Lothair takes inspiration from the famous Tea Clipper Ships that navigated the globe to bring exotic wares to British shores. It opens with the salty tang of grapefruit and juniper, and a brilliant green fig leaf note. The smokey heart of black tea is softened by fig milk and magnolia, while the ambergris, cedar and wenge woods base is reminiscent of the varnished decks of these elegant ships.
Empressa is inspired by the beautiful pearls, precious silks and fine fabrics transported through London to adorn women of power and influence. Top notes of blood orange, bergamot and mandarin lead to heart notes of peach, cassis, dewberry, rose, neroli, geranium, cardamom, pink pepper and black pepper. The sensuous dry down of patchouli and vanilla is sweetened by a blend of cocoa, amber and maltol, with warming cedarwood and rich sandalwood providing depth and sensuality.
Finally, Levantium evokes the mounds of rum and spices, flowers, woods and resins that all found their way to London, stacked high in the warehouses and around the wharves. It opens with rum-like davana, absinthe, bergamot and saffron, leading to an opulent floral heart of rose, jasmine and ylang ylang is given a piquant kick by clove and cardamom, and a resinous base of oud, amber, myrrh and vanilla buoyed by smoky guaiac, sandalwood and musk.
The Trade Routes Collection launches on 1 September 2014. RRP £120, Penhaligon’s, penhaligons.com.
