SCOOP: Penhaligon's to release a Bay Rum scent next fall

[justinp]

I was in the Edinburgh Penhaligon's store yesterday buying a Christmas present for my girlfriend-- a bottle of Gardenia, for what it's worth-- and one of their sales reps (who I think is also the store manager, or a store manager, by the name of Alex) mentioned that the 2011 Anthology collection will include a Bay Rum fragrance that they've reworked and updated.

I find this quite fascinating, and I think it's also evidence of wetshaving's continued progression into the mainstream. I can't really think of any other reason for Bay Rum to be so hot right now.

They're also releasing a gin-based men's fragrance at the same time, which I assume means a bitter-floral and juniper creation. I can't remember who it was that is doing this one; I don't think it's Douchafour or Giacobetti, who have been their recent go-tos. Sorry that I can't provide better info on that...

In any case, mmm, Pen's bay rum!

 

[Dreamofgilgamesh]

Sounds great, i'll keep my peepers open.

 

[mretzloff]

I do not see the point. There are so many good, inexpensive bay rums available, so why would anyone be inclined to pay $100+ for it?

 

[justinp]

Well, my suspicion is that they're going to do a wildly non-traditional bay rum frag, which seems to be a sort of theme for their recent releases. Think of scents like Amaranthine, which takes a floral/oriental crossover, which has sort of been done to death, and adds a vaguely sweaty, very sexual sort of angle to it, which totally transforms the scent. Also see something like Sartorial, that takes the trad fougere structure and builds a 'tailor shop' vibe around it.

So my prediction is that this is actually going to be something pretty interesting. Though I probably wouldn't pay 100 bucks for it, Ogallala meets my Bay Rum needs just fine. Just saying it probably won't be pointless as such.

 

[StylinLA]

That's something to look forward to. My experience with Pens is that most of their scents have some legs. Since most bay rums are pretty short lived, it will def be on my list of things to check out.

The gin scent not really enticing me yet.

 

[The Knize]

Thanks for the heads up! I find this fascinating, too. I love the smell of bay rum, but have gone on record over and over in saying that I do not think it is edt material because of the lack of tenacity of bay tree leaf oil, and that tenacity in bay rum comes from cloves and cinammon usually. Perhaps Pens will go that way, too. But if Pens does not, and I am guessing Pens will not, this should be truly interesting and I may be eating some words!

 

[The Last Chimney]

Well, my suspicion is that they're going to do a wildly non-traditional bay rum frag, which seems to be a sort of theme for their recent releases.

There is so much variety among the current offerings that I wonder how you could make a non-traditional bay rum.

It'd be like trying to make a non-traditional crayon color.

 

[goby]

That's something to look forward to. My experience with Pens is that most of their scents have some legs. Since most bay rums are pretty short lived, it will def be on my list of things to check out.

The gin scent not really enticing me yet.

Yes, No, Yes

CO Bigelow Bay Rum is AMAZING!!! Great stuff, and has some legs.

I love lime, and Pen's Lime is AMAZING!! Clearly the best one I've tried and the only one with legs. The only problem is the $110 price.

I will check out Pens Bay Rum, and pray it doesn't work for me, and just buy another $35 bottle of CO Bigelow.

 

[Rossmeister]

Interesting!

By the way, is the Edinburgh shop a good one? My girlfriend is from Aberdeen, and we might take a week's vacation in Edinburgh before New Year's! I really hope we can make it so I can get the Pen's cheaper than here.

I also read that Edinburgh has a C&E shop. Have you been to it?

 

[justinp]

The Edinburgh shop is great, it's on George Street smack in the middle of the New Town. Won't actually save any money, as it's not an outlet, just a retail front. However, the staff is extremely knowledgeable (well, at least some of them are) and fun to talk to. Also, it's nice to be able to see the whole collection and compare scents back to back. Ask for Alex, who is I think a store manager and one of the most knowledgeable fragrance reps I've ever talked to.

And no, I've not been to the C&E shop. I think I've walked by it, though. Not sure where, sorry.

 

[Rossmeister]

Oh I will save money. In fact, I will save £30 per 100 ml bottle.

Penhaligon's is expensive in Norway. It's only sold in one shop in the entire country as well.

 

[professorchaos]

This one will have my interest.

 

[Rudy Vey]

Thank God I do not like Bay Rum - makes me gag, so I save this money...

 

[Niles]

Thanks for the news. I look forward to sampling the bay rum for sure when it becomes available.