The Perfume Library

Roaring Radcliff

8.0

Penhaligon's · 2017

Sweet · Gourmand · Spicy

Penhaligon's Roaring Radcliff is a sweet, gourmand and spicy men's fragrance built on rum, tobacco and gingerbread, suited to autumn and winter evenings. Longevity is rated strong and sillage good. Most voters pick winter and fall, and night out and evening are the top occasions. It reads mostly masculine. It has been discontinued. Rum opens sweet and smoky, then the tobacco heart adds a woody, drier edge. Gingerbread leads the base, closing the scent on a warm, gourmand and spicy note. Serge Lutens Écrin de fumée and Nishane Fan Your Flames have a close profile.

Iris Prima

7.7

Penhaligon's · 2013

Fresh · Citrus · Floral

Penhaligon's Iris Prima is a unisex scent that ties the bright bergamot and pink pepper to a powdery floral heart of orris absolute and jasmine sambac. It opens with bergamot, pink pepper and green amber, fresh, citrusy and lightly spicy. In the heart, orris absolute and jasmine sambac lead, while paradisone and hedione lift the floral picture. The base of benzoin, vanilla, sandalwood, vetiver and leather dries down powdery, woody and leathery, with a warm finish. Longevity and sillage are both moderate. Most voters pick spring and autumn, with summer not far behind. Daily wear, office and leisure lead the occasions. Close to half of voters call it feminine, though the profile reads unisex.

Vaara

7.3

Penhaligon's · 2013

Fresh · Floral · Green

Penhaligon's Vaara is a floral-spicy unisex scent that opens with rose water, saffron and coriander seed and softens toward honey and sandalwood. The top is coriander seed, saffron, carrot seed, rose water and quince, giving a green, fresh and slightly fruity spiciness at first. In the heart, Moroccan rose, Bulgarian rose, iris and freesia turn it powdery and floral. The base of honey, benzoin, cedarwood and tonka bean sweetens it and closes on a woody, oriental warmth. Longevity is rated good and sillage moderate. Most voters pick spring and summer, with fall not far behind, and it is chosen most for leisure, daily wear and the office. Many voters read it as feminine, though it is presented as unisex. Jil Sander Background and Dior Tendre Poison have a close profile.

Lily of the Valley (Eau de Toilette)

7.6

Penhaligon's · 1976

Fresh · Citrus · Floral

Eau de Toilette

Penhaligon's Lily of the Valley Eau de Toilette is a light, powdery floral where lily of the valley, jasmine and rose sit over fresh citrus and green tones. It opens with bergamot, lemon and geranium, which give it a bright, green start. In the heart, lily of the valley joins jasmine, rose and ylang-ylang, and the flowers stay soft and powdery. Sandalwood and oakmoss settle underneath as a calm, woody base. Longevity is rated good and sillage moderate, so it stays fairly close to the skin. Most voters pick spring and summer, and daily wear, leisure and the office lead the occasions. It reads clearly feminine. Revlon Charlie Blue and Floris Bouquet de la Reine have a close profile.

Opus 1870

7.5

Penhaligon's · 2005

Fresh · Citrus · Spicy

Penhaligon's Opus 1870 is a men's fragrance that pairs citrus freshness with spice, resin and wood, with a faintly smoky, earthy edge. It opens bright and sharp with yuzu, Bourbon pepper and coriander. In the heart, clove, cinnamon and frankincense turn the spice resinous and warm, while English rose softens the edges. The base settles into cedarwood, gaiac wood, Australian sandalwood and musk, dry, woody and a little smoky. Voters rate its longevity and sillage as moderate. Autumn and spring lead the season votes, with winter and summer trailing behind. Daily wear, business and leisure are picked more often than evening or a night out. Close to half of voters read it as masculine, and a good number as classic.

Lothair

8.0

Penhaligon's · 2014

Fresh · Floral · Green

Penhaligon's Lothair is a fresh, green unisex scent that opens on cardamom, grapefruit and fig leaf and carries lavender and black tea at its heart. The opening brings a spicy, citrusy freshness from cardamom, grapefruit, bergamot and fig leaf. Lavender, magnolia and black tea take over in the heart, where the floral and fougère sides become clearer. The base of musk, cedar and vanilla leaves a woody, powdery and faintly creamy trail. Longevity is rated good and sillage moderate. Most voters recommend spring and fall, and it wears comfortably for daily use, leisure and the office. The largest share of voters calls it masculine, though a fair number find it feminine. Marc Gebauer Killer Instinct and Parfums MDCI Invasion Barbare have a close profile.

The Favourite

7.2

Penhaligon's · 2020

Fresh · Floral · Fruity

Penhaligon's The Favourite is a powdery floral for women that pairs a fresh opening of mandarin orange, bergamot and violet with a soft heart of jasmine sambac, mimosa and iris. Longevity is rated good and sillage moderate. Most voters pick spring and summer, and it leans towards leisure, daily wear and the office. It reads mostly feminine, though some find it classic or modern. It opens with mandarin orange and bergamot for freshness, while violet and freesia steer it towards the floral side. The heart shows mimosa, jasmine sambac and iris, sweet and powdery in feel. In the base, musk, Indian sandalwood and amber settle it into a warm, soft finish. Puma Flowing Woman and Cacharel Promesse have a close profile.

Cairo

7.7

Penhaligon's · 2018

Floral · Sweet · Spicy

Penhaligon's Cairo is a spicy, resinous unisex scent that suits fall and winter evenings; it has been discontinued. Most voters pick fall and winter, and it is chosen mostly for evenings and nights out. Its longevity and sillage are rated good. Opinion on whether it reads masculine or feminine is split almost evenly. Frankincense, saffron and Damask rose open on a spicy floral note. Labdanum and nagarmotha carry it into a resinous warmth, and patchouli, vanilla, Atlas cedar and Ceylonese sandalwood settle it on a sweet, creamy, woody base. Agatho Castiamanti and Memo Paris Lalibela Oud have a close profile.

Heartless Helen

7.2

Penhaligon's · 2019

Fresh · Floral · Fruity

Penhaligon's Heartless Helen is a fresh, floral women's fragrance that leans towards spring and summer, and suits leisure hours and daytime wear best. It opens with mandarin orange and pink pepper, a fresh and lightly spicy start. Jasmine and tuberose form a floral heart, softened by fruity and sweet accords. Cashmeran and woods set it on a powdery, creamy base. Longevity and sillage are both rated good. Most voters recommend spring and summer, with fall and winter further behind. Leisure, daily wear and nights out lead the occasions, and business gets votes too. Most voters read it as feminine. Acqua di Parma Gelsomino Nobile and Jimmy Choo Flash have a close profile.

Cornubia

7.6

Penhaligon's · 1991

Floral · Fruity · Sweet

Penhaligon's Cornubia is a sweet, powdery floral built around mandarin orange and orange blossom; it has been discontinued. It opens with mandarin orange, and the heart gathers jasmine, freesia, heliotrope, neroli and orange blossom into one floral cluster. Woods, musk, vanilla and amber sit underneath; it dries down creamy, fruity and gourmand, with spicy and oriental touches staying in the background. Longevity is rated strong and sillage good. Most voters pick fall and winter, with spring not far behind, and it leans towards evenings and nights out. It reads feminine and classic. Avon Far Away and Acqua di Parma Vaniglia have a close profile.

The Inimitable William Penhaligon

7.0

Penhaligon's · 2020

Fresh · Citrus · Floral

Penhaligon's The Inimitable William Penhaligon is a men's fragrance that sets a fresh, citrusy opening on a woody, slightly smoky base, an easy scent for daytime and the in-between seasons. Bergamot and jasmine give it a bright start. In the heart, cedarwood, frankincense and Haitian vetiver lead, pulling the scent in a green, spicy direction. Ambrox and sandalwood in the base soften the sweetness and keep the woody feel going. Most voters point to fall and spring, with winter third. Leisure, business and daily wear are almost evenly matched. Longevity is rated good and sillage moderate. Voters mostly read it as masculine and classic. Perfumes with a close profile include Grauton Parfums Ceylongrau and Nuori Shinrin.

Endymion Concentré

7.6

Penhaligon's · 2016

Fresh · Floral · Sweet

Penhaligon's Endymion Concentré is a fresh yet spicy, leathery men's scent that suits fall and spring best. Sage, bergamot and lavender open it with a clean, herbal feel. Geranium and suede sit in the heart, and frankincense, leather and nutmeg ground it in a woody, lightly sweet, spicy base. Longevity is rated good and sillage moderate. Most voters pick fall, then spring. Leisure, business and evening wear get similar support. Voters read it as masculine and classic. Perfumes with a close profile include Penhaligon's Endymion and Ulric de Varens UDV Star.

Halfeti Cedar

7.6

Penhaligon's · 2020

Fruity · Sweet · Spicy

Penhaligon's Halfeti Cedar is a discontinued unisex fragrance that pairs saffron, cardamom and cedar in a sweet, spicy, woody style. Its longevity is rated strong and its sillage good. Most voters pick fall and winter, and it is chosen most often for evenings and nights out. Though unisex, half of the voters find it masculine. It opens with saffron, cardamom, peach and rum. The heart holds dried fruits, immortelle, cinnamon and Virginia cedar. The base of Atlas cedar, patchouli, tonka bean, labdanum and vanilla carries it into a sweet, resinous, earthy woodiness, with fruity and oriental accords alongside. French Avenue Inej and Avapari Pure Amber have a close profile.

Legacy of Petra

7.5

Penhaligon's · 2022

Sweet · Gourmand · Spicy

Penhaligon's Legacy of Petra is a sweet, spicy and resinous unisex scent in which liquorice, myrrh and vanilla take the lead. Longevity and sillage are both rated good. Most voters pick autumn and winter, and it is worn mostly for leisure, evenings and nights out. It sits between masculine and feminine, leaning neither way firmly. Bergamot, green tea and fennel seed give a cool opening. In the heart, liquorice, myrrh and cistus build a sweet, smoky warmth. The base deepens the gourmand side with vanilla and benzoin, while Belambre® adds a woody, oriental depth. Lattafa Pride Ajwaa and Roja Parfums Parfum de la Nuit 2 have a close profile.

A London Dandy / The Dandy

7.4

Penhaligon's · 2024

Citrus · Fruity · Sweet

Penhaligon's A London Dandy / The Dandy is a unisex scent that suits fall and winter evenings, opening with citrus and settling into a smoky, woody base. The top is raspberry, bergamot and citron, which gives a fruity, sweet brightness. In the heart, oak wood, cedarwood and whisky lead, pushing the scent towards a spicy, gourmand side. Clearwood™, Ambrox and patchouli in the base firm up the woody, smoky structure. Most voters pick fall and winter, and it leans towards evenings and nights out. Longevity is rated good and sillage moderate. Votes for its character lean masculine and classic. Mugler A*Men Pure Malt and Nishane Hacivat have a close profile.

Elixir

7.5

Penhaligon's · 2008

Floral · Sweet · Spicy

Penhaligon's Elixir is a floral, spicy unisex scent that suits autumn and winter evenings; it has been discontinued. Most voters pick autumn and winter, and it is chosen mostly for evenings and nights out. Longevity is rated good and sillage moderate. It leans slightly masculine, though plenty of voters read it as feminine. It opens with cardamom, eucalyptus and orange blossom absolute, and the heart holds Turkish rose absolute, Egyptian jasmine absolute and cinnamon leaf. The base of gaiac wood, red sandalwood, vanilla, benzoin and frankincense leaves a sweet, resinous, faintly smoky warmth.

Brilliantly British

7.9

Penhaligon's · 2020

Fresh · Floral · Green

Penhaligon's Brilliantly British pairs the fresh, floral side of lavender with the gourmand sweetness of salted caramel, and it suits men and women alike. Most voters pick fall and spring, with winter and summer further behind. It leans towards leisure and daily wear, and also gets votes for the office and evenings. Its longevity and sillage are both rated good. Slightly more voters call it feminine than masculine, though the masculine vote is sizeable, so it sits comfortably on either. The notes read as one whole: Provençal lavender, true lavender and bergamot carry the freshness, while benzoin and labdanum build a warm, spicy base. Salted caramel pulls the scent towards the gourmand and creamy, and musk softens it all. A green touch keeps the lavender crisp.

Fortuitous Finley

7.7

Penhaligon's · 2025

Fresh · Green · Sweet

Penhaligon's Fortuitous Finley is a unisex scent that pairs a fresh, green opening with a sweet, gourmand and faintly leathery body. Salted pistachio leads at the start, while cardamom and violet leaf in the heart add a spicy, green edge. Maté and Saffiano™ in the base settle the scent onto a woody, creamy foundation where the fresh and sweet sides find their balance. Longevity is rated good and sillage moderate. Most voters pick spring and fall, with leisure and daily wear leading and business and evening also getting votes. It reads more masculine than feminine, with a modern feel.

Ellenisia

7.3

Penhaligon's · 2004

Fresh · Citrus · Floral

Penhaligon's Ellenisia is a fresh, floral women's fragrance that most voters place in spring and summer. Longevity and sillage are both moderate. It leans towards daily wear, leisure and the office, and is chosen less for evenings and nights out. Most voters read it as feminine, with some calling it classic or modern. It opens with mandarin orange zest and violet leaf, fresh and green. The heart of rose, jasmine, gardenia and tuberose forms a full floral core. In the base, vanilla and plum nectar bring a fruity, sweet, creamy and powdery finish.

Savoy Steam (Eau de Parfum)

7.9

Penhaligon's · 2017

Fresh · Floral · Green

Eau de Parfum

Penhaligon's Savoy Steam Eau de Parfum opens on pink pepper and rosemary, moves through geranium and Damask rose, and ties its fresh, green side to resin and smoke in a unisex scent. The top notes, pink pepper and Tunisian rosemary, give a spicy, fresh start. In the heart, geranium absolute and Damask rose add a floral, green texture. At the base, benzoin sweetens the scent while incense resin leaves a smoky trace. Longevity is rated good and sillage moderate. Most voters pick spring and fall, and it is worn for leisure, daily use and the office. Feminine and masculine votes are close, so it sits between the two. Aedes de Venustas Encens Japonais and Franck Boclet Incense have a close profile.

Lavandula

7.8

Penhaligon's · 2004

Fresh · Floral · Green

Penhaligon's Lavandula is a fresh, green unisex scent built around lavender and black pepper, softened by tonka bean and vanilla. It opens with black pepper, cinnamon and basil, a spicy, green start. In the heart, lavender, lily of the valley and clary sage lead, with a powdery floral softness. The base of tonka bean, amber, musk and vanilla sweetens it and dries down on a woody footing. Longevity is good and sillage moderate. Most voters pick spring and summer, and leisure, daily wear and the office are the most named occasions. Feminine and masculine votes sit close together, so it reads as both. It has been discontinued. Caron Pour Un Homme and Harry Lehmann Lavendelblüte have a close profile.

Amaranthine (Eau de Parfum)

7.0

Penhaligon's · 2009

Floral · Green · Sweet

Eau de Parfum

Penhaligon's Amaranthine Eau de Parfum is a powdery, spicy women's fragrance that links the freshness of green tea and white freesia to a floral heart of rose, jasmine and ylang-ylang, settling into soft vanilla and sandalwood. It has been discontinued. It opens light, green and spicy with green tea, cardamom absolute, white freesia and coriander seed. The heart turns floral, with clove, rose, jasmine and orange blossom. In the base, sandalwood, vanilla and condensed milk sweeten it and pull it toward a powdery warmth. Longevity is rated good and sillage moderate, so it is noticed up close without filling a room. Most voters pick spring and fall, and leisure and daily wear lead the occasions. Most read it as feminine. Gloria Vanderbilt Vanderbilt and Acca Kappa Giardino Segreto have a close profile.

The Impudent Cousin Matthew

7.8

Penhaligon's · 2019

Fresh · Citrus · Floral

Penhaligon's The Impudent Cousin Matthew is a fresh, citrusy and green men's fragrance built on mandarin orange, petitgrain and patchouli. It opens with a bright, fruity mandarin freshness. Petitgrain adds a green, lightly floral touch in the heart, and patchouli softens it with an earthy base. The overall feel is citrus, green and slightly powdery. Voters find the longevity good and the sillage moderate. Most pick spring and summer, and leisure, daily wear and the office lead the occasions. Most see it as masculine. It has been discontinued. Hermès Iris Ukiyoé and St James of London Mandarin & Patchouli have a close profile.

AlUla

7.8

Penhaligon's · 2024

Fruity · Sweet · Gourmand

Penhaligon's AlUla is a unisex scent where turmeric, plum and saffron meet in a sweet, spicy, resinous accord. It opens with turmeric, plum and black pepper, a fruity hit of spice. In the heart, saffron, vanilla and Guatemala cardamom push it towards the gourmand side, with sweetness in front. It dries down to patchouli, tobacco and frankincense, leaving a woody, smoky, resinous warmth. Longevity and sillage are rated good. Most voters pick fall and winter, and it leans towards evenings and nights out. Its character sits between masculine and feminine, as a true unisex. Lattafa Asad Elixir and Lattafa Pride Art of Arabia III have a close profile.