Supermodel, personal friend of Karl Lagerfeld and now perfumer extraordinaire (oh, and for the record, she's an absolute babe), Poppy Delevingne talked us through her scent memories...
Tell us about your first foray into perfume...
'It wasn't so much perfume at first, it was a gradual process that started with body spray. Do you remember Impulse? I remember I had one called 'Free Spirit' or 'Willow Dreams' or something! It was the thing. That was definitely my first jaunt into the world of perfume and then I swiftly moved on to something a little classier. I went through Thierry Mugler 'Angel', definitely 'Tommy Girl', 'CK1'. All the hits!'
Were you ever tempted to steal your mum's?
'My mum always smells like Jasmine and I love that. I don't even know the name of it, it's from like a special perfumer somewhere, but it's literally just jasmine and it's divine, but it's too much for me.'
What smells can't you stand?
'Cheesy feet. I don't like that at all. I like cheese on toast, but not cheesy feet. Cheese on toast fragrance - yes! Cheesy feet - no. Also my make-up artist's dog does the worst farts in the entire world. Her name's Spider and she does them in corner of the room and you're completely unaware until you walk into it and then you think you're going to pass out. Sorry Spider, but it's true.'
If you could bottle any smell, what would it be?
'I'd love to smell like babies - baby head smell. Or a witch's cauldron or something, I'd love to smell like that! Or, I know it sounds kind of crazy, but you know that smell when it's Summer and it's just rained and the pavement is wet. It's not raining anymore, it's just the wetness, but it's a nice temperature and you're just walking down the pavement. Do I sound mad?
'Also, it's already in a bottle but Jo Malone Tobacco & Mandarin is great - that cigar-y smell is so gorgeous. The smell of cigars reminds me of my godfather, who sadly isn't around anymore, but it reminds me of his big moustache and sitting in his living room with red velvet walls. Every time I smell cigars it takes me back somewhere lovely.'
Do you think perfume can be empowering?
'Oh 100%! Perfume can totally change your point of view in a day and make you leave your house in a completely different mood. Good hair and amazing perfume can make you feel like you can take on the world. Jo Malone's Tuberose Angelica makes me feel that way. It makes me feel strong and empowered for sure. Just add a bit of bedhead to accessorise.'
In our opinion, someone who smells amazing is at least 60% more attractive, what do you think?
'I totally think that! One of the first things that ever attracted me to my husband was his smell. He was wearing Amber & Lavender by Jo Malone and he still wears it. Sounds cheesy but it was nine years ago and it seems like yesterday.
'This is actually going to make me sound crazy but I have a drawer full of my ex boyfriends' aftershaves. So I'd smell the different bottles and be like, "Oh that's Charlie, and that's Nick...". But my sense of smell is my thing so I'll see one of my friend's that I haven't seen for ages and say, "You smell like you!". Memories for me are really tied to scent.'
We heard that you had a scent theme for your wedding...
'I did, it's so embarrassing! I wore Jo Malone's Orange Blossom on my wedding day in England, and then I had matching candles and also Peony & Blush Suede candles as well. Then we had diffusers in the loo and hand wash, the whole thing. I didn't spray the chairs though...
'Then in Marrakech we didn't need any perfume because it was so dreamy there already. The hotel we stayed in was surrounded by orange blossom fields so the whole place smelt amazing, and we got married in a rose garden so that smelt beautiful as well.'
Any tricks for making your perfume last all day?
'In Winter I'm definitely heavier with my perfume. I'm all about the body cream as well, layer upon layer of it. Whereas in Summer I'm a little more hop out of the shower, mist the room and do a little dance in it. A gentle spritzing. Definitely put some on your neck, that's vital, and get some in your hair if you can!'
