Alizarin

Alizarin has a spectacular opening, a stirring filtered-light effect, mildly cresolic narcissus (surprised others don't detect it) and an almost juicy mandarin orange with the note of mimosa soon after entering the scene. I've always felt that mimosa flower are deserving of more representation in fragrances other than those that are soft and feminine: here it shows what it can contribute to, of all things, a leather fragrance, with a plushness and winsome pastel-like radiance. It should definitely be featured in more unisex and masculine fragrances, along with the other flower that comes into play here: tuberose, which sustains its voluptuous presence into the base. There is also a somewhat mouth-watering dampness to the heart of the fragrance that is quite intriguing. I have to say that this is a criminally overlooked Penhaligon's. It is substantive, has presence, and envelops the wearer, which is an anomaly for fragrances from this house where they are more a beautiful accessory than a profound wearing experience, and I say that lovingly, as I have six of their fragrances and love them all. Alizarin is layers and multitudes, though. The base, while not ground-breaking, is so well-blended and beautiful, I am more forgiving than some might be. I don't always need to be challenged from the very opening to the dry down; sometimes pleasure needs relief from unrelenting artistic challenge. Having an opening and heart that enters new territory is enough for me to applaud this beauty. I really love this.

I love it! A leather/oud scent done the Penhaligon's way. The notes provide a very strong scent, but it isn't. The mandarin orange gives the leather and oud a original twist, and makes it more light and smooth. Very oriental in style. Penhaligon's has tried to capture the aura of Egypt in this scent, and I think they have succed very well. -For those of you that have woted for enormous sillage, have you actually tried it? On my skin I get moderate sillage, and it sits quite close to the skin. The longevity on the other hand, is long lasting. 8/10

At first, the thought of Penhaligon's jumping on the oud wagon brought smile to my face (not the good kind), but none of them were bad! Especially this one--a knockout leather with incense & subtle oud support. It's one of those times when a brand catches you by surprise (like Zegna's Gold collection); I guess Penhaligon's can do Orientals too (as if Vaara & Elixir haven't proved enough)! Unfortunately the drydown's a bit lacking compared to the stunning opening, but still one of my favorites from this house :)

Alizarin is a kind of chypre version of oud. It reminds of fragrances such as Le Labo Ylang 49 and Clinique Aromatics Elixir; it's more leathery though, less chypre. There's an interesting smoky note that evokes mate leaf and Lapsang Souchong tea. The top is great, particularly on skin, like a candied orange mixed with cinnamon. It's a bit soapy too, in a good way. Much more original than Oud de Nil by the way!

This is up there with Ostara from Penhaligon's for me. They know how to do a yellow floral apparently. I would literally bathe in this. I could see how this could be very strong for some noses but i just love it, and there's no comparing it because i have never smelled another fragrance like this one. It has to be smelled to be believed.

It's a unique fragrance, i never smell anything like it before. Leathery woody oud so sophisticated and luxurios smell. The SPL is above average. it will last during my office hour. It's one of the masterpiece from penthaligons.

ترکیبی شفاف، جذاب و متفاوت از چرم و عود و دود کاملا یونیسکس ----------- Scent & Quality: 9/10 Longevity: 8/10 Sillage: 8/10 Creativity & Uniqueness: 8/10 Affordability: 6/10 ----------- Overall: 7.8/10

On Penhaligon's website it is listed as gentlemen's fragrance, and is not listed in ladies fragrances. So it's men's eau de parfum, not ladies or unisex. It is the most atypical for Penhaligon's scent in their entire men collection, and by far the most long lasting. On paper strip it was lasting 3+ weeks, and I could clearly detect wifs of it from 1 ft away after 3 weeks. On my skin it lasts 16+ hours with projection over 3 ft and at least another 12 hours as a skin scent even after shower. It is very masculine leather/smoke with touch of oud scent. Can't say I love it, but definitely not disliking it. Full bottle worthy for me, but many might find it too harsh or not suitable for other reasons, so I would say you need to try it before you buy it. Scent 7/10 Originality 8/10 Longevity 10/10 Sillage 9/10 Projection 9/10 Versatility 5/10

For the painters here, the aroma to me was one of watercolour paint, which was perhaps subconsciously informed by the name Alizarin (crimson pigment). However once dry on paper, after several hours the scent turns into a respectable leather. Until then, it remains a guilty secret, like smelling fumes you know you shouldn't, but can't stop yourself from smelling anyway. A curious profile in today's world of otherwise recycled aromas. Edit: after a couple of days on paper, tea and florals subtly emerge. On my skin, no such luck. YMMV.

Tried this today on my skin, and on me it's primarily a leather scent. Sadly the narcissus is lost on me. A couple of hours in, it acquired a soapy character which I didn't like - a squeaky-clean mimosa/iris combo - and then a clean leather took over again until a creamy tuberose appeared after 8 hours. At this stage, it had been a skin scent for quite some time but it was never very loud to begin with. Quite pleasant like all other fragrances in this house but nothing mind-blowing for me. Good longevity.

This goes on a sour oud with some leather in the top. This is not dry. It is more juicy/sweet with an herbal balsamic quality to it. I love most of the dark Penhaligon scents. This one is okay. Little too simple without the sultry notes. There is no incense that I can detect. As it dries down, the leather comes forward but there are many leather scents I like much more than this. It is muddled.

This perfume has confirmed my theory: Penhaligon’s is always polite. Even for a leather Oud, they won’t do anything outrageous like Dior. Sir Humphrey (from Yes, Minister) himself couldn't have been a smoother equivocator.

I get a wet leather, with a cumin effect, soapy of narcissus and sour of mandarin. A harsh and fruity cleaning megaphone for the first few hours then more woody and deep with oud and vetiver in the long background. It's too soapy for my nose. Marked and decisive sillage.

No. Hard pass. Can't imagine anyone wearing this of their own free will. Maybe it's body chemistry, or a bad sample, or maybe people are being pretentious when they rave about it. The only thing I get from this is a leathery oud that lasts quite a while, about 8 hours. If its your thing, this one wouldn't be bad. However if I smell this on anyone I will swiftly take my leave, after about 30 minutes it smells like cows to me.

To people that think that this feels so different from the principal Penhaligon's, I would suggest to reconsider Alizarin together with Hammam Bouquet (my beloved one) and Blenheim Bouquet and then with the most recent Amaranthine, Elixir, and As Sawira. What do they all have in common? Well, excluding Blenheim Bouquet and Hammam Bouquet, that goes in and out of production and that is heavily reformulated (see my post), these scents are all discontinued. Yes, because gems are always put out of production! The fragrance taking advantage the leathery component of narcissus, has a very turpentine forward profile. It opens with a mildly cresolic narcissus and an almost juicy mandarin orange; soon this duo is reached by a yellow pollen replete mimosa. The mimosa plays a strinking contrast with the rough leather of the base: it is like having an oil still-life painting that here and there is brightened by pastel like radiance. The metaphor here relies on the fact that the name alizarin menas crimson pigment. The tuberose of the heart is extraordinariluy green and damp. The base is a stunning leather with a hint of oud and vetiver. There is no softness around this scent; it envelopes you and projects quite well. Stunning. IG @alexolympia6

Very well blended fragrance, I wanted a fragrance that contained tuberose but not too feminine and while it’s not the dominant note in Alizarin it is present. Leather, Oud and incense are the dominant notes you get through the life of the fragrance but it’s sweetened by the floral aspects of tuberose and narcissus. Alizarin stood out to me both from the note breakdown and when I tried it in a Penhaligon’s boutique. Criminally underrated fragrance in my opinion, never heard anybody mention it and I get that a lot of fragrances from Penhaligon’s are quite fleeting so people are reluctant to give them a try but you can find some gems. Alizarin performs monstrously on me, it leaves a massive cloud and projects, the longevity is pretty good between 8-9 hours on me!

Love Penhaligon's, LOVE the trading route series. This one's just a no from me though.Take a leather camel saddle and have said camel piss on that saddle every day for a month. Sprinkle it with tuberose and leave it to bake in the desert for a fortnight and VOILA: Alizarin.

This is more like a niche scent. The listed notes are misleading, as this one is beautiful and strange. It smells like a painter’s studio, and how appropriate because this one’s for artists. She’s the muse and there’s a torid affair in the painter’s loft.

My favourite Penhaligon's release of recent years. The leather and oud notes dominate but are wonderfully supported by the tuberose which separates and elevates this above the mainstream. Lasts an age on me too which is always a bonus.

Medicinal leather, hard to wear. Smells like concentrated cherry cough drops. In the medicinal leather category I would have to recommend Gucci Guilty Absolute over this. Hands down.