Spiced Limes (1921)
by Anglia Perfumery

Spiced Limes, at least the Anglia version I tried, is no slouch. It opens with a giant lime accord backed by lime blossoms and some spice perhaps cinnamon, coriander, and others. The base is a nice, but short lived patchouli and possibly civet. This is a traditional citrus embellishment.

14th November, 2009.

No holds barred to the point citrus. The "spice" smells like Castile soap. Very refreshing.

11th October, 2008.

This is an insanely good perfume. I have the original Crown version, not Anglia's, so I can't say whether their representation is faithful - but this wonderful scent is certainly worthy of living on. I find spraying this more satisfying than splashing: this gives the wonderful citrus top more sparkle. It is, indeed, one of the finest aromatic citrus openings I've ever had the pleasure to smell, and it has surprising lasting power. The basil lends Spiced Limes just the right amount of green dirt - I actually think there is also a small dose of civet in here - but there is also an interesting transparent note, reminscent of a wet gravel road, contributed by the vetiver. The spices are beautifully blended, the clove is prevented by the nutmeg and cinnamon sweetness from drifting into the kind of mustiness that compromises Park Royal. Serenely fresh and debonaire, with perfectly placed accents to keep it more interesting than many simply "nice" citruses, it is the perfect olfactory complement to the English gentlemens' outfit and one of the quiet masterpieces among the wonderful line of Crown scents.

2nd June, 2008.

Spiced Limes is a very satisfying, classy scent. The opening citrus notes are aromatic, with an amazing depth, substance and longevity. My comment (not a criticism) is that the notes are citrus-y rather than simply lime-y. The spices are woody and very well blended. The spices interact with the vetiver, deepening and mellowing and becoming richer as the scent develops. The vetiver is not dominant, it simply supports the spices. The transition from citrus to deep (not heavy) spice gives a shift from day to night; cerebral to sensual.

20th November, 2007.

This is a very refreshing, straightforward lime / lemon scent. It is a citrus scent that is pleasantly sharp, clean, and slightly lime-sweet, and it has those corresponding green notes—basil, sage, coriander—that support the limey citrus accord with exquisite balance. I really don’t get very much spice in this fragrance—just the citrus, the herbs, and vetiver. This is not really a complex fragrance—it is simple and linear. It’s refreshing, it’s clean and wonderfully natural. As enjoyable as it is, it lasts only about forty minutes on my skin, unfortunately. Crown Spiced Limes makes an incredibly refreshing splash, but I can’t count on any sort of longevity.

4th March, 2007.

It is exactly what the name suggests: a wholly successful fusion of lime and spices. The spices do not shout, merely add a warm and mellow edge to the citrus. Very pleasant and very wearable, even a touch gorgeous and seductive in an understated way. Unlike some of Crown's other offerings (Sandringham, Eau de Quinine, Fougere, etc.), Spiced Limes does not seem particularly old fashioned. There is supposedly some association between Crown Spiced Limes and that ascetic hero Lawrence of Arabia. An improbable pairing? I would have expected T.E. Lawrence to stick strictly to carbolic soap and to disdain cologne as decadent. But the story goes that Crown composed this scent inspired by Lawrence's travel and adventures.

21st July, 2005.