Night Scented Stock Penhaligon's 2009

Night Scented Stock clearly has an old-fashioned aura that is quite pleasing. The fragrance comes across as very powerful and unusual; whether it feels "modern" is definitely irrelevant as long as it is enjoyable. I like it!

Now to the scent: it is not a delicate floral fragrance, but rather a spicy punch that hits you immediately. The clove is clearly more dominant than the listed cinnamon. But then it continues. The transition to a powdery scent orgy is fluid, with lush, not sweet floral notes and very powerful, spicy powderiness, rich and flattering. It is not a shy scent that wants to go unnoticed at all. But as is fitting for a British traditional company, one stands out here in a stylish way, not too loud or shrill.

For me, N.S.S. embodies quite well the evidently newly cultivated image of balancing tradition with being present in the here and now. The own stores also reflect this image: old-fashioned British and yet contemporary has rarely been executed so skillfully, a pleasure.

Now, one more point that must be mentioned: the visually very appealing namesake stock (especially the filled garden varieties) has been authentically captured in its scent, even though it does not appear in the fragrance pyramid. The other listed flowers fade into the background for me; I am most reminded of garden carnations. As a main note in a perfume, the stock is a rather unusual choice, as it will likely only be known to garden and flower lovers. Many will probably not know either the scent or the corresponding plant. But this return to old varieties is somehow also quite contemporary.

A very beautiful and unusual fragrance that is now perfect for autumn.