The Omniscient Mister Thompson Penhaligon's 2023

I don’t know what took me so long to discover this, but I cannot contain my excitement for this absolute sleeping beauty. Everything about this perfume is so well-thought out: the bottle design, the name, and the scent concept.

Iris is a note that only recently can I admit to loving, and mainly because I’m not a powdery girl. But if it’s one thing I’ve learned about myself, is that I love a *sweet*, gourmand leaning iris. Mister Thompson showcases a traditional purple iris, in all its powdery/floral/earthy glory, paired with a savory sesame and some sweet vanilla joy. There is a bite of spice, but it’s only really noticeable in the opening. The scent feels cozy and friendly, but it holds power, intellect, and makes you feel grounded. The same way elephants move about in this world. Omniscient, emotionally intelligent, gentle giants that are not to be messed with.

Interesting enough, elephant herds are typically lead by a matriarch, so this scent being marketed / named for men while smelling totally unisex is kinda funny. It’s a beautiful and complex scent of many trades, and I feel graceful, brilliant, and reassured when I wear this. Soft enough to wear year round (maybe not in hot hot summer), and kind enough to wear on many occasions. Definitely an underdog from the portraits line from Penhaligon’s and one that deserves way more love.

This is incredible! It reminds me of a freshly baked baguette, with its cracked, bready, warmth. The sesame adds this lovely sweet, toasty quality, as does the vanilla, and the Iris perfect balances this, creating this gorgeous, buttery, vaguely leathery, sweet but not at all cloying, concoction. It’s savoury, yeasty, edible

I am not sure I want to spend over $200 on a perfume that smells like spiced sesame milk with goji berries that I would drink for its nutritional benefits. The scent is very thick with pink pepper layered over sesame milk and some powdery iris with oakwood. But overall the scent is a bit bland, some people have described it as a vanilla-forward version of Dior Homme Intense. Like many Penhaligon's perfumes, though, I think this is quite unisex. But still too foody to add to my collection.

The opening caught me off guard. I was expecting sesame oil but this is more like putting your nose in a handful of sesame seeds: slightly powdery and vaguely reminiscent of yeast.

I can’t tell if I enjoy it for the first hour or two. It isn’t unpleasant, but it’s so unusual that I’m caught off guard and unsure if I want to smell like this.

Eventually the orris and vanilla kick in, adding depth and warmth to the yeasty top notes, and suddenly it all clicks into place for me. It’s warm and cozy and comfortable, and I can’t stop pressing my nose to my wrists. It’s unusual without being alienating, interesting but extremely wearable, arguably gourmand (my least favorite fragrance type) but not at all cloying.

It doesn’t project strongly but longevity is solid: 9 hours later and I still get whiffs of warm, creamy vanilla sesame bread every time I move my arms.

The marketing blurb claims this has “smoky, rum-like and leather hints” but I don’t pick up any of that. The reviewer who compared this to a sesame baguette is right on the money: it’s a sesame baguette dipped in vanilla and oh so tasty.

Creamy Iris. I don't get a super noticeable vanilla note, but more of a caramelised one. It develops from this to a more spiced mode (Cardamom).

Makes me feel it's made for formal situations. Something nobility would wear in the past days.

Sadly longevity is not that good on skin for me. Used for a couple of days in the cold and maybe reached the 5-6 hours. Stays on clothes longer though.

Is it similar to DH Parfum? From someone who has it as a signature for formal occasions, Hell no.