As I write this review, the temperature in Seattle is nearing 70 degrees; it hasn’t been so warm here since last October. Fueled by optimism, I’m taking my spring shirts, even short-sleeved shirts, out of storage, and I’m “rousing” my spring and summer perfumes from their winter hibernation closet. (Come March, I need a break from heavy oudh, musk and wood fragrances.)
I’ve also been having a recurring “scent fantasy”: I’m sitting in the middle of a bright citrus grove, and the trees are full of ripe lemons, oranges and limes (and since it’s a fantasy, some orange trees are in full bloom as well). One citrus cologne that helps me conjure this scene is the recently reissued Penhaligon’s Extract of Limes — an old favorite of mine.
Extract of Limes was created in 1963 and disappeared sometime in the Nineties; it’s now part of Penhaligon’s 2009 Anthology Collection. Extract of Limes includes notes of lime oil, lemon oil, petitgrain oil and neroli — about as simple as it gets; no base notes need apply.
Extract of Limes begins with the scent of spicy-milky lime peel and juice, quickly followed by fresh lemon and petitgrain aromas. As the citrus oils and petitgrain calm, neroli appears and remains for the duration, providing a refreshing and calm finale (neither too soft nor too powdery). Extract of Limes reminds me of the Floris Limes fragrance (once available in a sensational talcum powder formulation that improved my mood the moment I sniffed it).
Extract of Limes will not make you exclaim: “Strange! Original!” It’s a classic citrus cologne, made with high-quality ingredients (the citrus smells real), and it has better-than-expected lasting power.
Penhaligon's Extract of Limes is available in 100 ml Eau de Toilette for $130; for buying information see Penhaligon’s under Perfume Houses.
Note: top image is Lime Drops [altered] by geishaboy500 at flickr; some rights reserved.
Wow Kevin, I impulse ordered this last night, and was having morning after jitters, thanks for calming me!
Ordered a sample? Or a BOTTLE?! ACK!
Joe: no one has jitters over a sample!
Datura: I don’t think there’s any way to dislike this one…calm yourself! HA!
Sounds so refreshing. Can’t wait to start wearing citrus and tea scents again. Actually, I’ve started with the citrus already in a way. I’ve worn JM Orange Blossom a few times in the past couple of weeks, which has more of the blossom than the orange, IMO, but citrus is definitely present in a supporting role. It’s one of the JM’s that I like quite a bit.
RD: the JM is too “soft” for me; I like to be slapped, not cuddled by my orange blossoms.
haha Yes, I’ve heard that about you Kevin.
This sounds wonderful, unfortunately it’s out of my price range right now.
That’s what splits are for…..
Did someone say “split?” (Pops head up like a prairie dog…eyes darting about…)
Lucy: this one does require lavish application….
I was just thinking about how I really wanted a true citrus fragrance, and then you added in the “high-quality ingredients” and “better-than-expected lasting power”…will certainly be looking to acquire some of this!
Chasa: this one smells very REAL to me…grab a sample before you buy though!
This sounds so basic and simple … no fossilized excrement of a small animal, or Herkimer diamonds marinating in distilled water … and limes! Perfect for those first days of spring. Kevin, do you think this would hold up in hot and humid weather?
Dzingnut: on the days i tested it, it “blossomed” as I exercised…as long as you realize you’ll have to reapply once during the day.
I smelt this at the Penhaligon’s Covent Garden store a couple of weeks ago, and it’s glorious. Sadly citrus scents just disappear on my skin *sob*
Year of Perfume: this one lasts way longer than my other favorite, Guerlain Eau de Cologne Imperiale
Hi Kevin! I need to find my sample, but I remember liking this one a lot and it would be perfect for warm weather. An old fave of mine was a previous iteration of Crabtree & Evelyn’s lime scent (Sicilian & West Indian Lime). However, not as much luck with Smell Bent’s Blimey Limey, which was STRONG and evoked super-sugary artificial lime lollipop flavor (for those who like that kind of thing).
So true about citrus in warm weather. It’s warming up here too. It’s sad, because I LOVE cold weather scents, but it seems I only get to wear them for maybe 4-5 months of the year max. Once it warms up, I’m sad to put the amber, patchouli, and sweet wood away.
One final note: I dug out my sample of HdP 1740 on the weekend and I LOVED it… then just by coincidence, a swapper sent me a decant the other day!
Greener grass… cold weather here lasts easily 7 months, and good bits on either side of that. So of course, most of MY faves are warm weather scents.
And it’s probably bc I associate them with the rare warm weather.
Boojum: sending my condolences!
Sugary sweet artificial lime lollipop is exactly what *this* one did on me, sadly. I had such high hopes for it, too – but it smelled like Windex and Jolly Ranchers on me.
Windex and Jolly Ranchers… whew.
Cynthia W: too bad!
Joe: that was good luck! Ah…I remember the C&E lime scent and the SENSATIONAL Persian Lilac scent too. C&E got rid of all the good stuff over the years.
My husband wore that C&E Sicilian & Persian lime. Very nice! He also enjoys the Truefitt & Hill and the St. John’s Bay lime fragrances. I should get a sample of the Penhaligon’s for the two of us to try. Thanks for the review!
Haunani: you’re welcome. ( I need to revisit the Floris Limes too…the EdT)
Speaking of hdp… I got your package today Joe! You don’t know how much I needed a pick me up like that today. It was one of those days where I needed a little love, and you really came through (the mailbox, that is lol). Now I have ‘fumes all over my arms and I’m in relaxed heaven…. Sigh. You’re my hero. Great timing.
Oh, I’m glad! Enjoy! Coincidentally, I also got a sample of 1969 (which I hadn’t tried before) with the decant of 1740. I also realized when testing before I sent to you that the George Sand is really pretty nice.
I’m not a huge citrus fan, and still don’t know why. I don’t dislike it, it just doesn’t – I don’t know – feel like “me.” I like citrus IN things, just not if it’s the focus. Feel free to call me a frea – um, *eccentric.*
My grandfather wore Royall Lyme. Wonder if that’s affected my preferences? (Probably not. My dad wore Old Spice and my mom No. 5, and I seem to have survived THAT.)
Wow that sounds good. And expensive.
Mike: maybe you can re-use the ribbon? HA!
yes, yes…the ribbon makes it all worth it!
More than anything I think it’s making me thirsty! I love citrusy scents and naturally I’d love to try it…..but I can’t see purchasing it as I have several really lovely things in that catagory already: PdN Cedrat Intense, Cristalle Eau Verte, Philtre d’Amour, Escale a Portofino, Un Zeste de Rose…..and so on….but limes, yum…..oh, thirsty again!
Daisy: agree…I’m yearing for some limeade!
no kidding! my tongue is practically hanging out thinking about limeade now!
Oooh… I might have to swing by Sonic tomorrow and pick up a Route 44 Diet Cherry Lime-aid – it’s my official drink of summer.
Daisy: Plus, you still have that Kaffir Lime. Muwahahahahaa. >:)
ACK!!! careful what you say or one day you’ll open your mailbox and there it’ll be!!!! Landshark!
Daisy: Kaffir Lime is fabulosa!!!!!!!
Kevin: au contraire, Kaffir Lime is scrubulosa! maybe when I’m done threatening Joe with it—I should send it to YOU! Ha!
K: Daisy and I can both MORE than supply you with Kaffir Lime, I’m afraid. I so wanted to love it, but alas, it did not work.
Kevin, do you want my little bottle of the Kaffir?
I nominate that fragrance for the position of Official NST White Elephant. So many of us got excited about it – it sounded SO good! – only to be disappointed.
Hmmmm… that does sound interesting. Fortunately for my wallet there’s no Penhaligon’s in Montreal
ahhh, but there is Penhaligon’s in Vancouver….and the postal carriers know the way…..
Closer yet, you can get it just down the road (ish) in Toronto at Noor Boutique in Yorkville.
Just sayin’…
p.s. Hey Daisy, how am I doing as an enabler-in training?
Can’t wait to smell this one… But first Penhaligon’s summer priority is FB of Amaranthine. I want to wear the knickers off of that one! Its so sexy, great for humid, sticky Florida summer nights
Anyone tried Lime Lift from Kingsbury Fragrance? I got this bottle 2 years ago after reading an intro by sniffapaloozamagazine.. To me this is lime, rind and juice with a kick! Wish someone could compare the 2…
How wonderful to see we are getting our spring perfumes out of the closet! I too keep my pefume fashion wardrobe separated into 4 separate boxes. I have brought out my spring ones even though in Brussels, Belgium we have only just started having a spring after heavy winter! My new discovery for spring is Van Cleef first Love and Van Cleef Oriens which appeal to my early spring sense of light sugary sligtly oriental in order to ease me out of the winter musk, vanilla, amber enveloping fumes!
Yum. I’ll take mine ice cold with a splash of gin, please.
This sounds great for my best friend. She just loves citrus perfumes.