It’s been seven years since Meghan Markle wed Prince Harry in May 2018 and, ever since, there’s been hardly a stone—from her wedding day makeup to the taste of her Claire Ptak cake—left unturned when it comes to studying core aspects of the day. But recently, we learned a bit more about the custom fragrance Meghan Markle is thought to have worn down the aisle, according to reports in publications ranging from Harper’s Bazaar to Elle. Though the perfumers wouldn’t confirm private client details (I asked!), the bespoke scent Markle supposedly wore was inspired by Floris London’s Bergamotto di Positano, a citrusy and summer-friendly fragrance. After reading about it, I couldn’t resist trying it out.
Want to Smell Like a Duchess? Meghan Markle’s Rumored Wedding Perfume Is Delicate and Bright
She supposedly wore a riff on this citrusy scent
•
Published Aug 7, 2025
Getty Images/Floris London
Tim Graham/Getty Images
All About Floris London’s Royal Ties
It’s worth noting that Floris London’s royal history runs deep. A royal warrant holder since 1820, when the honor was bestowed upon the brand by His Majesty King George IV, Floris solidified its reputation as a fragrance house in 1840, when it created a delicate, floral perfume for Her Majesty Queen Victoria’s wedding day. (A reformulated version of this particular scent is still available to purchase today.) “Nowadays, everyone uses fragrance and mixes multiple scents into their wardrobes, but during Queen Victoria’s time, perfume would have been an elite product,” Anna Gilchrist, fragrance and bespoke executive for Floris London, explains over the phone. “Victoria was also very much a trendsetter at the time, blending multiple flowers into her perfume rather than just a singular floral note, which, up until then, would have been the norm.”
That royal relationship has continued to the present with Floris London working closely with the modern royals, too. Everyone from Princess Diana, who helped open Floris London’s factories in Devon, England, in 1989, to Queen Elizabeth II, who had a scent released in honor of her Platinum Jubilee in 2022, have worked closely with the fragrance house. King Charles has also ensured that that relationship has continued, extending his own royal warrant to Floris London in 2023.
Floris London
What Makes Bergamotto di Positano Unique—and Perfect for Summer
Gilchrist says it best: “If you’re looking for something that’s fresh and citrusy without being overly sharp, this particular fragrance is quite easy to wear and very light.” Designed to capture the soul of the Mediterranean Sea, it was originally dreamed up as an homage to Charles Joseph Pagliano, an early 19th century explorer who left the charm of a small fishing village on the Amalfi coast behind to travel to England and marry his true love, Mary Floris. He permanently stayed in London, so this scent was intended to help him conjure memories of home. (It’s also unisex.)
Top notes feature bergamot, marine and mandarin while base notes are a combination of amber, spice, ambrette, woods and vanilla. Then, there are something Floris London refers to as the “heart notes,” (aka the notes that don’t disappear straight away but last a bit longer) which include green tea, orange blossom and ginger.
My Honest Review
I love to wear perfume, but I also am really careful about choosing a scent that doesn’t overpower. (My olfactory senses are sensitive, so I’m always mindful of that.) That’s why Bergamotto di Positano is perfect. It’s delicate and bright without being too floral.
In fact, the scent feels quite playful—exactly the kind of perfume you’d want to tuck in your bag for a vacation, but also something that’s easily wearable on a regular summer day. In my case, I wore it to the office a couple of times and got a compliment or two. It’s aromatic without being cloying or cologne-like. (I do think the amber notes mean you could wear it into early fall, as well.) I also love the fact that it’s unisex.
In my conversation with Gilchrist, I got a pro tip on the best way to apply it. “It depends on the strength of the fragrance and how much you want to be able to smell it,” she explains. She recommends spritzing it onto your wrists and onto the back of your neck. “If someone hugs you, they can smell it, but putting it on your wrists lets you control how often you smell it throughout your day.”
Bottom Line
This is a fragrance that beautifully combines English life with the breeziness of a European vacation—and with a royal flair, too. It quickly has become a staple in my personal perfume library and one I’ll continue to reach for season after season. No wonder Meghan (supposedly) loves it.
