Finding a unique fragrance that suits your personality can be difficult, even with hundreds and hundreds of scents available at dozens and dozens of stores. If eau de Play Doh and cotton-candy aren’t up your olfactory alley, you should seek out the elusive Penhaligon’s of London.
Established in 1870 at the height of Victorian flamboyance, Penhaligon’s scents are representative of quirky, high-society decadence, offering fragrances with playful names such as Endymion (everlasting youth), Artemisia (derived from Artemis, Greek goddess of the forest) and Amaranthine (unfading and everlasting beauty).
At the heart of all Penhaligon’s fragrances is the desire to unite the heritage of the brand with more modern scents, resulting in uniquely reimagined perfumes, Eau de Toilettes and bath products that evoke the subtle smell of the English country that would be right at home in a Marchesa boutique.
While Penhaligons’ does dip into their archival scents (their most popular men’s fragrance was originally introduced in 1902), that doesn’t mean they’ve forgotten how to create witty new fragrances that solidified their popularity over 100 years ago. Launched in 2006, Lily & Spice is a heady blend of saffron, clove, vanilla and Madonna lilies, a world away from the Anthology fragrance Eau de Cologne, which was introduced in 1927 and combines more classic fragrances such as rosemary, orange and lemon.
Still bottled in the same signature way- a clear bottle tied with a colorful ribbon- Penhaligon’s has mastered the art of bringing old-world craftsmanship and classic notes to modern scents that perfume connoisseurs today will enjoy. Although Penhaligon’s doesn’t currently have a boutique in the States, their products can be found at Saks and at other high-end retailers. Look for a flagship Penhaligon’s store in New York to open soon.
Online at: penhaligons.com
