Racquets

Ding Dong I finally found a citrus perfume I like! Which might also explain why others aren't as much a fan... My nose prefers unisex, woods, leathers, and musks, I am not a fan of sweet or jammy scents and am very particular about citrus. I think a lot of perfume leans towards orange, or orange blossom for its citrus and this being straight up lemon to your eye upon first spray might be too sharp for some. I'm lucky I guess because this is pure lemon zest to me, not cleaning agent, but like the nature of a lot of citrus top notes it doesn't last very long and mellows out into a wonderful wood and leather heaven. The name and affiliated imagery is spot on: tennis outfits so white they're almost glowing bright, shockingly green grass, and a tall glass of the most refreshing lemonade covered in condensation waiting for you just off court. Summery, bright, but I'm sure it will be just as refreshing when I wear it this summer.

Racquets by Penhaligons is simply a phenomenal scent and has become my signature. What makes this truly spectacular is how photorealistic this seems. The wood truly gives the impression of Victorian wood that has been encased in leather and cleaned with lemon, hence the name. The lemon does come through very strong initially but its the dry down you're here for. It is a summer scent at heart, but due to how truly classy this fragrance is, I would recommend for any occasion. The sillage is great and I have recieved many compliments with this fragrance, longevity is around 8-10 hours. Sadly, this fragrance was a limited edition run and is now discontinued, so I would recommend trying to get a bottle sooner rather than later!

I have a sample of this coming fresh from Penhaligon's and I am really looking forward to smelling it... I'll update once I have the opportunity to wear it a few times... ^_^ --- Updated: I've finished off my two samples and I gotta say I really enjoy it for Spring and Summer... So much so that I just ordered a full bottle... Very BRIGHT Lemon note to start you off that then slowly drifts into a leathery woody vibe... Good longevity and does not scream off the skin... My wife also has worn this and it was wonderful on her too... VERY unisex fragrance straight down the line IMO... Looking forward to having this in my collection...

If you like Orto Parisi Bergamask, Hanae Mori HM, or Lemon by Mary Greenwell, then you will enjoy Racquets EDP by Penhaligon's. Starts with a huge blast of citronella, but this warms when a herbaceous note joins the fray. This continues for the first hour and the the lemon takes a backseat to a musk. It is a simple fragrance that has been very well executed. At each stage I can only compare it to Bergamask, as it resembles that fragrances right through the drydown. It isn't as loud as the Orto Parisi, but it certainly stands proud alongside it.

this is the first time i have ever loved a citrus, the opening smells fizzy like lemonade and the leathery dry down gives it a more interesting spin. it really brings to mind playing victorian lawn games in a sunny country house garden