Niche line BeauFort London has launched Rake & Ruin, the second fragrance in the Revenants series (see Iron Duke).
In 1751 the novelist Henry Fielding proclaimed that ‘Gin-shops are undoubtedly the Nurseries of all manner of Vice and Wickedness.’
Seeking to illustrate this downfall of public virtue, between 1732-34 the English artist William Hogarth published eight canvases depicting A Rake’s Progress. One of Hogarth’s most infamous works, the protagonist Tom Rakewell’s ruin is depicted by his exposure to high living, prostitutes and gambling.
Inspired by these Hogarth’s scenes of degeneracy within the Georgian metropolis we revive their spirit in Rake & Ruin – a fragrance capturing an evening in a tavern, where gin flows, good times are had, and the slide begins…
This powerful Eau De Parfum (30% concentration) features the botanical ingredients of the drinks that filled the glasses, the dark woods of the floors on which they were spilt and animalic allusions to the debauched deeds that took place between them.
BeauFort London Rake & Ruin is available in 50 ml Eau de Parfum, £115.
(via beaufortlondon)
Oh dear. Hogarth at least would find the mirth in a luxurious perfume being based on his Rake’s Progress. What next? Hackabout edp, which will capture the dewy skin and syphilis of A Harlot’s Progress?
Needless to say, the Hogarth paintings are fantastic–but not to my mind in any way connected to something I’d like to smell on myself or anyone else.
What do you suppose the “X” is on the bottle? Reminds me of the Xs that would be chalked on doors of the families with the plague.
If you go to the BL website, at the moment on the page for the scent they show a black & white print of the tavern scene…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Rake%27s_Progress#/media/File:William_Hogarth_-_A_Rake%27s_Progress_-_Plate_3_-_The_Tavern_Scene.jpg
…which as they say above, inspired the scent, and they’ve put an X through Tom himself.
But I could not tell you why!