Scenting Marie Antoinette (the brand new BBC drama collection you could watch!)

The BBC’s new Marie Antoinette series is making lovers of historic costume dramas rejoice, and in a continuation of our character and scent-matching periods, we’re powdering our wigs, unfurling our followers and and wafting forth with the next aromatic solutions…

‘An harmless teenage queen drawn right into a darkish, manipulative courtroom of Versailles. Her responsibility is to bear an inheritor. Her destiny will set a rustic on fireplace.’

From the good author Deborah Davis (who additionally gave us the award-winning movie, The Favorite), it is a drama that’s not afraid to lean into the opulence – so after all it requires some severely fabulous olfactory counterparts to the characters. For extra info on the present, do learn The Guardian’s review in full (which is suitably glowing), and provides the trailer a watch earlier than you start your scent exploration of among the most important characters.

‘…it’s generally unusual, humorous, grotesque in locations, with a beautiful if sometimes oppressive rating. Historians and purists in France, the place the collection launched on the finish of October, have unsurprisingly referred to as it “obscene” and stuffed with “historic aberrations”, together with the supposed rebrand of Marie Antoinette as a feminist icon. However the pattern for reappraising historic and maligned feminine figures with a recent viewpoint is unstoppable and, anyway, this isn’t the primary revision of the final queen of France earlier than the revolution.’ – The Guardian

Marie Antoinette (performed by Emilia Schüle) – Parfums de Marly Delina

Encased in its sugared-almond pink bottle as it’s, the silk tassel befits such a regal scent, as does the fantastically powdery rose inside; however this isn’t as ‘girly’ as you’d think about. Simply as Antoinette blooms as he confidence grows, so too does Delina blossom on the pores and skin. Because it warms, the powder turns into extra naked skin-like, a touch of pink thigh flashed above a white stocking, the sense of female energy that comes with studying the artwork of flirtation.

£210 for 100ml eau de parfum selfridges.com

Louis XVI (Louis Cunningham) – Matiere Premiere Falcon Leather-based

Given his desire for birds of the feathered selection (at first assembly his bride-to-be, anyway) and usually wandering free among the many grounds reasonably than the stilted, terrifying confines of well mannered society; Louis XVI ought to plump for this. Smoky as a distant bonfire on the breeze, redolent of the leather-based gloves falcon trainers use, it’s bought trace of that huntin’ ‘n fishin’ outdoors-y perspective but it surely’s scrubbed up and refined, far sexier than it realises. One to marvel at, then fall for. Exhausting.

£145 for 50ml eau de parfum selfridges.com

Madame du Barry (Gaia Weiss) – Etat Libre d’Orange Putain des Palaces

Prettily powdered she could also be, however it is a perfume which means enterprise. Evoking passionate encounters and smudged lipstick, beneath the make-up strewn dressing desk prime notes there’s a writhing of sizzling our bodies entangled in sheets and an evocation of soiled linen very a lot being aired within the public gaze. Du Barry doesn’t imply to permit her grasp on the throne to be weakened, and for those who’re not in her courtroom, you’re executed for. Why not merely undergo the sensuality inside?

£85 for 50ml eau de parfum bloomperfume.co.uk

King Louis XV (James Purefoy) – Etat Libre d’Orange Exit the King

Amidst the bitchy courtroom of Versailles, King Louis (‘Papa Roi‘ as Antoinette involves name him) is a welcome pleasant face (although do be careful for his wandering palms). This pleasingly soapy scent is elegant all day lengthy, with a touch of conventional Cologne among the many French Savon and a dandyish air that isn’t afraid to put on its extra female aspect on its frilled white shirt cuff. Luminous musks beam forth from the froth, sunlit jasmine and lily of the valley resting on gentle woods. Pretty (however harmful within the unsuitable palms).

£128 for 100ml eau de parfum lessenteurs.com

Princesse de Lamballe (Jasmine Backborow) – Lancôme Trésor

Beloved since its launch in 1990, this softly peachy hug swathes its wearer in an embrace of fluffy muskiness, pillowy sandalwood and vanilla encircling the lilac blossoms within the coronary heart. Lamballe was (generally) Antoinette’s closest confidant; identified for her kindness and likability, she absolutely deserves to be as treasured as this scent. To be worn when you might want to be form to your self, maybe, this fragrance needs to be sought out anew by those that as soon as cherished it and found afresh for these but to be blessed.

£75 (was £83) for 50ml eau de parfum superdrug.com

Victoire (Caroline Piette) / Adelaïde (Crystal Shepherd-Cross) – Dior Pure Poison / Dior Poison 

Fairly frankly ‘a bit a lot’ and simply not giving a rattling, these mesdames is likely to be the single daughters of the King, however they co-rule the courtroom with iron fists inside their couture gloves. Within the BBC collection they’re magnificently snarky, their plum lipsticks and bruise colored robes a superb distinction to pastel froth and youthful folly. Deep, daring and unapologetic, the unique Poison nonetheless swaggers, whereas the Pure model is extra translucent, and although not as highly effective can ship a slap to the unworthy. So: bow down.

£54 for 30ml eau de parfum / £63 for 30ml eau de parfum dior.com

Written by Suzy Nightingale