Scent is our strongest sense tied to memory. What a beautiful sentiment. How many times have you experienced a scent and have been instantly transported back to a particular date and time? I get chills just thinking about it. How incredible it is that we have this powerful sense within us to recall memories from our past.
I first learned of Jo Malone’s idea of “scenting a wedding” back in 2011 when I was up at 4am to watch the Royal Wedding of Catherine and William. I knew that Kate was a fan of Jo Malone and was ecstatic to hear that she’d (apparently) lined the aisles of Westminster Abbey with Jo Malone’s citrus collection- Orange Blossom, Grapefruit and the ever so popular Lime, Basil and Mandarin. Apparently, the bathrooms were also scented with washes and lotions from the line. How chic!
But don’t worry, one doesn’t have to be a royal to take part in the uber chic task of scenting one’s wedding. Here are a few things to keep in mind if you’re thinking of incorporating fragrance into your special day.
Choose Your Vibe
I love attending weddings because each one is so unique to each couple. What smells intoxicating to you may not have the same affect on your friends (that’s the beauty of fragrance. Each nose has its own mind.) Think about what type of vibe you want your guests to feel at your wedding. Do you want it to be light and airy, deep and intoxicating, romantic and floral?
If you want to go for a classic, chic and inviting vibe, I’d strongly suggest Jo’s citrus range (if it’s good enough for Kate!?) This collection is light, inviting and includes scents such as Orange Blossom, Grapefruit and Lime Basil and Mandarin…which brings me to my next idea to consider.
Fragrance Combining
Jo Malone was the pioneer of fragrance combining! She created her fragrance concoctions with the idea that certain scents would pair beautifully together. You could, of course, choose one fragrance and have the entire wedding dedicated to that scent but there is something exciting about pairing together scents that compliment each other beautifully. For example, the slightly sweet scent of Nectarine Blossom and Honey (my personal favorite) pairs beautifully with the crispness of Orange Blossom. Peony Blush & Suede pairs beautifully with Wild Bluebell to give a romantic, slightly sensual feel to the day and if you’d like something slightly fruity, you can’t go wrong with English Pear & Freesia combined with Nectarine Blossom and Honey. The options are truly endless!
Choose Your Layout
You’ll want to take a look at the layout of your venue. If your wedding is in a church or indoor setting, be sure to check with the staff regarding the use of candles indoors.
In my opinion, the most important aspect you’ll want to scent is the ceremony itself. Strategically placing candles near the aisle (but not too close, of course) will give your bridal party as well as your guests the full Jo Malone sensorial experience. The candles also give off the most romantic and flattering lighting. Jo’s candles are quite fragrant (though never overpowering) so don’t feel as if you need to empty your entire bridal budget on this feature. A thoughtfully placed candle here and there will not only add the luscious scent to the day but will be an unexpected feature that your guests are sure to love.
An Added Touch of Elegance
To take your big day to another level of luxury, try adding a bit of fragrance to your guests’ powder room. How special would it be to walk into a powder room for a touch up and have Jo Malone scented hand wash and lotion?! This is also a great place to make use of their travel sized candles. You’ll more than likely want to keep the hand wash/lotion scents light and fresh. A few of my favorites in this category would be her Blackberry & Bay, Orange Blossom or if you want to be extra romantic, opt for Red Roses (a far stretch from your Grandmother’s rose scented soaps.) This little touch will add that extra level of elegance to your special day.
Your Bridal Fragrance
The most important fragrant aspect of the day is the fragrance that you will be wearing! This fragrance is guaranteed to be the most well remembered (and photographed) bottle of fragrance you will ever own. And your options are endless!
Of course, you could stick with the theme of the day and choose a fragrance that is already featured elsewhere in the wedding. Or you could choose something completely different and give that fragrance extra special meaning as it is only being featured on you. My best advice is if you have a favorite Jo Malone fragrance that you wear daily, wear it on your wedding day. It will truly make you feel like yourself and will give your partner that sense of comfort when he or she smells your signature scent.
If you are planning on having a bridal shower prior to the wedding, perhaps kindly ask someone close to you to gift you with a beautiful new bottle of your signature scent. My mom did this and it was so incredibly special. At my wedding shower, I received the 100ml bottle of Nectarine Blossom and Honey cologne alongside a beautiful jar of the Nectarine Blossom and Honey body cream. It was the most beautiful and meaningful gift and I have kept the empty bottle of perfume and still have the body cream. Have your photographer include your bottle in a few shots so that you can always remember what scent carried you down the aisle.
Weddings are truly one of the most beautiful experiences in life and I hope that this gives you a bit of insight on how to add a bit of magic to your special day.
“My sense of smell is without a doubt, my governing sense. Fragrance is my language for translating the world. It is how I see.” -Jo Malone
Love and light, Carrie xo
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Post not sponsored. Some items have been kindly gifted by Jo Malone.
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