British-born actoress Elizabeth Taylor watches her fiance Eddie Fisher as he performs on stage at the Tropicana in Las Vegas, Nevada, August 1959. Taylor is wearing diamond jewelry given to her by Fisher. (Photo by John Bryson/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images)
Elizabeth Taylor Fragrances As Feminine Archetypes
Image: John Bryson / Getty
Not easily defined or described, Elizabeth embraced her complex nature and her holistic humanity throughout her life, embodying multiple feminine archetypes in her career and her personal life. For National Fragrance Day, we’ve matched some of her iconic scents with archetypes she embodied in her life and career. Read more to see which fragrance each version of Elizabeth would wear. After all, her fragrances were never just beauty products. Each one distills a different facet of a woman too expansive to be captured in any single image.
The Queen — “White Diamonds”
The Queen is a woman who rules her domain with confidence and authority, and in Hollywood, Elizabeth did just that. She insisted on being paid what she was worth, famously becoming the first actor to negotiate a $1 million salary. Playing the role of a queen in that very film, Cleopatra, only amplified that impression. “White Diamonds” is the perfect scent for a regal presence, luminous, empowered, and self-assured. Shop “White Diamonds” here.
The Lover — “Passion”
Few public figures have embodied The Lover as wholly as Elizabeth. Her eight marriages to seven husbands were constant fodder for the tabloids, but also an expression of her unwavering belief in the power of love. Elizabeth was brave enough to embrace great love, with a deep understanding that it is always worth the risk. Bold, unapologetic, and full-blooded, “Passion” is the perfect fragrance for this archetype. Shop “Passion” here.
The Warrior — “Forever Elizabeth”
In the 1980s, Elizabeth boldly stepped into the archetype of The Warrior. She became the first globally recognized celebrity HIV and AIDS activist, and used her fame to raise funds, challenge prejudice, and support both research and care, later founding The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. “Forever Elizabeth” carries the weight of her commitment to the cause in its name, perfect for a woman who always chose to show up for others and famously said, “I will remain here as rowdy an activist as I have to be and God willing for as long as I have to be!”. Shop “Forever Elizabeth” here.
The Dreamer — “Gardenia”
The Dreamer is the archetype of the true idealist: someone who moves through the world with an innate sense of wonder, who believes in beauty as a way of being. Elizabeth grew up on screen, her childhood carefully managed, and yet she carried a genuine warmth and openness throughout her life — a quality that made her beloved not just as an icon but as a human being. “Gardenia” speaks to this ever-present sense of delight, with its soft and luminous white floral scent. Shop “Gardenia” here.
The Enchantress — “Violet Eyes”
The Enchantress is defined by charisma, sensuality, and almost supernatural magnetism, but her real power is never just her appearance. Elizabeth’s beauty was legendary, and her performances in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and BUtterfield 8 brought to life characters who wielded sexuality and vulnerability as forms of influence, her bombshell presence belying real power. “Violet Eyes” captures this quality, named for Elizabeth’s own feature that made the world stop and stare. Shop “Violet Eyes” here.