Racquets Formula

I was looking for a nice soap-y feel fragrance which smells soap-like but not totally smells like laundry detergent or real soap. And I ended up with this fantastic one! It gives me warm and comforting feel, like you cuddle with the laundry that just been took out of the dryer and there's still a little warmness stayed among the clothes. The part I love this frag is that it has a really nice floral sense, and this makes this frag more attracting and intriguing than just a straight soapy feel. One of my friend thinks this frag is just ordinary and lacks a characteristic touch. But I don't think so, or say, its understated simplicity is why that it's special. All of its notes are well-blended together. Upon spraying, citrus top notes pop up and fade really soon. Afterwards, there's only the floral-soapy smell creating a delicate and smooth atmosphere.

BRING IT BACK! BRING IT BACK! BRING IT BACK! All I have left of my beloved Racquets is a hotel freebie bottle of shower gel and I save it to sniff occaisionally for nostalgia purposes. This is what you've reduced me to, Penhaglion. Uniquely uplifting and sunny, elegant and fresh and perfect for any occasion. Surely theres enough demand to bring this back?

I was surprised to learn that this is meant to be for men as I love it for myself. I usually like Jicky and Mitsouko, both by Gurlain and both quite oriental and exotic. Go on ladies!! Try it for yourself.!

It's a very cool, classic fresh cologne-y type of scent. Rich perfume, with great nuances and undertones, love lavender and moss here. Veeery long lasting and has great sillage.

Sweet spiced sandalwood and florals, some rose. Not too bad at first, but it very quickly starts to get sweeter and heavier with a thick perfuminess...along the lines of Hammam Bouquet but not as stifling. I think this is because RF relies more on leather, and HB more on smoke, to thicken it up. They have in common the sort of florals that sometimes trick me into thinking they're something totally different...a cloying tropical fruit, or maybe cherry. Or anise with extra powderiness added. I'd think this would be too heavy to use while playing a sport like racquets. It might even get to be too much in hot weather in general. Even within one sniff, I find that the beginning brings the nice light flowers, but by then end they're wilting and someone has dumped baby powder over them. Still, intriguingly enough, if you only sniff it in passing and not directly, it's fresher, like Geir.

Very nice classic cologne but not worth the buy at this point considering it is discontinued and sells for a high price on eBay for instance. Just got a bottle myself yesterday and it is my second wear. Again, niceish but very similar to English Fern and Sartorial from Penhaligon's or some of the after shaves from such as Taylor of Old Bond Street Eton College, which are way cheaper.

Absolutely one of Penhaligon`s best fragrances. It has a very nice dry-down. It`s a typical Penhaligon`s fragrance. Very british, classical, and elegant, perfect for real gentlemen. It`s a edc, but has the strenght of an edt. Very good sillage and longevity. It`s definitively on my wish list!

Well worth the asking price for the lover of beautifully elegant perfumes. I am nostalgic. I am tired of current perfumes. I find solace in these discontinued gems; Racquets Formula is one of them. Released a long way backk in 1989, this is not to be confused (and confounded) with the successive iteration, always issued by Penhaligon's, Racquette (2000) that was very different. The perfumer was Francis Pickthall. Top notes are Lavender, Linden Blossom, Lemon, Geranium and Bergamot; middle notes are Ylang-Ylang, Cloves, Cedar and Rose; base notes are Oakmoss, Musk, Amber, Incense and Vetiver. As you can see from the notes, this is an interesting take on a cologne-fougere structure. It is extremely fresh as its concept is related to a use when we are doing our physical exercises (tennis or other). The brilliant citric notes are followed by a very herbaceous and prominent lavender with a good dose of a metallic and razor blading geranium. But what is striking is the linden blossoms, here worked to perfection: sweet, and slightly green, with intense, heady, floral, and honeyed aspects with hints of pollen and beeswax. In the heart, things softens with a beautiful rose and a certain creamy ylang enriched by some spices that start warming the fragrance. The base feels masculine with a oakmoss musk and vetiver drydown. And as a surprise, to have the Penhaligon's twist, a note of incense displaces you and your cologne fresh-cologne expectations. Intriguing! A classic that should be revived. IG @alexolympia6

Officially in mourning. Down to my last dribbles of Racquets Formula, what is a perfume for if not to wear? Why? Penhaligons, Why??? A foolish move to discontinue this, especially in view of the rash of total dross they have churned out since the heady days of Artemesia, Bluebell and Racquets Formula. I could cry. I probably will. What is it like tho? Barbershop heaven, better than barbershop, a barbershop IN heaven. This smells like only the finest of everything has been used in it's creation and not skimped on - ever (until the foolish discontinuation that is). I am in awe of the combo of linden and bergamot in the top notes, I suspect this beauty has been reinforced by addition of lavender, because something knocks this right over the heads of the crowd and out of the ballpark. Ylang, cedar and rose hold the attention rapt, in the same way as the breathless anticipation of something amazing about to happen, and it does, with the unheard of combo of vetiver, musk, incense, amber and blessed oakmoss ringing the deep bells. And this juice has staying power. Of all the frags I wear, this is the one which stops people in their tracks, and the one which makes me go all dewy eyed when I spray it on myself on a summer morning. *Cue choir of angels and a big shaft of sunlight appearing through the clouds to glint on the lid of my bottle* (which I quickly re-box and hide in a dark, cool drawer to preserve it's beauty.

So up front, thank you Penhaligons for treating your users with respect and calling this a men's fragrance instead of unisex. (I hate the marketing term unisex) That said this is probably one of the more enjoyable men's scents I"ve sampled, although I didn't care for the opening. I've now confirmed that I don't care for Lavender, as it opens too 'low and grating' on me. Geranium too is hard on the nose, but the base is something you can really sink into. I put htis on before heading out for my weekend 9 mile hike. When I was done, (and sweaty and dusty), I was left with a floral, earthy base that I enjoyed very much. Everything came together perfectly in the drydown, and it does not slip into a 'manly stink' (sometimes basenotes in men's fragrances can get too heavy) Here the base includes incense and oakmoss, which are a hard duo to ruin. If my significant other owned this I would be 'sampling' it for myself when he wsan't looking, just for the drydown.

This was the first Penhaligons fragrance I fell in love with back in 2008 or thereabouts, and the first fragrance I ever spent more than $100 on. But it was worth it. This is quite possibly the best "barbershop" fragrance ever created. It's the perfect expression of the best of that genre. After a strong floral citrus opening, you get a blast of clean powdery woods before it dries down to moss, incense, and musk. Like a fine men's soap or shaving cream, I believe this is not only timeless, but better than so many niche fragrances that people go wild over today. Racquets is clean, fresh, soapy, warm, sexy. There's a reason people lament its demise...though why Penhaligons ever got rid of it, I have no clue. The closest thing I've found to it is Royall Muske, but Racquets has an extra dimension that the Royall lacks. I'm lucky I still have an extra bottle. It always gets compliments.

Keep this please Penhaligons. It's a classic. To remove it from the range would be a sin. It's the definitive British scent. Anything with a goodly blast of Linden is evocative of Wimbledon and strawberry days (is that why you called it Racquets?). This one is the summer of 1974/75, sunshine and whites. Starting clean and soapy, fresh from the shower, drying down powdery and fluffy like a really bouncy new towel. I love it. It's the perfect hot weather scent, slightly masculine, but then, so am I on a good day Gutted to find it is now discontinued. Big mistake. With a bit more publicity, this beauty could really see those sales figures soar. The fragrance world needs genius blends like this - BADLY.

I can't believe Penhaligon's would discontinue this very classic and British Scent .... I still have a small amount in a bottle which I treasure for only the very right situations .. .. Penhaligons! Please bring this one back !! Everyone in my circle of influence finds this scent wonderful ... while they aren't so juiced up on other fragrances from this house .. ( I personally LOVE most of the scents from the house of Penhaligon's, as there aren't really any two alike ... all the more reason to keep this GREAT Scent! Please !!! >>> BRING .... IT ..... BACK ! :)

On my skin and to my nose, lavender and bergamot are well-blended together with prominent geranium and a hint of clove sitting on top of oakmoss. Projection is moderate but consider quite good for an EdC. Longevity is moderate on my skin. This is the first chypre I own and love. It's a pity that Penhaligon discontinued this gem. It's quintessentially English!

Please Penhaligon's...Raquet's is my fragrance since 1990... I never find a fragrance like this it's like my skin my identity i have loose it since you have stop the production of Raquet's...Please you have a market for that women and men with humanity and elegance ...Thanks a lot

I am looking to pick up A few more bottles if anyone wants to trade or sell.. I can get just about anthing if you are looking for something to trade..I have wholsale connections. Please message me..Thx

I love it. so attractive and elegant but masculine as well. People around me complement whenever I put this on.

Just been into the Penhaligons store in Edinburgh and told that Racquets has been discontinued.

I would say it is a soft and elegant unisex fragrance.