British perfume houses – Penhaligon's, Atkinsons, Clive Christian

British perfumes have something that is hard to copy: a blend of royal protocol and purely British eccentricity. Here a fragrance can be the story of an impoverished aristocrat, the bottle can be crowned with a stag's head, and the label can bear the crest of a royal warrant holder. In this article we introduce the most interesting English perfume houses – Penhaligon's, Atkinsons, Clive Christian, Boadicea the Victorious, Burberry and Jo Malone London – and tell you which bottles from each are worth trying.

What makes British perfumery different

French perfumery is art, Italian is passion, and English is above all manners. Its roots lie in the barbershops and apothecaries of London's Jermyn Street and Bond Street, where gentlemen bought eau de toilette, pomade and shaving soap. From there come three traits that still distinguish English perfumes today.

The royal warrant

A Royal Warrant is official recognition that a company supplies goods to the royal family. Several English perfume houses have received such warrants over their history and bear them proudly – a sign of tradition and consistent quality.

Classic English accords

Lavender, bergamot, geranium and oakmoss (the classic "fougère" and "chypre" core of British barbershop), tea, leather, whisky and cedar. An English fragrance is rarely too sweet – it is more likely dry, clean and lightly ironic.

The story

The British love stories. Their perfumes have characters, family scandals and impeccable manners. That makes them exceptionally suitable as gifts – you give not just a fragrance but a whole little novella.

Penhaligon's and the perfumes with animal heads

Penhaligon's was founded in 1870 by William Henry Penhaligon – a barber from Cornwall who opened a salon on Jermyn Street and began making his own fragrances. The house has received royal warrants and remains synonymous with English style to this day. You will find all available fragrances in the Penhaligon's collection.

The Portraits collection

If you are looking for "perfumes with animal heads", you most likely mean Portraits. Each bottle is crowned with a metal animal head and represents a member of a fictional aristocratic family, together with its servants and relatives – each with their own secrets, ambitions and scandals. Here are the characters we have chosen:

• Fortuitous Finley – cardamom, star anise, black pepper, pistachio, matcha tea and a salty note over patchouli. An unusual, nutty, slightly spicy composition for connoisseurs.
• Terrible Teddy – incense, pink pepper, pimento, leather, cedar, vetiver and patchouli. Dark, daring, with enormous self-confidence.
• The Tragedy of Lord George – brandy, woody notes, tonka and amber; the bottle bears a stag's head. A warm, sweetish fragrance with the feel of an old library.
• The Revenge of Lady Blanche – hyacinth, narcissus, iris, angelica and sandalwood. A cold, green-powdery beauty with a poisonous note.
• Changing Constance – cardamom, pimento, caramel, salt, vanilla and tobacco. A gourmand, but with a spicy character.

Atkinsons – on Old Bond Street since 1799

James Atkinson arrived in London at the end of the 18th century and in 1799 founded the house that later settled at 24 Old Bond Street. At first Atkinsons was known for hair pomade, and gradually it became perfumer to the English elite and received royal recognition. Today the brand combines its history with modern, often ironic interpretations. Browse all Atkinsons fragrances.

Oud Save the Queen and Oud Save the King

The pair is a British answer to the oud trend – with a wink at the national anthem. Many people look for the men's Oud Save the King, but Oud Save the Queen often turns out to be the more interesting choice, including for men who like softer fragrances. It opens with Earl Grey tea, bergamot and clove, has jasmine and orange blossom in the heart and oud, guaiac wood and tonka in the base. The result is very English: oud served on a porcelain tray at afternoon tea – elegant rather than aggressive.

More from Atkinsons

• 24 Old Bond Street – juniper, cardamom, whisky, rose, black tea and ambergris. A fragrance named after the shop's address – like a sip of single malt in a leather armchair.
• The Big Bad Cedar – cardamom, sage, Virginia cedar and oakmoss. Dry, woody, quintessentially British.
• Her Majesty the Oud – Turkish rose, saffron, iris, oud, leather and vanilla. The more ceremonial, royal side of oud.

Clive Christian and Boadicea the Victorious – British ultra-luxury

Clive Christian

Clive Christian is a luxury interior designer who in 1999 bought the historic Crown Perfumery Company – a Victorian-era house that had been granted the right to place the crown on the stoppers of its bottles. Since then the brand has been synonymous with uncompromising luxury, high concentrations and rare raw materials. What is available is in the Clive Christian collection.

Noble Collection VIII Rococo Magnolia is a green floral with blackcurrant, mandarin, magnolia, rose and carnation, warmed by cinnamon and oakmoss – fresh but with baroque richness. Private Collection I Woody Floral is more intimate: mandarin, rose, amber and cedar in an exceptionally smooth composition.

Boadicea the Victorious

The brand was created in 2008 by Michael Boadi and bears the name of the legendary Celtic queen who led an uprising against Rome. The fragrances are powerful and opulent. Angelic combines clary sage, apple, cardamom, papyrus and Damask rose over vetiver and cedar – bright, aromatic and very elegant.

Burberry and Jo Malone London – the modern English classics

If niche houses seem too eccentric to you, the two most recognisable modern English brands are an ideal start.

Burberry was founded in 1856 by Thomas Burberry – the inventor of gabardine and the famous trench coat. Both Mr. Burberry and My Burberry were created by Francis Kurkdjian and inspired by the trench coat: the first is like a pressed men's coat, the second like a bouquet in its pocket. All the brand's fragrances are in Burberry perfumes.

Jo Malone London, meanwhile, popularised the idea of layering – combining two or more fragrances on the skin. The Cologne Intense line is denser and darker than the classic colognes, and Oud & Bergamot is an excellent "first oud" for people who are afraid of heavy Arabic interpretations.

Which British house for whom

• For lovers of stories and unusual fragrances – Penhaligon's Portraits.
• For oud fans who want elegance – Atkinsons Oud Save the Queen or Jo Malone Oud & Bergamot.
• For connoisseurs of luxury and rare materials – Clive Christian and Boadicea the Victorious.
• For everyday English chic – Mr. Burberry and My Burberry.
• For a gift with a "wow" effect – a Portraits bottle: the animal head makes an impression even before the first spray.

All British fragrances at Parfyum.bg are 100% original, delivered by DPD in 3–6 working days for 10 €, with secure online card payment.

Frequently asked questions