My earliest memory of my grandmother Estée was getting into the car with her and smelling the lush scent of Bulgarian rose — a perfume she had been developing. I also vividly remember the arrangements of scented flowers — often lilies or tuberose — that greeted guests in her entrance hall. Flowers are a portal to different people or places in my life: Scented geraniums remind me of my mother; calla lilies and tuberose of my grandmother. Lilacs remind me of East Hampton in summer, and orange blossoms instantly transport me to the Mediterranean. It’s said that our sense of smell is strongly tied to memory because it is linked to the primal part of our brain where emotions and memories are formed. This is certainly the case for me. Flowers and fragrance are deeply intertwined in my memories of family and home.
Photography by Mark Lund
If there’s a color of flower that I naturally gravitate toward, it is white. A monochromatic bouquet showcases the rich textures of each flower: the nearly infinite, tissue-thin layers of peonies to the tiny bells of lily of the valley; the sunny-yellow pincushion centers of daisies to the halo of stamens inside anemones. White flowers are effortless — you can mix and match freely, knowing that your arrangement will never clash and will complement, rather than compete with, your decor. And of course, there is no such thing as pure white. There is a vast range of whites that are tinged with yellow or green, creamy ivory or the palest alabaster pink. Mixing textures and keeping some of the leaves and greenery in an arrangement gives white blossoms contrast and depth.
Photography by Thomas Loof
Color brings us joy. It’s been shown to lift our mood, and I think it’s a large part of why we respond so instinctively to flowers. The artistry of color in a bouquet can take your breath away. I love to experiment with color in flower arrangements because it’s temporary — there’s no long-term commitment required. You can be bold, take risks and have fun. Arrangements can incorporate colors you might shy away from in more permanent elements — bright pink, orange, purple, sunny yellow or lime green. A bouquet might be just a small spark of color in a corner or an exuberant, color-filled centerpiece that brings the whole room to life. Channel your inner artist and mix colors from a wide palette.
Photography by Thomas Loof
While many of us splurge on flowers only for entertaining and special occasions, I think the flowers you enjoy most are the ones you choose solely for yourself. A fragrant nose-gay to wake up to each morning by your bedside, a lissome orchid brightening your bath or a bud vase with a single perfect peony on your desk can bring beauty and delight to your everyday. If you invest in an orchid or flowering plant, you’ll enjoy its company for many weeks to come, but just snipping a few hydrangeas from your yard or picking up a simple bunch of tulips at the market brings nature by your side, where you can enjoy it all day long.
Reprinted with permission from Aerin Lauder: Living With Flowers, Rizzoli New York, 2025. Photography © Thomas Loof and Mark Lund.
