FRAGRANCE | Cornubia EDT by Penhaligon's is old-fashioned elegance all bottled up

halfwhiteboy - Cornubia EDT by Penhaligon's 01

Penhaligon's Cornubia is such a beauty. It's almost criminal how it's not often talked about, how it's seemingly lost so easily in today's never-ending wave of new releases. Cornubia first came out more than a hundred years ago in 1910, so it predictably has an old-fashioned flair to it. On the flip side, however, it also carries a youthful exuberance, albeit prim and proper, as opposed to wild and carefree.

An intoxicating mix of sweet florals fill the opening, supported by a mild citrus that unfortunately leaves too soon. Before long, a velvety vanilla coats every petal with its warm and cozy sweetness. I expected the vanilla to weigh the scent down yet surprisingly, the general vibe remains fairly light. It's not as light and fresh as Tom Ford's Fleur de Portofino but it is airy.

halfwhiteboy - Cornubia EDT by Penhaligon's 02

Further buoying the vanilla and the scent as a whole is a soft and elegant, powdery accord. It's not baby powder kind of powdery but it isn't very mature either. There's also an almond-like note at the center. It's not milky but more like the almond in Van Cleef & Arpels's discontinued Midnight in Paris, especially with that powdery overtone wafting around. Later in the game, a soft musk emerges but mostly stays low, allowing the powdery, vanilla-laced florals to do their thing. It adds a sensual allure to the scent and helps keep the composition balanced.

This mesmerizing elixir has pretty good staying power, radiating with moderate strength for its first couple of hours before gradually settling close to the skin. Projecting an air of sophistication and class, it's perfect for formal and evening affairs. At the same time, its overall airiness also makes it work well in warm weather. Penhaligon's Cornubia understandably has a feminine bias but mind you, the right guy can pull this off with aplomb. It may be old-fashioned but it definitely doesn't feel dated. Don't sleep on this, people.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

FRAGRANCE | Green Cedar EDT by Bench: An environmentally-conscious offering from the Philippines' premier retail brand

Image
A few weeks ago, I found myself wandering inside Bench Powerplant Mall. And what else would catch my eye but two fragrances by their lonesome twosome, positioned far away from the rest of the brand's scent offerings. They're Basil & Neroli and Green Cedar , both EDTs and part of the  Bench Better Made line . The frags are purported to be vegan and cruelty-free. They come in 125ml dark brown glass bottles and brown paper cylindrical boxes. Nice packaging there except for the cheap, plastic cap. No big deal, though, since they're just Php 428 apiece. 
Read more

LOOKBOOK | Barong Tagalog and sneakers for 'Buwan ng Wika'

Image
Looking oh, so dignified here. Although the celebrations are normally concentrated in elementary schools, August is Buwan ng Wika (Language Month) in the Philippines. Along with dressing up in various traditional Filipino costumes, schools usually hold programs and contests showcasing the national language and traditional Filipino songs and dances. Our department decided to join in the fun by designating a special day yesterday where everyone was required to wear a traditional Filipino costume reinterpreted for modern times. Two years ago when we first held this event, I found myself wearing an ethnic-designed shirt with a malong . This year I decided on a Barong Tagalog , considered our national formal wear for men. But no one wants to go all formal on a Friday, so I wore my Barong Tagalog with sneakers . I thought, if a full-on suit works just fine with sneakers, a barong would be just as perfect with this type of footwear.
Read more

FRAGRANCE | Rajo Uno EDT by Bench: An inexpensive local gem

Image
Philippine retail giant Bench has been many a high schooler's go-to shop for cheap colognes, myself included. And even during my college years, Bench has remained a staple. I remember  Bench Ei8ht was very popular with many people back then although my favorites were their body sprays Cielo and L'Amoureux . Through the years their roster of fragrances has only grown by leaps and bounds, with a lot of them made in collaboration with celebrities and fashion designers like Rajo Laurel .
Read more