Reviews of West Indian Limes (1870)
by Truefitt & Hill

I am puzzled by T&H's West Indian Limes cologne, created in 1870. T&H list their ingredients as so:

Top: Citrus, Lemon, Lime, Bergamot
Middle: Petigrain, Neroli, Citronella

Base: Clove, Orange Flower

Two things baffle me:

1. Why name it for a scent content that evaporates in ten minutes?
2. Why name orange flower as a base note when: a. it is identical to neroli used in the middle note; b. how can a floral be used as a base???

Placing these oddities aside for a moment, my experience is that this begins with a burst of lemon/lime (which disappears within ten minutes), followed by a floral bouquet which quickly settles down to neroli, supported by petitgrain for the rest of the 3-4 hour duration of the scent. (My nose can detect no bergamot, citronella, or clove.)

For those familiar with Floris' #127, the T&H West Indian Limes can be regarded as a weak (toilet water) version of #127 without the roundness of Floris' rose note and without either the strength or endurance of the Floris. For my money Floris makes the strongest perfumes and colognes available - a little bit goes a very long way. Some Floris scents are so strong I can't wear them - even an infinitesimal splash can be too powerful.

Caswell-Massey in their catalogue describing the T&H West Indian Limes describes it as "citrusy" when if they'd actually smelled it and done their homework, they'd realize it as "floral."

For those seeking the best Lime on the market (for my nose), go no further than Trumper's Extract of West Indian Limes - this is pure lime and long lasting - not sweet like Caswell's Lime.

To sum up - T&H's West Indian Limes is for my nose actually a floral - neroli supported by petitgrain, with the citrus lime/lemon quickly evaporating in the fist ten minutes or so. As a weaker version of Floris #127 without the rounded rose note, this is a lovely and sophisticated scent, but it is not what its name advertises. One might suspect that in 137 years, someone would have noticed the discrepancy.

Notes:
Top: Citrus, Lime, Lemon, Bergamot
Heart: Petitgrain, Neroli, Citronella
Base: Orange-flower, clove

West Indian Limes (WIL), released in 1870, is probably T&H's best seller. West indian lime, the fruit, is small and less juicy than other lemons and lime, but has the best tangy and refreshing lime aroma. I had high hopes from WIL after trying the excellent T&H WIL scented shaving cream, but wasn't very impressed.

Going by the notes structure, I expected a consistent citrus output throughout the duration of the scent; there are a host of citrus fruits in the top notes, neroli in the heart, and orange flower in the base indicating so. The reality is that WIL is impotent, yet can go on for hours (well, by citrus standards). The opening is zesty and refreshing with lots of lime and lemon which unfortunately lasts for only 2 minutes before melding into a floral-citrusy-woody heart of petitgrain. Yes, petitgrain is the king of this West Indian juice. Possessing that distinctive woody-dry yet every so slightly floral heart, the petitgrain accord slowly squeezes every last bit of juice from these small west indian limes in a scintillating authoritative display of flexing its clout over the proceedings. I get the slightest hints of clove in the drydown, and while the limes last all but 2 minutes, the petitgrain stretches the longevity to over 6 hours (albeit discreetly).

If you like petitgrain, WIL will interest you. I have tried many better more potent citruses, but considering that WIL was released over 125 years ago, its somewhat impressive (from a historical perspective). A commoner like me would not have been able to afford this in 1870 (I would probably be dousing myself with the inferior 4711 instead). WIL is no lemon, but in 2007, it just comes off a bit derivative...and common.