At 76, Princess Anne remains loyal to this timeless Hermès perfume
Choosing a perfume and staying faithful to it for decades is a form of personal signature that very few people truly commit to. Princess Anne, who celebrates her 76th birthday this Friday, 15 August 2026, appears to have found hers long ago, and it goes by a very specific name: Calèche by Hermès.
A bottle that tells a story: the connection between Calèche and equestrianism
It is no coincidence that this perfume is said to have won over the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. The very name of this French fragrance is a direct reference to horse-drawn carriages, making it a particularly fitting choice for a princess whose lifelong passion for equestrianism is well documented.
According to Glam, Princess Anne does indeed have a soft spot for this Hermès creation. The choice says a great deal about her personality: elegant, consistent, and deeply rooted in a world she holds dear. Wearing a perfume whose name evokes horses, when you have devoted much of your life to them, speaks to a rare kind of coherence.
What is in this perfume: floral notes far removed from current trends
To understand why this fragrance may have accompanied the princess through the years, it is worth looking at its composition. Calèche takes a restrained floral approach, a world away from the gourmand, heavily sweetened scents that have flooded perfumeries in recent years.
Among its key notes are aldehydes, jasmine and a delicate rose. This blend gives the eau de toilette a refined character that stands in sharp contrast to the fragrances currently commanding the spotlight. In choosing this composition, Princess Anne clearly distances herself from seasonal trends and the constant stream of new releases.
- Aldehydes: a hallmark note of the great classics of perfumery
- Jasmine: an iconic flower in elegant floral compositions
- Delicate rose: a gentle touch that softens the overall blend
- Eau de toilette: the format in which this fragrance is available
Calèche’s place in the history of Hermès
What makes this perfume even more singular is its position within the history of the house that created it. Calèche is, in fact, the very first women’s perfume ever conceived by Hermès. That pioneering status lends it a particular aura within the house’s olfactory history.
Wearing Calèche, then, is also wearing a piece of French perfumery history. The fragrance has crossed the decades without losing any of its prestige, which goes some way to explaining why it may have earned the lasting loyalty of Elizabeth II’s daughter. A creation that stands the test of time, worn by a woman who herself embodies a certain sense of continuity.
At 76, an attachment that goes beyond mere habit
Princess Anne’s loyalty to this Hermès perfume illustrates something very tangible: when a fragrance truly matches a personality, it becomes almost impossible to replace. At 76, she would appear to remain devoted to this trusted classic, unmoved by the trends that reshape perfumery shelves with every new season.
This choice also aligns perfectly with the style those around her have always recognised: understated, timeless, and uncompromising in the face of passing fashions. The perfume becomes something far greater than a beauty accessory. It functions as an identity marker, steady and fully owned, that endures through the years without ever wavering.
