Once again, I welcome you to the illustrious world of Penhaligon’s Portraits Collection – a range of fragrances that reads like a British social novel full of scandals, affairs and well-kept family secrets. Instead of dusty genealogical charts, the perfumes in this collection tell the stories behind the aristocratic facades – and each character in the portraits smells of their own truth.
And just when you think you know all the eccentric relatives, a new character enters the stage: Fortuitous Finley. Charming, seductive and with a twinkle in his eye, he brings a breath of fresh air – and a pinch of salted pistachio – to the genteel society. Who is this mysterious beau who prunes the rose bushes in Lord George and Lady Blanche’s garden and appears so nonchalantly scandalous?
Scandals, affairs, intrigues – The Portraits Collection
To find out what has happened so far, let’s start at the beginning. The saga began with The Tragedy of Lord George, the aristocratic head – traditional, masculine, with fougère and woody notes on an ambery, spicy and comforting base, accentuated by a dash of whisky. His marriage to The Revenge of Lady Blanche, a poisonously charming beauty with floral elegance, is anything but harmonious. He’s not a food lover, she’s tired of him and would like to get rid of him … forever. Preferably underground.
The Coveted Duchess Rose, the daughter of the house, longs for more than a proper marriage. Her fragrance is a light-hearted, floral wink that oscillates between innocence and rebellion and is certainly flirtatious. Her husband Duke Nelson may be of nobility, but that is apparently his only advantage.
Then there is Changing Contance, Lady Blanche’s sister – spicy, delicious, rebellious. The World According to Arthur, Lord George’s older brother, an adventurer on the run from family obligations, who seeks his fortune in Asia and finds incense, ambrette seeds and spices. The Omniscient Mr. Thompson, the all-knowing butler to his Lordship George, always on hand when needed and almost invisible. If only he didn’t smell so deliciously of the finest pepper, creamy iris, nutty sesame and spicy, smoky vanilla …
The Blazing Mister Sam, a quick-tempered, rumbling American who causes a stir with tobacco, cinnamon and saffron, and not just olfactorily. Terrible Teddy, the callous, seductive safarist who not only collects wild animals but also the odd beauty as a trophy. Bewitching Yasmine, the oriental grace who travels to London with white flowers, roasted coffee beans and exquisite oud to find the richest high society man she can to turn his head.
The family drama grows with each new character – and as in every good English series, you ask yourself: Who loves whom? Who is cheating on whom? Who wants to kill whom and who is wearing which perfume?
Fortuitous Finley – Between tea time and breaking taboos
After the omniscient butler The Omniscient Mr. Thompson, Penhaligon’s is sending the next charming servant into the olfactory race with Fortuitous Finley. And what a one! Finley is Lord George and Lady Blanche’s gardener – but certainly not someone who just quietly cuts roses. With his dazzling charm, a dash of audacity and that certain seductive twinkle in his eye, he not only makes the flower beds blossom, but also Lady Blanche. The lady of the house can hardly keep her hands off him – much to the displeasure of Lord George, who is probably not entirely unaware of the tête-à-tête between the rose garden and the box hedge. This sensual fragrance affair was created by perfumer Caroline Dumur, who infused Fortuitous Finley with cardamom, black pepper, pistachio, green tea, violet leaves, iris, patchouli and leather.
Fortuitous Finley starts with piquant spices, a fine pepper spiciness that meets greenish-fresh cardamom. I soon catch a whiff of the wonderfully creamy, subtly salty notes of pistachio, which brings delicious, greenish facets to the creation and those delicate, nutty nuances that are currently so popular in the world of niche fragrances. The green tea flows gracefully through the composition, while the violet leaves evoke a fine, powdery herbaceousness, which in turn echoes the peppery accents of the opening. This Fortuitous Finley has a very rounded, very harmonious effect and the supple, wonderfully soft and light suede notes, which gradually find their way into the eau de parfum thanks to iris and leather, do the rest.
The latest creation from Penhaligon’s Portraits Collection is an elegant, transparent and greenish-nutty gentleman fragrance with the finest leather iris finish, which I really like. The composition is pleasantly unsweet – by no means a matter of course with a pistachio theme – with a pleasant spiciness and a fine freshness. Refined, sophisticated and absolutely memorable. Fortuitous Finley is a fragrance that doesn’t have to be loud to make an impression – modern-minimalist, utterly delightful, thoroughly seductive and attractive. An eau de parfum that is unisex and a pleasant and engaging fragrance companion for any occasion and in any season, which is sure to be a pleasure to wear. Elegant restraint with a touch of extravagance! 💚
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