FRAGRANCE | Londinium by Molton Brown: A gentleman's fragrance

My introduction to British house Molton Brown came via a blind buy with Londinium, which was part of a now-discontinued (or was it limited edition?) collection called Navigations through Scent. The presentation made a good first impression with me. The black and yellow sliding hard box is fairly nice but it's the bottle that really got me. It struck me with its sheer elegance. The gorgeous combination of textured glass and metal, the tasteful use of gold—everything just speaks of class. The sprayer also has a simple but clever mechanism by way of twisting it to unlock. The downside is that it produces more of a squirt than a proper mist.

The scent, on the other hand, has a nice booziness coursing through its veins. It's not thick and heavy like Bentley for Men Intense or Margiela's Replica Jazz Club but more along the lines of Penhaligon's The Tragedy of Lord George. Londinium is luminous with its malt whiskey accord, given just an ample amount of sweetness to balance the scent. To me it carries a distinctly masculine identity reminiscent of some classic men's fragrance. Although by no means similar in scent, it has a vibe akin to Dior Fahrenheit.

A bitter citrus and a slightly sour fruity note lead the charge in the opening, with the booze already bubbling under, waiting for its cue. It's bright and zesty, fresh but of a different kind. The whiskey later steps forward, with the citrus and fruit enhancing its flavor. Apart from the mild, resinous sweetness, there are probably a few more notes at play here but they're too nuanced for me to pick apart. It's a good blend that gives the wearer an air of distinction but never boastful.

This may be a disappointment to some but the fragrance doesn't hold much power. However, it's noticeable up close, and maybe it's meant to be that way. Nonetheless, you'll catch whiffs of it for a good few hours. Respraying is likely necessary to get you through your day, though. Longevity issue aside, Molton Brown Londinium is a gentleman's fragrance. It's for someone who doesn't need it to draw attention to himself and is confident just the way he is. I think it's wearable all year round and almost guaranteed to never be out of place in any setting. Too bad the brand no longer carries it because it sure deserves a try.