Opening with the brightness of bergamot and softened by English chamomile and aromatics, Celest Eau de Parfum by Floris London is a mild spring day, bottled. Think of almost-warm air, the garden beginning to bloom, and smells that can only be described as ‘green,’ lingering on the breeze. As it dries down, davana and honey bring a mellow sweetness, while cedarwood and balsamic notes offer a woody depth. Ambergris, musk, and resinous opoponax in the base leave behind a warm trail.
An amber-floral composition, this brand-new scent from Floris London draws inspiration from the ceremonial origins of perfumery, when precious resins and incense were burned and fragrant smoke was believed to carry messages skyward. Rather than recreating incense with a traditional heaviness though, Celest interprets the idea through lighter notes of chamomile, honey, woods, and soft balsamic warmth, making it distinctly contemporary and fitting for spring.
The launch of Celest is the latest chapter in an olfactory story that began in 1730, when Juan Famenias Floris founded his fragrance house at 89 Jermyn Street in London. Nearly three centuries later, Floris remains at the same address and is now run by the ninth generation of the Floris family. It is recognised as the world’s oldest independent, family-run perfume house and holds a Royal Warrant from His Majesty King Charles III. And across that history, individual fragrances have captured many notable people, places, and moments.
White Rose Eau de Toilette, created in the early 1800s, was worn by the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale, while Bouquet de La Reine was originally composed as a wedding gift for Queen Victoria in 1840. No. 89 takes its name from the house’s Jermyn Street address and was worn by author Ian Fleming, whose iconic character James Bond shared his appreciation for the scent.
Evoking a true sense of place, Jermyn Street Eau de Parfum celebrates the London home that has shaped the fragrance house for generations and takes inspiration from the plane trees that stand proudly in front of the Floris London shop. Sirena Eau de Parfum, with its top notes of jasmine, marine, bergamot, and pink peppercorn looks further south to Minorca, the birthplace of Juan Famenias Floris. Even Marilyn Monroe became part of the brand’s history after purchasing Floris Rose Geranium while staying at the Beverly Hills Hotel in 1959.
Together, these distinctive perfumes showcase a dynamic fragrance house that honours its legacy while continuing to evolve, drawing on an archive shaped by craftsmanship, family memories and storytelling. With Celest, ancient perfumery rituals are reimagined for a new generation and season, ready to become part of someone else’s story.
Floris London is available exclusively in New Zealand through selected
Life Pharmacy stores and online at lifepharmacy.co.nz.
This article originally featured in the Spring ’26 issue of Fashion Quarterly.
Imagery: Supplied.
Words: Lucy Slight.
