6 Chic French Women Just Shared Their Signature Scents With Me

It's no secret that here at Who What Wear UK we are big fans of French style—from the elegant basics that we spot our favourite French influencers stepping out in on the streets of Paris, to the chic summer outfits that are dominating the South of France this summer.

And when it comes to beauty in particular, there is something about the simplicity of French women's approach to hair, beauty and nails that I personally can't get enough of. Whether it's their efficacious pharmacy-led skincare routines, their artfully dishevelled hairstyles that have inspired many of my own trips to the salon, or their immaculately groomed nails, there's a reason why French women are known for always looking so chic.

When it comes to their signature scents, however? I decided to go straight to the source to discover the perfumes that French women genuinely wear. Ahead, six of our favourite French friends with the most impeccable fashion and beauty tastes share their go-to perfumes. And, as expected, the list is impossibly sophisticated—and smells incredible. 

1. Ellie Delphine

With such an eclectic individual style, it's no surprise that Parisian Ellie Delphine has a couple of signature scents, including one that she reaches for each summer. 

"Loubiraj by Louboutin is usually my go-to. It’s extremely feminine and pungent in the best of ways," says Delphine. "But for summer, I like to go for something lighter. Tom Ford’s Soleil de Feu is fruity, fresh and almost girly. It smells like romantic sunsets on the beach and it is the perfect summer scent."

2. Léna Farl

It's no surprise that blogger and content creator Léna Farl has chosen such a chic and unusual perfume as her signature—after all, her Instagram feed is packed with unexpected style inspiration.

"Right now, my perfume is from Memo, a perfume house that make amazing scents inspired by travel and worldwide destinations," says Farl. "I wear Kedu, which blends sesame and grapefruit perfectly. I love perfumes with floral and citrus notes, and it matches my personality perfectly (or at least, I think it does!). It's daring, feminine and sparkling with a touch of originality thanks to the sesame notes."

3. Clémentine Desseaux

French model Clémentine Desseaux now resides in Miami, and interestingly, only has one single perfume that she adores.

"I have been wearing L'Eau d'Issey by Issey Miyake since I was a teen," says Desseaux. "It was my mum’s summer fragrance so I started by borrowing it from her, and then it became my one and only. I mostly don’t wear a scent, but when I do, that’s the one. In fact, it’s the only perfume I have ever bought for over 15 years."

4. Claire Most

Although Portland is now home to fashion insider Claire Most, the former Paris native is sticking to her roots with her signature perfume choice that hails from luxury French fashion house YSL.

"Every time I wear YSL Libre I get so many compliments. It’s floral but doesn’t smell like other floral perfumes you’d think of," says Most. "It’s actually orange blossom and lavender, and there's musk as well, which gives a sensual and kind of mysterious vibe. I thought I was a fresh and sweet scent girl, but this perfume made me change my mind."

5. Mélodie Bance 

Parisian creative Mélodie Bance is renowned on Instagram for her classic wardrobe choices and elegant style, and her signature scent is equally as discerning.

"I have so many perfumes that I love that it's hard to narrow it down to one, but if I have to, I would choose Rose & Cuir by French perfumer Frédéric Malle," says Bance. "It's floral, slightly spicy, very feminine and romantic, yet slightly melancholic at the same time. It's basically the Lana Del Rey of perfumes! Another bonus is that the scent lingers longer than most other perfumes I've had."

6. Emmanuelle Koffi

Fashion content creator Emmanuelle Koffi is the epitome of French style—elegant, chic and timeless. Her perfume choice follows suit.

"Dioriviera is my favourite perfume for this summer. It's inspired by Christian Dior's love of the Riviera, with notes of fig and rose," says Koffi. "When I smell this fragrance, it conjures the image of a sophisticated, elegant woman. Her style is chic and refined, reflecting her taste for timeless elegance. She is confident, bold and has a magnetic aura that draws others to her. If you are or aspire to be this type of woman then you'll love this scent."