LP No.9 for Men

Unfortunately @sherapop has it all wrong: LP No9 *DOES* stand for 'Love Potion', *NOT* "Long Play" as suggested. This I can declare as fact, hand over heart, for the following reasons: 1. My best friend worked on the creative team Chez Penhaligon's in the late 90s and in fact designed the LP packaging. 2. It was launched as a limited edition for Valentine's Day. LPno 9 has been one of my two signature scents for over 2 decades. Shimmering citrus top notes veil deep, rich, spicy heart and base accords... zesty bergamot, lemon and mandarin merge with a humming blend of rosemary, black pepper, warm cinnamon and smokey amber - the total sum of which tends to prickle at the back of your nose. The opening sensation is rather like inhaling the aroma of scotch and dry ginger ale. But with time, one can detect the delicate blend of warm clove, mint-like geranium, dry vetiver and fragrant sandalwood. This is a scent to be cherished as something timeless, sophisticated and elegant. One cant help but feel transported back to Victorian England when wearing this abandoned treasure... dressed in top hat and tails, stepping out of coal-black carriages with white gloves and silver-tipped ebony canes; Love Potion No:9 hanging in the air overhead like a shiny black raven. It possesses a sombre majesty, and I adore it.

With a debonnaire charm that had come to be associated with Penhaligon's (at least until the more recent barrage of releases, many of which are uncharacteristic of the brand), LP No 9 for Men opens with a orange pomander and holiday punch (geranium-like) that is spiced with cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and cardamom, perhaps even a few floating star anise pods. Over time, it grows warmer, darker, and muskier, like a bit of necking after getting intoxicated. This amorous caressing doesn't get TOO hot and heavy, though, it's quite proper and socially acceptable, but it has dimension—the sillage seems to actually grow over time; the sweet nothings are more than a whisper. It is now discontinued and really not worth the asking prices, but if one were to at least happen upon a good deal (nothing over 100 US, and try to sample first!), it's worth a pick up. To think this was once found at discounters for 20 bucks.

In my experience Penhaligon's deliver very well blended compositions and LP No.9 is no exception. Usually when looking at the notes (especially on here) I'm a little perturbed by the main note sometimes and clove isn't one of my favourites. However, Penhaligon's deliver yet again on quality and none of the notes in this are too prominent. It has a opening of bergamot with the warmth of amber and the spice of cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. LP No.9 is also peppery, dark feeling and musky...typical complexity which comes off as effortless simplicity. It's quite intoxicating really and very masculine, I've got to admit I'm really taken by it. Longevity is not bad at all either and it projects pretty well.

spicy and sexy smell.. I like it, I think james bond, will be getting myself some of this bad boy..or man.. grr.. definitely a scent for men..not boys. at first I wasn't sure..but after wearing this awhile It grew on me. I think one of those that if you give it some time and you will appreciate this scent more. I think the wearer will like the way he smells. I know I did. one lady that I worked with actually used the term sexy.. so I thought ok then.

Its an amazing dark sweet perfume but with totally unique swittnes!! Its rich cinammon cloves nutmeg combi! Also you can notice the rosewood perfect for cold weather and low temperatures! In my nose also i think i smell incense but its not on the notes! A great offer from the house of penhaligon's in a really good price! Warning dont try to wear it at warm days it so strong and dark that will "kill" you!! 9/10

A very classy powdery fragrance. This smells like a very expensive soap so it will be great for business meetings and formal daily activities. Because of the rose and cinnamon I'm reminded a bit of chanel egoiste but they're not the same to me. The performance is good with an average sillge. Overall its good and high quality fragrance. It will be a great gift for a gentleman 35+ Try before you buy

Spicy opening. Amazing vanilla / almost gourmand drydown that can't be described in words. This perfume is very unique as it transit from spicy opening to vanilla drydown. Longevity is good on my skin and projection also quite good. Love the scent and it's now it's my signature fragrance.

On first try this is a soft cologne/indescribable masculine smell. It’s musky, and has mint for sure. It smells like a handsome man that just cleaned up and brushed his teeth and you meet him outside in winter. It smells like when he gets closer and kisses you.

Soft, warm, sensual spices. Great quality. It’s the Colin Firth of fragrance: Leaves a surface impression of sophistication and a reserved manner, but will impel those around you to discreetly ask themselves “why am I secretly attracted to this man?”

Very spicy and exotic in a way that reminds me of the Orient. It gets sweeter on the drydown and the sillage reins itself in after many hours. A good evening fragrance though you have to be easy on the trigger as it's quite potent.

Just got it today and i wasn t expecting much. wow! Super nice blended! Very pleasant and high quality. My wife immediately loved it (important :-) Reminds me of a lighter version of Egypt from Eight & Bob

I really like how this is a hot spicy fragrance. This fragrance wears well on the skin and develops nicely. I love the strength of the clove and this is well compliment by other elements. Great stuff

Created in 1999 for Valentines love potion no. 9 fresh at first then warm spicy sensual and hot. For cooler nights, dates and party.

My beloved Penhaligon's fragrance that smelled exactly like Opium pour Homme EDP by YSL. Another discontinued gem. Bring it back!

I used to have YSL Opium edt. I do have now Penhaligon's LP9 and happy with the change.

I have a bottle of this if you are interested!

This is pleasant enough, mostly linear, but the amber and musk base notes can also be found in several other brands (some of the Hugo Boss line in particular). You should be able to find a nearly identical scent at a much lower cost. I really love Endymion, but LP No. 9 was just ok.

It's to feminine for me, but I guess it can be really good choice for a mid 30 women. Really liked base notes, tho.

On my skin this is nothing special 😕, smells soapy and boring

Contrary to popular opinion, the 'LP' in Penhaligon's LP No.9 for men does not stand for "Love Potion". No, it stands for "Long Playing" no 9. That's because this "eau de toilette" packs a potent punch, and becomes stronger not weaker over time, culminating ultimately in a bizarre spiced-oriental barbershop fougère. It also morphs back and forth between fougère and oriental, at times reminding me of PRADA AMBER pour homme and Bond no 9 COOPER SQUARE, at other times reminding me of something rather stifling and nameless. Penhaligon's is a funny house. They do seem British somehow, which I know sounds like a stereotype, but of course it is. I have a bottle of Pecksniff's bubble bath, on which the self-deprecating information is printed that (paraphrased), "there are very few British perfume makers, and we are proud to be one of them)." My favorite British house is Miller Harris, but that's another story. I was shocked to discover the Penhaligon's--L'Artisan Parfumeur connection not too long ago. I only figured it out because they held simultaneous sales, and fulfillment came from the same place, and the websites were designed almost exactly the same. Then I discovered that Bertrand Duchaufour has created scents for both houses. But somehow Penhaligon's has this old school vibe which strikes me as just slightly off somehow, at least in some cases. Especially with the LP duo, I find that a whole bunch of heavy spices were thrown into the mix to, well, spice things up. The effect is not entirely harmonious, and it's certainly not romantic, whatever else it may be. Unlike one reviewer I've read, I do not hate this perfume, but I also don't really cherish the thought of wearing it again. It's not exactly painful to wear, but it is somewhat challenging and discordant. To me, at least, LP No. 9 FOR MEN is not such a pleasure to wear. Perhaps it is better suited for men?