British Tales Lux Collection

THE MAN WHO SET A THOUSAND NOSES TWITCHING Our story starts with our founder, William Penhaligon. A humble Cornish barber who rose to the Royal Court, and trimmed the Shah of Persia’s beard. The year is 1870. William’s first perfume was Hammam Bouquet, inspired by the Turkish Baths where he was resident barber, trimming the tresses of Mayfair’s bright young things. The fragrance was exotic. It was exciting. It caused quite a stir. The bright young things clamoured for more. William, of course, obliged. Luckily, he was no one-hit wonder. A slew of fabulous fragrances followed, catapulting this barber-businessman to the heights of British Society. But William’s most remarkable concoction was something else: a company that would build on his legacy. Today, some century and a half later, Penhaligon’s is perhaps the world’s most esteemed fragrance house. We hold two Royal Warrants and continue to entertain the world’s nostrils with a dose of Britishness, and some rather dazzling scents. We think William would be rather pleased with how things have turned out.