Some moments change your life forever.
For me, one of those moments was standing outside Chelsea Old Town Hall, hand in hand with my new husband, Steven, laughing together as confetti filled the air. Everything else seemed to disappear. It was just us, beginning the next chapter of our lives.
Our wedding day was everything I had dreamed of and more. It was filled with so much love, so much happiness and so many little moments that I'll treasure forever. The excitement while getting ready that morning. Seeing our family and friends all together. Catching Steven's eye for the first time. Walking back down the aisle as husband and wife. It's impossible to put into words how special it all felt.
But there is one thing that instantly transports me back to every second of that day. The fragrance I wore.
Why Fragrance Means So Much to Me
I've always believed that fragrance is the most emotional thing we can wear. A photograph reminds you what something looked like. A video reminds you what happened.
But fragrance has this extraordinary ability to make you feel the moment all over again.
One spray, and suddenly you're back there.
You remember the butterflies.
The excitement.
The people you love.
The happiness that almost feels too big to hold.
As the founder of Soki London, I've spent years helping people discover fragrances they'll never forget. So when it came to my own wedding day, I knew I wanted a perfume that would become part of my story forever.
Creating My Wedding Perfume
Long before our wedding, I began creating Cleopatra.
At the time, I didn't realise quite how personal the fragrance would become. I wanted to create something that felt elegant but modern. Confident without being loud. Luxurious, timeless and effortlessly feminine.
I wanted a perfume that made me feel like the very best version of myself. Not because it was my wedding day. But because of how it made me feel. Every ingredient was chosen with care, and every trial brought me closer to the fragrance I had imagined wearing as I married the love of my life. When the final formula was complete, I knew.
This was the one.
Wearing Cleopatra on Our Wedding Day
On the morning of our wedding, after my dress was on and my hair and makeup were finished, there was one final ritual before leaving for the ceremony.
I picked up my bottle of Cleopatra.
I remember taking a deep breath before spraying it.
It instantly made me feel calm. Confident. Excited. Ready.
As I walked into Chelsea Old Town Hall wearing Cleopatra, I knew I would forever associate that fragrance with one of the happiest days of my life. Now, whenever I wear it, I'm transported straight back.
I remember the laughter. The tears. The hugs from our families. The feeling of hearing Steven say, "I do."
It's incredible how powerfully fragrance can hold memories.
The Story Behind Cleopatra
Cleopatra was inspired by one of history's most unforgettable women. Not simply because of her beauty, but because of her confidence, intelligence and presence.
I wanted this fragrance to capture that same feeling.
The feeling of walking into a room with quiet confidence.
Of feeling elegant without trying too hard.
Of feeling completely yourself.
The fragrance opens with sparkling Orange Gelato and juicy Mandarin, before revealing beautiful Orange Blossom, Neroli and Jasmine Sambac.
As it settles onto the skin, warm Amber, creamy Vanilla and smooth Sandalwood create a comforting softness that stays with you throughout the day.
Like every Soki London fragrance, Cleopatra is an Eau de Parfum with a high fragrance oil concentration, designed to last through every unforgettable moment - from the first photographs in the morning to the final dance of the evening.
Our London wedding was only the beginning of our celebrations.
A few weeks later, we travelled to Sicily to celebrate with even more of our family and friends. Set against breathtaking views, golden sunshine and the sparkling Mediterranean, it felt like the perfect continuation of our love story. There was never any question about which fragrance I would wear.
Once again, I reached for Cleopatra.
As soon as I sprayed it, all the emotions from our London wedding came flooding back. It was as though the fragrance carried those memories with me across Europe, allowing our two celebrations to feel beautifully connected. Every hug, every dance, every sunset and every joyful moment in Sicily became woven into the same scent memory.
Now, Cleopatra doesn't just remind me of one incredible day - it reminds me of an entire chapter of my life. From saying "I do" at Chelsea Old Town Hall to celebrating beneath the Sicilian sun, it became the invisible thread that tied every unforgettable moment together. I can't imagine those memories without it, and I know that every time I wear Cleopatra in years to come, I'll be transported back to both celebrations, reliving all the love, happiness and excitement as if it were yesterday.
More Than a Bridal Perfume
Although Cleopatra will always be my wedding perfume, I never wanted it to belong only to me. I created it in the hope that it could become part of someone else's story too.
Perhaps you'll wear it on your wedding day.
Perhaps on your honeymoon.
Maybe you'll wear it to celebrate an anniversary, an engagement, or simply on a day when you want to feel confident and beautiful.
Knowing that something I created is now woven into other people's happiest memories is one of the greatest privileges of my life.
A Memory I Can Wear Forever
People often ask what my favourite Soki London fragrance is. It's an impossible question. Every fragrance tells a different story. But Cleopatra will always hold a unique place in my heart. It isn't just because I created it. It's because it reminds me of the moment I married my best friend.
Every time I spray it, I smile.
For just a second, I'm standing outside Chelsea Old Town Hall again.
Steven is holding my hand.
We're laughing.
And we're beginning forever.
That is the magic of fragrance.
It doesn't just help us remember life's most beautiful moments.
It lets us relive them.
If you're searching for a long-lasting bridal perfume, a signature wedding fragrance or simply a scent that makes you feel elegant, confident and unforgettable, I hope Cleopatra becomes part of your story too.
