Savoy Steam

I've been wearing Penhaligon's Savoy Steam EDP all day today and reveling in it. I really like it and have wondered why it gets so many negative reviews. I've come to the conclusion that few people connect in a positive way with steam. I don't know what else they could have called it though. It smells like a steam bath after someone has sprayed a 30's or 40's mens' rose scented cologne. So that really limits the number of people who have this association. Even I wasn't alive in the 1930's or early 1940's, and Penhaligon's target market certainly wasn't either. I wonder how they described this fragrance in their "concept" meetings at Penhaligon's, which they must have when they're deciding which of their perfumers latest creations to promote. Here's my take. The original description of Savoy Steam did associate it with the Savoy Hotel, but I suspect it was without their permission because that verbiage was dropped pretty soon afterwards. What I think Penhaligon's was trying to evoke was a vision of the interior of the Savoy Hotel for people who have never actually been inside. Think of a white or light grey marble steam room, with white marble flooring with those little square or hexagon shaped tiles from the 1930's, and maybe windows high up in the walls so you can see the light grey sky down by the Thames. Savoy Steam is not a sunshine and roses perfume; it's definitely a cold grey day fragrance. (That alone must disappoint many buyers.) Ok, a vision that would appeal to a limited number of people. Might not even be an age thing; the Savoy has been used as a backdrop for several mysteries and spy thrillers. Maybe Penhaligon's thought they'd reach that market too, people from 25-95 who read a lot, fantasize a lot, look at the sky on grey days, and love wearing an unusual rose scented perfume. It's not a stretch; after all, Penhaligon's thought there was a market for a sea of odd perfumes with snobby names sold in bottles with tops resembling weird chess pieces. (Who has time to keep track of them?) But I enjoy wearing Savoy Steam EDP anyway, and hope it stays around a little longer. I sprayed it on 9 hours ago and can still smell it. All it takes is the ability and desire to imagine a marble steam room. (Savoy Steam will probably not help people who use perfume to attract someone.)

The perfect after shower scent: it clings like a lover, a cloud of aroma. Inspired by the Savoy Turkish Baths, a hotspot for London society's men in the early 1900s, it evokes the idea of perfumed waters and closed doors rather than conjuring photorealistic bathwater. I am as drawn to the story behind the fragrance as I am to the scent itself — men's bathhouses have historically been cornerstones for gay culture and one of Penhaligon's original fragrances, Hammam Bouquet, also draws inspiration from Turkish baths. Unlike Hammam's sulphuric hot spring accords, however, Savoy Steam is a beautifully executed dream of mist and bubbles. Exceptionally cooling on the skin like a fresh spray of water and well suited to both warm summer days and rainy afternoons. There's a sweetness to the aromatic nature of the fragrance, possibly from the rose and geranium underscoring the greener notes. I really cannot put the experience of wearing this into words — it's like walking on a cloud. Definitely a unisex scent, anyone can wear this. The bottle itself is gorgeous, as with all of Penhaligon's offerings, and references its little piece of history on the label too. It has regretfully been discontinued, but it's well worth the money if you can find a bottle.

He is very tall, very simply but well dressed in shades of pale blue flannel suit, has salt'n'pepper hair, little on a floppy side even though he is in his very late 40's. His eyes are gray-blue framed by eyebrows so, so full and naturally sculpted...his cheekbones are laser cut sharp and his beautiful mauve lips so inviting, so fleshy n firm yet juicy and full of promise. He sways towards you: eyes fixed on yours like his all n only the intention is to seduce you in an instant with almost a faint smile, moving closer and closer that you almost feel his breath on your face...but he passes you somehow and reaches for the handlebar you are standing just too close to on the London Underground Bank branch of Northern Line. And he smells so, so fresh, warm, somehow glisteningly yummy, like a freshly showered man wearing clothes from yesterday, but without any rankness of BO, just smelling freshly warm and crisp. Very chick and crisp! And that little infatuation ends the minute he leaves the train, leaving not a trail of scent behind him, more of a trail of memory and an unfulfilled dream of an affair. Make what you want of this, but Savoy Steam evokes this imaginary episode for me every time my man wears it. 10/10 in my books!

Not a fragrance that has mass appeal but I find this fragrance ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL! The most stunning and unique interpretation of “clean” I’ve ever experienced. I get eucalyptus, rose, tea and mint with a subtle herbal quality and the teeniest touch of incense. The other notes listed don’t really stand out as much to my nose. Overall, Savoy Steam is an unconventional, delicate, genderless, uber clean fragrance. Unconventionally clean as in not soapy, no white florals, powder, or white musk, or no aldehydes. No loud screech synthetic smelling aroma chemicals, no harshness or sharp edges. A very smooth, natural smelling, posh and regal type of cleanliness that suggests purity and innocence but not in child like way. A cleanliness that suggests you have access to hygiene products ‘commoners’ have never heard of and will never experience. I hope Im making sense. Basically, if you’re looking for a non traditional, unique and beautiful interpretation of a ‘clean’ fragrance... this is a no brainer. I love the classy presentation also! A Blind buy that I have zero regrets about!

I’ve never left a review here before but here goes. It was summer and I was walking about London and stumbled into a Penhaligon’s store in Covent Garden. I never explored the house before and I thought I’d walk in and smell some of the scents out of curiosity. I smelled quite a few of their signature scents that the sales woman suggested but nothing really spoke to me. I told her I’m quite into more aromatic scents but I don’t like when they lean too masculine. She suggested Savoy Steam and it was... love at first sniff. I didn’t expect to love it so much and even the sales person was surprised as I’m assuming this scent is not very popular. She sprayed some on a handkerchief for me and I walked out and spent the next few days constantly looking for the handkerchief to smell it again and again. Anyways, 2 months later I bought it and now I’m wondering if I’ll ever find another fragrance as awesome as this one.