What perfume does Princess Kate wear?
Bois de Jasmin
Perfume Reviews and Thoughts on All Topics Fragrance Related
April 30, 2011
Perfume for a Princess : White Gardenia Petals by Illuminum
I thought that I could care less about the royal wedding, yet I woke up early on Friday to see the pictures of the dress and by the end of the day, I knew all of the details of the ceremony and had strong opinions on random things, from Princess Beatrice’s hat to Sally Bercow’s cleavage. Ok, I admit it, the wedding was enjoyable. I loved it all—the dress, the jewelry, the bouquet, Prince’s red uniform!
Later that day I learned via Basenotes that Kate Middleton (now, the Duchess of Cambridge) wore White Gardenia Petals by Illuminum , the creation of British perfumer Michael Boadi. It is described as, «As fragrant as a bouquet of white flowers, quivering in the gentle April breeze, this is a delicate and nuanced scent. The top note of stately gardenia evokes classicism, whilst heart notes of ylang ylang, muguet and jasmine bring a trio of frivolous white flowers into play. Amber wood underscores this light, fresh bouquet, adding depth and deep rooted tradition.»
For those who are curious, White Gardenia Petals is available via Roullier White for 70 British pounds, 50ml.
45 Comments
I knew I would love the wedding and luckily didn’t have to wake up early. 🙂
I loved it all — the dress, the ceremony, the way they look together and I believe they are truly in love. And I think Kate is really beautiful. 🙂
I’m addcited to romance novel (especially historical and set in England) so this seemed like one of my love stories come to life. So enjoyable.
Thank you for the perfume info — I wondered what she wore and knew there was no chance I’d guess it, even if I tried.
Thank you for the information, I feel mighty stupid, but I am really curious about that perfume. I might be a little starstruck, even at my ripe, old age. 😉
I got up at 5am to watch the wedding, just like my father got up to watch Princess Diana’s wedding 30 years ago! It’s a family tradition. We are all crazy anglophiles. I nearly hyperventilated when I was Kate. I can’t imagine a more perfect dress for her! And the tiara! And of course, her prince! All stunning. Now I am dying to try that perfume. I’m not very fond of gardenia perfumes but I like the idea of an ylang-jasmine-muguet accord.
Um, that should be «when I SAW Kate.» What a typo!
She looked absolutely beautiful, the whole wedding, although watched by billions of people,still managed to feel like a private ceremony, it was remarkable. If its the same Michael Boadi associated with Boadicea the Victorious fragrance line, im sure its beautifully done, and at a better price (At Henri Bendel’s the 50 mL in the Boadicea Line retail for $265.00),and I am a sucker for white florals, so this one has shot to the top of the must try list =)
Mmmmm, sounds like a lovely scent — must try!
I love weddings (hey, my own was a three day long affair, what can I say!) And the grander the wedding, the more vicarious fun one can have.
I grew up on Agatha Christie and Jane Austin, so I already have a strong predilection for the whole thing. Plus, I’ve lived and worked in London, which still makes me feel connected to the place and culture, even though the last time I visited was a few years ago.
I loved the elegant simplicity of her dress, which really reminded me of Grace Kelly’s gown.
Our family, in the best of Russian traditions, exhibits strong anglo- and francophilia. We alternate!
I love the veil and the tiara too. So regal and elegant!
You know, I felt the same way too. I loved the way they would glance at each other throughout the ceremony, so sweet.
And yes, it is Michael Boadi of Boadicea the Victorious.
It certainly does sound lovely!
I had to smile when reading the
description. I am not sure I want
my gardenia to evoke classicism nor
my white flowers to be considered
frivolous.
A shout out:
Does anyone want to split the ridiculous $58.41 shipping charge for a bottle of an Illuminum fragrance?
It is second day so you would get it fairly quickly.
If interested, please let me know.
I had no interest in the wedding either, but it was a graceful, elegant event. Kate was lovely, as were her sister and brother. Gardenias are not favorites of mine, but I can see how that perfume was a nice compliment to Kate yesterday.
Lori, that made me chuckle as well. I generally avoid frivolous, although if there is one aspect of my life where I am ok with some frivolity, perfume is it! 🙂
Good idea! Perhaps, others will respond, because the shipping fee is very high.
I have no idea how it smells, but I can imagine that it has an understated elegance about it, if I can judge by Kate’s whole look.
Thank you for the info on Kate’s perfume. That was the one detail that I really wanted to know.
The best weddings are those where you feel the bride and groom truly love and like each other, are grounded in reality and have a good chance of a long marriage. This was one of those weddings and it was wonderful to watch especially with all the added ceremony, so elegant. It was also so much fun to watch the interchange between the two of them.
I love gardenias and it thrills me that she would have picked such a fragrance.
Very true, it is so heartening to observe two people being so in tune with each other!
I watched the Charles and Di wedding with my mother, getting up very early to do so. I was slightly than Di was at that time and my mother was younger than I am now.
I asked my mother if she wanted to watch the Wills/Kate affair and she said yes; we made plans that I would drive to her house at 4 AM and let myself in and turn on the television.
The day before the event, my mother cancelled the plan, saying that she’d never have agreed to get up at such an early for. of all things, a royal wedding.
My mother has Alzheimer’s. She changed her mind again and over I went at 4 AM, to be greeted by my father, who watched the first 90 minutes of broadcast with me. Mother was irritated by the early hour. As I watched Kate get into her car, I said, I bet she’s wearing something with gardenia.
Dad shrugged. What fragrance someone was wearing wouldn’t interest him; he was more interested in the politics of who was there and who was not and who perhaps had taken a wee nip before arriving at the Abbey.
To me, though, the whole bridal party, the bride, her sister, her darling attendants, and her bouquet, spelled gardenia. It was all that creamy white, with Pippa’s dress being the exact shade of the gardenias I have on my patio.
I watched the royal wedding from start to finish but had no idea which perfume she wore. Thanks for sharing!
Man would I love to be Michael Boadi right about now.
The ceremony was broadcast live from pm5:30 to pm10:00 on the public broadcasting and it was a national holiday! I enjoyed everything including big hats everywhere 🙂
Thank you for info on her fragrance. I will tell it to my friends 🙂
We are in the middle of long holiday, so called The Golden Week, now.
Kaori
You are so right about Pippa’s dress being the shade of gardenia petals! I am looking at my own blooming gardenia right now, and it is true—creamy white, with a hint of ivory.
I am curious to smell White Gardenia Petals!
You are welcome! We recorded it and then watched it later. It was so enjoyable.
Oh, I can understand that! 🙂
Enjoy your holiday, dear Kaori! I was thinking of you, because last week I made a trip to our little «Japantown» (an area with Japanese stores, etc.) to buy some books. I ended up with several cookbooks by Harumi Kurihara, who always inspires me. Once I am back home next week, I will be exploring the Japanese flavors.
I was fortunate to live in the correct country, and my viewing started at a leisurely 10.30am. : — )
I had been very curious about the scent Kate wore because of all the hype about these scents supposedly commissioned for the royal couple, which turned out to be just that — hype. I caught up with the news late on Friday night on the site British Beauty Blogger — she is a beauty journalist and claimed to have three separate sources, so seemed like the voice of authority!
I am going to call the store on Tuesday and see if they have any samples — if need be, I will offer to send down my decanting kit, as I successfully did once with Ormonde Jayne when they ran out of their own samples!
Thank you so much for confirming. I heard so many rumors that at one point I simply stopped paying attention.
Would love to read your thoughts on this perfume!
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
Though I was in the correct time zone, I must admit my interest in the contemporary marriage rituals of feudal families couldn’t be fainter. I’m romantic, but I guess translating Tina Brown’s bio of Diana was just about all I could take from the Windsors in a lifetime!
And I’ve steered as far as I could from anything concocted for Michael Boadi ever since I was sent the first samples. They are now insulated and kept for reference to remind me of what a truly awful perfume house is like. Perhaps Aluminium has a different artistic direction, but clearly their copywriter should lay off the sherry. Since when have jasmine, ylang-ylang and muguet been «frivolous»?
If there was a British house to support, it really should have been Ormonde Jayne, who’s got any number of fragrances that would suit a bride, but Linda’s not the type who’ll push for hype.
I recall thinking «capricious» was an odd descriptor for this perfume on their website, though I haven’t come across the «frivolous» reference yet. I will reserve judgement on White Gardenia Petals until I have smelt it. I find it hard to imagine that, given Kate M’s discerning taste in other matters: dress, hair, make up, Dior Dune(!), she would get things horribly wrong when it came to her wedding scent?
Harumi Kurihara’s books are very popular among people of all ages. Her recipes are usually healthy, less salt and oil, with a bit of vinegar or fresh herbs. I have a few books of her. Enjoy!
Kaori
I must be the only person in the world who didn’t like Kate’s dress! I thought it was dowdy, retro, in an unappealing way,nun-like and it put me creepily in mind of a virgin about to be sacrificed, even though we all know that is not at all the case! There was something medieval about it, without being even slightly Goth, which would have been more amusing.It reminded me of the dress Grace Kelly wore to marry the Prince of Monaco back in the 1950s and we really didn’t need to evoke the ghost of another tragic princess; Diana’s memory was enough. Because Kate is such a tall, willowy woman, I was hoping for the sleek, chic simplicity of a bias-cut satin dress like the one Carolyn Bessette wore when she married JFK, Jr. That was truly contemporay and chic, and supremely flattering to a tall slender woman with a model’s bod. But, it sounds as if she smelled ravishing, and her prince seems to love her a lot so I wish them all and only the best. PS- I am swooning in jealousy over the vintage Aston-Martin convertibleI I wish my Daddy had one to lend me!
Thank you! I already tried her recipe for broccoli with sesame sauce, which was delicious.
You are right, it recalled Grace Kelly’s dress for me as well. Since I loved that look, I thought that it was a great choice, but I can see how others might find it boring.
Perversely, I am now even more curious to try those fragrances! 🙂
My review is in!
Great, I am off to read it!
The wedding and Kate’s dress and hair exceeded my expectations, which I suppose were not all that high. Touches like the trees in Westminster Abbey were beautiful and tasteful. Their vows were so uplifting. I think it felt like a smaller wedding because they truly love each other. I’d like to try the perfume she wore.
That’s how it seemed to me too—a grand wedding, and yet very intimate. It was lovely, all in all.
Like some of the other ladies I too watched Princess Diana’s wedding to Charles with my mom. Now I had the opportunity to watch Wills & Katherine’s wedding with my daughter, and she is about the same age as I was then. We made an occasion of it, we are on the west coast so we got up at 12:45 and prepared our our Earl Grey and heated up our scones. And watched until 4:00 our time, when our eyelids just started getting too heavy and went to bed for a few hours. We later caught up on the moments we missed via DVR. We did wonder what perfume she was wearing. So this was a great read. Thank you for sharing your stories and thoughts. really enjoyed them!
Posted by: angiejmail@yahoo.com | May 06, 2011 at 16:52
Thank you for sharing your thoughts as well! Reading this thread was such a pleasure for me too.
My mom and I recorded the wedding so that we could watch it at a more comfortable hour. It was so enjoyable.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
I was sure I would have been informed about the Lady’s scent of «the day». Did anyone mention/smell/hear the Prince’s perfume?
Posted by: louiza koulas | May 07, 2011 at 07:38
The comments to this entry are closed.
What do the royals smell like? King Charles, Princess Kate, Prince William & Co’s favourite scents
The royal family’s signature perfumes and colognes are the epitome of regality
Updated on 12 Jan 2023, 09:12 GMT
Georgia Brown Lifestyle Writer London
There’s something about a perfectly-paired perfume that makes its wearer extremely hard to forget. In the words of Coco Chanel: «No elegance is possible without perfume. It is the unseen, unforgettable, ultimate accessory.»
When we think of the best-dressed royals, we think of their sartorial excellence, their immaculate hair and makeup and their enviable regal glow. But what scents are the royals wearing? From the Princess of Wales to King Charles III, the Duchess of Sussex and even the late Queen Elizabeth II, discover exactly what perfumes and colognes the royals opt for to create that everlasting impact.
WATCH: 100 years of royal beauty
According to Celebrity Fragrance Guide, the former Princess of Wales had a few favourites that she often spritzed — and one of them was Penhaligon’s Bluebell , which you can still buy today. Priced at around £385 for a 100ml bottle, the fresh and fruity fragrance has citrus headnotes, mixed in with essences of Lily of the Valley, jasmine and rose, as well as a drop of clove and cinnamon.
King Charles
Smells like: Florals, citrus, bergamot
Prince Harry writes of his father’s cologne in his book Spare, revealing that King Charles would «slather the stuff on his cheeks, his neck, his shirt. Flowery with a hit of something harsh, like pepper or gunpowder, it was made in Paris.» It is thought His Majesty wears Dior’s Eau Sauvage after-shave, a masculine yet elegant fragrance which retails for around £90 for 100ml.
DIOR Eau Sauvage, £100, John Lewis
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Princess Kate
Smells like: A fresh, crisp garden oasis, orange blossom, water lily
If the Princess of Wales’ signature scent is anything like her sartorial prowess, there’s no doubt it’s a fragrance that promises to be unforgettable. Those who have seen the future Queen whilst she’s off duty have reportedly shared that Kate smells incredible, like berries and summer fruits — very clean, crisp smells. The royal’s go-to-perfume in question is believed to be Jo Malone’s Orange Blossom cologne. She’s said to love it so much that she reportedly fragranced her wedding with the scent.
Prince William
Smells like: Lemon, lavender and pine
Word has it that the Prince of Wales smells sharp and zesty, with hints of peppercorn and pine, thanks to Penhaligon’s Blenheim Bouquet. Though it’s not confirmed which cologne the father-of-three is partial to, Penhaligon’s is certainly fit for a future King — the eau de toilette was originally commissioned for the ninth Duke of Marlborough in 1902.
The prince’s rumoured scent is also from the same brand as his late mother’s, which makes it all the more special.
Queen Elizabeth II
Smelled like: ‘A fine rose bush after a soft summer rain’
Floris London was known to be the late Queen’s go-to perfume brand, with rumours that she opted for the signature White Rose scent. As the only perfume brand to be granted a royal warrant from the Queen, Floris London definitely has the royal seal of approval.
Not only that, both Her Majesty and Meghan Markle wore scents by the brand on their wedding days — and the brand even has a special scent in honour of the monarch, which was released in celebration of her Platinum Jubilee, marking her 70 years on the throne.
Floris London White Rose, £80, John Lewis
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Duchess of Sussex
Smells like: Citrus, blackcurrant, delicate jasmine and sage
The Duchess of Sussex has been incredibly open in the past about her love for the perfect feminine fragrance. She previously told The Express: «Fragrance is my favourite thing. So much so that if I leave the house and I don’t put any on, I’ll turn around and go back home.»
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What perfume does Princess Kate wear?
The Duchess of Cambridge is famed for doing her own makeup (even on her wedding day!). Below is a list of the products you’ll find in Kate’s beauty bag, plus the skincare and haircare products she uses to create her flawless complexion!
Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Even Finish Foundation
Kate’s fresh and glowing complexion comes courtesy of beauty brand Bobbi Brown, who revealed that Kate is a big fan.
They released a statement after the Royal Wedding saying one of their make-up artists «provided make-up artistry assistance to members of the bridal party».
The Duchess applies Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Even Finish Foundation to give her skin a flawless cover. It has a lovely matte texture without looking cakey. This natural-looking foundation is super-hydrating and provides medium-to-full coverage, complete with SPF15.
Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat Concealer
Like many models, makeup artists, celebrities, and women everywhere, Kate likes to use the award-winning Yves Saint Laurent TOUCHE ÉCLAT concealer to achieve her bright-eyed look.
The iconic gold pen manages to erase any signs of fatigue, and fades out imperfections.
Urban Decay Naked Eyeshadow Palette
Kate’s perfectly shadowed eyes are her defining facial feature. According to a source close to the Duchess, she uses Urban Decay’s NAKED Palette to create her trademark smoky eyes.
The NAKED Palette is a product loved by make-up artists all over the world, and one palette is sold every five seconds globally. It contains 12 matte and shimmering pigments and has a combination for every occasion from day to night.
To copy the Duchess’ signature look, cover your lids in ‘Toasted’ — Catherine’s all-time favourite shade and dust with ‘Hustle’ along the upper and lower lash-line.
Available at these leading retailers:
Urban Decay £39.50 | Amazon US$64.99
Lancôme Artliner Eyeliner
To create her perfectly defined eyes, Kate reportedly uses Lancôme’s Artliner pen.
The ‘Artliner’ is akin to a felt tip and its fast-drying properties, promises never to smudge. Kate sweeps the liquid liner along her top and bottom lash line.
Available at these leading retailers:
Nordstrom US$30.50 | John Lewis £25
Lancôme Hypnôse Mascara
The Duchess completes her eyes and elongates her lashes with Lancome’s Hynpose Mascara.
With its 1,000 sensor bristles, the brush can increase lash volume up to 6 times with each sweep. With results like this, it’s no wonder Lancome’s Hynpose Mascara found its way into Catherine’s beauty bag!
Bobbi Brown Dark Brow Kit
Kate’s deep-set eyes are beautifully framed by her full eyebrows.
She uses the Bobbi Brown Dark Brow Kit to subtly fill in her brows to achieve a well-groomed appearance and a more polished look.
This kit features two eyeshadow shades—Saddle and Mahogany— to define and fill in the brows, a two-sided mirror (with one side magnified) plus a mini Tweezer and Brow Brush.
Available at these leading retailers:
Bobby Brown US$52 | John Lewis £32 | Myer $78
Bobbi Brown Lip Color
Kate prefers to balance her dark eye makeup with a neutral lip colour. She wears the Bobbi Brown Sandwashed Pink Lipstick with a layer of Bobbi Brown Sheer Color lip gloss.
This lipstick is the bestseller that started it all for Bobbi Brown — Bobbi’s creamy, semi-matte lipstick was the first formula to launch (and sold out instantly). Woman love it because it offers long-lasting full-coverage color that is comfortable to wear all day long.
Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector Lip Gloss
It is a softly textured lip gel with a deliciously sweet scent and 3D shimmer. It’s sheer, but shaded enough to wear alone or to complement your favorite lip shade.
Bobbi Brown Blush
Kate likes to highlight her killer cheekbones with Bobbi Brown Blush in pale pink.
The silky powder blush glides on smoothly and offers a matte finish with long-lasting wear. The Blush shades on offer perfectly mimic the color that your cheeks turn when you’re naturally flushed.
Available at these leading retailers:
Nordstrom US$33 | John Lewis £19 | Myer AU$49
Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Compact
To enhance her overall glow, Kate applies a bronzer. She prefers the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Compact. It’s shimmering, brush-on powder creates a natural deep, bronzy glow.
Nail Polish
On the day of her wedding, it was revealed that Kate Middleton had her nails done by manicurist Marina Sandoval who used a mix of Bourjois So Laque Nail Enamel in Rose Lounge and Essie Nail Polish in Allure.
Bourjois So Laque has been discountinued but some stock is available on eBay.
Essie is available from Amazon.
Skin-fix Hand Repair Cream
The Duchess of Cambridge was gifted Skin-fix Hand Repair Cream from the Canadian Ambassador the last time that she and Prince William visited the country.
Suitable for all skin types, the steroid-free hand cream is good for dry or eczema- prone skin and has won awards in the U.S.
Available from these leading retailers:
Amazon | Sephora
Beuti Skincare Beauty Sleep Elixir
In 2016 the Duchess of Cambridge was gifted with a few bottles of this natural face oil by Beuti Skincare. The small independent British beauty brand revealed to The Telegraph that their signature Beauty Sleep Elixer now has pride of place on Kate’s dressing table.
The face oil is fortified with fourteen precious plant oils, including Camellia, Lavender, Geranium and Neroli, the fast-absorbing, multi-beneficial elixir promotes the skin’s natural barrier function, whilst renewing and rejuvenating to restore a healthy glow.
Available at these leading retailers:
Beuti Skincare (UK) | Amazon
Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil
During her second pregnancy it was reported that the Duchess of Cambridge was using Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil.
In addition to being an anti-aging booster, rosehip oil also contains essential fatty acids that hydrates the skin and reduces inflammation which can help prevent stretch marks. This all-natural rosehip oil is a popular choice of pregnant women around the globe.
Nivea Visage Pure & Natural Moisturising Day Cream
In 2011, Duchess Kate was seen stocking up on the Nivea Visage Pure & Natural Moisturising Day Cream at her local Boots store in London’s affluent Chelsea area.
The budget-friendly moisturising day cream contains effective, organically grown natural ingredients.
Available from these leading retailers:
Amazon US$12.99 | Chemist Warehouse AU$12.99
Karin Herzog Skincare
In 2010 the Daily Mail reported that Kate Middleton uses a range of products from Karin Herzog. They include the Oxygen Face cream, Professional Cleansing gel and Vita-a-Kombi face cream.
Karin Herzog is a cutting edge skin care line, formulated with stabilized oxygen by world renowned scientist Dr Paul Herzog. The oxygenated creams are suitable for all skin types — even the most sensitive.
Available at these leading retailers:
Karin Herzog (global) | Amazon
Illuminum White Gardenia Petals Perfume
Kate Middleton sought a boutique perfume house to find the perfect scent for her wedding. She wore White Gardenia Petals by Illuminum. The UK based perfumery was launched only months prior to the royal wedding. Its founder Michael Boadi describes the scent and gives an insight into why Kate may have chose it:
«White Gardenia Petals is a perfect choice that really suits the charming and feminine Kate, her beautiful wedding dress and her grace. The notes of this fragrance highlight the refined and very fresh breeze of gardenia, which is a guiding scent of the composition. Unpretentious gardenia is embellished in the heart with a fine trace of coconut, ylang-ylang, jasmine and lily of the valley, laid on the base of amber wood.»
Available at Amazon
Kerastase Haircare
When Kate Middleton visits the Richard Ward hair salon in London she reportedly gets a conditioning treatments called Kerastase Rituals to keep her hair shiny and healthy. In between salon visits she reportedly uses Kerastase ‘Nutritive’ shampoo and conditioner formulated for dry hair at home.
Available at these leading retailers:
Amazon (US) | Adore Beauty (Australia)
