Elixir

What can I say? What laud can I bring? What praise of note can I add to what I believe must be a cherished, truly ambrosian elixir indeed to so many others? So aptly named, this eau pushes all the right buttons for me. From the packaging to the red ribbon to the comforting yet exciting first sniff, which despite the years of enjoyment exhilarates as if for the first time always. Some are reminded of Mass, some of Count Dracula's castle, others sacred & profane music & mirth. I say yes and all of the above. Elixir calls for candlelight. I find it quite regal, sophisticated, and yet quite carnal & softly wild... something distantly pagan perhaps? When the first frost kisses the dwindling light of Autumn I reach for this and fabulous, fantastic, dusty, rich, mystic fairy tales come back to comfort & caress my senses like Christmas stories or Turkish Delight from the sleigh of the Snow Queen. Captivating & liberating, the spirit soars. Perhaps I'm getting a bit carried away but that's what this elixir does... it carries me away. Absolutely gutted to hear of its discontinuation. Why oh why?? I've 3 bottles at present which I will cherish like so many sweet memories. If you come across it don't hesitate to make it your own if only to then pass it on to someone under its spell. What a star you'll be in their eyes! Criticisms? Only its fleeting nature & lightness. I want it to last for days! Beautiful packaging (current). Beautiful Penhaligon's bottle. Skews a touch "masculine" for me. Worth every penny. ★★★★★

Well...I'm shocked that the town I live in has a Penhaligon's boutique and I must say it's one of the most beautiful shops I've ever been in, like a victorian chemists or something? Anyway...When I asked the lady at the counter how long it had been there she said "...around 12....(she paused as I thought she'd say months) she turned to her colleague and said "Is it 12? Yeah 12 YEARS we've been here!" It's very small and tucked away so easily missed but I still can't believe it's been there for 12 years and I've only just found it! So Elixir? I'd asked this question before of other Penhaligon suppliers "Do you have anything with incense in an eau de parfum?" and they always come up with Elixir. I've tried it a couple of times now and I must say I really enjoy it, like many from this house it's very well blended indeed. For me though although it has some smoke and spice to it the main player is rose and it's a very nice rose the spice is subtle, with a gentle incense running through it. This is actually one of my favourites and that's saying something too as I do like a lot of their creations. Difficult to pick apart the notes like penhaligon's Sartorial, Opus 1870 etc it's complex and well done. The main reason I was interested in this one was the concentration, as my main gripe with this house is the longevity. Elixir is better but still not good for the price and if you're looking for a powerhouse this isn't it. I really like this one though and may add it to my collection in future.

I adore this fragrance and this fragrance adores me. It's mysterious, powerful and intoxicating yet not overbearing. It's difficult not to repeat what some reviewers have already mentioned about it's potency and evocative abilities but for me, this fragrance... ...sets my imagination racing and transports me to places of days gone by. It evokes childhood memories of me walking through York Minster after a festive Midnight Mass with the incense-kick: incense-soaked masonry, the smell of polished wooden pews, old leather-bound prayer books and dusty stained glass. Ghosts of Christmases past. This fragrance yearns for something that can not be replaced, only remembered. I have to wear this in cold winter weather when the streets are dimly lit and fog and mist cloud your vision alongside icy breath. It's warming, soothing and luxurious - a tincture for inclement weather, melting the sharpness of frosted paths. I get very minimum eucalyptus on my skin but lots of wood smells and benzoin; a slight whiff of rose with hints of myrrh (despite it not being noted). The jasmine and orange are very subtle and present a balancing undercurrent. It's an astonishing fragrance, essentially appropriate for long winter nights (IMO). I applied some this afternoon (English summer-time, August) and although the smell was still divine, it felt almost criminal to expose its beauty to the sun. A must-have in my collection. 10/10.

MyFragranceSamples.com included this as one of two freebies in my order. Merry Christmas to me! The opening is just like the sweet, earthy ginger taste of Blenheim Ginger Beer. There's also a bit of spiciness and eucalyptus like I've smelled in an arts and crafts store where they have dried eucalyptus with their silk flowers and some potpourri somewhere with cinnamon in it to greet you at the door. The drydown is why I'm going to buy a full bottle. I own a mesh bag of rock-like bits of frankincense that I like to keep around as reference (I hope my memory serves me well because I have a similar bag of myrrh and they've both lost their original scent). When I crush that bag in my hands, to release the pure frankincense fragrance, put my nose to it and inhale deeply, there's something special about it to me. Elixir smells exactly like this; dry, dusty, oriental and deeply aromatic frankincense! Absolutely amazing stuff! I'll be ordering a bottle of this for sure and hope it arrives before Christmas for the perfect occasion to wear it. There's absolutely nothing in this that strikes me as synthetic. An absolute gem I can't believe I've never heard of nor the house.

Certainly Elixir is an incense-type fragrance, but even through the wood, resins and smoky aspects it manages to convey a rich spiciness that has thrilled me from the very first instant it met my nose. Add to the spices and incense the presence of rose and the effect is quite pleasing. Early on, though, I was troubled by the fact that the staying power was minimal on me, but I've hit upon the perfect combination to achieve longevity with this fragrance: layering. To be sure, a person could reapply this fragrance later on, but I find the fragrance is best pronounced and most intense when I've used Elixir Exfoliating Body Scrub in the shower prior to application of the fragrance. This seems to be key in greater longevity of this wondrously beautiful fragrance. Elixir is hypnotic and beautiful, and seems unisex to my sensibilities. This is gorgeous, mysterious and enchanting. I also have seen Elixir mentioned as a good cold-weather fragrance, but I've been wearing this in Texas 110 degree F heat lately, and it's rich, beautiful and yet not overpowering. This is an exotic beauty for year around, in my opinion.

For me Elixir is a fragrance full of nostalgia. It's like somebody tried to capture something from their childhood, but I'll be darned if I can work out what it was! Certainly the opening is fiery. I think the eucalyptus comes out more to me on certain days and actually clears the sinuses a bit like Vicks or Tiger Balm! It's a very stimulating intro. I don't know why but after that all I can smell is a very true to life sandalwood and a touch of incense. There is a hint of something floral for sure, maybe the Turkish rose, but for me this is a spicy woody through and through. The memories evoked are of an old library, the antique books, the solid wood of the bookshelves and tables as sunlight streams in and catches dust particles in the air. It's a place where you can relax in quiet contemplation, read or study, but above all it is comforting. Others may be reminded of a church or museum or somesuch place. Elixir therefore is not a modern smell and all the better for it. If you want something different with a touch of English charm, this is the one! For me it has Holy Grail fragrance written all over it!

This is the heaviest perfume I have in my collection to date, and I absolutely adore this concoction that Penhaligon's created. When I first evaluated this in store, I was mesmerised and had a really hard time trying to unwrap the layers this fragrance offered. So I decided to get it without a second thought. This is a Unisex fragrance leaning towards the Female side with the rich Rose Otto, skillfully balanced with warm smoky woods. The spicy top gives a good initial impact, the base didn't last as long as I'd hope, but compared with other Penhaligon's offerings, this is considered very long lasting in that respect. For me this is a really British fragrance, where it matches very well with the cold wet winters I so fondly remember from my yesteryear. It is a shame that Elixir has been discontinued and will join many other fragrances becoming a collectible item.

I bought this scent today from the store on Regent Street. Upon first smell I conjured up pictures of a journey through India and the East; of far off exotic lands full of mystery, heritage and intrigue - alien to my British temperament, yet all the more intriguing as a result. Previous reviewers have likened this scent to that of 'Opium' which I almost purchased earlier in the day, but held off in case I found something less attainable (I can buy Opium from a multitude of stores, not so quirky niche fragrances). Images of the East complement the references to Opium, however, for me I can honestly say that this scent evokes my upbringing as a Roman Catholic; the church incense, the religious-mysticism of its incense notes and warm, spicy top notes. Comforting, warm, mysterious and definitely not run-of-the mill. An elixir indeed.

Cardamom, cedar, notes of incense, and benzoin, I'm immediately reminded of Baume du Dodge from Eau D'Itale by Bertrand Duchaufor. It's as though he and Olivia Giacobetti carried out a side-by-side exercise in creating the same fragrance with slightly different supporting notes. Woods, spice and incense are most prominent in Elixir, contrasted in balance with clean notes of subtle eucalyptus that is presented as an herbal nuance and without it's mentholated facet. The flowers are subtle and provide beauty and balance, nestled warmly in a sandalwood base. I find Elixir a very full and accomplished fragrance that many fans of dry, complex incense fragrances would enjoy, especially those who love Tauer's L'Air du Desert Marocain. A very well executed perfume evoking mystery and travel to an exotic night-time desert.

A menthol-like cold, dry incense... Such an interesting one. It reminds me of incense sticks and so many other things. It has a dry, smoky incense made of jasmine, rose, sandalwood. The cinnamon and mace mix with the eucalyptus to bring about the aroma of cold candle smoke, like you would find in a church or some such place. It opens up loud but settles to a skin scent. It's an unusual one but it is worth trying. I think it would be a good choice for those looking for a mystical incense like perfume. Olivia Giacobetti has done a great job of capturing this smell. I can't see anything bad about it for what you get for the price. Definitely one to try at least.

It is a real pity that this fragrance was discontinued. I still have half a bottle and I enjoy it every time. This is an incense and rose fragrance like no other, unbelievably light and still having enough body. Eucalyptus, without being over-mentholated, connects the light facets of incense and the fresh parts of the rose, indeed creating the impression of steam instead of smoke. And then, as also mentioned by others, I can swear I smell a honey note or something like it. It underlines the lushness of incense and thikness of Turkish rose without making them heavy. They float in the air around you. A revelation, really.

Magical! Elixir is such a right name for this ancient-incensy-dry-dusty potion! My most favourite notes in one bottle, - can't be better, really. So its a strong love from me. It is much like an old abandoned haunted wooden Church, lost somewhere in forest and then someone have found it, took the webs away and lightened frankincense candles all way down the squeaky ancient stairs! The quality is so good, as it evokes images after images, I loved people's reviews on this one – glad that many got church-ghosts-oak cork-old closet vibe as well, as myself! Well done, Olivia Giacobetti.

This is darkness! is like walking through the streets of a castle at night,with the wind that touches your skin .. the cold air, a few candles lit, some off .. and continuing your journey to the castle you realize that this is the Dracula's castle! Some of the notes listed I can hardly hear them, but this is a unique scent, and certainly unusual! _not suitable for everyone, but it's worth trying this.. it's well done! Incense here is very powerful.... I like. The sillage is moderate, and longevity good (6-7 hours). Sillage: 6/10 Longevity: 7/10 Scent: 8.5/10 Overall: 8/10

I bought this in the xmas sales for a song. Im so glad I did. I am perplexed how someone thinks its similar to Jacomo #8 which I also have. J8 is much sweeter. Yes, they are both spicey but PE has that unique kick from the eucalyptus. There is a load more incense for one thing and gaiac wood which make it quite dry and smoky which I love. Its very spicey with the cinnamon and cardamom very evident but also resinous from the benzoin. The poor rose and vanilla notes dont get much of a look in. The dry down is all about incense. Moderate sillage and moderate longevity.

I really love this fragrance. The rose and incense are the main players but the eucalyptus is not far behind and the whole thing blends nicely to (what I find to be) a rather comforting smell. It's a very dry smell and works wonderfully in the cold weather. Has a lovely vintage feel to it and I can imagine gentleman in turkish baths circa 1900 smelling like this (I also get the gothic feel that many have mentioned). Lasts for most of the day but it does turn into a skin scent. Well worth GBP40 in TK Maxx

Elixir is most definitely a unisex scent, vaguely reminiscent of Opium. At first spritz I got pepper and cinnamon and thought it was too masculine and sharp. But shortly thereafter, the scent became much more woodsy and unisex. This scent very much made me think of linen-clad Brits riding elephants in India during the 1930's. About an hour later, the fragrance became rather subdued--very different from that first whiff of sharp spice. Elixir would smell lovely on a man or a woman.

Elixir is a very refined spicy/oriental fragrance for men. It gives a very warm and cozy aura. If you like scents like Gucci Pour homme, you will love Elixir, because this is like the refined "niche" vesrion of that one. Sillage and longevity are above average, and the best season for this one is autumn and winter. Elixir is a must try if you like warm, "hot" spicy scents. One of the best from Penhaligon`s. Highly recommended!

bella composizione creata da olivia giacobetti che mette in primo piano una eccellente combinazione di rosa ed incenso, supportata da note speziate e da un fondo legnoso di eucalipto. benchè il risultato sia piuttosto complesso con tasselli odorosi tipicamente invernali, l'impressione generale non è pesante ma, anzi, è morbida e indossabile anche con il caldo. molto buono.

For anyone interested in purchasing this scent who thought it was discontinued, it is currently available in the Penhaligon's summer sale ($64 for 100 ml) on their U.S. website. I don't think I am allowed to post a direct link as part of this comment, but feel free to send me a private message if you can't find it when searching online.

I have been wearing this for about three hours at this point, and will possibly edit this later. it smells exactly like copal incense. I assume this is the smoky incense, the eucalyptus, and the cedar all coming together. It's beautiful and I'm thrilled. I might buy it just for this aspect.

A beautiful soft spicy rose and perfect for the colder months, a true classical beauty, I love her, wearing her feels like being wrapped in something warm and comforting and each time I smell her I fall in love again. Very feminine on me, with lots of Turkish rose and lasts beautifully.

The star performer in this fragrance is the rose. I really enjoy wearing this one. It's beautifully smokey. The incense that comes through is so smokey and cold. Like many it reminds me of the smell of churches. This also comes across in my mind as an exotic smell. I love it

I just bought this and adore it. It is cheaper than Annick Goutals new incense but I like it more. It would be very interesting to see a pure Penhaligons perfume one day.

A great scent for Christmas .It has incense with a twist of Eucalyptus.It is no longer made so good job I stocked up!

the main notes to me are mace, cardamon, incense, benzoin, cedar, guaiac, rosewood, rose

Wonderful !!! This scent must renamed: NOSTALGIA

after reading all the reviews and finding myself drawn to smoking perfumes of late, i had to try this. the opening of Elixir smells just like a Whisky Mac! (spiced ginger wine - sweet, dry, containing mace, cinnamon, etc. - with a shot of Scotch), which continues to waft around lightly, to the end. followed a few seconds later by a beautiful smokey woods. ah the lovely rosewood. i am immediately transported to Christmastime at my parent's as a teenager, sipping sneaky wee glasses of Stones ginger wine with my best friend. the holly decked fireplace burns smoking logs, in our living room filled with festive laughter and clinking crystal glasses of Scotch on ice. a cold drink that warms. with many other reviewers, i concur. this is dry, smokey woods, with a slightly sweet (benzoin), warm dry spicey backdrop. but as i wear it, i sometimes have the feeling that i have spilt some single malt on myself! - Elixir has such similar nuances of smokey woods to those found in a dram of Scotch to my nose. An Elixir indeed. med sillage for 4-5 hours. skin scent for full 12 hours. with good tenacity for a Penhaligons EDT. this is a serious wrist sniffer for me and i am thoroughly enjoying trying it.

The distinctive character of this fragrance comes from the combination of eucalyptus and incense. At the first spray, eucalyptus is very prominent. It carries a medicinal edge and a slight sharpness that can feel a bit stimulating. In the middle stage, a spicy rose appears, wrapped in hints of cinnamon and cardamom. However, it stays in the background, while the coolness of eucalyptus is still present. The rose does not last long before being overtaken by the incense. The incense here is relatively light. It does not have the heavy density or sweet resinous character that incense sometimes carries. Instead, it feels more like a layer of dry air. At this stage the scent resembles the atmosphere inside a religious building—wood, resin, and air blending together. Because benzoin is not very noticeable, there is no strong smoky impression. Later, when the fragrance settles close to the skin, cedar and guaiac wood become more dominant. Projection is soft, but longevity is fairly good, and the scent remains detectable at close range.

The gorgeous spice notes in Elixir hit you immediately: rich cardamom, warm cinnamon, and dry mace. The eucalyptus (which is expertly blended) is uplifting, bright, and refreshingly mentholated. In my opinion, the eucalyptus is really what makes this scent stand out! It contrasts brilliantly with the warm, almost edible combination of spices in the top and the balmy benzoin, Tonka, and vanilla in the base. The final stages of dry down are slightly more masculine: the cedar, guaiac, and rosewood emerge. Despite its categorization as a spicy Oriental, Elixir is very herbal/aromatic: the base notes are not heavy or overpowering, and the bright presence of eucalyptus, rosewood, and slightly-medicinal guaiac make this light enough for daily wear and suitable in almost any season (and for any gender).

I don't know why it took me so long before I eventually got around to trying Elixir... But I finally did at a Penhaigon's store. On first sniff, it was intriguing with rose and incense being almost immediately detectable. But it also kept me thinking that this was a farmiliar accord.... It was only hours later that I figured it out. It reminds me of By Kilian's Incense Oud which is denser, more complex and textured scent which I adore. Elixir was like a diluted version of Incense Oud, and the more I had it on the less I found reason for according it space in my wardrobe since I already have Incenee Oud. For those who find Incense Oud too dense and prefer a more transparent version, do try Elixir! For those who adore less feminine roses, Elixir (and definitely Incense Oud) are worth a smell...

this is a great oriental, it is very difficult for western brands to achieve this, but this one could have been created by an oriental brand easely, but if that was reaaly the case, this perfume would not have been made so weak and light !! the only default of this perfume is its weakness, and it is an eau de toilette not eau de parfum, and in the beggining this does not seem important cause you are stunned by the great explosion of the scent and the spicy and camphorous notes, but after minutes you looses the scent very quickly and it disappears above all if you are in presence of other scents or perfumed persons with more powerfull scents, you disappear totally, the only way to get back the scent is to be isolated in fresh local and not too windy !! quel dommage vraiment !

This spicy melange reminds me vaguely of Comme des Garçons - Comme des Garçons, minus the medicinal mouthwash vibe and the roller coaster dry down. Still, I found Elixir a little too astringent for my preferences when it comes to oriental spicy perfumes. I wanted it to feel warmer and woodier on me. I think my skin chemistry is magnifying the eucalyptus, cardamom, and cinnamon the most, while I can barely detect the incense, even though I admit the fragrance still feels somewhat "incensey" in style. I guess what it boils down to is, for this style of perfume (at least the way it is playing out on my chemistry), I prefer Comme des Garçons - Comme des Garçons.

A story of the Elixir, quirky and romantic ...... I imagine. A long time ago, from the cut down wood, grow a little chamomile, its vitality so strong, like the sun, lit up the wood, but also make it warm, wood fall in love with small chamomile, they could comfort each other. Much later, the workers came, the wood is turned into a church ...... do not have to stray, it would have been accompanied chamomile, forever. To me, Elixir is sad and beautiful. Maybe a familiar tunes, somewhere in time, in the empty corridors, in the mossy library , in the abandoned castle, old mansion or the trail leading to the forest living in the ......

Elixir turned out a lot different than I expected. I thought it would be something along the lines of Opium. Spicy, vibrant, oriental. However, sweetness is its dominant quality. From the start to finish, we have spices and vanilla and woods and jasmine in large quantities. The incense adds a nice twist as Elixir develops and opens. Luckily, no eucalyptus made appearance on my skin, so I could enjoy the oriental sweetness all the way through. It is very wearable, and feels very smooth and creamy. I with it was a bit more 'raw' and unpolished, something a bit less from a boutique and more from a cauldron?

It has grabbed my attention from the start as I didn't know what to expect. It's like smelling a chunk of cedar while near burning incense and eucalyptus leaves. It's also sweet, and I could be tempted to say it's honey, because it does remind me of the honey in Phaedon's Tabac Rouge, but also the vanilla in Tom Ford's Tobacco Vanille; it has the same character as those two and the cinnamon completes the association for me. It's mostly linear on my skin and I would categorize it as a sweet spicy woody oriental. 7/10

Got a sample from Luckyscent today, and I'm trying to figure it out still.Rather masculine in the opening, with a strong cinnamon note and a subtle hint of eucalyptus. After about 10 minutes it becomes more feminine, and softens and sweetens, with a clean incensey note, and roses.There is almost an inky smell to this that I really like. The woody notes are not so strong as to overpower the rest of the perfume, but gives it a warm feeling. Great for this cold, snowy day.

This is weird, it openeed medical and herbal and I wasn't able to enjoy it at all, but decided to keep it on my wrist, so I could see how it developes. It does it nicely, resins appear and everything becomes more and more warmer/elixir-like if I can say that. From the flowers I can feel warm rose. I don't love it, it's not for me, but it's definetely not bad.

The opening is cinnamon/spicy/minty. It reminds me of a clearance bin full of Christmas items; the scented wreaths and candles all jumbled together. This smooths into a lovely incense, a rich smoke centered incense. It has the masterful Penhaligon's blending. It also has better than Penhaligon's usual projection; better than a skin scent for several hours.

Pleasantly spicy. Certainly good for winter. I really loved the smell myself but I never got a positive feedback on this one. Maybe better for ladies. So after a few weeks I gave it to my sister. I think it works better on ladies.

Smells very similar to Montale Greyland but more lactonic. Also much similarity to Gucci Pour Homme. A fantastic, deep, sexy scent with great longevity.

Definitely one of the great fragrances of Penhaligon's, although it is a touch soapy. But overall nice medieval smoky resinous warm spicy scent.

scent : 8/10 sillage : 8/10 longevity :7/10 70% night/30% day fragrance good woody scent reminds me of Loewe 7and azzaro visit a little bit

María Casares ( The Princess ) in ( Orpheus ) by Jean Cocteau 1950

Oh I was just at the boutique yesterday and it's still there

Nice guy frag IMO. Soft and subtle. I get way more woods and spices than incense. Not really churchy IMHO. This 1 screams meeting the in laws for the 1st time during Thanksgiving dinner. Not heavy but certainly pleasant. When you exit the door and give everybody hugs they will have smiles on there faces.

The person below said "this is darkness", I may add: This is gothic! As the reviews say is VERY evocative. The incense reminds me when I use to use incense sticks when I was a teenager and how when you come out of the incense room everything else smells fresh and clean... But, it might be a bit masculine; at the moment! It does feel like the dry down is going to get warmer. But my, I am STILL smelling my wrist and it conjures memories! now I am thinking of my uncle and auntie's house when I was a kid for some reason. It had a sort of not unpleasant damp and spicy smell... I am not sure when woul dI wear this tho... As said, if I was a goth girl, most deffinitelly I'd wear it all the time, now... I am not so sure. I live in a small palce and there is not a lot of cultural variety so I might struggle to pull it off. However, it is worth it; if nothing else, just for the experience! Edit: no, it's not worth it for me. I found it quite redcued so I don't mind much, but had I paid full price for this, I would be very upset now as on mw is too masculine and dry. Its almost hurting my throat. Deffinitelly try before buy.

at first I was intrugued and had to keep checking the spot on my inner-elbow. My wife liked it but didn't love it. I couldn't figure it out. Definitely some kind of clove incense and myrhh or frankincense or something spicy and odd. It lasted all day long on my skin but I just don't love it. I probably won't even use the sample up. Odd fragrance. Could have been blended better, with more balance and class. This is all incense and cardamom. No Guaiacwood (palo santo) at all. I've used it in natural perfumery and I don't detect any here. Don't smell any cedar or sandalwood or floral notes either. Vanilla and tonka? really? Where?

I usually love Olivia Giacobetti's creations but this one smells exactly like an indian stall at the flea market. Very cheap and synthetic incense sticks! Undefined! Rating: 5/10

Parfum of Wine. Soft Rose and soft incense. I am disappointed. I expected a lot more. very low performance.

Will-o'-the-wisp rose, an intermittent glisten, a ruby glimmer, this rose, it dances like a sprite in a warmed cedar Turkish bath, eucalyptus and birch leaves floating, and the air is a light steam, causing light through the window to enter in ribbons. There is an incense composed of nutmeg's outer lacy membrane we call mace, warm, savory, married with sandalwood. In an esoteric cellar, a cauldron brews all manners of herbs: tansy, blue chamomile, hyssop, and twigs of Ceylon cinnamon. I feel wonderfully vague and adrift while wearing Elixir, like it brings to relief the hilarity of life's ins and outs; the absurdity of that which we fixate, perseverate. We just are. We just are, and that is enough for which to be grateful. Not how successful or respected we are, not what we have in our possession: not the fancy equipment that affords us sophisticated videos for our social media platforms, not the number of subscribers and followers we have, not the home we own, not the car we drive, not even all our precious bottles of scented liquids. Elixir could probably serve the purpose that renders so many other fragrances I cling on to unnecessary because it somehow whispered to me, "it's attachment." Maybe it's the spirit of rose otto as it fades, pressed-flower like, folding into the groove of my consciousness like a haunting hymn. We just are.