Actually that's a lie - all I want for Christmas is EVERYTHING from Penhaligons. Browsing their product range makes me want to slip on a bias cut evening gown, throw a Singapore Sling down my neck and do an energetic Charleston with a rake called Aubrey (or similar). Preferably this activity should take place at a glamorous location in the 1920's.
But on to matters at hand - as a luxury goods company they have a lot of very lavish offerings but it's the fragrance I really covet. Beautiful, gloriously scented creations in gorgeous glass flacons - who wouldn't be tempted? Penhaligons say that they "speak the language of your senses" and that they are "one of the few true perfume houses in the world". They design and make their own scents, and are proud of their attention to detail. Top notch ingredients are used, including hand-squeezed oil of bergamot and jasmine oil which costs twice the price of gold - erk.
Fragrances are available for women and men, and there is also a unisex range. The womens range contains delicious old fashioned delights such as Lily & Spice (above). Other treats include Elisabethan Rose which captures the scent of high summer; Lavandula which contains basil, musk and vanilla and Victorian Posy, a concoction of wild rose, winter jasmine, lily of the valley, camomile and oakmoss. MmmMMmm.
So apart from being luxurious and olde worlde glam, what else is good about wearing a Penhaligons scent? No one else will have it (or only a selected few anyway) so when you're asked what you're wearing, you can be as smug as you like! Now, such luxury, glam and smugness do come at a price, and it's not a particularly cheap one. Victorian Posy will set you back £50 STG for a 50ml Eau de Toilette, and it's one of the cheaper ones.
Advertised
But help is at hand! You don't have to shell out the full whack - you can also buy sample sets for much cheaper prices. A scent library containing 10 small phials of fragrance is £15 STG and you can also buy small sets of 4 and 2 fragrances for £25 STG. There are also some nice Christmas offers in their Festive Collection.
Itching to douse yourself in scented goodness? Get thyself to House of Fraser in Dundrum or Mickio and The Guy, Kinsale, Co Cork, who are their Irish stockists.
