Meghan Markle has cemented herself as a global style icon thanks to her timeless and, at times, accessible wardrobe essentials—think of her penchant for New Balance sneakers or documented love of staples from J. Crew, for example. With such an eye for classics, it should be no surprise that the Duchess of Sussex applies the same philosophy to her three signature scents. “It’s easy to see a relationship between the three fragrances, composed as they are around abstract floral notes, freshness, and only subtle shadings of other facets,” says Michael Nordstrand, owner and perfumer of Mythologist Studio, an independent atelier specialized in fragrance creation.
As it turns out, Megan is an avid fragrance enthusiast. In a 2016 interview with Express, Meghan told a reporter that perfume is her “favorite thing,” so much so that she’ll “turn around and go back home” if she forgets to put any on. Below, we’re sharing the fragrance rotation Meghan is known to wear, plus a perfumer’s tips on curating a wardrobe of signature scents that feel all your own.
Jo Malone London Wild Bluebell Cologne
According to various outlets, the dewy and slightly lactonic Jo Malone London Wild Bluebell Cologne is a mainstay in Meghan’s fragrance wardrobe. Nordstrand describes Wild Bluebell as “an aqueous jasmine with a strong musky-peach undertone,” featuring notes of lily of the valley, white musk, milky persimmon, and bluebell.
“The bluebell is something perfumers call a ‘fantasy’ note,” explains Nordstrand. “We don’t have a natural extract of the flower available for us, so perfumers create an impression of the smell using other raw materials.” In this case, the bluebell accord was created using a blend of green leaves, spicy clove buds, and fresh dew. It seems only fitting that a member of royalty would wear a perfume featuring such a charmed fantasy note.
Amanda Meyers, scent expert and founder of Elia Parfum, echoes this sentiment. “This scent is like stepping into a fairytale forest at dawn,” she says. “Picture a soft, mossy path through the woods, where sunlight filters through the trees, creating dappled shadows on the forest floor. It’s a fragrance that feels delicate, fresh, and quietly magical, evoking a mood of peaceful wonder.”
Jo Malone London Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne
Meghan may be the inspiration you need to start looking into the perfumers behind your favorite scents (that is, if you’re not already doing so). Perfumer Christine Nagel crafted both Wild Bluebell and another reported favorite, Jo Malone London’s Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne ($165). “I always like to see that a consumer, even without knowing it, will gravitate towards the work of a certain perfumer, often never knowing that connection aside from their affinity for the style of perfumes being created,” notes Nordstrand.
If Wild Bluebell calls to mind visions of an enchanted forest, Wood Sage & Sea Salt summons that of a rugged, windswept coastline. “Imagine standing on a cliff overlooking the ocean, the wind carrying the earthy scent of salt-sprayed rocks and the warmth of sunbaked driftwood,” says Meyers. “It’s fresh, with a mix of sea salt, sage, and earthy tones.” Top notes of ambrette seeds offer an aromatic, faintly floral, and powdery overtone to this fragrance’s sea salt and sage heart and base notes.
Darryl Do, senior perfumer at Delbia Do Fragrances, notes that while Wood Sage & Sea Salt is lovely on its own, it’s also an ideal blend for fragrance layering. “Wood Sage and Sea Salt is one of those great layering fragrances that adds longevity and doesn’t project too far into the space around you,” giving you the impression of a soft, your-skin-but-better scent.
This woodsy, mineral-rich scent isn’t just available as a cologne. Those who fall in love with it will be pleased to know that it’s also available in diffuser, candle, body and hand wash, hand cream, body cream, and body mist forms—a collection fit for royalty, if you ask us.
Oribe Cote d'Azur
If there’s one thing we’ve learned from Meghan’s taste in perfumes, it’s that she loves a fragrance with photorealistic notes that can transport you from one glamorous locale to another. To round out her collection of fragrances, we present to you Oribe Cote d’Azur ($125), another reported signature of Meghan’s. This eau de parfum is just as breathtaking as the coast it’s named after, and if you’ve ever used products from the Oribe hair-care line, you’ll recognize its luxe, sun-soaked scent right away.
This perfume opens with a pop of citrus in the top notes—fresh lemon, black currant, Calabrian bergamot, and Sicilian orange—coupled with a heart of tuberose, blue cyclamen, and white butterfly jasmine. As it dries down, you’ll start to feel like you’re heading back to land after a long day in the water, the citrus and floral notes mellow to a warm and comforting base of sandalwood, vetiver, and amber. “Abstract floral overtones, as we know [Meghan] likes, are coupled with small bursts of citrus and blackcurrant, making the perfume somewhat novel in the context of her scent wardrobe,” says Nordstrand,
You can also think of this as the vacation-ready iteration of Meghan’s signature scents. “With notes of Calabrian bergamot, white butterfly jasmine, and sandalwood, it’s a warm, sensual fragrance that feels glamorous yet inviting,” says Meyers. “You can imagine lounging by a sparkling blue pool under the Mediterranean sun, the scent of warm skin mingling with the breeze carrying floral notes from the nearby garden. It evokes sophistication, confidence, and a sense of endless summer days.”