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Penhaligon's English Fern

post #1 of 24
10/12/07 at 3:28pm
Thread Starter 
Hey gang, just got a bunch of samples from Pehnhaligon's, first up was the English Fern that I've read so much about on the shaving boards. This is one mysterious scent. Now, I'm new to all this cologne stuff, but here goes:

When I first put this stuff on, it smelled like Pine Sol, even my wife commented that it was almost repulsive. Now it get's wierd, about a half hour later it smells pretty good, at least a heck of a lot better than when I originally put it on. I guess this is "dry down?" Dunno if I'd drop $100 bucks for a bottle of this stuff, but I have to admit, it's starting to grow on me. Anyone else have any experience with this stuff?

Steve
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post #2 of 24
10/12/07 at 3:30pm
Exquisite -- probably Penhaligon's best. I don't normally like fougeres aside all that much, but this one really does beautifully on me.
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post #3 of 24
10/12/07 at 3:34pm
Thread Starter 
Hi tvlampboy, you know what I just realized? This stuff smells like the Extra Bergamot Earl Grey tea that I just so happen to be drinking..I took a sip and it hit me LOL.

Steve
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Got to hand it to Penhaligon's, they are first class, even with their packaging.


Steve
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post #4 of 24
10/12/07 at 6:20pm
This is great. Before you buy, try Trumper's Wild Fern which is also very good.

Despite the fact that English Fern is strong-ish at first, I don't think it lasts very long.
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post #5 of 24
10/12/07 at 6:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by desmoface View Post

Hey gang, just got a bunch of samples from Pehnhaligon's, first up was the English Fern that I've read so much about on the shaving boards. Steve

Ah yea the shaving boards...they like their Penhaligons dont they? Amusing to read their comments from time to time.
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post #6 of 24
10/12/07 at 6:24pm
Thread Starter 
Hi Joe, yeah, you know your right. I put some on my wrist a few hours ago and I can barely detect it.

Steve

Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe_Frances View Post

This is great. Before you buy, try Trumper's Wild Fern which is also very good.

Despite the fact that English Fern is strong-ish at first, I don't think it lasts very long.

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Yep, Floris too. With good reason I might add, they do make good products. I've got Floris shaving soap, and samples of their creams and they are first class, and then there's the way they smell WOOHOO!!

Steve

Quote:
Originally Posted by zztopp View Post

Ah yea the shaving boards...they like their Penhaligons dont they? Amusing to read their comments from time to time.
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post #7 of 24
10/12/07 at 6:37pm
I really like English Fern's beginning and middle notes, but not so much the dry down. It reminded me of British Sterling, actually. I have only applied it once, but this was my experience. Perhaps I used too much.
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post #8 of 24
10/12/07 at 6:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by desmoface View Post

Hey gang, just got a bunch of samples from Pehnhaligon's,

Where did you get the samples from? I'm thinking about getting Castile and Endiymon and want to sample them some more.
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post #9 of 24
10/12/07 at 7:08pm
Thread Starter 
Hi Manicboy, here ye is: Penhaligon's By Request (USA & Canada)
USA Toll Free: 1 877 PENHALIGONS (1 877 736 4254)

I just called that number and got a nice package from them. The endymion is very nice, by the way, haven't tried the castile yet.

Steve
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post #10 of 24
10/12/07 at 7:17pm
Pine Sol? Are you sure you're not mistakenly confusing Blenheim Bouquet with this? It is undoubtably closer to pine sol than English Fern is.

English Fern smells very green, fresh, clean, herbal. Total Fougere. I'm still wanting to try Wild Fern before I commit to one or the other (or both!)

I don't reccommend blind buys very often, but TWO of them that were just mentioned are Castile and Endymion. I would reccommend blind-buying BOTH of these, and preferably at the same time! Castile=day, Endymion=night. Both among my highest-regarded fragrances. The reviews do a pretty good job of describing them both.
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post #11 of 24
10/13/07 at 11:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Scentronic View Post

Pine Sol? Are you sure you're not mistakenly confusing Blenheim Bouquet with this? It is undoubtably closer to pine sol than English Fern is.

English Fern smells very green, fresh, clean, herbal. Total Fougere. I'm still wanting to try Wild Fern before I commit to one or the other (or both!)

I don't reccommend blind buys very often, but TWO of them that were just mentioned are Castile and Endymion. I would reccommend blind-buying BOTH of these, and preferably at the same time! Castile=day, Endymion=night. Both among my highest-regarded fragrances. The reviews do a pretty good job of describing them both.

Yeah, BB is the one reminiscent of Pine Sol, but in an "I'm gonna kick your a$$" way.
EF is delightful, perfect for summer. It fills my fougere slot.
Castile to me is reminiscent of Acqua di Parma, with another nice note added.
I too bought it blind, but then I am a Penhaligon's fanboy.
Endymion, not so much though.
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post #12 of 24
12/7/07 at 8:53am
Would this be appropriate for winter wear? I received a sample a few days ago and, by God, this is great stuff. I would hate to buy a full bottle and have to wait another six months before I can wear it.

Mohamed
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post #13 of 24
12/7/07 at 9:18am
I never could tame english fern. It made me ill and nauseated.
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post #14 of 24
12/7/07 at 10:04am
2 fragrances that I have never been without for over 20 years is English Fern and Hammam Bouquet. They are both quitessential English scents.

Mo, I am a great believer in wearing whatever I want in whatever weather. To me EF is wearable all year round.
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post #15 of 24
12/7/07 at 5:25pm
Concerning longevity. I find that English Fern is short lived as a sillage producer, but it remains as an excellent skin scent for several hours.

Quote:
Originally Posted by mohamed1 View Post

Would this be appropriate for winter wear? I received a sample a few days ago and, by God, this is great stuff. I would hate to buy a full bottle and have to wait another six months before I can wear it.

Mohamed

I agree with Prince Barry - English Fern is very wearable in a Midwestern winter. I've been there and done that.
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post #16 of 24
12/7/07 at 8:48pm
thanks for the replies. unfortunately, i am having second thoughts about the English Fern. I wore it today, and for some reason it seemed rather sweet after a while. It started off well, but after 2-3 hours I could detect something that I absolutely do not like, and I'm not sure what it is. Pity, really. I could not wait to get a bottle. I suppose Trumper's Wild Fern is also out, given that most people have said it is quite similar to this Fern.

Mohamed
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post #17 of 24
5/22/11 at 3:30pm
Which occasion would you wear English Fern? What about the longevity?
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post #18 of 24
5/22/11 at 4:34pm
This is quite an old thread, but I am glad people are showing interest in English Fern. EF is my favorite Pens right now and probably my favorite classic fougere. I feel it is the ghost of the original Fougere Royale EdC. Lavender, geranium, sandalwood, moss, clover, tonka--everything that makes a great fougere (not of the aromatic sort).
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post #19 of 24
5/22/11 at 5:19pm
Don't get me started me on English Fern. I am finding after some time in Basenotes, I've a predilection for fougeres AND I like the manly, proper and traditional British feel of Penhaligons scents. This is dandy scent for me. I tried this a month ago and bought it right away. The "wet shaver" crowd loves this scent- for good reason. I now wish I'd bought the 100ml bottle.

I also got the English Fern bar soap which is a great compliment to the frag. Oslo, many of these scents seem to vary person to person, but I get pretty good longevity out of it. Not quite the whole workday, but pretty close. It is very faint, but present, after 10 hours or so.

It will be one of my "go to" summer scents if it ever gets warm here in Los Angeles. (It didn't last year.)

It is somewhat similar to Sartorial, but greener and less formal. A scent that I would say is hard to over apply since it's pretty inoffensive and a tad soapy.

As to your original question about when to wear- I can't imagine an occasion it wouldn't be appropriate. I would say it is not very formal. I wear it to work. I wear it at play. A mostly casual scent for me, but I do think it will excel in hot weather.
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post #20 of 24
5/22/11 at 5:36pm
Mr. StylinLA is on the same wavelength I am when it comes to Penhaligon's English Fern. I bought it a month or so ago, and it has really grabbed me. I've been a big fan of R&G's fern soap for several years now. Penhaligon's fragrance version is like a natural extension of it.

Have to say, too: love the packaging. It's one of the few fragrances I store and display in its original box.
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post #21 of 24
5/22/11 at 5:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrcologneguy View Post

Mr. StylinLA is on the same wavelength I am when it comes to Penhaligon's English Fern. I bought it a month or so ago, and it has really grabbed me. I've been a big fan of R&G's fern soap for several years now. Penhaligon's fragrance version is like a natural extension of it.

Have to say, too: love the packaging. It's one of the few fragrances I store and display in it's original box.

Get the soap.
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post #22 of 24
5/22/11 at 6:04pm
Wear it guys! It smells wonderful. Possibly not for the 20ish guy, but when you are ready to smell great without having to smell sweet, then you are ready for this. Classic, clean and interesting. Just this gals opinion. I loved it on myself even.
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post #23 of 24
5/23/11 at 10:40pm
ENGLISH FERN is really great. Nice to see it getting some love.
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post #24 of 24
8/4/11 at 8:07am
I wore this yesterday and I think it is fantastic!

Fougeres have never been a category that I love. I mean there are a few that I own and love (Rive Gauche Pour Homme) and others that I enjoy even though they smell nothing like ferns (Jicky, for example) but most of the time fougeres sort of bore me. However this summer I've been drawn towards lavender scents and since fougeres contain lavender I'm starting to explore more of them.

This one, like Mouchoir de Monsieur, creates a quiet, restrained aura all around you filled with crisp greens, smooth aromatics and a tiny bit of woods. There is a sturdiness to its transparency that moves it away from the L'Artisans-Giacobetti's-Jean-Claude-Ellena's school of minimalism - which I truly admire.

I have yet to find a Penhaligon's that I love, but this one comes very close. I look forward to re-sampling it soon.
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