Empressa is a nod to Penhaligon’s extensive history (the perfumery started out as a Victorian barbershop) inspired by the rich materials brought back from the Far East that were traded at London’s docks at the turn of the 19th Century. A gorgeous fruity-floral, its ingredients reflect the exquisite goods from distant lands that Victorian society were so entranced by. It opens with striking top notes of blood orange, bergamot and mandarin, while the jewel-in-the-crown is the Damascan rose which makes up the heart of this fragrance, given added depth with patchouli, frankincense and sandalwood. The soft, enveloping bouquet mimics a luxurious fabric you just want to bundle yourself up in.

Mist a cloud of scent in front of you and twirl through it

As the name would suggest, this is a fragrance modelled on an elegant lady of sartorial refinement – the type who never leaves the house without being draped in the finest silks and pearls. With a piquant bouquet of Damascan rose, blood orange, geranium and pepper, this is a seriously addictive scent – the perfect finishing touch to an immaculate suit or show-stopping frock. A sharp fruity-floral this may be, but it’s far from cloying. Instead it manages to walk that fine line between being adequately dazzling to wear in the evening, yet delicate enough to wear during the day. If you adore beautiful clothes and wrapping yourself up in exquisite fabrics, this is pretty much the perfume equivalent of slipping into a silk gown.

Alcohol Denat. Parfum (Fragrance), Aqua (Water), Linalool, Limonene, Benzyl Salicylate, Coumarin, Butylphenyl Methylpropional Citronellol, Geraniol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane Hexyl Cinnamal, Citral, Amyl Cinnamal, Eugenol, Benzyl Alcohol

For the latest information, it is recommended to review the ingredient list printed on the packaging of the product prior to usage or consumption.