A JOURNEY FOR ADVENTUROUS NOSES: BABYLON
Travel thousands of miles East and thousands of years back, one shall find the mighty civilisation of Babylon. Take a look at the place that inspired Penhaligon’s decadent scent, Babylon.
Cast your mind back, if you will, 4,000 years ago. Along the Euphrates river in the Middle East, a small port town was founded. Its name? Babylon. And, over time, Babylon became one of the most powerful cities of the ancient world, and one of the largest cities in the Babylonian empire. But behind that is a city brimming with potent myth, which Penhaligon’s would argue, has been captured rather well in a bottle of scent. So, let us explore the history, the legend, but most importantly, the fragrance (please, hold one’s applause until the end).
The History
Located around 50 miles away from present-day Baghdad, Babylon started off as a rather unassuming port town – that was, until, the rule of Amorite king Hammurabi and his military prowess. Hammurabi conquered neighbouring city states and brought much of Mesopotamia under his rule, creating the Babylonian Empire. And, at its centre, was Babylon itself. At the height of its power, Hammurabi created one of the first comprehensive legal systems of its time, paving the way for a wealthy, influential city. However, after Hammurabi’s passing, the city fell into decline and entered the Neo-Babylonian Era (which was also rather short-lived: you just can’t get the rules these days).
The Legend
Of course, nothing remains of historic Babel. The tides of time have washed it away, and left in its place myriad myths passed down through the centuries: the Ishtar Gate, the Tower of Babel, and most significantly, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The Gardens, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, were said to have been built by King Nebuchadenezzar II for his wife, who missed the native vegetation of her homeland, Media. The gardens were a marvel of engineering, considering water would have been pumped uphill from the Euphrates. The garden was an oasis in the middle of a desert city, with abundant flowers, plants, and herbs cascading down a 75-foot-structure (or so the reports go). And that, one might want to know, is how Penhaligon’s bought to life its own fragrance, Babylon.
The Fragrance
Finally, the fragrant mystery that is Babylon. Decadent layers of herbs and spices – nutmeg, saffron, and coriander – hark to not only the gardens of Babylon, but the spices cultivated and traded along the Incense Route. The heart note of cypriol adds a woody depth to the scent, akin to papyrus and patchouli, again transporting the wearer to a bygone age. Finally, the decadent warmth of vanilla, reminiscent of the radiant civilisation of Babylon, lavishes the wearer.
Further Reading
STROLLIN' DOWN SAVILE ROW Anniversaries certainly do come around like buses or, more appropriately, Rolls-Royces when one is stood on the corner of Savile Row, Mayfair. A street steeped in hist...
CARE FOR A TIPPLE? Far be it from us to lecture, but this much we know to be true: the ties they are a-changing. Being a very British brand we thought we could step in with some very Briti...
Ah, Halfeti – the jewel in Turkey’s crown. With its wonderful mix of Byzantine, Armenian, Egyptian and Ottoman heritage. And a town well-versed in trading with the world, too. Spices an...
Back in William’s day, any self-respecting London dandy could be found bouncing around between Jermyn Street and St. James's Street. Here, a gentleman’s every tailoring and grooming need could be tend...
An intoxicating smell as one enters. Unrivalled care and attention from fragrance experts. Every one of our boutiques has its hallmarks, but there is nothing more distinctly Penhaligon’s than our icon...
Have you ever paused to take in the scent of a fresh rose and felt instantly uplifted? This is no mere coincidence. Floral scents are scientifically proven to make one feel happier. A fragrance ca...
It’s been a few years since the esteemed Portraits family took permanent residence in Penhaligon’s stores around the world. The ever-growing Portraits fragrance collection continues to offer something...
Just as wild animals mark their territory, a person’s fragrance extends the personal space they inhabit. Indeed, perfumes smell different depending on the wearer, so one must choose a fragrance tha...
Many a work of art is greater than the sum of its parts. A painting, with its carefully composed shades, hues and textures. A piece of music, with floaty highs, sinewy middles and deep basses, coming ...
1. Londoners are not typically known as the romantics of the world. Did you know that St Valentine’s Day was the invention of a Londoner, Geoffrey Chaucer in 1343. The 14th February or Saint V...
