When I read the threads here, I feel I could be at sloppy Joes in Key West listening to Hemingway in one of his drunken tirades. He uses words, phrases and anecdotes that do not mean a whole lot to the people visiting the bar! Its not that I don't appreciate the passion going into the words. I do. The threads are a little on the obscene and long winded side of the English language. I appreciate a good kings speech as much as the next guy. How ever, even Hemingway, in his drunken moments new to use his words wisely before he got his teeth knocked in. What does this have to do with Penhaligans. Not much. Except for the fact that I was duped into believing the wordy write ups about it. The fact is Penhaligans is a mediocre product at best! It gets a lot of high praise and attention for being mediocre. My thread maybe a little on the harsh side I know. After buying a few scents based on write-ups here. It feels like I have been pitched by a bunch of used car salesman!
Hemingway on Penhaligans
- Thread starter bodistaffa
- Start date
+1
Certainly there's nothing avant-garde about Pen's but although they are not cutting edge they do at least make good quality fragrances. I wouldn't spend my money on them either but a lot of folks like something that won't offend, smells good, and has a good history. Pen's fits all of those - safely - and there's certainly nothing wrong with that.
Oh my
I absolutely despise Penhaligans too. Now, Penhaligon's.... that's a different story. 
Ben
Ben
Last edited:
Tell us, which scents did you get? Did you like any of them? What other frags do you like?
"Penhaligans" is not a product--it's a company that makes a large number of products (soaps, creams, and fragrances, to name a few). Just which product(s) did you find to be mediocre, and why, specifically?I don't agree that "it gets a lot of high praise and attention for being mediocre". People rarely praise things because they find them to be mediocre. I think Penhaligon's gets high praise and attention because many people like the products.
I currently own four Pen's fragrances--I absolutely love Castile and Endymion, like Douros a lot, and am lukewarm about Blenheim Bouquet.
Some are good, some are snooty. I like some but not others. I think Blenheim Bouquet in particular is a $110 bottle of Lemon Pine Sol. I enjoy Racquets and Elixir particularly.
- Thread starter
- #8
Ouch! The spell check hurts! I know it was a rant. I just spent a lot of money and the scent lasts about 30 minutes. With my body chem! As in your face as my thread was I deserve some backlash. Just really disappointed!
No problem..... I can relate to the frustration. Blenheim Bouquet barely lasts 30 minutes on my skin as well. I'm sure I wouldn't like many of Pen's other offerings that I haven't tried as well, but I love a few too. Sartorial and Endymion are a couple that I really enjoy. I'm not much of a "sampler"..... but I did sample some of the Pen's scents that I thought I would be interested in before I bought a bottle.... because of the price tag. I've only sampled maybe 1/4 of their current offerings.... so I can't say too much more than this.
Ben
Ben
If you like Blenheim Bouquet and want something which lasts, track down a bottle of Crown Perfumery Town & Country. It's discontinued, still readily available online cheap, is said to resemble Blenheim Bouquet (which I have not tried yet, alas) and lasts forever on my skin. (In fact, to me, it lasts *too* long, because I find the scent a bit too austere for my taste, at least at the present time.)
I think many men here tend to favor Penhaligon's (I know I do) because they are a traditional English house, and their products are timeless. Their fragrances smell as if they could have been worn a century ago just as easily as now (indeed, many were) and are not the latest boring aquatic number to be worn by trashy celebrities and their legions of teenage fans.
Hammam Bouquet is among the five best scents I have ever had the pleasure to wear.
I think many men here tend to favor Penhaligon's (I know I do) because they are a traditional English house, and their products are timeless. Their fragrances smell as if they could have been worn a century ago just as easily as now (indeed, many were) and are not the latest boring aquatic number to be worn by trashy celebrities and their legions of teenage fans.
Hammam Bouquet is among the five best scents I have ever had the pleasure to wear.
Sample first whenever possible. It can help to avoid a blind buy that you end up regretting.
That being said, I actually like a few of Penhaligon's fragrances. Some certainly aren't my cup of tea but I've found a few that will be future purchases. Perhaps there will be others from Pen's that are to your liking.
It wasn't 'Castile' was it? That one's half gone by the time I step out the door.
How interesting! Castile has excellent longevity for me.
BB doesn't last more than an hour (which seems to be universal).
As much as I like Endymion, it doesn't last more than 3-4 hours, unfortunately. It has usually faded by lunchtime.
I recently sold my bottle of Hammam, but it had decent longevity on me.
I don't agree that "it gets a lot of high praise and attention for being mediocre". People rarely praise things because they find them to be mediocre. I think Penhaligon's gets high praise and attention because many people like the products.
I currently own four Pen's fragrances--I absolutely love Castile and Endymion, like Douros a lot, and am lukewarm about Blenheim Bouquet.
I have worn samples of Castile, Endymion and Duoro and love the way all three of them smell. The only problem is that none of them last on me for very long. On the other hand Sartorial is my favorite scent of those four and does last considerably longer. I will likely buy a bottle, or at least a decant some time.
All prose must be spare and true. Which means Hemingway wouldn't like your wordy exposition.
Zing!
Looks like you had to learn the hard way as some do. Scent is too subjective to take anyone's word for it or give you any indication if you will like a scent. Give it a test drive before you decide to take it home and show the family.
Same here - those are the only two I've bought.
Some of the Penhaligon's fragrances can be pretty fleeting, but it's interesting the way they seem to vary between individuals - more than many other houses. For example, I love English Fern, but it just doesn't last on me - others get a decent few hours from it.
Bingo! The same can be said about Creed. Always sample when buying an expensive brand regardless what you read.
What you didnt say was what you current favorite frag or house is.. that would likely mean a lot in getting to a discussion or recommendation.
Some many things get positive reviews here for many different reasons. I love pens BB. I think it smells great.
I also think it depends on your demographic info as well.
Some many things get positive reviews here for many different reasons. I love pens BB. I think it smells great.
I also think it depends on your demographic info as well.
Side issue, but I'll correct my statement on Castile. My memory had led me astray. I consulted my ultra-geek fragrance diary on my past wearing of Castile and it wasn't as short-lived as I remembered. I had noted that at 1.5 hrs it was 'going strong' and at 7.5 was left with just a, 'body shop citrus glycerine soap smell'. I ended up rating it a 'pass' on my elaborate scale of buy, pass or maybe.
Back to the OP's issue: the suspense is killing me. What Pen's frag was so horrific to you?
Back to the OP's issue: the suspense is killing me. What Pen's frag was so horrific to you?
Last edited:
