The 18 Best Wedding Perfumes, According to BRIDES Editors

“This is my go-to fragrance for everyday life, and I love it so much that I still wore it on my wedding day," says Gabriella Rello Duffy, BRIDES senior editorial director. "I'm the type of person who finds something they love and sticks with it, so I knew this was going to be my signature wedding scent, too. Plus, bluebells symbolize everlasting love, and what's more appropriate for your wedding day than that?”

“Vow Factor by Snif is the perfume I have reached for all season long and have gotten endless compliments on every time," says Araziel Jackson, our social media editor. "Fruity notes, like fig and mandarin, pair with rich scents, like cedarwood, for an utterly romantic smell originally crafted as a wedding-day scent."

“Yes, this fragrance does smell amazing. but that's not my favorite thing about it," says Rello Duffy. "As editors, we look at wedding photos all day long, and there's something to be said for ensuring all of your details—right down to the perfume you spritz on during getting-ready photos—look amazing. This is the type of bottle your photographer won't ask you to tuck away during your pre-nuptial portrait session.”

This sensual floral perfume is as sophisticated as the striking gold bottle design. Notes of orange blossom, lavender, and musk entwine for a fragrance that's romantic and feminine—a must for the classic bride. "Although I wouldn’t consider myself a classic bride, I enjoy the soft, floral vibes of this layerable scent, says Cher Checchio, our copy editor. "This wedding fragrance’s orange and musk key notes create a statement that’s as bold as the bottle."

The simple design and text-driven label on this perfume will appeal to boho and minimalist brides. It's a spicy, woodsy scent, with hints of moss, jasmine, ambrette seeds, and a base of ambrox, musk, and amber. It's a unique scent that's designed to pack a potent punch. "Speaking directly to my boho style, I wore this unique fragrance as I walked down the aisle, complemented by greenery and pampas grass," says Checchio. "It fit right into my wedding day aesthetic."

“A sumptuous combination of caramelized amber, miel de Provence, and fig make this fragrance practically mouthwatering. The top notes of honey add a warm sweetness to what is otherwise a savory scent,” says Checchio.

This is one of our favorite classic floral scents, and our former associate editorial operations director, Jill Di Donato, agrees. "Lychee, mimosa, rose petals, orange flower, gardenia, and marzipan musk mingle for a sensual layered fragrance that's beyond romantic."

The opening note of this intoxicating fragrance is rich coffee. It's followed by subtle vanilla and what our former senior editor on BRIDES, Kate Donovan, calls "modern florals that are delicate and spicy."

“With a mix of woody scents, floral notes, and pops of jasmine and saffron, this perfume is bright and sleek. It's perfect for a bride looking to splurge on a new fragrance and make a statement on her wedding day," says Jessica Chassin Blaser, our former senior social media editor.

Inspired by the Basque coast, this classic lily of the valley fragrance gets a crisp twist with a splash of sea spray. "There are light citrus notes from Sicilian mandarins," says Di Donato. "The mild citrus punch adds vibrance to this classic Chanel scent."

While many floral fragrances tend to be powdery, this perfume packs a punch with a dose of osmanthus for a woodier floral scent that has edge and dimension. "The floral notes are slightly musky," notes Donovan, "but subtly so."

This perfume is enchanting and sultry and has a history that speaks to its romantic heritage. Balincourt is the name of the family estate where the creators of the fragrance house discovered a trail called "Lover's Lane." Along this trail, cedarwood and sandalwood mingle with cinnamon nutmeg and earthy vetiver, which makes up the dominant notes of No. 4. "I adore this scent," says Di Donato. "It's warm and complex and I love it for a long night of dancing because the scent deepens with wear as it mixes with your body chemistry."

The gunpowder accord and patchouli notes in this pretty pink perfume offer a smoky spin on floral fragrances. "There are hints of amber that make this scent complex," says Donovan.

“Why choose one fragrance when you can use several different scents for every wedding-related event? Byredo's Discovery Set allows you to test out the brand's most iconic fragrances, including Bal d'Afrique, Bibliothèque, Blanche, Gypsy Water, Mojave Ghost, and Rose of No Man's Land," says former senior fashion editor, Corinne Pierre-Louis. "This also doubles as an amazing gift for either the bride and/or wedding party.”

Di Donato loves the longevity of this airy scent, which she says "features florals, citrus, and slight essences of pear. The citrus keeps the scent from being treacly and delivers warmth. But I'm really drawn to the sandalwood and bergamot, which continue to balance out the profile."

“I wore this honeysuckle, gardenia, and grapefruit-forward fragrance on my own wedding day. Think: Bloom-filled garden by the sea. It's the perfect scent for a beach wedding." says Sarah Schreiber, former associate editorial director of BRIDES. "Attention-grabbing, but not cloying, it's exactly right for a bride (and is something you'll spritz on well beyond the big day).”

"This floral fragrance is one of the cleanest I've experienced," says Di Donato. "Hints of rose, peony, and violet subtly intermingle with an aldehyde hit, which softens the sweetness of the florals. Traces of sandalwood and musk give the scent dimension and a crisp woodsiness. As the name implies, there's a freshness to this scent that's so suitable for bridal."

While it's an obvious choice for a beach or destination wedding, there's nothing basic about this scent blend. "For someone with a love affair with the West Coast, this scent is so Los Angeles," says Di Donato. The bright, fruity fragrance contains notes of blackcurrant, citron, and lemon, along with more surprising coriander and basil seeds, peppermint, and orange. It's a fresh scent that will fit in perfectly with tropical vibes. "It's warm with notes of citrus and sweet, and has incredible silage that lasts from day to night."

FAQ

• Choose an eau de parfum, as it has a higher concentration than an eau de toilette and will last much longer. Apply the perfume to your pulse points, which include your inner elbows, wrists, neck, and even behind your knees. To enhance the scent, consider layering it with shower gels and body lotions and spritzing body mists on your hair and clothes as well.

• Perfume needs time to absorb and react to your unique body chemistry. To truly appreciate a scent's character and longevity, consider exploring samples and discovery sets. These smaller sizes allow you to experience the perfume in various conditions—such as different times of day or with different skin types—helping you discover how it evolves over time. By testing the fragrance thoroughly before committing to a full-size bottle, you ensure that you choose a scent that resonates with you.

• When Kate Middleton, now the Princess of Wales, wed in 2011, she reportedly wore the scent Illuminum White Gardenia Petals. When Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex,  wed in 2018, she wore a custom bridal perfume by Floris London. It was reportedly inspired by the British brand’s unisex fragrance called Bergamotto di Positano.