Just like every other bride, Princess Diana put a lot of thought into finding her perfect wedding day scent. Choosing the right perfume is entirely personal. Some brides go with a classic like Chanel, Dior, or Chloe, and others may look for a niche scent, something they know no one else will be wearing.
Princess Diana took the latter road, finding a complex perfume that no one knew about at the time. It was revealed years later that it was an exclusive scent from a French brand that catered to royalty and nobility.
The company marked its 250th birthday in 2025, and to celebrate, it has released a very special limited-edition version of Princess Diana’s wedding-day scent. But when she wore on that day in 1981, it didn’t exactly go to plan. Let’s dive into what happened…
Princess Diana’s Wedding Day Disaster
Her dress featuring a 25-foot train and designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, was one of fashion’s biggest secrets of all time. Only Kate Middleton or Meghan Markle’s wedding dresses have matched that level of attention, but back in 1981, all eyes were on Lady Diana Spencer as she wed the future King of England.
Like most brides, Princess Diana gave her wedding day look a final flourish with a last spritz of perfume. Unfortunately, she ended up spilling it all over her dress. Not great when you have millions tuning in to see you get married. But by carefully adjusting the folds of her voluminous ivory silk and taffeta gown, she succeeded in concealing the stain from the public perfectly.
The Secret Scent Reveal
It wasn’t revealed until years later that she had been concealing a perfume stain on the dress, and neither the scent’s name nor its brand was disclosed staying a secret for a long time. But now it’s celebrating its 250th anniversary with a limited-edition launch, and it’s worth taking a look at the stunning new bottle design.
Princess Diana’s wedding day perfume was none other than Quelques Fleurs L’Originale, an eau de parfum by the French brand Houbigant. It translates in English to ‘a few flowers’, and but that name really belies the complexity of the beautiful fragrance.
The brand was launched in 1775 and initially sold gloves, bridal bouquets, and perfumes. It sold scents to the likes of Napoleon, Marie Antoinette, and Queen Victoria, and it later launched Quelques Fleurs in 1912. Sixty-nine years and a few reformulations later, Princess Diana joined their impressive roster of devotees and wore the perfume on her wedding day.
A Special Celebration of 250 Years
As Houbigant celebrates its 250th anniversary in 2025, its most famous fragrance underwent a makeover to commemorate the occasion. Gone is its original glass bottle; instead, it is housed in a chic gold flacon with an embossed symbol on the front and a cap adorned with a filigree effect.
The original scent is available for purchase online and in select stores, but this limited-edition collector’s version is exclusively on sale at select locations in London and Paris. Irish shoppers can purchase it directly from the brand’s website. The original is also available to purchase here.
A 100ml bottle costs €190, which is pretty decent considering its heritage and royal connections. But what does it smell like? Is it fit for a princess?
The Famous Fragrance Notes
The scent smells quite modern despite its age and complexity – just take a look at the notes. At the top, notes of green, orange blossom, tarragon, bergamot, lemon, and citrus are fresh and zesty.
The heart notes that follow are pretty and sensual: lilac, jasmine, lily-of-the-valley, carnation, rose, tuberose, ylang-ylang, violet, heliotrope, iris, orris root, and orchid.
The dry-down is heavenly. It includes oakmoss, honey, musk, sandalwood, amber, vanilla, and tonka bean. A fragrance fine enough for royalty and nobles, and if Princess Diana was a fan, it must be a very special kind of scent.
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