WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE FLOWER?
Did you know that your favourite flower can reveal aspects of your personality? Based on your preferred blossom, one can create an entire aesthetic. For example, if you love red roses, you probably also like red wine, romance novels, and grand gestures. Red roses are classic, but they are also deeply romantic, mysterious, and sensual. A single long-stem crimson rose is the epitome of an intensely feminine aesthetic, complete with old books, crumpled love letters with a wax seal, and long nights illuminated only by the moon and flickering candlelight.
We’ll discover what balances other flower favourites, including complementary flowers, scents, perfume, and colour palettes.
More on red roses…
Now there’s lots of roses…small spray ones held in tentative hands as wedding bouquets, heavenly fragrant Damask blooms that make world famous perfume and artisanal water, beach roses that flourish by the surf and smell slightly salty and spicy, wild bloomers that climb and have thorns the size of a thumb…but they all have one thing in common: they are intensely romantic, feminine, mysterious, exotic, and dreamy. If you love roses, you probably also are sentimental and treasure tokens of all sorts, including locks of hair and baby teeth in a porcelain trinket box. A lover of roses probably prefers lipstick in a bold shade, most likely deep scarlet. Since Chanel No. 5 contains some of the world’s most fragrant and distinctive roses (“Rosa centifolia”) that smell of honey, you most likely walk around in a cloud of the scent. Another flower that pairs beautifully with roses is jasmine. Jasmine flowers are known for their intensely sweet and clear fragrance that sometimes verges on spicy. Nothing intermingles with a frilly rose more beautifully than a tuft of white star-like jasmine. Another flower that pairs nicely with roses of all types is baby’s breath (for what would a single rose be without a froth of white as embellishment?)
Lilies immediately conjure images of a coquette, rumpled white sheets, an affinity for bed rotting, and someone with a reverence for ritual and tradition. The lily lover always sends thank-you notes, loves a dynamic fragrance, prefers pale colours, and is meticulous. Flowers that pair well include anything white or pink. Because lilies take center stage—especially a white lily or stargazer—they pair beautifully with other ostentatious flora such as peonies and gladiola. Lilies, known for their strong powdery fragrance, are an acquired taste for some. Because they are so bold and dynamic, it’s usually a confident person who prefers them. White lilies also represent purity and modesty, so while they are eye-catching, they are also elegant in their reserve. A white lily speaks for itself and doesn’t need a ton of explanation. A perfume that contains lilies in its preparation is Elizabeth Taylor’s classic White Diamonds (this is definitely a powerful fragrance, and the wearer knows it). Some other floral scents that intermingle nicely with lilies include magnolia, apple blossom, and even aloe.
Tulip girlies love the rain, probably ride a bicycle everywhere, own a perfectly tailored Burberry trench, and have visited Amsterdam at least once. A lover of tulips definitely considers spring their favourite season and has an affinity for all flowers that germinate from a bulb. Flowers that pair beautifully as an aesthetic or in a literal arrangement include all the spring favorites: daffodils, hyacinths, crocus, and snowdrops.
A lover of lavender prefers the summertime with lots of sunshine and a South of France vibe. Lavender promotes a calm, soothing nature because the scent causes neurotransmitters to release dopamine and other feel-good chemicals. Because this plant is so aromatic and renowned for its comforting effects, it’s practically synonymous with restful sleep. Spraying lavender mist on your pillow before bed is a beloved ritual, while tucking sachets of dried lavender into nooks and crannies fills one’s surroundings with the warmest, most intoxicating fragrance. One with an affinity for lavender loves this hue of purple, probably collects amethysts and other healing crystals, and visits the farmers’ market weekly.
Lavender pairs beautifully with sunflowers and other blossoms that are just as attractive dried as they are fresh. Lavender buds on their own can create a cottagecore aesthetic. Simply add a straw sunhat, rustic woven baskets, and bundles of globe amaranth, statice, and liatris tied with baling twine. If one is drawn to lavender, they are probably into aromatherapy, essential oils, plant-based elixirs, and handmade artisanal soaps, too.
To discover how your favourite flowers are used in lush arrangements and floral designs, check out Chelsea Flowers on the website.