Hammam Bouquet (1872)
by Penhaligon's

While Hammam certainly is the true Victorian oriental of the 19th Century, it is far too dated and far too "old fashioned" in a bad way for the modern nose. The notes themselves are wonderful, but combined create a symphonic dissonance where accord battles accord for dominance. The end result is a stuffy, super powdery, antiquated rose. If this were cleaned up a bit in terms of spices and musks, this would be a wonderful Victorian scent still relevant and impressive today. I prefer Penhaligons Elizabethan Rose, even though it is marketed for women, because it essentially the same scent minus everything that clouds the water so to speak with Hammam Bouquet. The ingredients are no doubt high quality. If you must have a 19th Century floral Oriental, this is the one to get by the way.

A dull rose scent with a hint of citrus and an almost alcoholic smell that lingers like spilled whisky, or cheap aftershave.

I was very excited to try this scent, and I was very disappointed (like I have been with most Panhaligon's scents). It has smelled nice on me on warmer days, but if you're looking for a modern, androgynous floral men's fragrance, check out Fleur Du Male.

If you ever wondered what The British thought an upper-class dandy's scent should smell like in 1872, this is it.

Dr. Turin's book put me off trying it for a while, since it stated that the original ingredients must have been superb, implying that this is at best a second rate copy. However I turned a few pages and read that he said the same thing about Blenheim Bouquet, which I had already tried and loved.

I figured if it was as "bad" as the modern rendition of Blenheim, I could live with that.

Someone posted this is the opposite of Blenheim. True. Blenheim has a rugged, masculine, almost adversarial quality to it.

On the other hand, Hamman could have been a signature scent for Oscar Wilde. I wonder if he ever wore it? Did Whistler make fun of him? did Lillie Langtree console him? We might never know . . .

Upon first sniff I got a blast of lavender and then the rose kicked in. Yes, there are other notes, but to my nose those are the more prominent ones. It's a bit powdery but that's no cause for dismay.

I feel as if this scent should have been invented a hundred years earlier. The villainous fop Cunningham (Tim Roth) in Rob Roy would have worn it in his dueling scenes. Though I suspect he'd have it sprayed on his handkerchief, not on himself.

So if you're ready to say " I am your Grace's humble servant " as you bow ceremoniously prior to drawing your rapier and humiliating a burly broadsword wielding opponent, this may be your signature scent as well.

Lacks refinement - I want to smell the aroma of the petals of the rose, not the smell of the tissue of crushed plant matter. Overpriced even if it were cheap, which it is not.

Quite simply, the world's greatest fragrance. I have tried many high-end fragrances over the years, but I always come back to Hammam Bouquet. No fragrance has ever done this to me. I simply cannot get enough.

When first applying, it can be intoxicating, but during the dry down it becomes warm and inviting. In a few hours a soft floral emerges with a touch of musk. By the end of the day a very subtle fragrance lingers that is completely different from earlier in the day. By this time, the name says it all, it is reminiscent of old books, powdered resins, and ancient rooms (Penhaligon's description, and right on target).

Confessions time: I hated this when I first smelled it.

However, this is now one of my top three all time favourites.

Quite simply, this is one of the finest rose based fragrances ever created.

It was the first fragrance created by the original Mr Penhaligon and is older than any of us. It is a masterpiece of fragrance engineering.

Although Rose is listed as a heart note, it never fades, rather it remains prominent into the far dry down where the beautifully blended musky sandalwood base remain forever and a day.

This is elegant, refined and different. Wear this and, unless someone else is wearing it, nobody else will be wearing anything that smells remotely like it. It is warm, rich and opulent.

It is utterly beautiful.