Victorian Posy Penhaligon`s for women

Opens with hyacinths --delightful!-- and the springtime green freshness of galbanum. For 15 minutes VP is a glorious, seamlessly blended bouquet anyone would be proud to give or pleased to receive.

During those first 15 minutes I can agree with every positive statement made by previous reviewers: classic, pretty, very "English Garden" in the best possible way. Alas, just as I start to think this one might be the first FB-worthy Penhaligon I've encountered, a dusty dryness takes over. Dusty like a bowl of potpourri past its prime. Dusty like a dried bouquet kept for sentimental reasons. Dusty like the remnants of fragrance on a shirt worn outside after a day of weeding the flower garden.

After the dust settles, what I'm left with is an unquestionably masculine fragrance! Yes, this Penhaligon goes all "old barber shop" on me, but not in a way that makes me think of well-groomed men. Instead, VP calls to mind the older Western movies in which the cowboys and ranchers would come to town a couple of times a year for a bath, shave and haircut. VP is what that old-timey barber would slap on the customers before they'd head on over to the saloon.

Old, musty-dusty, dry and masculine. A scrubber.

I will admit that I am an Anglophile. Past & present I love all things English. Despite living in a stunningly beautiful country I still secretly wish I was British (not least for the EU passport).

So when I spotted something enchantingly named 'Victorian Posy' on the shelf, I snatched it up for a sniff. The bottle smelt quite promising so with a shrug, I debonairly sprayed some on my wrist.

Oh my goodness, I am so in love. At first I found the fragrance a bit challenging with a mish-mash of befuddled flowers. I think it was just the shock of smelling something so different to what I normally come across because I quickly started to engage with the perfume.

Victorian Posy smells like a genteel soap you might find in an old style B&B on a romantic weekend in the country. Filled with soapy roses and violets it is not sexy at all, it is all pure innocent romance.

The drydown is musky rose, the musk being quite reminiscent of that found in Narciso Rodriguez EDP. However here, it has old-fashioned rose mixed in to grace it with a vintage charm.

You might imagine that Victorian Posy would be a demure, shy, little lass however that is far from the truth. This is an assertive feminine presence, filled with strong florals and musk.

It IS old-fashioned (it is meant to be), but I don't necessarily think older women should be allowed to hog this gorgeous scent. I can see this being worn by an independant avant-garde younger woman who wants to assert her femininity without smelling like she is on heat.

I bought it out of sheer curiosity and because I usually love Penhaligon's scents but I seriously can't force myself to like it. It smells like some of these old vintage bags you find in secondhand shops. It's pretty nice for old Ladies or mothers-in-law but unfortunately not for me.

It reminds me a very classic scent, but I can't remember exactly. It's good for mature stylish ladies, like buisinesswomen, teachers etc. I presented it to my mother-in-law who holds a chair of English language in the university. She enjoys this perfume.

This really does conjour up images of a Victorian garden, or more precisely a Victorian tea party were all the girls wore pretty dresses and ribbons and everthing was correct. It is a very elegant blend of floral notes - I don't find that any particular note dominates, though I am aware of the hyacinth and violet, and the patchouli in the drydown. It lasts well, and if you like nostalgic scents, you should like this.