What do Margaret Thatcher, Princess Diana and Kate Moss have in common? Well, according to my viewers, they all wore Penhaligon’s Bluebell. That’s just one of the fascinating little insights I received from the live audience the other day when I reviewed this 1970s classic over on YouTube. Here’s a link to the video: Penhaligon’s Bluebell review.
I’ve gone on the record more than once as saying that I think the current brand ethos of Penhaligon’s reflects something of an identity crisis. However, I’m pleased that they’re still devoting some effort to maintaining the older entries in their catalogue: it would be such a shame if they ever decided to turn their back on the magical forest floor evoked by Bluebell. Not unlike some of the most acclaimed scents from the 70s (think: No. 19, Cristalle, Aliage, Private Collection, Silences), it plays on the ability of green notes to conjure both a sense of fairy-tale nostalgia (pixies frolicking through blades of grass) as well as high-angled, Gothic melodrama (the wicked queen picking off the pixies with her scalpel fingernails). The contrast between the two is what makes these compositions so compelling. And Bluebell holds its own with the best of them.
Persolaise
[Penhaligon’s Bluebell review based on a sample provided by the brand in 2022.]
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Completely agree with you regarding Penhaligon’s current state of affairs. I have worn Bluebell on & off for many years & absolutely adore it. My best friend since we were teenagers revealed relatively recently that she had always loathed it, & used the word ‘minging’ (a north east of Scotland word, I believe, which pretty much means ‘disgusting’) to stress just how much she disliked it! I remember when it was revealed that the three ladies you mention all wore it – difficult to think of three more different characters who had this in common.
Ha! As it happens, we’re familiar with ‘minging’ down south as well.
Thanks for writing, Carolyn.
Your familiarity with the word just made my husband laugh out loud! He is a born & bred Aberdonian, & although I have lived in Aberdeen for many years & indeed was born here, I spent my childhood & teenage years in Ireland & Surrey so did not know the word at all.
Ha! Down here, I’m afraid the ‘ming’ is sometimes followed by ‘er’ to form a rather… umm… uncomplimentary label for someone of the female persuasion!
I ordered a bottle, based on this review. It’s been in the back of my mind for ages. I love the smell of hyacinth.
I hope I like it. If not, $90 USD is not a crushing loss.
Thanks for writing, Richard. Do let me know what you make of it.
I love hyacinth and lily of the valley, ordered a sample. Loved it! I’m wearing this perfume right now. It’s so powerful, like I’m pulling a bouquet behind me while I’m walking. I just ordered a 100ml bottle today. It’s a shame that Penhaligon’s discontinued it.
Just looked at the website, Christabell, & although a few of the more traditional fragrances are marked ‘out of stock’ there is an option to be notified when they become available. No mention at all of any being discontinued as far as I can see. My favourites were always their Lily of the Valley & Bluebell, so glad you’re happy with what you sourced. I’m sorry they seem not to be doing their silver Christmas ornaments any more – I have a friend in Texas I have given all the assorted designs to over the years & she just adores them – she’s mad for anything Christmas related!
Thanks for taking the time to reply, Carolyn. Yes, I agree — I don’t think it’s discontinued either.
You’re very welcome, Persolaise – couldn’t not be helpful when the topic was one of my all time favourite fragrances!
🙂
Thanks for this, Christabell.
As Carolyn says, I don’t think Bluebell has been discontinued. I think it’s just a case of stock issues.