Queen Letizia’s Obsession: The Iconic ’90s Fragrance She Swears By!

Everyone has their favorite scent. In royal circles, having a signature fragrance is essential. For instance, it is well known that Kate Middleton prefers Jo Malone, while King Charles III is devoted to Dior’s Eau Sauvage. In Spain, the royals also have their cherished scents, with Queen Letizia at the forefront. She is reportedly enamored with a French perfume from the 1990s that remains timelessly stylish. Described as fresh and sensual, it is a source of joy for King Felipe’s wife, as revealed by her close associates to the Spanish media.

The story begins in 1990. Count Hubert d’Ornano, a French industrialist and the founder of Sisley, decided to create a perfume for his wife Isabelle’s birthday. He chose a scent that reminded him of Andalusia, described as “a walk on a summer evening through the gardens of the Alcazar in Seville,” according to the brand. This was a fitting tribute, as Isabelle d’Ornano had spent much of her childhood in this part of Spain. Thus, Sisley’s Eau du Soir was designed to be Mediterranean, gentle, and warm. “Its highly original composition is exceptionally well-structured, earning it an award from the Perfume Academy in Madrid,” the cosmetics brand adds.

The fragrance opens with notes of mandarin and grapefruit to evoke the sunshine, followed by rose, jasmine, seringa, and ylang-ylang. Amber and patchouli enhance the aroma, resulting in a feminine and captivating perfume that smells like summer. Floral and chypre, Eau du Soir has established itself as a major classic in the world of perfumery. “One might forget a woman’s name, her features, her story… but if one remembers her perfume, it means she wore Eau du Soir,” Count Hubert d’Ornano once remarked.

And what about the bottle? A true work of art, it was designed by Polish sculptor Bronislaw Krzysztof. The cap features a woman’s face, and the gold aspect is a nod to “the typical baroque universe of southern Spain,” explains Olfastory, a site dedicated to fragrances. “This flashy effect is emblematic of the Spanish artistic movement.” More than just a perfume, it represents a grand love story that accompanies the queen in her daily life.