Eau So British -

Penhaligon’s Opens Its Archive Up To London

As Penhaligon's marks its 155th anniversary, the heritage fragrance house finds itself more relevant than ever. Founded in 1870, its origins trace back to a London barber who began blending scents inspired by Turkish baths - a detail that speaks to the brand’s long love story with the unexpected. Over decades, Penhaligon’s has built a reputation not just for its smells, but for its character: bold, eccentric, and unmistakably British. In today’s era of minimalist launches and algorithm-led storytelling, it’s that sense of identity that’s rich and layered, that feels not only refreshing, but necessary.

The same spirit runs through Eau So British, the brand’s first-ever archive exhibition, opens at  3 Hanover Square on the 17th May for a weekend of public attendance. It’s part scent museum, part moodboard, with early sketches, oddities, and forgotten bottles from the brand’s archive, recontextualised with a wink. There’s even a limited edition boutique gift shop, selling different pieces inspired by what the brand has unearthed; because a scent story is best when it can follow you home. 

Penhaligon’s is digging into what made it distinctive in the first place: scent as character, not just chemistry. With their evolution from Victorian essential oil pioneer to cult British institution, it almost feels like a memory box that takes you through Penhaligon’s journey from Turkish bath-inspired colognes, to royal-warranted staples. ‘A celebration of everything we’ve built, and a bold step forward,’ as General Manager Julia Koeppen puts it. 

Eau So British isn’t a retrospective. It’s a quiet manifesto that the future of fragrance might be written in the margins of its past. Because some bottles are worth opening again.

Open to the public May 17 and 18th, booking is preferable but they are accepting walk-ins. More HERE