The Coveted Duchess Rose

Penhaligon’s is a British perfumery established in 1870 by William Penhaligon. Originating as a barbershop, Penhaligon’s offered its first fragrance in 1872, Hammam Bouquet. The fragrance was inspired by the neighbouring Turkish bath and its sulphurous steam. The company’s best-selling fragrance, 1902’s Blenheim Bouquet, created at the request of the Duke of Marlborough at Blenheim Palace, broke with the prevailing floral trends of its day to enchant with zesty citrus, spices and woods. Scents were issued regularly from the original shop on Jermyn Street, until it was destroyed in The Blitz of 1941. The shop disappeared, but the fragrances of the company endured, and in 1956, Penhaligon’s was granted a Royal Warrant by the Duke of Edinburgh for the manufacturing of toiletries. Interest in the company was renewed with the opening of a new Penahligon’s flagship store in Covent Gardens, in 1975. The flagship store represented a new direction for the company as well, with the old formulas composed by William Penhaligon being resurrected, and new floral scents designed to appeal to a modern female customer. Chief among these was 1978’s Bluebell, which remains a best-seller for the company today. The company was granted a second Royal Warrant in 1988, by the Princess of Wales. Many of the original scents created by William Penhaligon were modernized and re-introduced as part of the “Anthology Collection.” The company maintains its commitment to fine, traditional perfume ingredients and techniques.