Penhaligon’s fragrances have always been characterful, telling stories steeped in British tradition and quirky humour, seasoned with a healthy dose of eccentricity. With The Cut, its latest eau de parfum, the historic London house expands the British Tales Collection with a fougère as precise and elegant as a bespoke suit. Stylish, refined and touched with a playful wink, The Cut embodies the spirit of a brand that knows better than any other how to unite the classic with the contemporary. In this The Cut Penhaligon’s Review, we explore what makes this fragrance such a distinctive addition to the collection.
A look at Savile Row – British tailoring as inspiration
Few places are as synonymous with classic menswear as Savile Row in London. Strolling down the narrow street in the heart of Mayfair, one immediately senses an atmosphere of craftsmanship, precision and quintessential British understatement. Since the early 19th century, Savile Row has been regarded as the home of bespoke tailoring – the very place where the tradition of creating suits entirely made to measure first took root.
The tailors of Savile Row have dressed generations of kings, statesmen and artists. Henry Poole & Co. is credited with inventing the dinner jacket, while Gieves & Hawkes has served as a royal court tailor for centuries, closely tied to the British royal family. Houses such as Huntsman – made famous by the film Kingsman – or Anderson & Sheppard, whose clientele included Prince Charles and Cary Grant, embody a timeless elegance that never feels dated.
It must be said: a Savile Row suit is far more than just clothing. It represents class, confidence and that famous British flair for eccentricity. This very spirit is what Penhaligon’s channels in the British Tales Collection. With The Cut, the house translates the precision of Savile Row tailoring into fragrance, weaving together basil, mint, lavender, clary sage, fir balsam, vetiver, cypress and cedarwood. The result is precise, stylish and elegant, with a modern twist – like a bespoke suit whose timeless appeal is hard to surpass.
Fougère Recut: The Cut Reviewed
The cool herbaceous quality of lavender meets freshly cut basil and refreshing green mint in the opening of The Cut. Silvery, vibrant and bright, the lavender is both calming and invigorating, revealing sparkling, clear freshness from the very first spray. The composition moves forward with confidence, striking a stylish and assured tone.
Green, spicy facets of clary sage merge with the coniferous depth of fir balsam and the soft, earthy creaminess of vetiver, echoing the coolness of the opening. Do I see myself strolling down London’s Savile Row at this very moment? Absolutely. Rounded out by the citrusy brightness of cypress and the sweet, polished warmth of cedarwood, The Cut by Penhaligon’s closes with poise and elegance.
My Thoughts on The Cut by Penhaligon’s
With The Cut, Penhaligon’s has created a fragrance that embraces the fougère tradition while reinterpreting it for today, blending classic lavender and herbal notes with modern freshness and deep woody nuances. The result is as elegant and precisely crafted as a bespoke suit. Perfect for the business day, yet relaxed enough for a gin and tonic after hours, The Cut is a men’s fragrance of great versatility – always radiating the charm and refined bearing of a true British gentleman. For those who enjoy woody-fresh fougères that marry tradition with modernity and evoke the spirit of Savile Row, this is a chapter of the British Tales Collection not to be missed. Another Penhaligon’s that has won me over completely.
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