Love Stories: Tales Of Fabulous Wedding Day Fragrances
Friends of Bazaar recall falling under the spell of the fragrance they chose as ‘the one’
Our sense of smell has the magical power to trigger memories and transport us back to treasured moments in time. It is for that reason that the choice of wedding fragrance is so important. Here, Bazaar Bride’s Nina Catt discovers the precious perfumes that six brides hold so dearly to their hearts.
SUNDAY RILEY
Founder, CEO & product formulator, Sunday Riley
“On my wedding day I wore Absolue Pour le Matin by Maison Francis Kurkdjian Paris. I’ve always found this fragrance so joyful and brightly balanced between citrus and floral. It feels like a true skin scent to me. Subtle and hopeful. I thought it was perfect for a wedding held in the Texas summer – which means high heat and humidity! I still wear it today and Francis Kurkdjian is still my favourite fragrance house.”
Sunday Riley. Absolue Pour le Matin EDP,Dhs785, Maison Francis Kurkdjian Paris
NINA UBHI
Make-up artist and founder of Nina Ubhi Cosmetics
“I’ve always been a lover of fragrance, I don’t feel completely ready if I haven’t applied perfume. I’m also very fussy with which scents I feel suit me, so selecting a fragrance for my wedding day was an important task because I wanted the Eau de Parfum, body wash, body lotion… basically the works! Narciso Rodriguez for her Eau de Parfum was my choice for my big day, and it’s still one of my favourite scents of all time. I typically lean more towards slightly masculine, woody scents but I wanted something that still had a subtle hint of femininity to it, and I knew Narciso was the one as soon as I tried it. I loved how it still had all my favourite notes, but had an air of femininity to it. Whenever I wear it, it brings back good memories. I have so many bottles of perfume, I honestly don’t have enough room for them. Yet, every so often when I spray Narciso Rodriguez, it makes me fall in love with it all over again.”
Nina Ubhi. For Her EDP, Dhs585, Narciso Rodriguez
CAROLINE GASPARD
Founder, Akillis
“My wedding was one of the best days of my life, so it was important for me to wear something that defined my personality best. Gucci Eau de Parfum II was the fragrance I chose, a limited-edition scent that I instantly fell for because the smell is so unique, and settled perfectly on my skin. I loved the idea of wearing a perfume that was limited edition and I still wear it today because before it sold out, I purchased many bottles!”
Caroline Gaspard. Eau de Parfum II EDP, discontinued limited edition, Gucci
MIRIAM ABADI
Founder, Tru & Beyond
“While growing up, a bottle of Chanel N°5 was always on my mother’s vanity desk. I would often sneak into her bedroom and secretly use it. It was like opening a flacon of wonders. Throughout my life, Chanel N°5 has always been a part of my perfume collection, especially because its scent brought back memories of serenity and happiness. So of course, it was the perfume that I chose for my wedding day. I love its composition around May rose and jasmine, featuring bright citrus top notes. It also has a smooth touch of Bourbon vanilla and leaves an incredibly beautiful scent trail.”
Miriam Abadi. N°5 EDP, Dhs665, Chanel
HADEEL ALMUJAHED
Executive florist, Fine Blooms
“My husband gifted me Tom Ford’s Oud Wood before our wedding. It is a blend of amber, agarwood, and fresh spices. For me, the scent of a perfume is a way of associating it with special moments and occasions, captured in a beautiful bottle – which is why I used this fragrance on my wedding day so I can re-live the precious memories whenever I use it again. I am still in love with it. It takes me back to the beautiful old days and it feels like a hug from my husband.”
Hadeel Almujahed. Oud Wood EDP, Dhs1,485, Tom Ford
SARA CAVAZZA FACCHINI
Creative director, Genny
“On my wedding day, I wore an essence that I consider special because of the purity of its composition. An essence in oil purchased in Dubai in an olfactory laboratory in Madinat Souk, which lived on the notes of oud and roses. The rose is the symbol of love and the instrument of its thousand manifestations. I chose to wear it on that day for the purity of its ingredients which made it very precious and exclusive. The moment my groom took me by the hand he was fascinated by the scent. I haven’t been able to find anything exactly the same since, but Cartier’s Oud & Rose comes pretty close.”
Sara Cavazza Facchini. Oud & Rose EDP, Dhs1,620, Cartier
From the spring/summer 2021 issue of Harper’s Bazaar Arabia Bride
Portraits supplied