The Wedding Day Fragrances Cool People (Lena! Ayesha! Ben! Paris!) Wore

Vogue

3 days ago

Should you wear a scent on your wedding day? If you want to remember the day vividly for years to come, consider it. For Lena Dunham, writer, actor, director, producer, and 'nauseous girl' who doesn't 'usually wear perfume,' it was a fragrance oil her friend and makeup artist Amanda Grossman mixed up (interestingly, fashion designer Jackson Wiederhoft suggests a couple of drops of peppermint oil on the neck to stay cool during a summer wedding with a 'lovely' scent as a bonus for those that run hot). And for those that need some comfort, consider your everyday pick: So that he could 'feel as much normalcy as possible so I wouldn't get overwhelmed,' the actor, singer, and songwriter Ben Platt chose his go-to Tom Ford Grey Vetiver eau de parfum.
Forever the entrepreneur of our generation, Paris Hilton made her own Love Rush scent for her wedding day, and now she tells Vogue that 'every time I wear it, I'm reminded of the pure bliss I felt.' Paris really has a point! Science says it's true since the regions of the brain that process smells and emotional memories are closely linked. While I write this on my own wedding anniversary, I wish I could pick up a bottle and be wafted back in time. As my sister-in-law texted, 'I think smell is the strongest memory-catcher and can conjure up thoughts so quickly.' Perhaps Guerlain perfumer Delphine Jelk could have bottled the bluebonnets that surrounded us: For her own wedding two decades ago, she designed a fragrance to mirror the 'massive bush of jasmine' she carried down the aisle. 'We had a party until five in the morning,' she remembers smelling the jasmine, sea salt, and musky notes as she danced with her husband all night. 'I wanted this fragrance to last.' Below, artists, entrepreneurs, musicians, and all-around stars share the scents they (and, sometimes, their partners!) really wore—and will never forget.
Ayesha Curry, founder of Sweet July, married to Steph Curry
'When I picked Cartier's Baiser Volé for my wedding day, I loved the way the bottle looked, but back then it was my way of feeling luxurious without the Love bracelet price tag! All jokes aside, at that time I wanted to feel super feminine that day and embrace the girly girl side of me that never pops out. This has notes of lilies and orchids, which are uber feminine in nature.'
Cartier
Baiser Volé Eau de Parfum
$188
NORDSTROM
Lena Dunham, writer, actor, director, producer, and Vogue contributor, married to Luis Felber
'I don't usually wear perfume—other naturally nauseous girls will get it. Soap, shampoo, laundry detergent, moisturizer, SPF, night cream, texturizing spray—how many smells can one body hold? Plus, everyone else's smells??? But on my wedding day, I was with my longtime makeup artist and friend Amanda Grossman, who was at that point creating her own essential oil mix at home. She smells like heaven–a mix between a really airy spa and a cedar chest, two of my favorite vibes—and as I was hyperventilating (not with fear of marriage, but concern that people wouldn't enjoy the party!) she rolled her magical potion on all my pulse points. It's the only fragrance that grounds me and makes me feel more alert and less anxious (even my mom's longtime perfume, magic on her, somehow is all wrong when I spray it on me.) I was doing a lot of sweating and hugging and even outfit changing, and every single guest commented on the scent—which lasted until the wee hours. Lucky for us, she's finally bottled it: e11even Fragrance.'
Ben Platt actor, singer, and songwriter, married to Noah Galvin
'I wore Tom Ford Grey Vetiver, like I do every day! I wanted to feel as much normalcy as possible, so I wouldn't get overwhelmed, so it was comforting to spritz myself the exact same way I have every day for almost a decade.'
Tom Ford
Grey Vetiver Eau de Parfum
$240
NORDSTROM
Photo Courtesy of 11 Media
Paris Hilton, entrepreneur, philanthropist, recording artist, and DJ, married to Carter Reum
'Love Rush is the most personal fragrance I've created—it was made for my wedding day and holds all the memories of that magical moment. Every time I wear it, I'm reminded of the pure bliss I felt, and being able to share it with the world makes it even more unforgettable.'
Paris Hilton
Love Rush Eau de Parfum $40
$28
AMAZON
Dustin Payseur, founder of Beach Fossils, married to Katie Garcia, owner of Bayonet Records
Dustin: 'I wore Incense Avignon by Comme des Garçons. I went to Catholic school as a kid, and the smell of church makes me incredibly nostalgic. With frankincense and myrrh, the smell is smoky and sweet, it's serious and quite romantic. We aren't religious, and we didn't get married in a church, but the smell still felt appropriate. It's timeless.'
Katie: 'I wore what was my 'signature' scent at the time, the Marc Jacobs classic perfume, which is now sadly discontinued. I loved that the main note in the perfume was gardenia. It held a lot of sentimental meaning for me. My abuelo Alberto used to care for a huge gardenia bush in his backyard when I was a kid. It felt familiar, and that's probably why I gravitated towards the scent in the first place. My abuelo passed away when I was a kid, so wearing a scent that reminded me of him felt like a nice way to honor his memory on our wedding day.'
Comme Des Garcons Parfums
Incense Avignon Eau de Toilette
$120
SSENSE
Batsheva Hay, fashion designer for Batsheva, married to Alexei Hay
'Fragrance is my fave accessory. For my wedding, I wore Une Rose by Frederic Malle [now called Rose Tonnerre]. It's a sexy, bold rose that felt really regal and sumptuous to me on that day. I wore my mother's wedding dress! It was a lace dress she bought in Mexico in the 70s. And I wore my grandmother's lace TABLECLOTH as a veil! Alexei wore Dior Eau Sauvage, which his father always wore. I love that scent so much!'
Frédéric Malle
Rose Tonnerre Parfum Spray
$470
NORDSTROM
Dior
Eau Sauvage Eau de Toilette
$130
DIOR
Photo: Amy & Stuart
Nina Westbrook, licensed marriage and family therapist, married to Russell Westbrook
'I chose a fragrance called Molecule 01. At the time, it was my first 'real adult' luxury fragrance. Every time I wore it, I got compliments, and I felt special knowing that the fragrance and I had created our own unique scent. It certainly made me feel like I was one of a kind on my special day. My husband and I at the time were obsessed with Barneys. We would spend a lot of our afternoons browsing, shopping, or dining there. Eventually, he went on to create a collaboration with Barneys, so I think it all paid off. One day, I was browsing the bottom level of the store, and a woman working one of the counters approached me and asked me to try this fragrance. It turned out to be Molecule 01. I remember the selling points being that it was a fragrance that was supposed to 'smell different on everyone,' and that it was (at the time) exclusively being sold there. I feel like they were at the forefront of the concept of fragrances that worked with your body's natural chemicals to produce your own unique scent. At least, that was the first time I'd heard of that. I was sold! From that day on, I can remember getting compliments and questions about what fragrance I was wearing, and that made me feel really special. 12 years later, I still wear the same fragrance, though I've added one extra to the rotation.'
Molecule 01 Eau de Toilette
$150
NORDSTROM
Megan Louise, singer of Desire, married to Johnny Jewel
'You know this French girl always wears Chloe. I was wearing my Chloe on my wedding day (11 years ago!). We got married at a notary's office quickly during a 24-hour round trip to Montreal. Johnny had gotten a job in LA, and we had to move to the USA. I was a bit of a 90 Day Fiancé for a minute. I wore an emerald green Sando dress, and his wedding ring was Margela. Jackie was our maid of honor, probably wearing her favorite Gap dress. Johnny has always worn Terre D'Hermes, ever since I met him 17 years ago!'
Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward, married to Cole Bucy
'I wore Issey Miyake l'eau d'issey to my wedding. I was initially attracted to it because of its fresh crispness. As I have returned to it many times over the years, the hints of peonies and white roses remind me of being surrounded by my loved ones and, yes, flowers at my wedding almost 20 years ago. I wear a range of scents and am always trying new things, but on difficult days, I still find myself spraying a bit of this scent to ground me in the good times.'
Issey Miyake
L'Eau d'Issey Eau de Parfum
$132
NORDSTROM
Maria McManus, founder of her eponymous fashion label, married to Mark Gibson
'I got married in 2007, years before Instagram and the pressure of performative, photo-perfect weddings. My friend made my dress, I did my own hair and makeup, made my own flower bouquet, and wore Chanel Chance, as that was my go-to fragrance at that time. Now I am a devout wearer of Frama's Beratan.'
Lais Ribeiro, model, married to Joakim Noah
'I wore Costa Brazil Aroma. The scent reminds me so much of Brazil. When I wear it, I can just close my eyes and feel the fresh smells of Rio de Janeiro in the summer. Joakim wore Jean Paul Gaultier. Since I met him, he has never wanted to change cologne.'
Costa Brazil
Aroma Eau de Parfum
$198
BLUE MERCURY
Jean Paul Gaultier
Le Male Eau de Toilette
$98
SEPHORA
Jonathan Simkhai, fashion designer for Simkhai, married to TJ Allers
'For our wedding, I layered Molecule 01 and Escentric 2, I love this brand because the scents are light and crisp, and Molecule 01 is said to be an aphrodisiac.'
Lulu Prat, founder of Bodega Cakes, married to Ryan Naideau
'On the wedding day, I wore Diptyque's L'Ombre dans L'Eau. It's technically rose and blackcurrant, but to me it smells deeper and woodsier than that—like wildflowers in a forest. We got married upstate, on top of a hill, surrounded by trees, with the reception in an open-air pavilion. But going against the natural backdrop, the theme was full Vegas chapel fantasy: six-foot-tall rose sculptures, gold cupids, hearts everywhere. I loved that the perfume mirrored that mix—wild nature and big romantic drama. I didn't pick it to match the day—if anything, the day matched the perfume. Or really, it matched me: part bright pink and red Vegas fantasy, part laid back middle of nowhere woods. And our wedding was exactly that!
My husband, Ryan, wore Mondo Mondo's Cowboy—another scent he wore a lot when we first started dating, and one that instantly takes me back to that time. It's earthy and warm, with notes like honeysuckle, leather, grass, and cedarwood—a mix that smells like sunbathing in the grass after a swim. It's playful and youthful, and to me, it captures the energy Ryan brings into our relationship. That was the feeling we wanted to create for the weekend, carefree, slightly chaotic, full of dancing and running around barefoot with our friend, and I love that his scent carried it into the day.'
Azeeza Khan, designer of Azeeza, married to Rehan Khan
'I wore Ralph Lauren Romance… befitting for a Romance that has lasted 15 years, which is 100 years of marriage in this day and age. It was my 'college scent' and felt very nostalgic... I haven't actually smelled it in so long, I need to get a bottle! Rehan wore Dior Homme.'
Victoria de La Fuente, co-founder of DOOMSCROLLR, married to Adam Ayers
'Fragrance-wise, I oscillate between two scent personalities: French Lover and Portrait of a Lady—it depends entirely on the mood du jour. If I'm feeling daring and need that extra lift, I'll layer a thin veil of Molecule 01, because a bit of pheromone magic never hurt anyone, right?
For my wedding, I wore Portrait of a Lady layered with Molecule 01. It felt regal yet playful, sophisticated enough for vows but whimsical enough for a garden ceremony. The subtle addition of Molecule 01 added that perfect, quietly sexy touch. My husband, Adam, and I eloped at San Ysidro Ranch with just two of our closest friends. Adam went classic in Issey—clean, chic, timeless. His fragrance choice says everything about him: he's been loyal to that Issey perfume since his teenage years.'
Frédéric Malle
Portrait of a Lady Parfum Spray
$295
NORDSTROM
Molecule 01 Eau de Toilette
$150
NORDSTROM
Issey Miyake
L'Eau d'Issey Eau de Toilette Spray
$95
NORDSTROM
Gia Kuan, founder of Gia Kuan Consulting, married to Anatoly Kirichenko
'I tend to mix and match my scents, but I think on my wedding, I was wearing a blend of an Aesop fragrance (Rozu) blended with a Comme des Garçons Hinoki one to lean into a floral woody scent. I want to say Anatoly was also wearing a CDG fragrance—he always wears it, it's the Comme 3 Eau de Toilette.'