Penhaligon’s Hammam Bouquet
There are two perfumes for men that I’ve been forced to defend for almost 20 years. Friends, and strangers, to my face, have called these two fragrances “dandyish” “old fashioned” “of another time” and (for me, the worst) “grandfatherly.” There’s nothing wrong with grandfathers; my maternal grandfather was a sweetie who spent his leisure time reading and collecting stamps; he ran a small, country general store, geared more towards small talk and checkers than merchandise, and he smelled of vanilla, pipe tobacco and beagles. What bothers me about the “grandfatherly” adjective when it comes to describing perfume is this: “grandfatherly” implies a scent is passé. What are the two perfumes I’m always ready to defend? Guerlain Mouchoir de Monsieur and today’s review subject, Penhaligon’s Hammam Bouquet…
Penhaligon’s is a charming buttonhole of a boutique tucked between the sleek emporia of Madison Avenue, a diminutive shop that transports its visitors back to London in the Edwardian era. Inside, its fragrances for men and women are displayed on dark-wood shelving that sets off their decorative, old-fashioned packaging. The scents themselves range from classic (Bluebell, a favorite of many “English roses”) to sweetly quirky (Artemesia), and they are all highly wearable. Matching perfumed soaps, dusting powders, or candles are also available for many of the fragrances. All of Penhaligon’s merchandise is appropriate for gift-giving, including a carefully edited selection of lacquer trinket boxes, shaving implements for the neo-traditional gentleman, and silver picture frames suitable for any lady’s dressing table…
The folks over at Beauty News NYC are giving away 2 hatboxes of Penhaligons goodies in the Bluebell fragrance. Each hatbox includes Bluebell Eau de Toilette, Bath & Shower Gel, Talcum Powder and a Classic Candle. Enter