Penhaligon's London

Brand Portrait: Penhaligon's London

Fresh, exciting fragrances are becoming increasingly harder to find. In this situation, it can often help to look at the past for inspiration. In the world of perfume, Penhaligon's are the masters of blending historical note with modern takes.

Penhaligon's has a rich, steep pedigree. Below, we discuss Penhaligon's, its products, and its unique history.

The Early Years of Penhaligon's

The history of Penhaligon's began with a small barbershop, established in 1872. Founded by William Penhaligon, a man of Cornish origins, he worked as a barber on Jermyn Street.

William always had an interest in colognes and fragrances. He set up his own salon which he envisioned as more than a standard barber.

At that time, barbershops offered a myriad of services other than hair and beard cuts. The red and white sign associated with them came from the fact that they would actually do minor operations. William had the idea that his shop would also develop and sell their own colognes. 

This Penhaligon's London shop was close to the Turkish baths in central London. As such, the first scent they produced was the Hammam Bouquet. It was inspired by the smells you would encounter in the Turkish bath.

It proved so popular that by 1874 the perfumery arm of the business had expanded. This resulted in an 1880 partnership with the Jeavons company.

By Royal Appointment

Penhaligon's cemented their reputation when they gained a royal warrant in 1903. This is a mark, only allowed on products that supply goods to the Royal household. Granted to them by Queen Alexandra, they became the primary perfume supplier to HM the Queen.

The Jeavons and Penhaligon companies reverted back to Penhaligons when Jeavons passed away. They became more famous for being a perfumery than a barbershop, increasing their reputation further. They later gained a second Royal Warrant from the Duke of Edinburgh.

Their signature scent came with the release of the Blenheim Bouquet, a scent worn by Winston Churchill. This was originally created for the Duke of Marlborough. 

However, not everything has gone swimmingly for the company over the years. They suffered terribly due to the Wall Street crash, which had a huge impact on European businesses.

It would not be until 1975 when Franco Zeffirelli and businesswoman Sheila Pickles began restoring the company. It would later become part of the Puig company in 2015, becoming one of its most famous brands. 

Penhaligon's London Today

Penhaligon's perfume can now be found around the globe. It can be bought as far and wide as Japan, Ukraine, and Dubai. Their boutiques, wherever they are, remain extremely unique, attractive and are filled with antique ornaments mixed with modern, quirky artworks. 

Penhaligons also uses its beautiful scents in a range of other products. Grooming kits and gift sets are now available, as are a number of scented candles. 

Penhaligon's products are still made and bottled in the UK. Each bottle is a delicately, ribbon-wrapped glass bottle with a glass stopper. This is a nod to their original packaging from the Victorian era.

However, their fragrances also remain extremely up to date, using only the most modern fragrance creating methods. They often include Co2 extraction technology and nature print methods. This allows the traditional to blend seamlessly with the new. 

They also still hold their two royal warrants. The Duke of Edinburgh granted them a warrant in 1956 and the Prince of Wales in 1988. 

Signature Scents

Their scents are often floral and refreshing. Expect to smell delicate tones of jasmine and a citrusy blast of bergamot whenever you open a bottle. 

Some of their more modern perfumes include the Halfeti. Designed by Christian de Provenzano, it took its inspiration from a small village in Turkey, where deep red, beguilingly scented roses bloom at the riverbank of the river Euphrates.

Vaara is another beautiful blend, that sums up an Indian spring. This blends quince, rose petals, and saffron in the upper notes. A delicate blend of spices exists in the lower and mid-tones. 

Penhaligon has an extremely interesting family of scents to bolster its classic roster. Known as Penhaligons Portraits Collection, they take inspiration from a series of fictional characters.

For example, their Ruthless Countess Dorothea is a ginger-infused opulent scent or the very popular fragrance of Lord George. It describes the character of a ferocious matriarch.

Other very famous bestsellers by Penhaligon's are (ranked by popularity):

• Blenheim Bouquet
• Artemisia
• Endymion
• Juniper Sling

Scent Profiling

Penhaligon's also operates a scent profiling service. This can be used to determine which scent best suits a character and look. This will undoubtedly find the best scent available for any customer. 

This will start with profiling of the customer's memories, smells, and olfactory associations. After this, they are presented with the fragrance families, without being told which is each. This will narrow it down to their preferred scent group, without influencing a decision with language and the names of the groups. 

This will then be narrowed down even further, eventually presenting two remaining fragrances. They will be applied, to see how they react with the natural oils and balance of the skin and biology. 

After this, the customer will have the perfect fragrance! The whole process will be facilitated by the classic English offerings of tea, biscuits, and a little dose of French Champagne should the customer wish. 

Buy Penhaligon's Products Online

Anyone who wants to stay smelling fresh and modern, with a dose of history, should know about Penhaligons. Visiting a boutique will allow them to sample the scents, or they can order a sample with us to see which are the best fragrances for their taste. 

Essenza Nobile should be the first stop when buying perfumes and scents online. We have a large range of Penhaligon's products and other high-end fragrances. Experience the joy of a new fragrance starting today!