It’s no secret that here at Who What Wear we are big fans of French style—from the elegant basics that we spot our favourite French influencers stepping out in on the streets of Paris to the chic summer outfits that are dominating the south of France this summer. And when it comes to beauty in particular, there is something about the simplicity of French women’s approach to hair, beauty and nails that I personally can’t get enough of. Whether it’s their efficacious pharmacy-led skincare routines, their artfully dishevelled hairstyles that have inspired many of my own trips to the salon, or their immaculately groomed nails, there is no denying that French women always look so chic.
When it comes to their signature scents however? I decided to go straight to the source to discover the perfumes that French women genuinely wear. Ahead, 6 of our favourite French friends with the most impeccable fashion and beauty taste shared their signature scents with me. And, as expected, the list is impossibly sophisticated and smells incredible.
With such an eclectic individual style, it’s no surprise that Parisian Ellie Delphine has a couple of signature scents—including one that she reaches for each summer. “Loubiraj by Louboutin is usually my go-to. It’s extremely feminine and pungent in the best of ways,” says Delphine. “But, for summer I like to go for something lighter. Tom Ford’s Soleil de Feu is fruity, fresh, and almost girly. It smells like romantic sunsets on the beach and it is the perfect summer scent.”
A show-stopping perfume bottle for a head-turning scent, this fragrance is a heady blend of suede, leather and pink pepper that smells so decadent.
A sophisticated scent that captures balmy summer nights with hints of amber, spicy sandalwood and tuberose.
It’s no surprise that blogger and content creator Léna Farl has chosen such a chic and unusual perfume as her signature—after all, her Instagram feed that is packed with unexpected style inspiration. “Right now, my perfume is from Memo, a perfume house that make amazing perfumes inspired by travel and worldwide destinations,” explains Farl. “I wear Kedu which blends sesame and grapefruit perfectly. I love perfumes with floral and citrus notes and it matches my personality perfectly. (Oor at least what I think it does!) It’s daring, feminine, and sparkling with a touch of originality thanks to the sesame notes.”
Inspired by the Garden of Java in Indonesia, this captivating scent blends nutty sesame with the citrus zest of grapefruit and mandarin, while freesias and rose-peony add floral sweetness.
French model Clémentine Desseaux now resides in Miami and, interestingly, only has one single perfume that she adores. “I have been wearing L’Eau d’Issey by Issey Miyake since I was a teen,” says Desseaux. “It was my mum’s summer fragrance so I started by borrowing it from her and then it became my one and only. I mostly don’t wear a scent, but when I do that’s the one. In fact, it’s been the only perfume I have ever bought for over 15 years.”
A fresh, pure scent, this floral perfume is a celebration of two flowers—the lotus and the rose. It’s calming, elegant and fresh.
Although home is now Portland to fashion insider Claire Most, the former Paris native is keeping things local with her signature perfume choice hailing from luxury French fashion house Yves Saint Laurent. . “Every time I wear Yves Saint Laurent Libre, I get so many compliments. It’s floral but doesn’t smell like other floral perfumes you’d think of,” says Most. “It’s actually orange blossom and lavender, and there’s musk as well which gives a sensual and kind of mysterious vibe. I thought I was a fresh and sweet scent girl, but this perfume made me change my mind.”
A distinctive genderless perfume with a vibrant scent profile, this smells like the most expensive summer holiday. It has top notes of tangerine, neroli and lavender, a heart of jasmine and orange blossom, and then creamy hints of vanilla and white musks.
Parisian creative Mélodie Bance is renowned on Instagram for her classic wardrobe choices and elegant style, and her signature scent is equally discerning. “I have so many perfumes that I love that it’s hard to narrow it down to one, but if I have to I would choose Rose & Cuir by French perfumer Frédéric Malle,” explains Bance. “It’s floral, slightly spicy, very feminine and romantic, yet slightly melancholic at the same time. It’s basically the Lana Del Rey of perfumes! Another bonus is that the scent lingers longer than most other perfumes I’ve had.”
A rose perfume, but decidedly modern, this dramatic scent blends geranium, blackcurrant and leather with pops of pepper, bourbon and cedar for warmth and spice.
Fashion content creator Emmanuelle Koffi is the epitome of French style—elegant, chic and timeless. Much like her perfume choice. “Dioriviera is my favourite perfume for this summer. It’s inspired by the love between Christian Dior and the Riviera with notes of fig and rose,” explains Koffi. “When I smell this fragrance it conjurs the image of a sophisticated, elegant woman. Her style is chic and refined, reflecting her taste for timeless elegance. She is confident, bold and has a magnetic aura that draws others to her. If you are or aspire to be this type of woman then you’ll love this scent.”
Interestingly, this Dior fragrance was actually composed by another iconic perfumer— Francis Kurkdjian. It’s a floral, breezy blend of Provence roses and lush figs for a truly French-inspired scent. Up Next: Trust Me—This Chic French Fragrance Will Earn You Endless Compliments.
