If you’ve watched a certain Friends episode called “The One with Ross’s Wedding”, you’ll know exactly what we mean when we say “London, baby!”
England’s capital city is renowned for being a cultural hub of the world, with its own quintessential style, incredible history, array of art galleries and museums, and uber-cool music scene. Which means a trip here, whether booked already or simply planned for some point in the future, requires something a little special from your fragrance wardrobe.
The best London perfumes will have you daydreaming of strolling through Regent’s Park, hanging out with the Beefeaters at Buckingham Palace, or shopping down Oxford Street before you’ve even touched down at the airport.
So today, we’ve rounded up all of the best perfumes from London to accompany you across the pond!
London Mist by Yardley London
London Mist might usually be something you’d aim to avoid when visiting this historical capital city. But when the mist in question is of the beautiful Yardley London variety, it might just be the one you run towards. This soft, floral scent will have you dreaming of afternoons spent wandering through Kew Gardens or Hyde Park in the springtime.
Burberry Her London Dream by Burberry
No perfume brand encapsulates London living quite like Burberry. So it makes sense that Burberry Her London Dream by Burberry is one of the best London-inspired fragrances and is a top choice for transporting you to the city through scent. Burberry Her London Dream is a cool-girl perfume that begins with a fresh, citrusy blend of lemon. Expect floral, musky notes to open up as the hours pass.
Coast To Coast London Beat by Mary-Kate And Ashley
If you spent your teenage years dreaming of shopping sprees down Oxford Street and Regent Street, you’ll probably fall in love with a quick spritz of Coast To Coast London Beat by Mary-Kate And Ashley. This reminiscent scent is a youthful one that’ll have you thinking back to first loves and summer romances. It blends mandarin, red berry, pomegranate, sweet vanilla, and rich amber.
Replica Springtime In A Park by Maison Margiela
Is there anywhere more quintessentially British than a springtime stroll through the back streets of London? We don’t think so. And for those lengthly wanders we’ll be spritzing Replica Springtime In A Park by Maison Margiela. This potent scent comes to life in the cool English weather, perfectly accentuating your London outfits with its fresh, white floral notes.
Jo Malone English Pear & Freesia by Jo Malone
A Jo Malone perfume is a London essential and this gorgeous brand has scents to suit all personalities. One of the best choices for transporting you to London in a mere spritz is English Pear & Freesia by Jo Malone. This soft, subtle scent blends perfectly with a summer breeze and light blue skies, best paired with a light cotton dress and your favorite sunglasses. Like all Jo Malone scents, this is one that only needs one application a day.
Clean Rain Reserve Blend by Clean
Let’s be honest: a trip to London isn’t complete without at least one experience of the charming British rain. But we’re all about romanticizing the little parts of life over here, which means leaning into that rain theme with an elegant perfume to match. Our British rainy day scent of choice? Clean Rain Reserve Blend by Clean: the fresher, slightly floral, endlessly sophisticated elder sibling of the original Clean Rain perfume.
Clive Christian No. 1 by Clive Christian
Clive Christian makes the most expensive perfume in the world and is also famed for being associated with British royalty: Queen Victoria granted the symbolic use of her crown on its bottles, after all. So it makes sense that one of the best fragrances for carrying you across the Atlantic and into London is by this famous brand. Clive Christian No. 1 by Clive Christian is our top choice, with its sweet, powdery, warm spicy notes. Perfect for cozy evenings spent sipping ciders in traditional London pubs!
Lily Of The Valley (Penhaligon’s) by Penhaligon’s
Penhaligon’s is another classic London brand and is a popular choice with women who call this beautiful city home. Lily Of The Valley (Penhaligon’s) by Penhaligon’s is a firm favorite all round, blending dainty floral notes with a demure lily-heavy base. If you’re searching for a timeless signature scent with a classic British vibe, this is the bottle to buy.
We’ve finished talking you through all of the best perfumes that encapsulate London. Now it’s time to head over to perfume.com to choose your favorite!
Georgie Darling is a freelance lifestyle and travel writer from London, England. Her work has been published in ELLE, Yahoo, Red, Grazia, and Tripadvisor, amongst others. When she’s not writing, Georgie spends most of her time travelling to new countries and scuba diving. She’s been an avid fragrance lover since a young age and considers Alaïa by Alaïa Paris to be her signature scent.
