Bluebell

Penhaligon’s – Bluebell Simple, self-assured, and possessed of a strong character. The fragrance opens with a burst of citrus, followed by a bitter-green aroma and a mysterious sweetness. The dry down carries a subtle spice of clove. Overall, it evokes the image of wild woodland flowers or flowering herbs with dense, green foliage, mingling with the damp, earthy scent of a backyard garden after the rain. Another way I would describe it: it’s the smell of walking into a fresh florist shop—the combined scent of various flowers and cut stems soaking in water, creating a moist, botanical atmosphere of "unidentified greenery." Performance & Versatility Once the opening notes settle, the scent remains quite linear and consistent. It has moderate projection and decent longevity. While it is technically unisex, it leans slightly feminine. This is not a "floral" in the traditional sense of being "pretty" or "perfumey." Instead, it serves as a symbol or a distinct memory. It is a fragrance that sets you apart. I highly recommend trying it in person; this is not a safe blind buy. The Legacy of the Scent Penhaligon's- Bluebell's most famous devotee was Princess Diana, a woman of elegance and a remarkably strong personality—a beauty defined by duty and responsibility. Penhaligon’s reportedly crafted this scent for her, inspired by her childhood memories of gardens filled with bluebells. Two other icons known to wear this as their signature scent are: Margaret Thatcher: The "Iron Lady" of British politics, known for her formidable capability. Kate Moss: The supermodel who stood out for being petite and unconventional yet radiating absolute confidence. Final Thoughts For individuals of this caliber, there is no need to scream for attention. Their mere presence is enough to command a room. Therefore, a natural floral signature scent functions simply as a personal emblem—a memory left in the air—and that is more than enough. I love this character, and I am absolutely in love with Bluebell. ❤️

Oooooooooooo Bluebell O Bluebell How I Absolutely Love You!! This was a blind buy for me & I was very hesitant about purchasing it due to some of the reviews on "Fragrantica" But im actually so glad that I took the chance & bought it!! This is pure springtime in a bottle,& it captures a woodland meadow/forest perfectly indeed after a heavy rainshower & when the sun comes back out!! Imagine gorgeous Bluebell Flowers wet with droplets of rain sitting all over them sparkling like glass beads in the warm sunlight,think of their green wet stems & leaves surrounded with tuffs of grass,fern,moss & the woody floor which their roots are happily growning in ALL perfectly captured in a beautiful Penhalagons Perfume Bottle!! This Fragrance is SOooooooooo different to any I own in my perfume collection,& the perfume smells so real It's absolutely amazing!! It starts of with a sparkling Citrus smell,Which soon fades to the beautiful smell of real Bluebell Flowers,their stems/leaves etc after a shower of rain!! Add to that a fresh green cut Grass aroma followed by Fern,Moss & damp Forest earth,mingled with beautiful Lily Of The Valley & some wild rambling Rose followed by some Clove & Cinnamon to give the base some mystery & depth & basically You've got Penhaligons Bluebell!! This is only the second day that I've wore/tried out my Bluebell edt & I can honestly say six compliments already including my Mother!!This Penhaligons Perfume is wore & loved by Her Majesty The Queen & it actually carries her Royal Crest & Also the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher!! A real beauty perfect for a Misty Rainy Day,The First Sign Of Spring Or Summer,or when you just want that gorgeous shower fresh up-lifting green freshness this perfume brings!! Absolutely gorgeous & well worth a try!! I most certainly will be purchasing this from now on!! Over the moon with it!!

I was so surprised to see how strongly opinion's divided by this scent, it's one of my favourites, so nostalgic and beautiful and perfect at this time of year. The opening is definitely damp, and there is a dirtiness to it, which I could understand being offputting, but it gives me that real "forest floor" scent alongside the heavy wet greenery and spicy woods. There always is the smell of decay along with new life in natural landscapes, and particularly in woodland. The heart is lovely, intoxicating florals - hyacinth, rose, and lily-of-the-valley, and a strong bitterness, which reminds me of almonds, but not sweet gourmand almonds. Of course I've never smelt cyanide but I've heard it smells of almonds and this is the note I'd imagine it being. Florals linger for a long time along with resin and spices on the skin - somewhat counter-intuitively, the spices are light and fresh rather than warm and rich, providing a counterpoint to the very powdery base you'd typically find in a fragrance with a heart like this. The whole thing is by turns bitter, sweet, sour and spicy, which is I think one of the reasons I find it so hypnotic, there's always another layer despite fairly clear constituent notes. I think all the dirty, potentially offputting parts of the scent keep it from being too fussy and sterile - you could cut the filth and you'd have a very boring, clean rosy scent or you can have what it is, which is an adventurous, complex fragrance that captures the romance and also the threat of the forest all in one.

This classic scent has been on my test list for ages, and now that a sample made its way into my hands, I have to say I'm not disappointed. It's a super realistic almost one-note floral scent; it's absolutely true to the fragrance not of bluebell (as far as I know), but of hyacinth: a little spicy, rather cold, earthy-green, with the specific, subtle sweetness of the real flower. This is a scent I know and love; it's early-spring-like but also christmassy to me, as I often have hyacinths around the house at that time of year (and then on the balcony a few months later, among the first blooms of the year). I love the idea of being able to wear that scent as a perfume; at least in this high quality way it's been executed by Penhaligon's: it's elegant and clean but not light or lacking in substance, and it lasts all day. It could be worn almost year-round, except maybe in summer: it works well right now in early autumn, for instance, but I imagine its best time would be the time of the real flower, winter and early spring. So I definitely love it, but as I generally don't reach for floral scents very often a big decant would probably last me a lifetime. It's a pity in a way, because I love the look of that classic bottle as well, and would like to add one to my collection one day. Maybe I'll find another Penhaligon's that's just as good but more my usual style!

My Mum bought this for herself because she is a devout follower of the Royals, Lady Di in particular and she thought it would be nice to own and wear a fragrance the "Peoples Princess" once wore. However, when she opened the box and sprayed it on herself, she took one whiff and was absolutely REVOLTED!! She didn't say why or what it was she did not like but she despised it. So, she gave it to me, thinking I would swap it for something else. I am usually a lover of Orientals and sweet perfumes and the occasional floral so I really was not expecting to like this, nevermind LOVE it. But, to my surprise, after about five minutes on my skin I am just in love with this fragrance. The only other florals I truly adore are the original Yves Rocher "Pivoine" and the original "Chloe"...add this gem and that rounds out my top three favorite florals. Now seeing it is winter, I won't be wearing this out of the house until snow melt come April, but if I know I am not going anywhere and I will be in the house, I will surround myself in the gorgeous blue garden...if I am lucky enough to spend Christmas on my beloved Vancouver Island, this perfume will be attached to my hip. It is utterly moody, beautifully composed and entirely feminine..you can be sure no one else will smell like you whilst adorned in this cloak of beauty...