One thing I would happily add to our “magical DIY wedding under the stars” on my dad’s ranch? An entirely new-to-me fragrance to help, a decade later, step directly through a portal to that party. Bluebonnets and bonfire smoke set the mood then, and camping out during Texas wildflower season can’t (yet!) be bottled. If I’d chosen to add Frédéric Malle and perfumer Dominique Ropion’s award-winning Portrait of A Lady eau de parfum to my stroll down the grassy aisle, could I now be transported from the comfort of a sectional with a single spritz? Maybe, according to some experts.
“Scent can be a powerful trigger of certain memories,” says Matthew Robison, assistant professor in the department of psychology at the University of Notre Dame. “We remember events with all their associated features, not only the sensory experience, but also the emotions we were experiencing at the time,” he explains, adding that memory is naturally associative, building connections between these sensory experiences and the people, places, and events surrounding them.
Vogue’s Favorite Wedding Day Perfumes
Céline Roux, global head of fragrance for Jo Malone London, considers fragrance an essential beauty gesture: “Long after your wedding day has passed, your fragrance will gently bring the day back to life, allowing you to relive every cherished moment again and again,” Roux says. Jo Malone clients can book in-store consultations or consult the brand’s AI Scent Advisor to play matchmaker.
Like any fitting, the goal is to tap into your own “deeply personal” style, says Yvan Jacqueline, president of Parfums de Marly America. “It may sound simple, but the most important thing is to truly love the fragrance you choose.”
From scented love notes to thoughtful layering, experts share their thoughts on how to find your best wedding fragrance, below.
Try Something New
Sure, you may have a signature scent. “But if you want you and your spouse to remember the fragrance you wore on your wedding day, make it something unique, something that won’t be associated with you in general, or with other people or places,” says Dr. Robison of creating a stronger, more focused scent memory. Delphine Jelk, Guerlain master perfumer and creative director of fragrance, agrees. “Choosing a new fragrance can really amplify this new, beautiful moment of your life and make it a bit more memorable.”
Jelk suggests finding something “familiar in its essence” yet fresh to your senses, “like stepping into a dream version of yourself.” A newly developed fragrance with a combination of notes that appeal to you is a start. Vyrao’s latest release Ever 11, for example, is designed with neuroscience in mind to boost confidence via leather accord suggested for “self-assurance,” patchouli for “balance,” pink pepper for “self worth,” and peony for “emotional resilience.”
