Scents of power. What did queens smell like?
Is there a fragrance that evokes the essence of a woman in power created just for her? What might ancient queens have smelled like, and did ruling a kingdom leave room for personal style?
This article explores some of the world’s most iconic monarchs and the scents real or imagined that may have defined their presence.
Cleopatra – a divine ruler with a passion for perfume
The legendary Egyptian queen, known for her refined taste and love of luxury, likely wore fragrances that were bold, sensual, and unforgettable. For Cleopatra, perfume was not just adornment, it was a political tool and a weapon of seduction.
Archaeological findings, historical texts, and scientific reconstructions suggest she favored blends of myrrh and frankincense (warm and resinous), lotus flower (sweet and watery), cinnamon, cardamom, saffron, moringa oil, and timeless florals like rose and jasmine.
Cleopatra may have also used Kyphi - a sacred blend of over sixteen ingredients used in rituals and medicine. Its scent was smoky, spicy, and floral, an aromatic echo of both divinity and mystery.
Based on ancient recipes found in Greek texts, researchers have recreated perfumes they believe resemble what she might have worn. They describe the result as dense, resinous, warm, and exotic. We’ll never know her personal preferences but perhaps she was the trendsetter of her time.
Would she have liked our modern scent “Chantelle”?
It opens with an explosion of citrus brightness: fresh, invigorating, and impossible to ignore. The heart blends magnolia and patchouli, spiced with ginger, creating a lively yet refined elegance. The base: amber and vetiver, both considered royal in antiquity lingers sensually. “Chantelle” brings together citrusy lightness, floral poise, and amber depth -exactly what Cleopatra adored: sensuality, presence, and a dramatic entrance.
Marie Antoinette – a queen of powder, petals, and sweetness
Living in the opulent world of 18th-century Versailles, Marie Antoinette was a walking bouquet of the royal gardens equal parts sweetness and elegance. Perfume was booming in France during her reign, especially in Versailles, where it masked less-than-pristine hygiene standards.
Her favorite notes included rose, violet, and jasmine (soft, feminine, elegant florals), peach, apricot, and bergamot (fruity freshness), lavender and rosemary (used to scent linens), iris and powdery accords, and occasionally musk or amber for depth.
Her personal perfumer, Jean-Louis Fargeon, noted her love for light, floral blends that reminded her of the Trianon Garden, her private escape from courtly intrigue.
French perfume house Lubin created “Black Jade”, inspired by a mysterious bottle said to have belonged to the queen. The scent is green, floral, slightly spicy, powdery, and elegant - much like Marie herself.
Would our “Anabelle” suit her taste?
This radiant, feminine fragrance opens with peach and blackcurrant flirting with a touch of orange. Its heart: rose, apple, and jasmine is luminous, airy, almost ethereal. The base - musk and sandalwood leaves a warm, natural trail, like sunlight on skin after a forest walk. This fragrance doesn’t try to be perfect, it’s simply unforgettable.
Catherine the Great – fierce, brilliant, and passionate
Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia, was one of the most powerful women in history. A bold reformer, she ruled with a firm hand, involving herself deeply in domestic and foreign affairs.
She loved luxury and surrounded herself with beautiful things - including, famously, a string of lovers. She was meticulous about her appearance and aware of the latest European beauty trends, though she avoided heavy makeup, believing it aged her.
Among her beauty staples were rose and lavender waters, creams made from beeswax, honey, lanolin, and almond oil, and face masks with milk, honey, and eggs. She adored herbal and milk baths, much like Cleopatra. But what about her perfumes?
Catherine had fragrances imported from Paris and Grasse, and her bottles, likely adorned with glass and gold, were as opulent as her court. While her exact signature blend remains unknown, she may have worn perfumes containing Damask rose, jasmine, violet, amber, musk, civet, and light notes like bergamot and lavender.
A queen of her stature would feel right at home in “Absolu”, one of our boldest creations. This scent radiates strength, elegance, and total control. Lemon and bergamot make a sharp, sparkling entrance, while coconut adds velvety confidence - not softness, but poised pleasure. At the heart: violet and orchid, graceful yet wild. The base: vanilla, patchouli, sandalwood brings sensual depth, while labdanum and vetiver deliver a grounding final word.
This is a fragrance for a woman who doesn’t take control. She already owns it.
Empress Sisi – the beauty icon who longed for freedom
Elisabeth of Bavaria, better known as Sisi, was considered one of the most beautiful women of the 19th century. Famous for her ankle-length hair and strict beauty regime, she valued physical activity and despised court life, which she found suffocating. A restless spirit, she loved to travel. Her life story reads like a tragic and poignant film.
Her favorite fragrances were unusually modern for the time: blends of orange, neroli, and citrus - fresh, light, and refined. One such perfume was the elegant “Extrait de Cologne – Bouquet Impérial.”
In her skincare and hair rituals, she used Damask rose, violet, and orange blossom essences, along with almond, lavender, and lemon oils. Less palace, more botanical garden.
Given her free spirit and love for movement, we imagine “Julie” would suit her perfectly.
It opens with a burst of lemon, apple, and blackcurrant, like a cool breeze on skin as the body comes alive. The heart: white flowers, jasmine, magnolia beats with joy, not duty. The base - musk, amber, and a whisper of pine - feels like a forest kiss: grounding, fresh, and wild.
This scent breathes freedom. It’s made for those who reject confinement whether in space or identity. It’s for those who live by the rhythm of their own breath, not someone else’s rulebook.
Perfume and Power – personal affair
Perfume is deeply personal even for queens. There were no strict rules or rigid guidelines about what a ruler should wear in terms of scent. Of course, fashion had its say but in many cases, it was the queens themselves who set the trends and defined power on their own terms.
Their perfumes were more than accessories. They were declarations of identity.
And just like their reigns, they linger in history, not as whispers, but as unforgettable trails.