Just received a sample of this in the mail.... sprayed some on skin and sitting back on a Sunday afternoon in New England with a cup of tea... Your take is spot on ... absolutely enjoying your review. Thank you!
My mind jumped immediately to King Arthur and Wales with their dragon. Incense as a ‘rebirth scent’ makes kinda sense to me. Though from ‘good ole england’ it’s not that far in terms of travelling… I don’t mind the caps and much prefer them to zoologist since I can put the caps in a drawer but the pictures are just there 😂 I also think the Portrait collection is sort of a gallery of characters like in Downton Abbey with 700 storylines mixed and maybe never concluded. The only one I remember is the Lord George/stag one and I liked it okay
I'll be intrigued by the dry down on this, and am rather frustrated that I missed the live video! I reviewed The World According To Arthur myself on Reddit about 2 months ago (having, similarly, tried it in Selfridges with a rather tired nose). I've since revisited it through the official sample from the Penhaligon's website. My considered impression is that this is a decent release, however, whilst it doesn't smell like much I've previously smelt, it also feels undeniably safe to me. The opening accord I get is not dissimilar to sambuca - there's a aniseed/liquorice-like quality to it (so maybe flaming sambuca, given the incense note!). I also get a slight smell of Deep Heat (but not in a bad way). The whole thing is tempered by the base , which is a quite creamy, and pleasingly unsweetened, tonka, but I'm a little disappointed with how quality the upper notes collapse into it. I just wish it had a bit more 'body' to it.
I have Mr Sam and halfeti cedar and recieved a sample of Arthur it really is a mystical magical scent and will be my next purchase my only criticism is why the 75ml bottles. Parfums de marly are doing 125ml bottles for similar price. For £230 I would expect at least 100ml
It holds really well on clothing. I believe it projects decent on the dry-down which doesn’t occur until about and hour or two later. This fragrance is so fresh.
I just blind-buy “The World According to Arthur” (this is my 2nd one after The Uncompromising Sohan (the rose-oud-sandalwood fragrance). I quite enjoy Sohan (even later, I notice it close to Oud Isaphan and Luxor on paper) but the story, animal head (eagle), and scent are quit cohesive (Eagle, part of Middle East culture which is also using mostly Oud fragrance). 🤔I never put my nose on this yet, but the dragon being Incense note is kinda understandable (breath of fire, sort of) but I can’t make my mind until I sniff / do test first. But your vlog is really useful, appreciate it! 🙏🏻😊 Love from Thailand
Just purchased terrible teddy, looking forward to sampling this new release. The portraits line doesn’t get a lot of love but it has a few gems. Penhaligons is a fantastic British house and doesn’t get the attention it deserves.
This is by far my favorite from the Portraits line which I agree up until I smelled Arthur was a little bit too synthetic for my taste. I truly hope their subsequent releases kind of follow in this vein.
Persolaise, I love Penhaligon's fragrances. They are hard to find in the U.S.A. There were 2 locations that closed where I live. Anyway, I love your review of The World According To Arthur & I love Roaring Radcliff. I wear it a lot in the colder months of the year.
I see a lion between Roaring and Radcliff - "Daniel Radcliff" = Harry Potter and , Harry Potter was a Gryffindor. But Harry was not the typical roaring Lion he was more sweet like honey. Maybe you're seeing it to literally? Or maybe I'm putting to much into the thought about the names. Lol
I have to admit I never really go for the name of a scent. There are some names that make no sense to me or, I know someone/something that has to do with it and I'm easily appalled haha. I have a friend who slowly introduced me into the world of niche perfumes and I have never seen a bottle, nor known the name. Only the scents she gave me. Parfums de Marly -Delina for example. If I would've seen the bottle I would've NEVER smelled it. Because I don't like powdery blushy pinks. But this scent is so great! 😍 on the other hand, Penhaligon's Portrait bottles solely interested me because of the golden animal caps. (I love animals and gold. What a great combination) "The world according to Arthur" mainly interested me because I have a Gecko (Dragon same, same but different) who's called Sir Arthur and I'd love to smell how the world would be according to him lol.
I like Lord Georg and Mr.Beauregard a lot, but I'd rather have them in normal bottles and at the same price as the rest. Mr.Beaurecard is very similar to BDK gris charnel, but when I compaired them side by side Beauregard is a nuch softer creamier sandelwood through out while Gris Charnel goes in to pencil shaving cedar in the far dry down.
I find the Portraits feels more like scents that portray the image of the characters they're assigned to 🤣 my friends and i were hoping that Penhaligon's will eventually release more info on the stories. farfetched, but a novel perhaps? i love Roaring Radcliff (sad, it's discontinued), but my friends and i dubbed it the Bad Boy scent. women can't resist it. i have a divided opinion on Coveted Duchess Rose. it always smells nice when i smell it at home or private parties. but i dislike it when i wear it in public 🤔 quite curious. Arthur tho. for me it doesn't feel like a lot of depth, but i know of someone who'll like it. a very quiet person, but people admire the person. exactly like your description about it seemingly like whisper but authoritative at the same time. suggested it to them, they bought it 🤣 at first they were interested because of the dragonhead too. just subscribed coz watching your recordings and descriptions is such a delight!
The Roaring Radcliffe was underrated big time. Over the past winter it was a dumb reach competing with Grand Soir and Tobacco Vanille. In my opinion, PRR is an excellent fragrance for both day and night. If you haven't tried you're missing out. I have most of the portrait collection and want to add Arthur but I have no way of sampling if Penhaligons doesn't mail a sample. My go to fragrance connection, a stand up Russian guy I haven't made communication since the current political fiasco. If you see the message, hope all is well.
I actually like some of the bottles. Lord George for example. The Dragon head is also nice. After having smelled the perfume, I have to say it reminds me a lot of fragrances like Bois d'Argent and Baiser de Florence. So I like it but nothing very original. And price is much too high. It's also not very Chinese for me (in reference to the dragon...). Ok, there is incense...but still...I'd rather expect something referring to Chinese olfactory past (which is super rich and not light and sheer at all- and the market evolves again in a direction where not only those transparent florals are appreciated) or something more "contemporary" as European see it. But it just "copies" some bestsellers.
Yes, I think the scent doesn’t live up to the promise it shows at the start. And you’re right about the price. £210 in the UK! That’s certainly not cheap.
Pleasant scent, close to the skin, very much reminded me of xerjoff ivory route. The only difference i remember is that Arthur's world has less spice and more vanilla and I like it, delicious flavor but totally not worth the pompous presentation and price they ask. To sum it up: A mediocre scent, although pleasant and completely quiet. I spent 1.5k on scents that day, and spent 20 mints on Penhaligon's portrait line, and i didn't buy one.
Honestly I saw dragon and thought Chinese and then thought incense…and what do you know, there’s a heavy incense note in it lol. But what that has to do with Arthur? Shrugs
I love the Caps of these bottles. It was the only reason why I started looking into this type of Perfume.
Thanks for letting me know.
Just received a sample of this in the mail.... sprayed some on skin and sitting back on a Sunday afternoon in New England with a cup of tea... Your take is spot on ... absolutely enjoying your review. Thank you!
Thanks, Pappy.
My mind jumped immediately to King Arthur and Wales with their dragon. Incense as a ‘rebirth scent’ makes kinda sense to me. Though from ‘good ole england’ it’s not that far in terms of travelling…
I don’t mind the caps and much prefer them to zoologist since I can put the caps in a drawer but the pictures are just there 😂
I also think the Portrait collection is sort of a gallery of characters like in Downton Abbey with 700 storylines mixed and maybe never concluded. The only one I remember is the Lord George/stag one and I liked it okay
Yes, there are certainly quite a few stories.
Thanks very much for watching.
I'll be intrigued by the dry down on this, and am rather frustrated that I missed the live video! I reviewed The World According To Arthur myself on Reddit about 2 months ago (having, similarly, tried it in Selfridges with a rather tired nose). I've since revisited it through the official sample from the Penhaligon's website.
My considered impression is that this is a decent release, however, whilst it doesn't smell like much I've previously smelt, it also feels undeniably safe to me. The opening accord I get is not dissimilar to sambuca - there's a aniseed/liquorice-like quality to it (so maybe flaming sambuca, given the incense note!). I also get a slight smell of Deep Heat (but not in a bad way).
The whole thing is tempered by the base , which is a quite creamy, and pleasingly unsweetened, tonka, but I'm a little disappointed with how quality the upper notes collapse into it. I just wish it had a bit more 'body' to it.
I wouldn’t disagree with ‘safe’. But I want to see where the drydown takes me.
I have Mr Sam and halfeti cedar and recieved a sample of Arthur it really is a mystical magical scent and will be my next purchase my only criticism is why the 75ml bottles. Parfums de marly are doing 125ml bottles for similar price. For £230 I would expect at least 100ml
Perhaps that’s something to do with the bottle design.
It holds really well on clothing. I believe it projects decent on the dry-down which doesn’t occur until about and hour or two later. This fragrance is so fresh.
Good to know.
Many thanks for watching.
I just blind-buy “The World According to Arthur” (this is my 2nd one after The Uncompromising Sohan (the rose-oud-sandalwood fragrance).
I quite enjoy Sohan (even later, I notice it close to Oud Isaphan and Luxor on paper) but the story, animal head (eagle), and scent are quit cohesive (Eagle, part of Middle East culture which is also using mostly Oud fragrance).
🤔I never put my nose on this yet, but the dragon being Incense note is kinda understandable (breath of fire, sort of) but I can’t make my mind until I sniff / do test first.
But your vlog is really useful, appreciate it! 🙏🏻😊
Love from Thailand
Many thanks for your kind words -- and thanks for watching.
Just purchased terrible teddy, looking forward to sampling this new release. The portraits line doesn’t get a lot of love but it has a few gems. Penhaligons is a fantastic British house and doesn’t get the attention it deserves.
Thanks very much for watching. The Portraits have proved quite divisive.
This is by far my favorite from the Portraits line which I agree up until I smelled Arthur was a little bit too synthetic for my taste. I truly hope their subsequent releases kind of follow in this vein.
Sadly, I believe it's been discontinued.
Thanks very much for watching.
Persolaise, I love Penhaligon's fragrances. They are hard to find in the U.S.A. There were 2 locations that closed where I live. Anyway, I love your review of The World According To Arthur & I love Roaring Radcliff. I wear it a lot in the colder months of the year.
Wonderful.
Many thanks for watching.
Are you familiar with Penhaligon’s Elixir from years ago? Perhaps you’d describe this as the second iteration and correction of that?
Possibly. My memory of it isn't very strong, though.
I see a lion between Roaring and Radcliff - "Daniel Radcliff" = Harry Potter and , Harry Potter was a Gryffindor. But Harry was not the typical roaring Lion he was more sweet like honey.
Maybe you're seeing it to literally? Or maybe I'm putting to much into the thought about the names. Lol
Well... that's one way of making a connection.
I have to admit I never really go for the name of a scent. There are some names that make no sense to me or, I know someone/something that has to do with it and I'm easily appalled haha.
I have a friend who slowly introduced me into the world of niche perfumes and I have never seen a bottle, nor known the name. Only the scents she gave me. Parfums de Marly -Delina for example. If I would've seen the bottle I would've NEVER smelled it. Because I don't like powdery blushy pinks. But this scent is so great! 😍
on the other hand, Penhaligon's Portrait bottles solely interested me because of the golden animal caps. (I love animals and gold. What a great combination)
"The world according to Arthur" mainly interested me because I have a Gecko (Dragon same, same but different) who's called Sir Arthur and I'd love to smell how the world would be according to him lol.
I personally think they are thinking outside the box I love the brand and originality
Wonderful, thanks for writing.
I like Lord Georg and Mr.Beauregard a lot, but I'd rather have them in normal bottles and at the same price as the rest.
Mr.Beaurecard is very similar to BDK gris charnel, but when I compaired them side by side Beauregard is a nuch softer creamier sandelwood through out while Gris Charnel goes in to pencil shaving cedar in the far dry down.
Good to know.
Thanks very much for watching.
I find the Portraits feels more like scents that portray the image of the characters they're assigned to 🤣 my friends and i were hoping that Penhaligon's will eventually release more info on the stories. farfetched, but a novel perhaps?
i love Roaring Radcliff (sad, it's discontinued), but my friends and i dubbed it the Bad Boy scent. women can't resist it.
i have a divided opinion on Coveted Duchess Rose. it always smells nice when i smell it at home or private parties. but i dislike it when i wear it in public 🤔 quite curious.
Arthur tho. for me it doesn't feel like a lot of depth, but i know of someone who'll like it. a very quiet person, but people admire the person. exactly like your description about it seemingly like whisper but authoritative at the same time. suggested it to them, they bought it 🤣 at first they were interested because of the dragonhead too.
just subscribed coz watching your recordings and descriptions is such a delight!
Yes! I remember thinking that they should do some kind of extended story.
Thank you so much for watching.
The Roaring Radcliffe was underrated big time. Over the past winter it was a dumb reach competing with Grand Soir and Tobacco Vanille. In my opinion, PRR is an excellent fragrance for both day and night. If you haven't tried you're missing out. I have most of the portrait collection and want to add Arthur but I have no way of sampling if Penhaligons doesn't mail a sample. My go to fragrance connection, a stand up Russian guy I haven't made communication since the current political fiasco. If you see the message, hope all is well.
Thanks for watching. Yes, I thought RR was one of the better ones.
Isn't King Arthur's last name Pendragon?
So the legend says.
I personally love the bottles!
Good to know!
I actually like some of the bottles. Lord George for example. The Dragon head is also nice. After having smelled the perfume, I have to say it reminds me a lot of fragrances like Bois d'Argent and Baiser de Florence. So I like it but nothing very original. And price is much too high. It's also not very Chinese for me (in reference to the dragon...). Ok, there is incense...but still...I'd rather expect something referring to Chinese olfactory past (which is super rich and not light and sheer at all- and the market evolves again in a direction where not only those transparent florals are appreciated) or something more "contemporary" as European see it. But it just "copies" some bestsellers.
Yes, I think the scent doesn’t live up to the promise it shows at the start. And you’re right about the price. £210 in the UK! That’s certainly not cheap.
Pleasant scent, close to the skin, very much reminded me of xerjoff ivory route. The only difference i remember is that Arthur's world has less spice and more vanilla and I like it, delicious flavor but totally not worth the pompous presentation and price they ask.
To sum it up: A mediocre scent, although pleasant and completely quiet.
I spent 1.5k on scents that day, and spent 20 mints on Penhaligon's portrait line, and i didn't buy one.
Thanks for watching.
Very Nice Persoliase!
Many thanks.
Honestly I saw dragon and thought Chinese and then thought incense…and what do you know, there’s a heavy incense note in it lol. But what that has to do with Arthur? Shrugs
It’s all part of their story, I guess.
Love the scent but - Alas! This dragon is a shy creature! Sits to close to the skin for the price asked. Not very lasting either. Bummer.
Yes, I could certainly have done with greater diffusiveness.