Hammam Bouquet

[Oscroft]

I got a sample of Penhaligon's Hammam Bouquet recently. I tried a drop on my wrist, and I couldn't really decide, so this evening I went for a full wear of it...

And, oh dear - I really don't want to smell like this again until I'm laid out in a coffin!

[easyfish]

Fantastic scent, love it!

[Jack Hunter]

Stuffy overwhelming stale rose petals and cedar wood was what I got when I tested it, imo a fragrance from another age.

[Oscroft]

Stuffy overwhelming stale rose petals and cedar wood was what I got when I tested it, imo a fragrance from another age.

Yep, same here.

[hednic]

Do not like this one either.

[the_good_life]

I think it is fantastic, given the low grade materials Penhaligons uses. If this were made with a total commitment to quality it would rival Shalimar and the likes.

sent from a mobile device - please excuse any swelling mistakes

[Oscroft]

Something like it could perhaps be good with a fresh rose fragrance, but the rose in this smells dying and musty to me - once it's been on me for a few minutes it just makes me think of dead things.

[Merely]

I think it is fantastic, given the low grade materials Penhaligons uses. If this were made with a total commitment to quality it would rival Shalimar and the likes.

I rarely reply to a thread by just concurring with one comment made on it, but - yes, this is my opinion, too. I consider Hammam Bouquet to be the ruin and hulk of my 'holy grail'. It is still very good, but compared to what it could be, it is a cause for sorrowful regret. I still think that the opening and heart are some of the best in all of perfumery. But it falls apart in the base for me.

[noggs]

One of my favorites from the Penhaligon's line.

[Marais]

Sometimes I like wearing fragrances which evoke another time. Hammam Bouquet can inject a surreal note into an otherwise humdrum day.

[rum]

It definitely reminded me of a 'turkish bath' in Victorian England, but I couldn't cope with it on me. I do remember getting a compliment by a female co-worker at the time "something smells like soap. Did you use some sort of new soap?". Well, I took it as a compliment.

[Oscroft]

It definitely reminded me of a 'turkish bath' in Victorian England

Can't say I've ever been to a Turkish bath in Victorian England myself

[perfaddict]

I love HB and am thankful it doesnt evoke any negative associations for me.

[rum]

Can't say I've ever been to a Turkish bath in Victorian England myself

Well neither have I but it created that effect for me.

[Jonty Coppersmith]

To me HB smells like rose petals soaked in urine. Just gross!

[joe mcclaine]

Hammam Bouquet is a fantastic fragrance.

Lavender, Rose, Musk.

What's not to like?

[fredricktoo]

I think of it as the Exile on Main Street of fragrances. It takes a few wearings to realize the complete genius of it. Add to that, it was also probably created under the influence of opium as was the afore mentioned album.

Good stuff. Contact me with unwanted bottles.

[Derbyman]

I rarely reply to a thread by just concurring with one comment made on it, but - yes, this is my opinion, too. I consider Hammam Bouquet to be the ruin and hulk of my 'holy grail'. It is still very good, but compared to what it could be, it is a cause for sorrowful regret. I still think that the opening and heart are some of the best in all of perfumery. But it falls apart in the base for me.

I love the smell of Hammam Bouquet (and many others in the Penhaligons line-up) but find the longevity and development poor to say the least. I agree totally with Merely - great opening & heart but low grade basenotes.

I think it is fantastic, given the low grade materials Penhaligons uses. If this were made with a total commitment to quality it would rival Shalimar and the likes.

I've always suspected that Penhaligons longevity problems might be to do with quality of materials - the_good_life, where does your info re. "low grade materials" come from?

[Rüssel]

Enjoy it quite a bit. Def can see why it wouldn't appeal to everyone though.

[Oscroft]

It's very interesting to see how polarizing this one is - lots of lovers and lots of haters, by the looks of it.

[Bartlebooth]

The conditions have to be right for me to enjoy Hammam Bouquet. In warmer weather, HB is a little flat and lifeless, and very little shines. However, once the temperatures start to drop, HB becomes quite splendid.

[mikeperez23]

I detested this the one and only time I sampled it. Which...usually means that later on I will fall in love with it.

Reminder to self: Test this again one-of-these-days.

[Primrose]

This scent is not for everyone, and I put it in the catergories of 19th century and Belle Epoque scents like Apres L'Ondee and L'Heure Bleue or Floris Edwardian Bouquet.

These are herbal/floral scents and removed from most modern fare.

Count me in as one who enjoys this.

[Merely]

Regarding Hammam Bouquet's ingredients, I believe the rose is Bulgarian, and the lavender is English. At least, they used to be. These seem to be of good quality, and they smell superb to my nose. I've no idea about the jasmine (and some of the other supporting notes), but I find the jasmine often seems to outlast the rose, clinging to the musky amber base. That base is the problem, at least for me; for I feel it isn't a very good synthetic musk at all. The accords of the first three hours are sublime, until the skeleton is bared.

Floris' Edwardian Bouquet sounds promising, Primrose. I shall look out for it.

[Oslo-Fjord]

Does it have something in common with Habit Rouge?

[Joe C]

Does it have something in common with Habit Rouge?

Hardly any similarity.

Hammam Bouquet is lovely too though. Its more about musky rose and sandalwood with a really clever mineral / sulphur accord which fits the turkish bath theme perfectly.

[Oslo-Fjord]

Hardly any similarity.

Hammam Bouquet is lovely too though. Its more about musky rose and sandalwood with a really clever mineral / sulphur accord which fits the turkish bath theme perfectly.

My personal favourite from Penhaligon's is Elixir. Some describe it as the "modern Hammam Bouque" Whats your opinion?

[Joe C]

My personal favourite from Penhaligon's is Elixir. Some describe it as the "modern Hammam Bouque" Whats your opinion?

It's been a while since I tested Elixir and I do not own a bottle as I do with Hammam Bouquet, I suppose there is a similar concept, I seem to remember Elixir s much more of a eucalyptus / spa type scent. I did have a bottle of the shower gel which I enjoyed.

HB is a proper old school musky floral but I love it.

[hitman]

And, oh dear - I really don't want to smell like this again until I'm laid out in a coffin!

I dont like it also (but dislike and hate are two different things obviously ). Your statement is too bold in fragrance world IMO, there are many cases when I did hate a fragrance very much but later, it became acceptable (even some fragrances moved into my "like" list). So may be one day you start loving it .... who knows!!!!

[HankHarvey]

Liked it but found it too synthetic.