Lavender Thorne - Fragrance Discovery

There's a fragrance aesthetic that's come to dominate a certain corner of beauty culture. Call it "clean girl." Call it "that girl." Call it whatever you want—but you'll recognise it when you smell it.

Dewy. Fresh. Expensive-smelling but understated. The olfactory equivalent of glazed skin, slicked-back hair, and pilates at 6am.

And at the centre of this movement: Hailey Bieber and her beloved Ex Nihilo Fleur Narcotique.

The Scent That Started Conversations

When Hailey revealed that Fleur Narcotique was the scent she "always goes back to," it confirmed what many had suspected: the most-studied beauty influencer of her generation had exceptional taste in fragrance.

Fleur Narcotique is a lychee-peony-musk composition that manages to smell both fresh and sensual. It's the kind of scent that makes people lean in and ask what you're wearing—but gently, because it's not projecting aggressively.

It reads as clean but not boring. Pretty but not juvenile. Modern but not trendy.

Best for: Everyday wear, office environments, brunch dates, spring and summer.

The "Clean Girl" Fragrance Checklist

What makes a fragrance fit this aesthetic?

Freshness without sharpness. Citrus and aquatic notes are allowed, but they shouldn't sting. Think soft lemon rather than aggressive grapefruit.

Florals that whisper. White flowers, peony, rose—but rendered in a modern, dewy way. Nothing powdery. Nothing heavy.

Skin-scent quality. The fragrance should feel like an extension of freshly moisturised skin, not something layered on top.

Subtle sweetness. A touch of musk or vanilla in the base, providing warmth without veering into gourmand territory.

Scents in This World

The Celebrity Picks:

Jo Malone Orange Blossom — Kate Middleton's wedding scent. Citrus-white floral elegance
Jo Malone Wild Bluebell — Meghan Markle's choice. Dewy, green, approachable
Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom & Honey — Peachy sweetness, intimate and lovely

The Fresh Aquatics:

Acqua di Gioia (Armani) — Fresh aquatic that reads expensive and effortless
Hermès Un Jardin Sur Le Nil — Green mango and lotus. Transportive sophistication
Hermès Un Jardin En Méditerranée — Fig leaf, orange blossom, cedar. Mediterranean ease

The Elegant Florals:

Chloé Nomade — Oak moss, freesia, mirabelle plum. Easy elegance
Flowerbomb (for those who like more presence) — The floral-gourmand that remains universally loved
Coco Mademoiselle — More oriental-floral, but shares that "expensive without trying" quality

The Appeal

This aesthetic resonates because it suggests effortlessness. Even if we know intellectually that Hailey Bieber's "natural" look requires significant effort and resources, the fantasy is compelling.

The fragrance extension is: "I don't need to smell like anything dramatic. My natural scent, gently enhanced, is enough."

It's confidence disguised as simplicity.

The Honest Truth

The trade-off with skin scents: longevity. Most of these fragrances sit close and fade relatively quickly. You won't get all-day projection.

For some, that's the point—fragrance as personal ritual rather than announcement.

For others, it's frustrating. If you want your scent to last, look for the Extrait or Intense versions where available, or accept that reapplication is part of the experience.

Finding Your Version

If this aesthetic appeals, the good news is there are options at every price point. The key is that soft, close-to-skin quality. If you can smell it from across the room, it's not this.

Start with the Jo Malone range—their discovery sets are reasonably priced and let you explore several options in this territory before committing.

Want to find your own clean-girl signature? Tell us what appeals to you and we'll match you with something perfect.