For me, there's no compliment quite like being told, "You smell nice". I don't know what it is about olfactory praise, but nothing makes me preen as much as someone complimenting my perfume.
Hair stylist and scent lover Adam Reed agrees - and as someone who uses fragrance in his haircare brand with care, he has more insight than I into why perfume praise is so powerful: "I pay close attention to how and why I choose my fragrance as it has the power to completely shift how I feel. So, when someone pays a compliment to something that has meaning to you, it holds more weight than something you care less about."
Fellow fragrance aficionado, Ormonde Jayne’s founder, Linda Pilkington, echoes: "After choosing a signature scent, it becomes part of one's identity. It's instantly recognisable as part of who you are. When a friend, work colleague or stranger is compelled to comment, it can sometimes touch our core more than if someone likes our new shoes or coat, because fragrance reacts with everyone's skin individually. It can also be a very safe way to pass a personal compliment, as it doesn’t have to be romantic."
With this in mind, when Amal Clooney bestowed a scent-based compliment on Queen Camilla at the King's Trust's 50th anniversary at the Royal Albert Hall on Monday night, we suspect Queen Camilla felt the glow of Amal's kind words.
© Getty ImagesThe former human rights lawyer could be seen telling Her Majesty: "You smell very good," as she greeted her at the glitzy event. Watch the charming moment below...
Queen Camilla responded in kind, admiring Amal's glittering look as the two glamorous women chatted animatedly, with Amal informing Her Majesty that her makeup was courtesy of Charlotte Tilbury, with Queen Camilla apparently a fellow Tilbury fan.
While it's unknown which scent Her Majesty was wearing, Amal was wearing the Charlotte Tilbury scent, Star Confidence, an intoxicating, warm, blackberry and jasmine-infused scent.
© WireImageQueen Camilla's makeup
Charlotte Tilbury herself was in attendance at the starry occasion, presenting longtime friend Amal with an award, confirming she was both responsible for Amal's makeup and that the Queen wears her products too.
"Yes, she does, darling," makeup mogul Charlotte said of the Queen's penchant for her beauty products, cheekily adding: "Pillow Talk [the brand's best-selling lipstick] isn't the number one selling lipstick in the world for nothing!"
Amal Clooney's King's Trust makeup
Amal was wearing a full face of Charlotte Tilbury makeup, with her mesmerising eye look created using the brand's Exagger-Eyes Easy Eyeshadow Stick in Oyster Twilight. See below for the full breakdown
Skincare:
Magic Cream
Complexion:
Airbrush Flawless Foundation
Airbrush Flawless Blur Concealer
Hollywood Contour Wand
Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder
Beauty Light Wand
Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray
Eyes:
Super Nudes Easy Eye Palette
Exagger-Eyes Easy Eyeshadow Stick in Oyster Twilight
Exagger-Eyes Volume Mascara
Lips:
Lip Cheat Contour Duo in Tan
Hot Lips 2 in Dancefloor Princess
Fragrance:
Star Confidence
Queen Camilla's fragrance
Her Majesty has never spoken about the scent she chooses to wear, but it has been widely reported that she likes Bandit by Robert Piguet, a dark, leathery, wood scent which makes an imposing impression, which seems to marry up with Amal's words of praise.
Funnily enough, last week, a member of the public who met Queen Camilla on his luxury-inspired perfume stall at the Badminton Horse Trials, joked about the royal's scent of choice, sharing a photo of them together: "Queen Camilla stopping off at Aroma Avenue stall to get her favourite perfume, Baccarat Rouge, for a fraction of the price at the badminton horse trials," he added: "PS. We wish."
© InstagramThough we may never know for sure the scent that Camilla wears, we bet she's still glowing from Amal Clooney's compliment – it's not every day one of the world's most beautiful women admires you, after all.
