Dunhill for Men

Classic Blend

Dunhill 1934 Eau de Cologne

When choosing "Bed & Breakfast" as accommodation during a trip to England, one can hope for some extraordinary encounters. This type of lodging, related to German guesthouses, is characterized primarily by very personal hospitality, often influenced by family connections. During our recently concluded trip through England, we met a variety of hosts (in the first floor of an authentic pub in York, in a lovingly converted private house in Warwick, in a city villa in London). However, none of the accommodations was as impressive as the one on the banks of the River Severn near the Welsh border.

Even in the somewhat blurry photo, the property made a promising impression. But when, after a long detour through unmarked side roads, we finally stood in front of our accommodation for the night, we were left speechless: a castle from the mid-19th century with a large park, an adjoining vegetable garden, free-roaming peacocks and dogs, a private chapel in the side wing, a driveway to the house, and an exceedingly friendly hostess, from whom we managed to elicit, after a pleasant conversation in the castle's sitting room, that she is a descendant of a family of lords and barons who have lived on this estate (a formerly much larger predecessor building that had succumbed to the ravages of time) since the 16th century and played a significant role in English politics. Why the lady offers a few rooms as B & B in her huge house remains her secret. Perhaps it is the joy of welcoming different travelers from various countries.

The amenities of Bed & Breakfast accommodations also include a bathroom equipped with all sorts of lovingly selected bath cosmetics and fragrance samples from which the guest can choose freely. So what is found in the spacious bathroom of such a manor? Of course, no mainstream fragrance, certainly no scent from the continent, but English cosmetics: in this case, a sample of Dunhill for Men, perhaps already of an older vintage, as I believe this fragrance is no longer in production.

Since I have had Dunhill for Men on my agenda of fragrances to discuss for quite some time, and I have owned and appreciated it for many years, I immediately decided to write a comment on this classic.

Dunhill for Men is, for me, the epitome of a classic men's fragrance (vintage 1934), and it is not particularly English in character (no Blenheim Bouquet, no Wild Fern, no West Indian Limes, no Lavender Water: see the comments on these fragrances), rather soft and warm despite the fresh opening.

This opening is defined by a subtle lavender scent (a must in English compositions for men), citrus notes (here: lemon and petitgrain according to the fragrance pyramid), and herbal components.

Very quickly, floral notes also develop that resonate for a long time and accompany the fragrance into the base note. As little as I like strong rose scents (for women), I very much enjoy a subtle rose scent in men's fragrances (Il Profvmo Touaregh, Caraceni 1913, Paco Rabanne pour Homme: in the latter, it is, by the way, the so-called rosewood that emits a rose-like scent when freshly cut). This subtle, elegantly playful rose scent also resonates in Dunhill for Men, a fragrance that one expects from a British gentleman with such a dignified character, to whom one might not want to attribute such floral-feminine, almost dandy-like tones - and yet the rose scent (as well as other floral notes) fits wonderfully into the overall picture of this soft and elegant men's fragrance.

However, what makes this fragrance particularly interesting is its extraordinary base with a leather note, which may stem from civet or a related animalic accent and is rounded off by cedarwood, a scent I particularly appreciate.

It seems to me that this fragrance was not placed in the bathroom of the English castle by chance. Perhaps the late host, whom one could admire in a picture in the salon, particularly enjoyed this scent? Perhaps it simply fits particularly well with the image of an English lord sitting in a leather armchair in front of his huge fireplace, reading the Times and swearing by the same fragrance for years: Dunhill for Men.

P.S.: The deceased host is not Lord Wisebottom. This is just to avoid misunderstandings.