Roll out the red carpet! ring out the bells!
What a crying shame it would be to omit the telling of a tale such as this. A tale of the Prince of Perfumery. Call him William Penhaligon. He embarked on a plethora of peregrinations. Some involved the movement of his feet, others the rolling on of his mind. All his adventures were fragrant. And all were led by his nose. Allow Penhaligon’s to regale, if you please…
Our story starts with our founder. A humble Cornish barber who rose to the Royal Court and trimmed the Shah of Persia’s beard.
1837
William H. Penhaligon enters the world on the 27th January, spending the formative years of his life in the quaint Penzance parish of Madron. It is here that the dreamer concocted his grand plan to pursue success as an olfactory entertainer and dab-handed barber.
1869
William Penhaligon and his family make the move to London – we can only speculate what flavour sandwiches they chose to pack for the journey – settling in with a Penhaligon’s relative, Henry, on Rochester Row, Westminster.
1870
William opens up his barber shop on Jermyn Street, adjacent to the Hammam, and proceeds to trim the tresses of Mayfair’s bright young things. Penhaligon & Jeavons is born.
1872
William creates his first fragrance, Hammam Bouquet, inspired by the Turkish Baths where he was resident barber. It’s exotic. It’s exciting. It causes quite a stir. His customers clamour for more. William, of course, obliged.
1901
Walter Penhaligon inherits the business from his father, William Henry, and proceeds to dazzle the darlings of society with his delightful concoctions.
1902
Walter Penhaligon proves the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, being commissioned to create the iconic Blenheim Bouquet for the 9th Duke of Marlborough.
1903
Upon hearing the news of William Penhaligon’s passing, Queen Alexandra awards Penhaligon’s with its first Royal Warrant.
Comments
Further Reading
STROLLIN' DOWN SAVILE ROW Anniversaries certainly do come around like buses or, more appropriately, Rolls-Royces when one is stood on the corner of Savile Row, Mayfair. A street steeped in hist...
CARE FOR A TIPPLE? Far be it from us to lecture, but this much we know to be true: the ties they are a-changing. Being a very British brand we thought we could step in with some very Briti...
Ah, Halfeti – the jewel in Turkey’s crown. With its wonderful mix of Byzantine, Armenian, Egyptian and Ottoman heritage. And a town well-versed in trading with the world, too. Spices an...
Back in William’s day, any self-respecting London dandy could be found bouncing around between Jermyn Street and St. James's Street. Here, a gentleman’s every tailoring and grooming need could be tend...
An intoxicating smell as one enters. Unrivalled care and attention from fragrance experts. Every one of our boutiques has its hallmarks, but there is nothing more distinctly Penhaligon’s than our icon...
Have you ever paused to take in the scent of a fresh rose and felt instantly uplifted? This is no mere coincidence. Floral scents are scientifically proven to make one feel happier. A fragrance ca...
It’s been a few years since the esteemed Portraits family took permanent residence in Penhaligon’s stores around the world. The ever-growing Portraits fragrance collection continues to offer something...
Just as wild animals mark their territory, a person’s fragrance extends the personal space they inhabit. Indeed, perfumes smell different depending on the wearer, so one must choose a fragrance tha...
Many a work of art is greater than the sum of its parts. A painting, with its carefully composed shades, hues and textures. A piece of music, with floaty highs, sinewy middles and deep basses, coming ...
1. Londoners are not typically known as the romantics of the world. Did you know that St Valentine’s Day was the invention of a Londoner, Geoffrey Chaucer in 1343. The 14th February or Saint V...
