Smell is a funny thing. For some it's barely noticed and for others it can be the primary source of a memory or emotion brought back full force as if one was reliving a period in their past. For others it's completely ignored. For instance the coworker who either has poor hygiene, or has bought into the latest name brand that smells like cat litter or car air freshener, and is often used chokingly incorrectly. But often we subconsciously pick up on smells, and they impact how we perceive the person we are conversing or sharing space with.
Finding a good fragrance can be massively challenging. Most can become head ache inducing, and akin to car air freshener throughout the day and the value they were supposed to have is lost. In London down Jermyn Street however there is a shop that specialises in a unique line of fragrance that can compete with any of the beautifully made fragrances one would find at Santa Maria Novella in Florence. The company is called Czech & Speake, and they inhabit a unique space in London's artisanal, and sartorial landscape.
For me as a Londoner Jermyn Street holds a sort of special place in my heart. When I was a kid before Christmas I would be dragged down to town from Blackheath by my god father and would have a hair cut at the barbers, then off to Jermyn Street to pick out a shirt to wear for Christmas Eve mass, and to take my pocket money to either Czech & Speake, Floris, or Penhaligons to buy a gift for my mother. I didn't know as a child that this was an informal sort of tradition on my Moms side of the family, and when we moved to the states to live with my dads side it was a tradition I actually missed. There just wasn't that sort of thing in the deep south.
The little one way road down the side of Fortnum's has had a tradition for well over a century of tailors, barbers, textile merchants, Lords, Rothschild bankers, even Issac Newton lived on Jermyn St for a time. It's got deep historical veins as so many little quiet roads do in London. Czech & Speake are a company that have definitely earned their place there.
For over forty years they have been producing luxury bathing products that are truly unique. Above all their fragrance line is probably one of the most well thought out, and well constructed we have on this island. Unlike the mass produced Jo Malone (Yves St Laurent ruined her products. Used to be good. Mass production for American consumers does that) each bottle that lines Czech & Speakes shelves are byproducts of soulful work that each took years to construct. I've travelled to perfumeries, farmacias, and monasteries that have centuries old traditions of fragrance production all over Europe, and Czech & Speake definitely could hold a place with them.
So recently they released a new fragrance that instantaneously caught my attention. Frank Sawkins who is the founder of the company doesn't do anything half ass, and Perfecto Fino was the end result of four years of his work. They don't have a wide range for a reason. Soul is in the construction of every product. I couldn't travel up to London to visit the store due to covid, and I ended up doing what I normally wouldn't... I ordered without sampling. Insofar I haven't read an inaccurate description of a fragrance profile by Sawkins, so I took the company at it's word. My last fragrance simply called "Cedar" by them (picture above) matched the description perfectly so I took the gamble.
I wasn't disappointed. I've worn all their fragrances since my adolescence into adulthood ranging from Cuba, Paradisi, 88, Vetiver Vert, and this one so far has proven to be their best work. Immediately the expressions of patchouli and citrus become apparent before it settles down into a deep leather topped with tobacco. Oddly at the end the hint of lime returns towards the third note to mingle with the tobacco and leather. Throughout the day it constantly surprises you. So far I've had the bottle for two months and it's become a staple.
There are certain companies out there that have mass produced fragrances and for some reason they just lack soul or depth. Jo Malone used to be an amazing company and part of what brought the value was the way she started her company from humble beginnings. But it started to become mass produced and they did away with their beginning lines.For instance it's a challenge to find their nutmeg and ginger now. Penhaligons is still a remarkable company as is Floris, and they both walk the line of being big, but still producing good products. It is an issue of taste though, some would like what others don't.
Right guys, if you've made it this far then thanks for reading. Was more or less a product review/rambling post. Fun to put together though. If the product interests you you can sign up to the companies mailing list as they often send free samples for individuals who are curious about their products. In the meantime looking forward to all your amazing posts and projects.
Image credits:
Cosmeticdesigns.com
Hawes & Curtis
Czech & Speake
My Ipad