Penhaligon's Portraits Fragrance Collection
With such a scandalous array of scents to choose from, Penhaligon's thought it would only be proper to reintroduce The Portraits Family, our redolent residents brimming with dry wit and devious wealth. Come along, now.
High society can be a little complicated to the uninitiated. For starters, most of these blue bloods are related in one way or another – not that family loyalty means a great deal to them (apart from in matters of inheritance, that is). Anyway, we digress.
To help you understand exactly who's who in this web of titles and tittle tattle, we've used our not-so-inconsiderable clout to split the wheat from the chaff and the truth from the slander. Allow Penhaligon's to introduce you to the Portraits Family, and peer into the lives and lies of the aristocracy.
The Tragedy of Lord George
The head of the Portraits family (and quite a head he has!). Lord George is a modern take on a classic fougère – an elegant masculine fruitiness with a hint of shaving soap. But what brandy-soaked secrets is he keeping behind closed doors?
One might also like: Sartorial
The Revenge of Lady Blanche
My, oh my, what beauty is this? It can only be the lord’s wife, of course (not that he cares to notice). Floral freshness balanced with a bite of woody spice. A narcotic, green floral fragrance with soft, powdery undertones. One never knows when she’ll quite pounce.
One might also like: Orange Blossom
The Coveted Duchess Rose
The darling daughter of the Portraits family and the belle of high society. A sweet, rosy fragrance with an unexpected dash of musky wood. ‘Tis a shame her husband is more interested in, ahem, other pursuits. But the young duchess is already turning noses at the ball...
One might also like: Halfeti, Elisabethan Rose
Changing Constance
Lady Banche’s ever-so-modern sister. ‘Tis a sign of the times and my, aren’t they changing. A gourmand, spicy oriental fragrance that blurs the lines between masculine and feminine. Intellect and beauty are matched, but must she flaunt the former? Convention is an invention she chooses to ignore.
One might also like: The Bewitching Yasmine, Empressa, Clandestine Clara
The Blazing Mister Sam
An American abroad (and quite the dreamboat, too). Hot and cold spices mingle over tobacco and patchouli. One can’t quite place the accent, but the Duchess Rose is enthralled. A masculine oriental with a soft, sensual cedarwood dry-down. Spend freely. Live fast. Talk loud.
One might also like: Halfeti, Endymion, Opus 1870
Much Ado About The Duke
Rose, gin and leather, a most uncommon mix for a handsome dog. An aromatic, peppery rose fragrance, with a warm woody dry-down. Hearts are all set a-flutter – but not the ones you might think.
One might also like: Juniper Sling, Endymion
The Bewitching Yasmine
Rich, smoky and sensual, this vixen has come to England for one thing: a husband, of course! A voluptuous oriental mix of jasmine, incense and oud. Her allure is as powerful as her perfume. Ambition never looks back.
One might also like: Halfeti, Changing Constance
Heartless Helen
So confidently alluring one could call it a trap (she did meet Teddy on safari, after all). A sweet floral woody fragrance, befitting Lord George and Lady Blanche’s second daughter. Headstrong notes of pink peppercorn and mandarin give way to undertones of creamy wood and cashmere. Helen loves to be adored, and who doesn’t adore a conquistadora?
One might also like: Duchess Rose, Bluebell
Terrible Teddy
They say the thrill is in the chase, and Teddy is quite the hunter. Incense and pink peppercorn contradict an addictive burst of vetiver and patchouli. Round and reassuring with a beguiling bite. He may have met his match in Heartless Helen, but those feelings are tame compared to those for the Duke!
One might also like: Endymion Cologne, Opus 1870, The Imitable William Penhaligon, The World According to Arthur
The Inimitable Mr Penhaligon
The master perfumer himself! When Lord George and Lady Blanche invited him to the country for a weekend, he couldn’t help creating a portrait of each guest. As for his own scent? A woody oriental in a vetiver haze. Warm, fresh and earthy, a timeless classic. Lady Blanche simply can’t resist...
One might also like: Terrible Teddy, Opus 1870, Endymion Cologne
The World According To Arthur
Lord George’s hot-headed brother has returned from the East! An enveloping incense with fresh, resinous and leather facets. This gentle warrior has found a garden of sweet-scented sage wisdom – but careful, he still breathes fire. A sensual woody amber fragrance.
One might also like: Terrible Teddy, Edymion Cologne, Opus 1870
The Omniscient Mr Thompson
Lord George’s confidante, the all-knowing butler. He has spying – sorry, discrete observation – down to a fine art. A floral oriental bursting with lavender, iris and sesame milk. Always out of sight, but never out of earshot: you see, some walls are terribly thin.
One might also like: Constantinople, Endymion Cologne, The Favourite, Sartorial
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...
