The Revenge of Lady Blanche Penhaligon's 2016

tested in May 2023 at the Printemps store on Boulevard Haussmann in Paris.

it is an ideal feminine fragrance for spring because it is floral. However, after testing several women's perfumes from this brand, this one stood out.

it differs from the majority of floral perfumes which are too common and similar to each other. this perfume smells of the refinement and elegance of British royalty in women, a great discovery and an experience that I encourage you to do if you have to choose a penhaligon perfume.

a perfume that will suit these young ladies as well as the most mature ladies. it will most certainly be part of my lady's collection for next spring.

a safe bet Hope this review was helpful to you

This is a very green floral with a sort of metallic musk to it. This is dry, powdery, and vintage with a soft woody touch. There’s a bit of an underlying alluring smokiness here too that’s hard to pinpoint. It has that locked away in an attic and forgotten about hazy nostalgic charm to it, it’s almost witchy, old ladyish but in a good way. I don’t think I love the scent but it’s a weird one I found myself going back to smell over and over again.

Lady Blanche is Like walking at dawn and breathing in the smell of dew on the flowers. Typical British landscape.
humid, sometimes earthy, green and clean. A realistic orris, not at all dusty.

Imagine Mr Darcy walk around Derbyshire.

A typical balance of English perfumery: do not overload the fragrance.

It’s not my favorite of Portraits but the effect is not old style but bright and sophisticated.

I’ve a decant and sometimes I love go the bed with her!

Opens with the fresh floral and green spiciness of spring flowers; fresh cut daffodils in a vase and a distant aroma of a hyacinth breezing in as its warms in the spring sun on a kitchen windowsill somewhere, the daffodil sap still sticky on your fingers.

The sandalwood in the base and green, earthy, herbaceous Angelica pull the subtle flowers together into a beautiful, calming, aromatic, slightly spicy effervescent floral accord. This continues on into the dry down with a little bit of creamy orris butter, some sweet violet, powdery iris, green damp angelica.. it’s refreshing, cool and clean yet gentle and very much at one with nature, like I’ve just sprayed a pure botanical on my skin, with crushed petals distilling in the bottle.

This is an understated, elegant and unique shear perfume of fresh, green, cool, dewy muted powdery florals. I actually think it’s quite unisex and yet I feel confidently feminine wearing it.

I can imagine Lady Blanche sitting on a blanket at the side of a large pond on her estate, a white lace parasol blocks the sun from her face as she gazes onto to a beautiful scene, reminiscent of Monet’s The Waterlily Pond. She is poised in ladylike elegance yet a little curl on the corner of her smile indicates that she just might be full of mischief. Whilst the other ladies walked, she rode, defiantly astride her horse definitely not sidesaddle, on her way here.

I found this perfume a beautiful and divine skin scent. I could have happily breathed it in all day long. Alas, unlike a Monet painting, its long lasting oil medium that has lived on for over a century later for all to enjoy, this beautiful yet light fragrance disappears all too quickly. Frustratingly so. Lady Blanche has got her revenge, she’s rode off to frolic with the stable hand and left me olfactorily bereft!

"Lady Blanche" embodies a woman who, while outwardly presenting herself as a beautiful, intelligent, and devoted wife, possesses a strong spirit, unafraid to commit crimes to achieve her goals.

Its fragrance exudes delicate elegance and an alluring, captivating presence. At its heart lies a powdery green floral that evokes a dignified femininity. However, this green is not gentle or comforting; rather, it is powerful, robust, and possesses a cold, sharp edge.

This unique greenness, emanating from narcissus and hyacinth, vividly evokes both her elegance and the "dangerous woman" lurking beneath. The powdery texture maintains its grace while conveying the underlying strength of will—the willingness to commit crimes. It's a fragrance that exudes a noble presence, with a sharp edge hidden beneath a dignified beauty.