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383 community ratings
Penhaligon's

Much Ado About the Duke

Perfumer: Daphné Bugey

2016MenClassic
7.8/ 10
Community score
383 ratings
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Penhaligon's Much Ado About the Duke is a fresh, green men's scent that mixes floral, spicy and woody tones.

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Skunky's take: A fresh breeze, my nose just got some air.

How does it perform?

From 325 community ratings, all out of 10.

Longevity
7.2 /10

Holds up through the day and fades gently toward evening.

Sillage
6.8 /10

Leaves a light trail and stays polite in a crowd.

Bottle
8.8 /10

Talks even from the shelf.

Value for money
6.1 /10

The price makes you think, so a small size is a smart start.

Blind buy risk

Low risk

84% of votes are positive and opinions barely differ.

Notes

They open one after another, from the first spray into the evening.

Top notesfirst 15 minutes

Heart notesfirst few hours

Rose
Gin

Base noteswhat stays into the evening

Accords

From most dominant to most subtle.

  1. Fresh
  2. Floral
  3. Green
  4. Spicy
  5. Woody

What does Much Ado About the Duke smell like?

Longevity is good and sillage moderate, so it stays fairly close to the skin. Most voters place it in spring and fall, and it leans towards daily and leisure wear. Most voters read it as masculine, though a fair number call it classic.

It opens with cumin and pink pepper for a spicy start. Rose and gin form the heart, adding a floral, bright note. Cedarwood and vetiver in the base give it a green, woody footing. Balenciaga Florabotanica and Dossier Floral Rose have a close profile.

How it changes through the day

  1. First minutes

    • Cumin
    • Pink pepper
  2. First hours

    • Rose
    • Gin
  3. Towards evening

    • Cedarwood
    • Vetiver

When to wear it?

Seasons and occasions, by user votes.

  • 31%
    Spring
  • 31%
    Autumn
  • 21%
    Summer
  • 17%
    Winter
  • Casual
    22%
  • Daytime
    21%
  • Evening
    20%
  • Nighttime
    18%
  • Office
    18%

Smells like this

The closest scents by notes and accords.

Comparisons

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Last updated: October 26, 2026