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Penhaligon’s are world-renowned for creating evocative, unusual and otherworldly scents– with a dash of English charm thrown in. This time the focus is on London with their Trade Routes Collection. But this perfume trio is not so much about the city itself, but rather the exotic commodities that were traded there at the turn of the 19th century.
First up is Lothair by celebrated nose Bertrand Duchaufour. It is based around the famous Tea Clipper Ships that helped make the humble cuppa into a British institution. With notes of juniper, grapefruit, fig milk and – of course – black tea, one sniff is bound to bring pangs of nostalgia to any wayward Brit far from home. Yes it’s a fougère but not the typically masculine kind we’re used to. Instead, it’s light and playfully sexy in the manner of an English ingénue – it’s tennis on the lawn in bare tanned legs.
Next up waltzing in wearing a feather boa and diamonds is Levantium by Christian de Provenzano. A boozy oriental with warming saffron and absinthe, the scent evokes the London’s famous spice trade with a rich floral heart with clove and cardamom and a base of myrrh and sandalwood. One can imagine wearing this to frequent London’s famous gin palaces that were popular with Dickens and his contemporaries – definitely a scent for night owls about town.
Peoneve by Penhaligon’s
From tea and spice to something sparkling and bright, the third scent Empressa is inspired by the luxury fabrics and pearls imported from Asia; the type of finery that Victorian ladies would wear to see and be seen during their afternoon perambulations around Hyde Park. Created by Mike Parrott, its sparkling notes of pink pepper and blood orange unveil a peach patchouli heart and a soft base of cocoa and cedarwood. It’s easy to imagine the likes of Lady Bracknell (were she to exist) dousing herself in this beguiling concoction to intimidate prospective sons in law.
Once again Penhaligon’s draw on the rich history of their home town to make us fall in love with London all over again – we defy you not to covet all three fragrances.
Penhaligon’s Ostara
by Viola Levy
The Trade Routes Collection is available at Penhaligon’s boutiques and online.
Lothair, Levantium and Empressa are £120 each