Penhaligon’s story begins in 1867, when William Henry Penhaligon opens a barber shop at 66 Jermyn Street in London, right next to the Turkish baths frequented by the elegant clientele of the Piccadilly district.

By observing that the sulphurous vapors from these baths left an unpleasant smell on the body, William came up with the idea of creating his first fragrance. Hammam Bouquet was born in 1872 — and with it, a house that would span the centuries.

Penhaligon’s quickly became a symbol of perfumery in Queen Victoria’s time, when it became her official supplier, and later Queen Alexandra’s. The brand counts among its clients much of the English aristocracy and the royal family.

In 1902, the Blenheim Bouquet fragrance was created to order for the 9th Duke of Marlborough — an iconic piece that remains one of the collection’s pillars today.

After surviving both world wars — and losing its original boutique during the Blitz of 1941 — the house was reborn in 1975 in Covent Garden. Acquired by the Puig group in 2015, it continues to uphold the values of its founder: demanding perfumery, rooted in British heritage, with a sense of humor and elegance all its own.