Penhaligon’s Trade Routes Collection: Alizarin & Oud de Nil

There’s something extra special when a fine fragrance is rich in history and Penhaligon’s is one of the finest perfume houses in the world established in 1870. Throughout the years they have maintained their artistry and elegance whilst challenging the traditions of perfumery. Recently they released two new fragrances in their Trade Routes Collection; Oud De Nil and Alizarin. The collection is inspired by the commodities traded through the London docks in the nineteenth century. It’s amazing to think about how excited everyone was at the time as fabric, drink and food that they had never heard of before were arriving everyday from across the world.Oud De Nil and Alizarin are inspired from Egyptian luxuries and the packaging of both of these is gorgeous! They come in boxes beautifully presented with the bottles enclosed, the lid looks like a stopper style lid however it’s a normal spray applicator underneath. Oud is a key note to both of these fragrances and is one of the most expensive fragrance raw materials in the world adding a warm, woody and rich scent to fragrances.Oud De Nil is the  lighter of the two fragrances and I would wear this more during the day. Inspired by Ancient Egypt when Pharaohs ruled and the pyramids were build as tombs for their Pharaohs and their queens.

Top Notes: Bergamot, Grapefruit
Heart Notes: Jasmine, Rose, Geranium, Orange Blossom
Base Notes: Oud, Papyrus, Guaiac Wood, Resins, Amber

The scent is very clean and the fresh floral scents are meant to invoke white sails billowing on the River Nile whilst the rich precious woods are reminiscent of desert wind. Alizarin is quite a powerful scent and slightly masculine, it could be worn as a unisex fragrance as I’ve been wearing this however I’m pretty sure my boyfriend has claimed this bottle for himself as he has fallen in love with the scent too. It’s the richer of the two fragrances and I would wear this more in the evening.

Top Notes: Mandarin, Narcisse
Heart Notes: Tuberose, Orris, Mimosa
Base Notes: Oud, Leather, Olibanum, Vetiver

It’s a scent which is very different to anything I have tried before and is quite rich and velvety, it’s inspired by the red dye Alizarin which has been cultivated in Egypt since ancient times. There’s something very mysterious and magical about this fragrance and you only need one spritz as it’s quite strong and long lasting. Penhaligon’s have perfected the scents of Ancient Egypt and the fragrance for both of these lasts all day on my skin, they retail at £156 and are beautiful fine fragrances.

Rebecca x

*Contains PR sample/gifted items