Penhaligon’s Elixir is a spicy incense fragrance that I absolutely adore. It’s the type of fragrance that mellows me out, makes me feel chill. And being that life is stressful, this is a fragrance that gets a lot of wear from me. It makes me feel content.
Elixir really has a eucalyptus steam to it. It’s like a sauna, humid and herbal. But, it’s spicy. These spices aren’t baked or foody. This is a spice market filled with cinnamon and mace. There’s a pipe tobacco vanilla there to add some depth. This “softens” the dry cedar in Elixir. This cedar is so dry that it could give a nosebleed. But, it’s so good! For some reason, I can’t explain it, maybe I’m too mellow at this stage from this fragrance, but I get musty old books. I’m transported to an antique study. I’m in front of a crackling fire sipping mulled wine and reading from a leather bound antique book. This fragrance “puts” me there and this is my “happy place”. And yes, it’s a dorky happy place and it looks like it would be used in PBS’s Masterpiece Theater. But, it’s quiet and beautiful and not the loud, stressful everyday world. It’s a fragrance escape. The dry-down is clean and steamy on me. It’s like exotic woods steaming in a sauna. It’s clean, which I usually dislike, but it’s good and different. Why? Take this steam and add an acrid incense. I love this fragrance from top to bottom. However, it’s an EDT so it doesn’t last very long 🙁
Notes listed include eucalyptus steam, cinnamon, cardamom, white cedar, red Turkish rose, orange blossom, Egyptian jasmine, mace, rosewood, benzoin, tonka bean, vanilla, red sandalwood, guaiac, and incense. PERFUMER – Olivia Giacobetti
Give Elixir a try if you like dry incense fragrances or perfumes like Etro Messe de Minuit, CdG Incense Series Avigon, Estee Lauder Cinnabar, Bond No. 9 Andy Warhol Silver Factory and/or Prada Infusion d’Homme. Elixir is easily unisex.
I asked in the video review what fragrance mellows you out? Elixir makes me feel calm and soothed.
The 1.7 oz bottle of Elixir retails for $80 at Beautyhabit and at Brummells of London (UK).
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – Spicy, acrid incense fragrance. I love it. This is one of those fragrances I reach for to mellow me out during stressful times. It’s meditative and soothing for me. So far, this is my favorite Penhaligon’s perfume. It’s seamless in composition.
Want more reviews? Try…
Basenotes (member reviews)
Now Smell This (review of Hammam Bouquet too)
Year of Perfume (yes! Libraries!)
As fragrance lovers, it’s nice to find fragrances we can turn to when we really need them. Great post V. I’ll have to look into this one. Juniper Sling has me in a headlock right now.
Barney A Bishop recently posted..Wordless Wednesdays
I can’t wait to try Juniper Sling. But, I fear that I have set my expectations too high!
Oh god, I cannot wait to try this! A friend picked up the Penghaligon Sampler for me + a sample of Juniper Sling and I’m dying for it to get to me already. I love the idea of feeling like I’m in an old library. You make this sound delicious.
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What’s in the sampler? I hope Elixir is. I love it. But, I love incense fragrances.
I can’t wait to try Juniper Sling and I bet you can’t either! Gin, enough said.
[…] but more of a meditative “steamy” fragrance. This scent mellows me out in the way that Penhaligon’s Elixir does. This is a fragrance that I wear for […]