Penhaligon’s continues to churn them out, almost in a vain attempt to see what sticks. At least this time, they haven’t ventured too far from their home shores for inspiration. Typically, it’s a good sign when they stick close to home. For The Dandy, their ode to whiskey, they’ve enlisted perfumer Fabrice Pellegrin. The perfume forms part of their British Tales line. As usual, the brand has a story to tell. This time, we’re whisked off (see what I did there?) to a London speakeasy where the drinks flow freely, and the party starts once our sartorial gent, The Dandy, arrives. They can certainly spin a yarn, the folks at Penhaligon’s – most of it, utter nonsense. Here’s a link if you dare read their marketing for The Dandy. https://www.penhaligons.com/eu/en/an-olfactive-introduction-the-dandy
I wouldn’t encourage getting too close to this dandy. Sure, for a short time, our polished chap may seem interesting. Unfortunately, though, our elegant fellow burns out rather quickly. He doesn’t have a lot to say, and beyond the 15-minute mark, we realise we’ve been prattling on to a cardboard cutout. Don’t let the opening bars of the perfume fool you, for indeed, it starts very nicely. The whiskey accord is suitably malty, smooth, and refined. There’s a satisfying richness to the dried fruit accord. But once the charm wears off after 15-20 minutes, we’re left with a monolithic slab of uninspiring woods and flat patchouli for the rest of the wear. “The Dud” might have been the more appropriate name.
At least the base doesn’t come loaded with amberwoods, à la Halfeti. However, what remains after the promising opening burst lacks nuance, style, and panache. Indeed, it all feels very un-dandy-like and a major letdown. Such is life with modern perfumery – an encouraging start, marred by a dull dry-down. I had high hopes for The Dandy. As I alluded to, Penhaligon’s often nails these “British” inspired perfumes, take for example, Sartorial and Juniper Sling. They tend to slip up when they venture too far from home, such as Halfeti. No matter, I’ll stick with Juniper Sling for my boozy hit, Sartorial for my foppish fix, and keep calm and carry on.
Images are my own. I sampled the fragrance in-store.