The Favourite

The Favourite was released in 2020, the year of the 150th anniversary of Penhaligon’s, a house founded in London in 1870. Aliénor Massenet composed it for the British Tales collection, as a 100 ml eau de parfum, and Penhaligon’s announced it in March 2020 as a musky floral for women.

A duchess at court

The fragrance draws on Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, brought to the screen by the film The Favourite. Penhaligon’s sets its story at Blenheim and says it seeks to capture the whimsical sophistication of a duchess, the Mistress of the Robes.

In the house’s story, this lady knows everything that goes on behind the palace doors. Her golden mimosa shapes society’s opinion, and her scent of iris and musk steps forward, with a charming smile, onto a sandalwood stage.

The house describes a sweet, sensual fragrance of great delicacy, which it sums up as a powdery, majestic blend of iris, musk and sandalwood. It offers it in 100 ml and 30 ml sizes.