Penhaligon’s Extract of Limes was first launched in 1963 when “real” men were meant to smell like limes. Seriously, all colognes of the 1960’s were lime based. Anyways, Extract of Limes was relaunched in 2009 in the Anthology Collection because I suppose, people wanted to smell like limes again. Even ladies.
Extract of Limes opens up with a BAM of lemon and lime. It’s effervescent tart citrus. When I smell it far away, it reminds me of lime Perrier, up close, I get more of a real “lime”. It’s so strange and I’m sure my brain is playing tricks on me, but I can smell the new, not-glamorous plastic bottle that Perrier now comes in. I get something plastic-y with my sparkling lime mineral water. I’m going to blame this on petitgrain (bitter orange leaf). Anyways, all you need to know is that Extract of Lime is lemon-lime juice with some lime peel-hay nuances.
This is a citrus fragrance so it doesn’t really last. On a mild day, I get about 3 hours out of it. Not great by my standards, but not bad for a citrus. I suppose this is a nice one for summer and better than any other limes that I have tried.
Notes listed include lime oil, lemon oil, petit grain oil, and neroli.
Give Extract of Limes a try if you want to smell like limes or if you really love simple citrus fragrances or scents like Malin + Goetz Lime Tonic EDT, Demeter Gin & Tonic Cologne, Caswell-Massey Lime Cologne, and/or Royall Lime Cologne. Penhaligon’s Extract of Lime is much “smooth” than other classic limes in my opinion. There’s a very, very faint suggestion of linden blossom.
The 3.4 oz spray of Extract of Lime retails for $140 and is available at Beautyhabit. Samples are also available for purchase.
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – You guys know I don’t like perfumes in the citrus category. I have no desire to smell like Extract of Limes. I’d rather drink sparkling mineral water with a lime wedge. It’s just as refreshing to me.
Want more reviews? Try…
Telegraph (perfumes for summer)
Basenotes (member reviews)
I’ve tested this twice over a 1.5-year span, and I still dislike this because it’s *so* tart, acidic, astringent, overly zingy, just generally pungent – honestly *real* lime peels and lime juice smell much, much better than this.
There’s zero complexity here, really – it smells somewhat two-dimensional and just kinda shouts “FAKE LIMES!!!!” Meh.
Isn’t Eau Sauvage from the same era? Technically citrus-based cologne (well, sorta) but a zillion times more imaginative and amazing. And a whole lot cheaper.
I agree and that is why I compared it to the Perrier Lime which I find fake and like, dare I say, dish soap. I like to drink sparkling mineral water with a lime wedge instead. Less tart and astringent. OK, screw that, I would rather have a mojito 🙂
There’s no complexity and that’s my beef with 99% of citrus colognes. The price of this one .
Eau Sauvage is from the same era, so is Dana English Leather Lime (which I hear the vintage is good). Old Spice, Aqua Velva, and even High Karate had lime versions in the 60’s 🙂
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