BOSS, BOTTLED

Want to know what perfume powerful women wear? You came to the right place

A powerful woman walks into a room... and smells bloody fantastic. So which fragrances do the big hitters in business, media, sport and beyond rely on to help them feel invincible?

THE POLITICAL LEADER

Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, wears Marc Jacobs Daisy

EDT, from £55 “This is my go-to fragrance. It doesn’t overpower but just leaves a subtle scent among my fellow politicians.”

THE CHIEF EXEC

Karren Brady, businesswoman, wears Cartier Must De Cartier

EDT, from £69 “I discovered this, my first ‘proper’ perfume, when I was 18 years old – and I still use it to this day. It was worn by very glamorous women and it smelt like luxury. I thought,‘I want to be like that!’”

THE EDITOR

Farrah Storr, editor-inchief of Cosmopolitan,

wears Donna Karan Cashmere Mist EDP, from

£39 “I’ve been wearing this for years – for dates, meetings, sprayed on a cashmere blanket before I board a plane… it works for everything.”

THE INFLUENCER

Lisa Eldridge, international make-up artist & vlogger, wears Le Labo Rose 31 EDP, from £120

“I use one spritz of this when I’m on a make-up job. I’m usually working very close to the client, so I try to go for something that isn’t too strong. I love its delicate, warm, woody, floral scent – it blends well with my skin and makes me feel calm and confident.”

THE ENTREPRENEUR

Cindy Gallop, founder of websites If We Ran The World & Make Love Not Porn, wears Yves Saint

Laurent Nu EDP, £77 “[This scent] was discontinued when Tom Ford left his tenure at YSL, and for years I scavenged various corners of the internet, paying over the odds for leftover bottles – so I was thrilled when L’Oréal relaunched it. It’s sensual, distinctive and I’m often told, ‘You smell nice,’ by complete strangers.”

THE CAMPAIGNER

Gina Miller, Brexit campaigner, wears Prada Infusion D’Iris EDP, from

£52 “I wear this in winter. It’s warm and classic. In summer, L’Occitane Citrus Verbena makes me feel full of vitality.”

THE TV STAR

Mary Portas, retail consultant & presenter, wears Diptyque L’Eau EDT, £74

“Twenty-two years later, the love affair continues. A far from retiring perfume, it’s still my obsession, to the point that I become possessive and shouty if anyone borrows a spritz. My home is also swathed in Diptyque fragrances.”

THE MEDIA MOGUL

Arianna Huffington, co-founder of The Huffington Post, wears Hermès 24 Faubourg EDT, from

£45 “I’ve tried to change my scent many times over the years, but I always return to this – it’s my must-have that I wear every day.”