Just like music, fragrance is linked to memories, which is why some brides choose to have a special wedding scent made just for them. So the moment you take a whiff, you'll be transported back to that special day.
Lifestyle director of Jo Malone fragrances, Debbie Wild, introduces us to the beautiful and complicated world of fragrance combining – something the brand is very well-known for. Even Kate Middleton scented her wedding with Jo Malone!
When it comes to enhancing your big day with scent, her rule is there are no rules. With over 21 fragrances and over 40 combinations, you will literally be giddy from the abundant choices! Ultimately, it has to be something that you love, and can wear long after the wedding is over.
And Wild says that you can layer on multiple scents to suit the time of day, wedding theme, colours, textures, climate, venue, flowers, number of outfits and your mood. Confused yet? She sums it up in these eight points.
Scents must cater to every personality
Every bride is different and so is her fragrance identity. Wild invites you to the Jo Malone boutique to explore the scents yourself to see what fits. For the bubbly bride, she suggests mixing the floral notes of Orange Blossom with fruity Nectarine Blossom & Honey. For a sophisticated bride, she suggests French Lime Blossom – one of Jo Malone's oldest scents – perfect for church ceremonies and intimate wedding receptions. One of Wild's perennial favourites is Wild Bluebell, layered with Red Roses. Together they remind her of a "white, summery, fresh linen, gorgeous wedding".
Men should not be left out either
Jo Malone scents are purposefully unisex and cater to the needs of the groom too. For the strong silent man, try Amber & Lavender with a hint of Red Roses. For the quirky, avant-garde guy, Blue Agava and Cacao would suit his big personality.
There's this thing called highlighting
If layering is too much for your delicate nose, you can use one as your main scent and highlight yourself with another. For example, if you like spices and heavier scents, you can lightly spritz your hair or hem of your dress with something more floral. In fact, Wild has been known to wear three scents at a time – "one spray for the front, one for the back, and another for highlights." Weddings with many outfit changes call for fragrance changes too!
Fragrance should complement the season
Wintry weddings go perfectly with woody scents like Wild Fig and Cassis that reminds us of freshly cut grass and a smoky fire pit. Layered with the new Mimosa and Cardamom scent, the ambience quickly turns sultry, loungey and dancey! For summery or tropical venues, combine Orange Blossom with Jasmine & Mint for a fresh dewy scent, ideal for both an indoor and outdoor wedding. And as the sun sets, turn the evening into an intimate affair by adding on Pomegranate & Noir. One of the best-selling fragrances in Singapore is English Pear & Freesia – a floral concoction that's just lovely.
Don't forget to scent the venue.
For a holistic experience, the venue should not be left out. Whether you prefer candles, diffuser sticks, room or linen sprays, Jo Malone offers a complete Scent Surround collection to odorise every aspect of your wedding. Just go easy on the candles – too many will give you a headache. As a general rule, three candles for a small-ish reception are sufficient.
Yes, you can spray the linen too!
Pre-scent the whole venue first with something light and refreshing, then 30 minutes before the event starts, go over with a heavier room spray and start to light the candles. You can even spritz the linen and napkins so that when guests wipe their mouths, there's a delightful aroma that will put a smile to their faces.
Match it to your wedding flowers
The most important thing is knowing what flowers you are using, and finding the right aromas to match. If for example you're decorating the venue with heady blooms, then spritz on citrus or spicy notes, for balance. Too much florals will make you giddy.
Believe it or not, scents can enhance the palate too.
Are you serving dessert after dinner? Go ahead and refresh the room with Vanilla & Anise. The charismatic notes blend perfectly with sweet delicacies. Guests won't notice it at first, but the moment they take a bite of the cake or chocolate, the taste and smell will intensify. So interesting!
