Eau de Verveine (1949)
by Penhaligon's

A very promising opening of citrus containing elements of lemon, lime, bergamot and petitgrain. After 30 minutes to an hour the cirtus notes fade and you are left with something floral with really the only prominent note to me is a heavy sage one. This persists for a couple hours before everything disappears. Overall it really isn’t a bad fragrance, but doesn’t really have a wow factor or longevity. Probably pretty reminiscent of the time period it is from.

9th February, 2012.

Great start. A masculine dry down. I noticed a pencil shaving scent. Is that the sage? Did not even make it in to work from morning commute and it was finished (45 mins) Glad it was a free sample

16th September, 2011.

This begins with a burst of citrus, the lime and lemon. The petitgrain soon takes over, but after an hour, it too disappears. What we are left with is a soft, non-descript, seeming floral. Perfectly pleasant, but in no way unique or special. Very much of its period, the late forties and early fifties. The floral drydown is very old-fashioned, the effect of potpourri or a drawer sachet.

Once again Penhaligon's names a cologne for an ingredient this is not in it. They did the same for their Night Scented Stock. Why call this Verveine, when there is none in it. Totally illogical and very misleading.

27th June, 2011. (Last Edited: 13rd July, 2011.)

I love most verveine (lemon verbena) fragrances and own four of them along with the complementary products – deodorant, lotion, and talc. The thing I love most about Verveine fragrances is, not surprisingly, the verveine. When I encounter a “verveine” fragrance that does not contain very much verveine, I am disappointed no matter how nice the fragrance is. I find Penhaligon’s Eau de Verveine EDT disappointing because I just can’t be sure I’ve found the verveine in it. EdV opens deeply citrusy with strong elements of petit grain and coriander. Then it develops a tinge of sage… I’m ok with sage, but it is not what I want to smell when I’m expecting verbena. The citrus accord of the opening has body and substance, and is not strong or overbearing. The sage adds a pleasantness to the movement from the opening to the somewhat spicy middle – a middle composed of soft clove / lavender accord: a lavender that I enjoy because of its quality and discretion.

I’m not sure that I can find much of a base because I seem to simply experience the remnants of the opening and middle accords for the rest of the run of the fragrance except that a musky aura is added toward the end.

It’s not a bad fragrance. It's hard to know what to think of it because it is a rather strange fragrance... a strangeness which begins with its name, and ends with its being labeled an EDT – I don’t find the verveine and I find it has no more longevity that a traditional cologne. Still, it’s pleasant and clean and refreshing…

13rd May, 2011.

I got a tester of this one, because it smelled quite interesting in the shop, and I was not aware that it was a revived scent from 1949 as I tried it out, but through out the whole evening I kept getting the feeling that I was wearing my grandfathers perfume, which was not entirely pleasant... By the end of the evening I was very annoyed.

28th March, 2011.

After an initial blast of sharp green accord that sillages nicely but lasts just a few minutes a much more subtle sage phase arises, the green virtually disappearing. This phase is also reminiscent of the wood of a freshly shaved pencil and almost reticent it is so laid back.

Within 45 minutes of application a hint of vanilla and cedar wood is all that is left. Not exactly a stellar performer. If you are into explosive green then Geoffry Beene Bowling Green would be a longer lasting and far less expensive choice.

22nd January, 2011.