Penhaligon’s Portraits Week

Penhaligon’s has launched a new collection of perfumes, Portraits. This is basically a concept collection/olfactory comedy-drama inspired by a fictional, wealthy and totally dysfunctional aristocratic British family. This entire collection is like if Wes Anderson decided he wanted to be a creative director for a line of perfumes. The tongue-in-cheek stories feel like they’re pulled from an early 00’s era screenplay based on the early 1900’s (or maybe even some sort of popular TV series). The art is whimsy in a British way. Each bottle has a golden animal head cap, like a trophy for the flawed. 

Let me introduce you to the patriarch of the family who’s dirty laundry is airing out this week – The Tragedy of Lord George.

The Portrait (from the site):

Lord George is a wealthy and respected man, the archetypal patriarch. He seems to embody the noblest values of the aristocracy: virtue, respect, loyalty and faithfulness. His fragrance reflects his essence; seemingly traditional, yet with hidden secrets. “The flesh is weak.”

With a story like this, I’m expecting something traditionally masculine. But, really with this story I have no clue what is really going on (or what is implied). I think at this stage of history we expect for all of the “noblest of the aristocracy” to be total sleazeballs. Men have abused their power for hundreds of years and there’s really no hidden secrets of Lord George’s that could surprise us, right? In our society, we expect for him to be a hypocrite!

Lord George opens as a boozy, sweet tonka bean that has a hint of freshly baked bread/rolls. There’s also something that reminds me of dark chocolate shavings as well. As it wears, there’s something sharp in it that reminds me of geranium but overall, the scent is very woodsy (and sweet). It’s like a geranium leaf floating around in a glass of aged rum. As it dries down, it’s a sweet amber with oregano. And this sweet, boozy amber is what lingers on my skin for hours and hours.

After wearing this, I get the impression that Lord George is drinking to forget. This is a boozy amber with more than a few shots of tonka bean. And if you didn’t know, tonka beans are “poisonous”¹ so perhaps his wife, The Revenge of Lady Blanche, put it there? We’ll talk more about all of that tomorrow.

Notes listed include brandy, woodsy notes, tonka beans and amber. Launched in 2016. PERFUMER – Alberto Morillas

Give The Tragedy (OK Lord George) a try if you like sweet boozy ambers or tonka-heavy scents. Or perfumes like Mugler A*Men Pure Malt, Comptoir Sud Pacifique Rhum & Tabac, Dolce & Gabbana Pour Homme, Histoires de Parfum Ambre 114, Kilian Light My Fire and/or Tim McGraw Soul to Soul for Men (strangely, this is a really great perfume). It’s a unisex fragrance (all fragrances are) but this one does lean more “modern masculine” in comparison to the others in this collection.

Projection is average. Longevity is above average, lasting through showers and such. Not that it matters, but Lord George has one of the best looking trophies (in my opinion). I like the antlers which can also be used as weapon. I like a multi-tasking product.

The 2.5 oz retails for £178 at Penhaligon’s.

Victoria’s Final EauPINION – Boozy tonka amber…with antlers. It’s not anything I feel like dropping that kind of money on but I do see the fragrance’s appeal (still a bit confused by the marketing, but whatever). It’s a boozy amber. Boozy ambers are appealing but the deal is that there are a lot of boozy ambers on the market, many retailing for much less than this.

¹”The Tonka Bean: An Ingredient So Good It Has to Be Illegal”  article

Read more of the First Chapter and get to know this family here.

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*Disclaimer – Sample provided by the brand. I am not financially compensated for my review. My opinions are my own. Product pic from the brand. Womanizer Errol Flynn from drmacro.com.