Penhaligon’s

There are few places so truly unique on Regent Street. Many of the big names and fancy shops can be found anywhere. But Penhaloians is totally rare and exquisite. The scents you find there sand out for their extraordinary complexity and subtlety. I had a young lady spend a solid 10 minutes showing me the different scents and explaining them. I also decided there were a number of scents I liked for myself. A stand-​out shop that is really worth a visit. You will not think of scents the same way.

Penhaligon’s… ever, love it. The whole idea of old-​fashioned perfume and old-​fashioned, hang on, time-​less scents, worth to stop and indulge and if you have it, worth the money spending some on it. If you don’t have it let someone spoil you.
So far so good.
But there are different locations. For example this one. Prime location, one should say, it seems the most beautiful store the whole setting in the arcades matches the idea of this business perfectly. I had for 12 years a violet scent that I adored. Finally it was down to the ground and needed replacement. I should add, I do not purchase every week another scent, so I didn’t remember what I paid for it 12 years ago, but I was getting married then and not stingy, that much I know.
Passed the store by chance, gladly so, thinking now I have a chance to replace the lovely scent. But inside the elegant (or?) clerk with the elegant (or?) Italian accent was busy with tourist and when I asked if he had the scent and in what sizes all I got it comes only in one size (~about 80 quid) and too bad if I don’t want it, as that’s it. Too bad indeed. I am the type you can seduce me easily if you are charming to spend that kind of money if I feel it might be well invested. I mean considering it may last 12 years…
But if you want to sell me an item for 80 quid, that I do not need for daily survival, we call it therefor a «luxury item», and you sport the attitude of a guy who keeps a stall with schnick-​schnack on the flea-​market, basically mainly worried I won’t pick-​pocket you, then that is in my eyes too trashy and the illusion of I have been treating myself is broken and the most exotic Italian accent won’t save it. That besides the point that all expensive perfume stores in London currently seem to employ anyone who has an Italian accent, thinking perhaps it matches the décor, but overlooking that not every Italian brings automatically a flair of style to the business.
Worst customer service because of being judgmental and therefor loosing out on a client (and a great review on top of that, if you bother at all.)
Interesting enough the branch on Regent Street offers two sizes (around 80 and 60 GBP) and a refillable travel size for 16 quid! Good to know.

I think Penhaligons, especially in this location, is just one of those quintessentially British institutions. If you’re looking for handcrafted fragrance, they are probably the first and only place you really need to stop.
One of the workers had led us through a fragrance session that was a probing Q&A to find the right fragrance to suit our lifestyles. There were many that were surprising, in the sense that some of the fragrances weren’t necessarily something you would ever think to pick up, but the undertones were very inviting. So while I may have liked one for a cologne, there were several others that would have been more suitable for a bath fragrance, or some other form.
It’s certainly worth a stop if you’re in the area doing a bit of shopping, a great place to find gifts for birthdays, anniversaries or other occasions.