Penhaligon’s presented their new Portrait Collection. The new line which includes four fragrances with such dramatic names: The Tragedy of Lord George, The Revenge of Lady Blanche, Much Ado About The Duke and The Coveted Duchess Rose is a tribute to the English spirit; between establishment, humour and provocation. In fact… it reveals the secrets of the British aristocracy.
Deceptively traditional, Lord George is a perfect reminder that one should be aware of appearances. He himself maintains that one should never be able to divine what a man is thinking. This ability being, of course, the key to a happy marriage. Honourable, to a tee, his fidelity to King and Country is resolute. His penchant for muttering “the flesh is weak” over the breakfast kippers is entirely without explanation.” A woody amber fougère from perfumer Alberto Morillas, with rum, tonka bean and ambrox.
The Revenge of Lady Blanche ~ “Lady Blanche is a picture of devotion, charm – and criminal intentions. A social butterfly with a dangerous bite one might say. Shakespeare did try to warn us “hell hath no fury like a woman scorned”. Indeed, a woman does always know. Lady Blanche wishes, oh how she wishes! that she did not. The real crime you see is the inelegance of not having kept all of this where it belongs – in the dark, with the lights off! (Cross her at your peril.)” A green floral from perfumer Daphné Bugey, with narcissus, angelica and ginger flower.
Much Ado About The Duke ~ “Who could say if it was the evenings spent at the theatre that gave the Duke his ravishing, ravished air. A slight perfume of intrigue engulfs him nevertheless. Exquisitely ubiquitous, a decadent dandy, an utterly charming chap, virulently ambivalent, a thoroughly ambiguous first son-in-law – hearts throb wherever he goes, but not the ones you might think. His wife agrees that the theatre is no place for a Duchess. Sometimes she longs not to be a Duchess…” A spicy woody rose from perfumer Daphné Bugey, with rose, gin and cumin.
The Coveted Duchess Rose ~ “A fresh, sweet Rose – ready for the picking. Ever since her recent marriage (anything but a bed of roses) our demure Duchess is urgently desirous of desire. Her bosom is aching for release from the corsets of Victorian life, she dreams of nothing but Paradise Regained, again and again. When one’s husband is at the theatre every evening, one does become terribly bored…” A woody rose from perfumer Christophe Raynaud with mandarin, rose and ambrox.
Four eaux de parfums come in 75ml stylish bottles with gold-plated animal heads as stoppers, priced at £178 ($218).