The Great British Perfume Houses: Scents Fit for a King

Walk down Jermyn Street, the narrow lane behind Piccadilly, and you pass some of the oldest perfume shops in the world — panelled, discreet, and scented with three centuries of history. This small corner of London is the heart of British perfumery, and it has been supplying the royal court with fragrance since long before there was a United Kingdom to speak of.

The great British perfume houses are among the most quietly royal of all our heritage brands. They hold warrants stretching back to Georgian kings, they still make scent by hand in London, and the fragrances they create are worn by the royal family to this day. To wear one is to share, quite literally, in the atmosphere of the palace.

Here are the British perfume houses to know, their royal stories, and the scents that have graced the court across the centuries.

Floris: perfumer to the court since 1730

No British perfume house is older or more royal than Floris London. Juan Famenias Floris arrived in London from Menorca in 1730 and opened a shop at 89 Jermyn Street — the same address the family occupies today, making it one of the oldest businesses in the world still trading from its original premises.

The royal warrants began early. Floris was first granted one in 1820, as comb-makers to King George IV, and went on to receive many more across the reigns, including perfume warrants for Queen Elizabeth II. Most recently, Floris was granted a Royal Warrant by King Charles III in 2023 — an unbroken thread of royal favour running very nearly three centuries. Its old-world English florals are, quite simply, the scent of the British court. Floris features, too, in our guide to royal warrant fashion brands.

Penhaligon’s: three royal warrants and counting

Founded in 1870 by the Cornish barber William Penhaligon, Penhaligon’s is the other great name of British perfumery — and one with a remarkable royal record. It received its first Royal Warrant in 1903 from Queen Alexandra, a second in 1956 from the Duke of Edinburgh, and a third in the late 1980s from the then Prince of Wales, now King Charles III.

The connection is more than ceremonial: the King is a documented wearer of Penhaligon’s, whose eccentric, beautifully-made English fragrances — from Blenheim Bouquet to Halfeti — have a devoted following far beyond the palace. Our profile of Penhaligon’s, perfumer to the court tells the full story of a barber’s shop that became a royal favourite.

Jo Loves: Jo Malone’s modern London house

Not every great British scent is centuries old. Jo Loves is the newer fragrance house of Jo Malone CBE — the celebrated British perfumer who founded, and later sold, the brand that bears her name — and it has quickly become a modern London classic in its own right.

Its royal-adjacent credentials are lovely, too: Jo Loves was chosen as the guest fragrance partner of The Goring, the only hotel to have held Queen Elizabeth II’s own royal warrant and the place the Princess of Wales spent the eve of her wedding. (Her own signature scent, incidentally, is widely reported to be Jo Malone’s Orange Blossom — the earlier brand, a distinct house — as we explore in what perfume the Princess of Wales wears.) For contemporary British scent with impeccable pedigree, Jo Loves is a modern must-know.

What makes a British perfume house special

British perfumery has a character all its own: restrained where the French are opulent, built on clean florals, citruses and the “fougère” freshness of a well-groomed English garden. Where a French house chases drama, a British one aims for elegance you could wear to church — which is precisely why the royals have favoured them for so long.

The best British houses also still do things the old way: blending in London, selling from panelled Jermyn Street shops, and treating a fragrance as something to be worn for life rather than for a season. A warrant, here, is not marketing but the proof of a relationship measured in reigns.

The scents the royals wear

Royal fragrance is one of the more charming areas of royal style. King Charles III is associated with Penhaligon’s, whose warrant he granted as Prince of Wales; the Princess of Wales is widely reported to favour Jo Malone’s Orange Blossom; and Floris has scented monarchs from George IV to Elizabeth II. Even the great state occasions have their signature notes.

The pleasure of it, for the rest of us, is that royal scent is entirely attainable. Unlike the crown jewels, a bottle of the King’s favoured perfumer costs no more than any other luxury fragrance — a rare case of royal taste being available off the shelf.

How to choose a British fragrance

Finding your British scent is a lovely, unhurried business. Start on Jermyn Street if you can, or with a sample set: British houses excel at florals (rose, neroli, orange blossom), fresh citruses and green, garden-like fragrances, so begin with the family that appeals. Wear a scent for a full day before committing — perfume changes on the skin over hours.

Look, too, for a signature that suits your life rather than the trend of the moment; the British approach is to find a fragrance and keep it, the way the royals have kept theirs for generations. A good British perfume, well chosen, becomes as much a part of you as a well-cut coat.

Why British perfumery endures

The great British perfume houses endure because they offer something rare: genuine heritage you can wear. Made by hand, sold from the same shops for centuries, and worn by the royal family across reigns, they are living history in a bottle — and history that still smells wonderful.

That is the enduring appeal. To wear Floris or Penhaligon’s is to join a story that runs from Georgian kings to the present one. Browse more of our Royal Style & Fashion stories to keep exploring the brands the royals love.

Frequently asked questions

What perfume does King Charles wear?

King Charles III is associated with Penhaligon’s, the British perfume house to which he granted a Royal Warrant while Prince of Wales. Its heritage English fragrances have long had a royal following.

Does Floris have a royal warrant?

Yes — many, across the centuries. Floris was first granted a royal warrant in 1820 and has received them across successive reigns, including perfume warrants for Queen Elizabeth II and, most recently, a Royal Warrant from King Charles III in 2023.

What perfume does the Princess of Wales wear?

The Princess of Wales is widely reported to favour Jo Malone’s Orange Blossom Cologne. Note that Jo Malone London and Jo Loves are distinct houses — both founded by the perfumer Jo Malone CBE.

What is the oldest British perfume house?

Floris London, established at 89 Jermyn Street in 1730, is among the oldest British perfume houses and one of the oldest businesses in the world still trading from its original premises.

Do the royals have a signature scent?

Members of the royal family are associated with particular fragrances — King Charles with Penhaligon’s and the Princess of Wales with Jo Malone’s Orange Blossom among them — though the household keeps most details private.

Where can I buy British heritage perfume?

British perfume houses such as Floris and Penhaligon’s sell from their Jermyn Street and Mayfair shops, their own websites, and selected retailers, and many of their fragrances are widely available to order online.

Royal warrant holdings and associations are described as of 2026; for the definitive current warrant list, see royalwarrant.org.