Betrothal (2011) (Eau de Parfum) by Grossmith

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Die Verlobung. Ganz lieben Dank euch. 🤗😘 (by Gandix)

Royal Collection

Betrothal Grossmith 2011 Eau de Parfum

Version from 2011

8.2 / 10 104 Ratings

A popular perfume by Grossmith for women, released in 2011. The scent is floral-green. It is still in production.
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Main accords

Floral

Green

Powdery

Fresh

Citrus

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Neroli

Bergamot

Heart Notes

May rose

Ylang-ylang

Grasse jasmine

Base Notes

Vetiver

Cedarwood

Musk

Patchouli

Vanilla

Sandalwood

Ratings

Scent

8.2104 Ratings

Longevity

7.989 Ratings

Sillage

6.886 Ratings

Bottle

8.384 Ratings

Value for money

6.322 Ratings

Submitted by Apicius · last update on 02/28/2026.

Source-backed & verified

Interesting Facts

The fragrance is part of the Royal Collection collection.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to

Betrothal (2011) Perfume

Sortilège (2014)

Reviews

10 in-depth fragrance descriptions

12/23/2023

8Scent 7Longevity 6Sillage

Kurai
388 Reviews

Kurai

Wedding material

Grossmith calls this little gem "perfectly matched for a contemporary royal love story" and names it Betrothal, after the engagement to be married. So it is pretty obvious what mood they are aiming for. Quite successfully, in fact.

Betrothal is joyfully announced by some citrus top notes, immediately followed by an elegant bouquet of rose and ylang stuffed with aldehydes. There's neroli on top and vetiver beneath to add fresher, slightly green accents. The transition from the lush floral bouquet to the softer woody-vanilla base is gorgeous.

Structure-wise this shares a few traits with classical Guerlains, but Grossmith managed to create a totally unique character. Sophisticated, elegant and festive. Perfect wedding material.

Updated on 12/23/2023

04/10/2011

8Scent 5Longevity

Apicius
1328 Reviews

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Apicius

Top Review 31

These English People!

Interesting to see which people are behind the perfume brands. They traveled all the way from the island to this year's Global Arts of Perfumery: father, mother, and daughter "Grossmith": very friendly, courteous, sympathetic, and very British.

Their real name is Brooke, but their ancestors were perfumers and owners of that historic English brand. One day, they decided to bring the old family recipes back to life. With professional help from Robertet, some of these rather opulent perfumes are now being recreated.

The latest revived perfume is Betrothal - also a historic Grossmith scent for the engagement of Queen Mary in 1893. However, for the first time, the current perfume has been completely newly developed, if I understood Mr. Brooke correctly. It is quite clear that this year's Grossmith scent could only have received this name - in German Verlobung (engagement). Of course, Mr. Brooke dedicated it to Miss Middleton as a signature scent, but - unfortunately! - she declined. Nevertheless, Mr. Brooke is proud of the polite thank-you letter he received from the palace and shows it - in excerpts.

Betrothal strikes me as somewhat more modern, younger, yet remains true to the general line that is already recognizable: oriental, floral, opulent. Betrothal is comparatively fresh, with some bitterness, as well as green, spring-like notes. The floral components are rather bright and light, but the drydown is a poem for lovers of oriental, vanilla perfumes.

That’s how the English are: While the island itself offers neither culinary nor olfactory delights in abundance, one traditionally reaches for all the heavy and opulent pleasures that arrive from the Commonwealth countries with even more enthusiasm. I still remember a certain shocking experience I had as a thirteen-year-old student, on the bus from Welwyn Garden City to London: an older lady got on, and I learned how brutal gardenia can be!

Betrothal, of course, is the scent of a young woman, bitter enough that men can wear it too. It is typically English in the sense just described, yet cautiously modernized.

Only the pricing of the Grossmith perfumes tarnishes the picture: Those who demand prices significantly above those of the best Guerlain creations have to justify it. Perfume lovers who can and want to overlook this will acquire a high-quality, fresh-bitter floriental with Betrothal - a combination with rarity value!

11/11/2013

10Scent 10Longevity 7.5Sillage

ParfumAholic
256 Reviews

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ParfumAholic

Top Review 28

Perfect? Perfect!!!

So far, I have had the pleasure of experiencing the Grossmith fragrances "Black Label - Chypre," "Black Label - Saffron Rose," "Diamond Jubilee Bouquet," "Hasu-no-Hama," and "Shem-el-Nessim."

In my opinion, they are all unusual and not mass-market fragrances, but they are great scents that I don't necessarily need to own, yet they convince and fascinate me with their quality.

The last Grossmith sample on my agenda was "Betrothal" from the “Royal Collection.”

When I sprayed the fragrance, I couldn't help but laugh, as the combination of “Grossmith, London” and “Royal Collection” conjured images of the English Queen in my mind. This little woman, who has been on the throne for what feels like 100 years and tirelessly travels in the name of the crown, indeed seems "indestructible." Elizabeth II as the figurehead of the English aristocracy, a symbol of decency, morality, and unwavering stance.

However, these thoughts and images quickly dissipated. “Betrothal” starts pleasantly fresh, citrusy, but not sharply citrusy fresh. I would indeed describe the heart of the fragrance as floral, but this too does not last long.

The sole aim and desire of this fragrance seems to be to quickly transition into a base of light and dark woods, vanilla, and vetiver.

And this base is...almost indescribably...beautiful...warm, soft, sensual, luxurious, balsamic, and expansive. Perfect!

“Betrothal” cries out for royal pomp and splendor, red velvet, heavy carpets, and golden chandeliers. Royal, yet approachable. “Betrothal” is not a symbol of a dusty monarchy, but a modern fragrance that charmingly transports traditional echoes into our time while celebrating values like style and poise.

In my opinion, the base of “Betrothal” overshadows the bases of many other fragrances (yes, even some from Guerlain) and plays in its own league at a particularly high level. In the fashion world, I would assign the base to haute couture.

Perfection often has the disadvantage of being beautiful but sometimes also appearing boring, as there are no edges or corners to distract the gaze.

“Betrothal” is perfect for me without being boring. A truly great fragrance, a major achievement from the house of Grossmith, which has created a scent for eternity with this fragrance.

Certainly not a fragrance to wear thoughtlessly and carelessly (the quoted €265 for 50ml EdP is definitely too much for that), but definitely a fragrance that one (specifically, both women and men) must wear consciously, upright, and proudly.

Anyone who has the chance to test this exceptional fragrance should definitely do so and simply enjoy what the scent has to offer...it certainly made me quickly addicted.

11/25/2021

10Scent 10Longevity 9Sillage

Medusa00
846 Reviews

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Medusa00

Top Review 34

London 1895

Ladies stroll through the streets in tourniquet dresses. Their waists tightly laced. They wear oversized hats, on which all sorts of creatures frolic. Behind the ladies, maids scurry along, acting as proper chaperones, as a lady does not simply wander the streets unaccompanied, always ready with smelling salts, since the ladies tend to faint regularly. On one hand, due to the tight lacing, on the other, because it makes quite an impression when one occasionally topples over.
On a roof, a chimney sweep dances and sings: “Chim- Chimery, Chim- Chimery- Chim- Chim Cheru, I’m so happy and love what I do.” A light breeze of soot and firewood wafts down from him. Children try to climb onto the roof to tug at his sleeve. It is said to bring good luck. He lets them tug, grinning from his soot-blackened face, and takes a big sip of tea with plenty of lemon from his thermos. It has just been invented. The tea wafts its scent. Citrusy, unsweetened. The children smear themselves with the stuff. Well, that’s going to cause trouble at home.
Down in the salon, a destitute German baroness takes a seat on the divan. It is the townhouse of Lord … (I won’t name names). He is wealthy, and she hopes to make a good match. They are distantly related. So what, a little inbreeding, it stays in the family.... She always stumbles over words with “th” and spits on her counterpart. It is tea time. The maid closes the window. The scent of roses and jasmine is shut out. Too bad, thinks the baroness, it’s certainly better than the slightly musty smell in the salon. On the table stands a bouquet of the last lily of the valleys. They are already a bit dried out and no longer smell so narcotically sweet. She nibbles on vanilla cookies and would rather have drunk coffee than this silly tea.
In the birdcage, canary Chypre trills a green song.
Twilight descends. It wafts through dark alleys. Dubious figures lurking there waft along behind.
Jack the Ripper has vanished. Scotland Yard is at a loss. Women still do not dare to go out at night.
Before the fireplace lie the wind chimes Patchouli and Sandalwood. A few sparks fly into the dog’s fur. Sandalwood dreams he is playing with a cedar stick and runs in his sleep.
The lord proposes to the baroness and slips a diamond ring onto her finger. As an engagement gift, he presents her with Betrothal from the royal court supplier Grossmith. Designed for Princess Mary.
No one suspected back then that Betrothal would be reissued in 2011. A royal scent at a royal price of £185 for 50 ml.

The two lived happily and even had 2 children, who were raised by Mary Poppins.

Updated on 11/25/2021

06/10/2019

9Scent 9Longevity 6Sillage

Duftsucht
137 Reviews

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Duftsucht

Top Review 18

Elegance has a new name

A short trip to London must be well planned - especially if a carefully selected, typically English scented memento is supposed to accompany me home. Thus, I began to take an interest in Grossmith and started testing the house's creations whenever the opportunity arose.
Betrothal particularly intrigued me, as it shares the main notes with one of my favorite fragrances from Roja: Madison. I was very curious to see if there could indeed be a similarity here? And yes, as astonishing as it sounds, there is actually a kinship!
It's somewhat like when the completely impoverished, yet stunningly beautiful cousin of a British aristocratic family emigrates to America, marries an oil millionaire, and then returns for a visit to London. She is invited for tea by the family matriarch, a formidable woman whose quirky resemblance to Queen Victoria fills the rest of the family with a certain pride. There she sits, the undisputed ruler of the family, a delicate Wedgewood cup in hand, beside her favorite, the young Rose. Rose sits, her legs modestly crossed at the ankle, her hair braided in one of those intricate hairstyles that would please her grandmother.
Opposite them sits the American cousin, whose wealth - thanks to the oil baron - now makes theirs look almost meager. Let’s simply call her Rosemary. She sits, legs crossed, causing her noble suede skirt to ride up a little higher, leaning back relaxed, and observing her relatives. The scent of Roja surrounds her: confident, expansive, expensive, exclusive.
In contrast, her cousin Rose has opted for Betrothal, which is very British indeed, close to the body, discreet, yet quite seductive.
Roja is like a new diamond bracelet, radiant and eye-catching, but miles away from being bling-bling, while Betrothal represents the family jewels that are taken out of the safe for special occasions and have lost some of their shine from not being worn for a long time, but have gained in understatement.

Betrothal is quickly tamed after a brief citrus phase, especially through a generous portion of vetiver, which takes away any glimmer from the scent. It is a floral fragrance, bright, delicate flowers with translucent petals, not exotic-sensual-lush, but very elegant. A bit like a rose dressing up as an iris, yet fully retaining its sensual spice underneath. The iris association likely arises from the fact that the scent on me is softly powdery, but by no means dusty or dry.
Gradually, Betrothal then shifts its direction, revealing the most beautiful, subtlest, least vanilla-like vanilla I have smelled in a long time. Yet, a hint of freshness still hovers above, and the elegant bouquet of flowers remains present.
And that is precisely the moment when I (once again:)) lose my heart to a fragrance and decide: It will be a scent from Grossmith that will accompany me home from London.

Whether it will truly be Betrothal, or perhaps Shem el Nessim, Sylvan Song, or another fragrance from the house of Grossmith, will be decided spontaneously. But I can hardly imagine a souvenir that fits so well with my (admittedly influenced by Georgette Heyer) idea of a long-gone British Empire - and that will certainly keep the memory of London alive and vibrant for a long time!

Updated on 06/10/2019

More reviews

Statements

19 short views on the fragrance

FrauKirsche

1 year ago

8.5Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

Blossom cream with
citrus powder
Ylang lights the way
through patchouli paths
in green velvet
and dark vanilla
enveloped in elegance...

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Pollita

1 year ago

7.5Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

The path leads
from the magnificent gardens
straight into the forest
mossy-earthy ground
marked by the forest dwellers.

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Gandix

2 years ago

10Scent 9Longevity 8Sillage

Everything is aimed at that one day
Soft green-tinged powdered vanilla
Surrounded by a lightly citrusy start and wonderful flowers
Embrace me

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Ergoproxy

2 years ago

8.5Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

The couple is all dressed up, she wears a floral perfume, he goes for something classic, he kneels in the sweet grass and overlooks that ...

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LeSentier

1 year ago

8.5Scent 7Longevity 6Sillage

White blossoms on a delicate outline of base notes.
Everything here is finely balanced and intertwined.
It never clashes and yet is not boring.

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Azura

4 years ago

9Scent 7Longevity 6Sillage

"Engagement"?
Citrus
Delightful-reviving: Being loved
Blooms
Bitter-sweet: Experiencing. Living through
Vanilla
Softly bitter: Security. Reconciliation

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