Reviews of Eau Sans Pareil (1870)
by Penhaligon's

Eau sans Pareil has a very interesting, aromatic opening. It is dusky green and herbaceous, tangy and a bit minty. Just what you’d expect from a combination of sage and artemesia. The scent settles down into a dry, refreshing, slightly soapy and mossy chypre. This is very attractive, it is a shame that it has been discontinued.

Beautiful scent. Supposedly a “…radical reinterpretation of the classic Eau de Cologne…” Well, after wearing this I could accept only half of that description – the radical part. The opening is a combination citrus, but the citrus isn’t combined with a typical eau’s simple herb such as rosemary or basil. It’s combined with a complex, somewhat exotic green accord that, for a couple of minutes at least, reminds me of a classic chypre – a classic chypre without the oakmoss or the civet. Strange, huh? After a few minutes of the chypre impersonation, the fragrance arrives at its linear state – a quite beautiful floral / green accord – I would say a strong geranium note – that is a bit high register, a trifle soapy, very refined, and entirely captivating. This accord lasts forever, it seems, and it presents a fairly strong sillage. Eau sans Pareil does not remind me of a classic cologne, and the operative word in its description is “radical.” And it’s an excellent and enticing scent.