Penhaligons Fragrance Profiling evening

So I got invited to a "fragrance profiling" evening at Penhaligons last night, which is basically an opportunity to go along and try out all their colognes, have a chat and a few glasses of bubbly.

I'd not actually been to Penhaligons before, despite living nearby, so this seemed like a good opportunity!

The store looks like an old apothcary from outside, but when you get inside its an interesting blend of olde worlde apothcary with big glass jars of fragrance and drug runs, and a more modern look. It sounds like an odd mix, but actually works very well. I might decorate the flat like that..! :D

We were greeted by one of their staff, handed a glass of cava and went to talk with one of their fragrance experts. What impressed me with this is that you can tell them the sort of thing you want, be it floral or citrus or whatever, and they will recommend a few colognes. But they pick them, and tell them all apart, by smell. I tested the girl who was with us by holding out one of those unmarked paper tester tabs and asking her which one it was. She smelled it and went "its that one", and got it right..! Kinda cool!

The thing they did differently to other places I've been to is to test the colognes on your skin, and then smell them again a bit later to see how they change.

What suprised me is that the one I liked the best at the start was actually my least favourite after five minutes on my skin. The scent didnt last and hadnt really matured in very well.

Interestingly, the scent I ended up buying (Endymion) was the same one my girlfriend, who was with me, liked as well. And that scent smells totally different on her as it does on me.

It was a very educational evening, and good fun, and it was interesting to see how to pick colognes not on how they smell in the bottle or on a tester tab, but how they smell on your skin and how they age in after they've been on you for a bit. It might sound obvious, but how many of us buy have bought aftershave in the airport duty free after sniffing a bottle? I know I have a fair few times..!

We ended up getting a couple of different bottles of cologne, a candle and I got some of the Endymion shaving cream as well.

Definately a fun evening and I got some great new colognes as well..! :)

Thanks for that. It was a really nice read. Just out of curiosity, which branch was it you went to? I regularly pass the Covent Garden one, but I always have something pressing that prevents me from finding the time to go in :(

I have managed to get into the one off New Bond Street (near Fenwicks). I found that even prior to walking in through the door you feel the very classy (and unaffordable) quality of the establishment. To be honest I felt a little embarassed to be 'just browsing', and left prematurely (was in and out in about a minute, and didnt get to see/smell much). This was simply down my own feelings of inadequacy rather than any poor treatment by staff...I guess I need to grow some bal*s.

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Originally Posted by Stubear

how many of us buy have bought aftershave in the airport duty free after sniffing a bottle? I know I have a fair few times..!

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Honestly, I only sniffed the cork...................

Sounds like a fun and interesting evening! Endymion is a good scent IMO, suitable both for work and going out. I also use Blenheim Bouquet for the office, and Hamam Bouquet for the wife when we get a chance to go out together.

English Fern is also a great scent, but I found it didn't last more than a couple of hours, which is unusual for Penhaligon scents -- they're normally some of the longest lasting I find.

I have to give the stores in London a wide berth normally because of PAD (Penhaligon's acquisition disorder)! :)

It was the Covent Garden branch, very friendly and helpful staff in there..!

Mark, I agree about the scents lasting. I got the Endymion cologne and its lasting really well..! Good stuff!

I found a few scents that I liked there, so I'll have to add to my collection as and when I'm next in the area.

Good going Stu. I'm a bit jealous you're surround by all those nice stores and get opportunities like. And when I mean a bit I mean, when's the next plane leaving =)

Probably safer for my bankaccount but still the twinge is there. Great going and nice to hear you had nice time and profited a good scent.

My dear Stuart:

You made my mouth water with your Penhaligon adventure. I wish I had been with you. Then again, I enjoyed the adventure vicariously by reading your fine post. Well done.

Regards,
Obie

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Originally Posted by ursus

Good going Stu. I'm a bit jealous you're surround by all those nice stores and get opportunities like. And when I mean a bit I mean, when's the next plane leaving =)

Probably safer for my bankaccount but still the twinge is there. Great going and nice to hear you had nice time and profited a good scent.

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Originally Posted by Obie

My dear Stuart:

You made my mouth water with your Penhaligon adventure. I wish I had been with you. Then again, I enjoyed the adventure vicariously by reading your fine post. Well done.

Regards,
Obie

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Gents, my door is always open...! :) If you're planning a trip to London, let me know and I can organise a few things at the various places around here. Trumpers have a couple of razor schools that they run as, and Penhaligons said they can organise one off meetings for people as well so there are some pretty cool things to do..! And then finish up somewhere like Rules on Maiden Lane for dinner afterwards. They probably do the best game in London, a really great restaurant..!

That would be a fun day, thats for sure..! :)

So, when are you making the trip? :D

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Originally Posted by Stubear

Gents, my door is always open...! :) If you're planning a trip to London, let me know and I can organise a few things at the various places around here. Trumpers have a couple of razor schools that they run as, and Penhaligons said they can organise one off meetings for people as well so there are some pretty cool things to do..! And then finish up somewhere like Rules on Maiden Lane for dinner afterwards. They probably do the best game in London, a really great restaurant..!

That would be a fun day, thats for sure..! :)

So, when are you making the trip? :D

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Hello, Stuart:

Yes, the visit will be fun. When? I don't know. One of these days. Thanks for the invitation.

Regards,
Obie

Thanks for that post, Stu. Lucky man to be near The Source. :tu

Blenheim Bouquet was the very first high-end cologne I ever bought, and I'm still impressed by it three years later. Endymion is nice too, in a much more modern yet classic way. I have a soft spot for the whole Penhaligons line, it is synonymous with my ideas of pure British refinement. I could live pretty contentedly with exclusively British razors, hones, shaving soaps, brushes, and fragrances. The Brits seemed to have figured out the good life many years ago, in terms of high-end grooming.

Stuart, very kind of you to take us along with you. Sounds like a perfect evening.