwood and amber. For the happiest day of your life, this sounds like the perfect wedding scent.
Gardenia – Jo Loves Golden Gardenia Eau de Toilette, €142/100ml
Jo Malone’s Jo Loves fragrance collection includes this hidden gem. Golden Gardenia uses the heady petals of the gardenia flower to capture a pure essence of creamy sweetness. The addition of spicy suede cardamom, incense and woody elemi and grey woods create a fresh and vibrant scent. Even the bottle looks special, a fragrance to remember forever.
Gardenia – Armani Privé Gardénia Antigua Eau de Toilette, €146/50ml
The main accords in this homage to Antigua Island by Giorgio Armani are lush and tropical white and yellow florals. A celebration of the designer’s safe haven, the joyous scent opens with sunny mandarin and neroli before the powdery facets of gardenia, jasmine and ylang-ylang enter the equation. These Caribbean island flowers are sunshine in a bottle, and the musk, amber and patchouli base notes provide a warm and spicy finish.
Iris – Lancôme La Vie Est Belle Eau de Parfum, €143.50/100ml
The humble iris was a special request from Julia Roberts when La Vie Est Belle was being created by master perfumers Dominique Ropion, Olivier Polge and Anne Flipo. The A-lister’s favourite flower, the iris stars as the heart note after an opening duo of blackcurrant and pear. Jasmine and orange blossom are heart florals and the dry down is a sweet and spicy treat – praline, vanilla, Tonka Bean and patchouli.
Iris – Parfums De Marly Palatine Eau de Parfum, €270/75ml
With its iris-coloured bottle, Palatine from Parfums De Marly is a floral woody musk fragrance. Launched in 2024, the blend opens with pear, mandarin and bergamot before the heart of iris, violet and lavender emerge. The base notes of patchouli, musk, vanilla and sandalwood create a woody and cosy finale. A memorable and sophisticated wedding scent.
Jasmine – Gucci Flora Gorgeous Jasmine For Her Eau de Parfum, €164/100ml
Gucci’s Flora fragrances are hugely popular with brides. Gorgeous Jasmine was created by master perfumer Alberto Morillas, an industry icon. The top notes of Italian mandarin, bergamot and black pepper are invigorating, and at the heart jasmine, Jasmine Sambac, magnolia and Damask Rose create a harmony of florals. To finish, Australian sandalwood, benzoin and patchouli add a creamy and mysterious dry down.
Jasmine – Creed Wind Flowers Eau de Parfum, €294/75ml
An Indian jasmine is at the heart of this tribute to this heady feminine scent by Oliver Creed. The perfume brand run by seven generations of the Creed family is a niche and exclusive collection, so this jasmine fragrance will be one to remember and cherish for years to come. The top notes of jasmine, orange blossom and peach lead the way for Jasmine Sambac, tuberose absolute and Rose de Mai. The final flourish of orris, musk and sandalwood are sweetened with a touch of praline. Delicious!
