This summer, Penhaligon’s looks to the flower of the moment, the peony, with its stunning new fragrance, Peoneve.
Master Perfumer Olivier Cresp (the man behind last year’s fresh, gin-like Juniper Sling) was inspired by ‘a blooming English garden in the summer’.
Peoneve includes notes of violet leaf, peony, Bulgarian rose, hedione, vetiver, musk and cashmere wood.
Peoneve is pretty, sparkling and refined and has a young, English eccentric appeal. It doesn’t follow the current trend of sweet rose fragrance. Instead, it’s a greener, earthier fragrance with a ‘vintage’ rose scent, which comes from the inclusion of Bulgarian rose. It has a very ‘English’ and really does evoke memories of summer flowers. It takes me back to childhood visits to the walled garden at Wallington Hall in Northumberland, where the heat would bring out the scent of the roses.
Penhaligon’s hosted a preview event with Olivier Cresp on hand to discuss the fragrance over afternoon tea in The Rose Lounge at the Sofitel St James.
The Peoneve cocktail was created by the head bars specially for the launch and included a blend of rose liquor, jasmine syrup and pink Champagne, paying tribute to the notes in the fragrance.
The delightful afternoon tea also reflected the English summer garden theme with an elderflower scented Napoleon cake, rose and raspberry macaroons, geranium and rose strawberry jam.
To celebrate the launch of Peoneve, Harvey Nichols is transforming its 5th floor terrace into a peony-filled English Garden with a cocktail and dessert menu inspired by the notes within the fragrance. Look out for the gin-based Penhaligon’s Peony Punch, served in a five litre Penhaligon’s perfume bottle for six to share. The Penhaligon’s Peoneve terrace will be open from 16 July to 31 August 2012.
Peoneve will be available exclusively at Harvey Nichols (in 50ml and 100ml EDP) from 16 July and in Penhaligon’s boutiques, concessions and online from 13 August.
For more info, visit: www.penhaligons.com
If you’re interested in more Penhaligon’s perfumes, read my reviews of Equinox Bloom, Ostara, Iris Prima, Vaara and Blasted Bloom & Blasted Heath.
Photos by Chérie City