Bottle Design:
Marc Ange, Illustration: Kristjana S Williams

See Prices

More

We may earn a commission when you buy from links on our site, including the eBay Partner Network and Amazon.

Portraits

Terrible Teddy Penhaligon's 2019

7.5 / 10 270 Ratings

A popular perfume by Penhaligon's for men, released in 2019. The scent is spicy-woody. It is being marketed by Puig.
Pronunciation Compare

More

We may earn a commission when you buy from links on our site, including the eBay Partner Network and Amazon.

Main accords

Spicy

Woody

Smoky

Resinous

Leathery

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Frankincense

Heart Notes

Leather

Base Notes

Ambroxan

Vetiver

Perfumer

Quentin Bisch

Videos

Watch video

Ratings

Scent

7.5270 Ratings

Longevity

7.5217 Ratings

Sillage

7.1217 Ratings

Bottle

8.9230 Ratings

Value for money

6.2149 Ratings

Submitted by Franfan20 · last update on 11/23/2025.

Source-backed & verified

Interesting Facts

The fragrance is part of the Portraits collection.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to

7 Anónimo

Ganymede Eau de Parfum

Feuilles de Tabac

Enchanted Forest

Series 3: Incense - Kyoto

Cape Heartache

Reviews

11 in-depth fragrance descriptions

10/22/2025

8.5Scent 7Longevity 6Sillage

Premium67
70 Reviews

Premium67

Helpful Review 4

One of the best from penhaligons!

Terrible teddy is the only full bottle I have from penhaligons because when I first smelled it I absolutely loved it! Terrible teddy is a spicy, resinous and smoky perfume that many people do find very pleasant. Longevity is around 8-10 hours on my skin and bottle is outstanding with the beautiful cap! Fairly priced scent but not a great choice if your on a budget.

12/16/2024

3Scent 8Longevity 5Sillage

LastWonder
485 Reviews

LastWonder

2

Truly Terrible Teddy

I am surprised at Penhaligons. I find the portraits collection to be a bit boring and have poor performance for such an expensive brand, but I was able to say that each fragrance is well made. Until I came to Terrible Teddy. This is a dry, harsh, spicy and woody fragrance that you would expect from a cheap department store. The generic harsh opening will eventually ease into a generic soap spice and woody fragrance but again, this is a scent I expect from regular ole' men's body wash at the grocery store. Except for the intensity of the harshness, this is mostly a linear and boring fragrance that lacks personality.

This did last on my skin for about 6 hour. It does project in the beginning but that isn't necessarily a good thing in this case. It eventually mellows into close scent bubble. Its $315 for 75ml and its definitely not worth that price. There are smoother and more interesting fragrances that are way more affordable.

10/25/2023

ScentStudio
156 Reviews

ScentStudio

2

Leather suddenly turned woodsy

Notes of leather and incense promise something wonderful, but I am side-eyeing the ambroxan. I have a tendency to become anosmic to it, so I hope this won't be the case.

Definitely leathery - Terrible Teddy is spicy at the opening, but I've just sampled Mr Sam and the two have a completely different note of spicy. Mr Sam is a classic, warm, spicy fragrance of cardamom and cinnamon, wheres as Terrible Teddy is a leather fragrance with the sour and spicy (also almost peppery) note of leather. I am not getting the incense to the degree that I'd like. It only smooths the leather a bit.

Have I made a mistake looking up other reviews? Maybe, because I agree with them that Terrible Teddy suddenly became a woody fir fragrance. I now find it woodsy. I wish it had more charm. It is wonderfully made, but I am not blown away.

08/22/2023

1.5Scent 6Longevity 6Sillage

Shemsmeller
213 Reviews

Shemsmeller

1

Terribly peppery

tested at the Printemps store on Boulevard Haussmann in Paris.

I took advantage of this passage to discover many references of this brand as you can see by going to my profile if you need to get an opinion.

I had a lot of hope of being conquered by the terrible teddy, nevertheless the verdict concerning this perfume was quick. a big disappointment, it just smells of pepper, which is surprising because this ingredient is not present in its notes. at more than 150€ a perfume that smells of pepper is of no interest to me and given my collection.

nevertheless it will suit those who are attracted by this type of scent which gives it an exotic and oriental side as if it reminded the transport of spices with the company of the Indies. it also has a refreshing side, more of a mid-season scent.

Hope this review was helpful to you.

02/03/2021

9Scent 10Longevity 9Sillage

Schellack
3 Reviews

Translated · Show original

Schellack

Top Review 26

Just a small addition

This whimsically and charmingly packaged fragrance from the British manufacturer has already been described in great detail by many here. Several use the expression "sweet fir." Yes, I can agree with that, certainly. But as a resident of the Alpine foothills, I would like to make a clarification: ZIRBE!!! Exactly THIS conifer is what I perceive here. It develops a few minutes after spraying.
The Zirbe enjoys high esteem in folklore - its scent is said to ensure particularly restful sleep, which has led to the existence of everything from Zirbe essential oil for capillary sticks to pillows made of Zirbe wood to entire bedrooms constructed from Zirbe in the Alpine region. There is also a cult liqueur that is made with - not so easy to obtain - still unripe Zirbe cones. It is not only produced industrially but is also the subject of fiercely contested competitions among amateur producers. And who knows, maybe one could score a few extra points in such a review if one puts on the Terrible Teddy beforehand??

More reviews

Statements

80 short views on the fragrance

Lfc1892

4 years ago

5.5Scent 6Longevity 6Sillage

5

Hint of leather dominated by peppery warm wood shavings. Not for me at all.

Ninamariah

1 year ago

6Scent 8Longevity 9Sillage

2

Spicy, woody, Ambroxan heavy. Don't like at all how leather is done. Synthetic feeling and not so well blended. Needed to scrub it off.

Kurai

3 years ago

5Scent 6Longevity 7Sillage

2

A spicy-woody that impersonates a smoky leather. Two-face Teddy

Estbienla

3 years ago

2

Woody and spicy blend of notes of chili and vetiver, on a background of leather, incense and patchouli. Just average for me

AlexD76

1 year ago

8Scent 7Longevity 7Sillage

1

Experience the rugged charm of Terrible Teddy. This masculine scent features a captivating blend of smoky incense, leather and warm woods

bouffant

14 days ago

5.5Scent

A just fine but forgettable woodsy leathery vetiver heavy scent. Idk. It's okay.

azzahrom

2 months ago

4.5Scent

Surprisingly ass given the notes and price point. These notes usually sing on my skin but this just turned weirdly sweet and was gone quick.

Axiomatic

2 years ago

6Scent 7Longevity 6Sillage

41

39

Terribly musty.
Terribly incense-like.
Terribly coriander-like.
Terribly synthetic-leather.
Terribly expensive.
Successfully ironic.*

Translated · Show original

Yatagan

2 years ago

6Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

34

28

More peppery than incense-like, woody (reminds me of dusty particle board), quite synthetic; like a bland TdH without vetiver and grapefruit.

Translated · Show original

Stella73

8 months ago

6Scent 7Longevity 7Sillage

32

30

I remain puzzled
Notes are recognizable
In a diffused watery state
I'm missing fullness and depth
Diluted
Frankincense leather spritzer
With Ambroxan water

Translated · Show original

More statements