Prince Harry reveals how Princess Diana’s favorite perfume helped him reconnect with childhood memories he had suppressed for years after her tragic death. Prince Harry is opening up about an unexpected connection to his late mother, Princess Diana, revealing that the scent of her favorite perfume helped him recover precious memories he had struggled to access for decades.
The Duke of Sussex, 42, shared the emotional experience in his new MasterClass, Redefining Grief: Building Resilience Through Loss, released on October 8, 2026, ahead of World Mental Health Day.
© Tim Graham Photo Library via GetDuring the deeply personal conversation with neuroscientist Dr. Mary-Frances O’Connor, Harry explained how losing his mother at just 12 years old affected his ability to remember some of the simplest things about her, including her voice, laughter, and appearance.
His journey toward reconnecting with those memories eventually involved an unusual therapeutic exercise, which is smelling Princess Diana’s signature fragrance.
Prince Harry Reveals How Princess Diana’s Perfume Brought Back Memories
For years after Diana's death in a Paris car crash on August 31, 1997, Harry struggled to process the devastating loss. Rather than confront his grief, he described shutting down emotionally, a response that eventually affected both painful and happy memories of his mother.
© Tim Graham Photo Library via GetSpeaking in the MasterClass, Harry admitted, "I forgot what my mom sounded like. I forgot her laugh."
He also struggled to picture her face without photographs. Years later, a therapist suggested using scent to help him reconnect with memories he had suppressed.
The experience was unexpectedly powerful. "It was like being transported to another time," Harry recalled.
© UK Press via Getty ImagesHe explained that smelling his mother's perfume helped break through the emotional barriers he had built around his childhood memories.
The fragrance did not erase his grief, but it allowed memories and feelings he had previously kept at a distance to begin resurfacing.
What Was Princess Diana’s Favorite Perfume?
The fragrance Harry used was Van Cleef & Arpels First Eau de Parfum, a classic floral perfume associated with Princess Diana. Harry previously identified the scent in his 2023 memoir, Spare, describing how he brought a bottle of his mother's perfume into a therapy session.
Van Cleef & Arpels First Eau de Parfum was introduced in 1976 and is known for its elegant floral composition. For Harry, however, the fragrance held a much more personal meaning than its luxurious reputation.
© AmazonIt was a sensory connection to his mother and to a childhood that had been permanently changed by her death. The Duke explained that revisiting the familiar scent helped him access experiences he had emotionally shut away.
His account highlights how something as ordinary as a perfume can become deeply meaningful after losing someone close.
Prince Harry Says He Shut Down His Emotions After Diana’s Death
Harry was only 12 when Diana died, while his older brother, Prince William, was 15. The brothers were thrust into the international spotlight as millions mourned their mother.
Harry recalled feeling overwhelmed by the public expressions of grief, particularly when he encountered strangers who appeared more emotional than he could allow himself to be. He said he did not cry when he first learned of Diana's death and only broke down after her burial at Althorp, her family's estate.
© Princess Diana ArchiveHe subsequently went nearly two decades without crying about losing her. At the time, Harry believed suppressing his emotions was a sign of strength. Looking back, he now sees that response differently.
In the MasterClass, he reflected on how his childhood grief affected his emotional well-being and how he had convinced himself that remaining detached was necessary.
He also revealed that for years he entertained the possibility that Diana had secretly escaped her difficult life and might eventually return for him and William.
© WireImageThat belief, he explained, was part of the way his mind attempted to protect him from accepting her death. The emotional protection came at a cost, making it harder for him to access the positive memories he wanted to preserve.
Why Smelling a Loved One’s Perfume Can Trigger Powerful Memories
Harry's experience also raises an interesting question: Why can a familiar fragrance bring back memories that seem impossible to reach? During the MasterClass, Dr. Mary-Frances O'Connor discussed the neurological relationship between smell, memory, and emotion.
The brain's olfactory system has close connections with the amygdala and hippocampus, regions involved in emotional processing and memory formation.
© Tim Graham Photo Library via GetThat relationship helps explain why familiar smells can evoke particularly vivid autobiographical memories. A perfume, favorite meal, or familiar household scent can remind someone of a person, place, or experience from years earlier.
For people experiencing grief, those sensory reminders can be comforting, painful, or a combination of both.
In Harry's case, his therapist introduced a scent-based exercise to help him reconnect with memories that had become difficult to access.
However, scent-based memory exercises are not a universal treatment for grief or trauma. Their usefulness depends on individual circumstances, and potentially distressing exposure exercises are best approached with appropriate professional guidance.
Prince Harry Says Therapy Helped Him Feel Happiness Again
Beyond recovering memories of Diana, Harry discussed another difficult part of his grieving process: feeling guilty about experiencing happiness without his mother.
For years, he associated his sadness with his love for her. He feared that allowing himself to enjoy life might somehow mean he was forgetting Diana or diminishing the importance of her loss.
© MirrorpixThat belief contributed to his emotional numbness. Therapy eventually helped him reconsider the relationship between grief, happiness, and loyalty to someone who has died.
Harry said he came to understand that his mother would have wanted him to live a fulfilling life rather than remain trapped in sadness. "The reality is, what I discovered was actually that she just wanted me to be happy," he explained.
The realization changed how he approached his memories of Diana and his future. Rather than viewing happiness as a betrayal, Harry began to see it as something he could experience while continuing to love and remember his mother.
He has also spoken about how becoming a husband and father has influenced his perspective on loss, family, and emotional well-being.
How Prince Harry Keeps Princess Diana’s Memory Alive Today
Nearly three decades after Diana's death, Harry continues to find ways to feel connected to her.
In his new MasterClass, he revealed that he thinks about his mother almost every night and on most mornings. He also described the emotional significance of a particular photograph of Diana, taken by photographer Patrick Demarchelier for Harper's Bazaar in 1995.
The portrait shows Diana smiling, and Harry said he feels especially connected to her when looking into her eyes.
© Tim Graham Photo Library via GetThe photograph, like her perfume, provides a tangible reminder of the mother he lost at such a young age. Harry has also connected Diana's memory to his charitable work, particularly his involvement with causes supporting vulnerable children, veterans, and families affected by loss.
The Duke has frequently emphasized his desire to continue Diana's humanitarian legacy, particularly her compassion for people facing difficult circumstances.
