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ddemon – :
I almost hate to love this as it smells of a happy summer day and a nanny with her big bouncy fresh but sweaty bosom chasing us after a long lazy lunch in Provance while we were visiting our spinster auntie Cecile.
This works very well of both men and women.
Word of advice: proceed with caution when spraying, as it can be a tad too much, and make you smell like a Gare de Lyon station toilet freshener you can smell when you get straight out of the Eurostar, if you accidentally overspray it.
nicolaigrosu – :
Initial blast for 5-10 minutes and then a quick fade. Low longevity and sillage on me. Very plain, generic clean fragrance and not bottle worthy. There are better ones out there imo.
marsel1973 – :
Totally unisex, goes on fresh to start with, then the soapy cleanness unfolds. Slightly veering into that just washed laundry smell, but luckily saved by the bright neroli. Old fashioned, but in a good way. One could become quite addicted to this fragrance.
gidrappp – :
the review of blonc is perfect. a soap bar in a bottle. class in a bottle. 10/10 good performance. perfect for a gentleman. similar to fleur du male cologne.
ewb390InsuffBooni – :
Take a knife to the richest bar of soap you can find. Slice off the thinnest shavings possible from that bar of soap, and then run your fingers through them.
That’s the smell of Castile when sprayed.
It’s easy to think that’s all there is to it. And, y’know what? If that’s all Castile was it would still be wonderful, because that soapy smell is so refreshing, so welcoming, and so perfectly clean. You can wear it to work, wear it casually… heck, you could even dress it up. There’s never a wrong time to smell clean.
As I said, it’s easy to think that soap shavings smell is all there is to Castile… but if you’re patient… if you pay attention to how it smells a few hours later… well, you’re in for a wonderful surprise.
Lurking beneath that freshness is a soft but long lasting sensual base. The opening of Castile smells inviting, but the base smells alluring. It’s like a secret that wants to be told.
Castile has quickly become one of my all time favorites. It’s fantastic.
ANDREI-1965 – :
Once the very natural orange opening dies down, it is basically a light citric version of Prada Amber pour homme (nice refined soapy smell). Longevity is pretty good, especially for a Penhaligons. Lasts >24 hours on clothes, and was still noticeable as a skin scent after 10 hours.
HoWaRD – :
I find this quite similar to Colonia Essenza and Neroli Portofino Forte in a few ways. Bright and uplifting neroli, but with some of the herbal and green elements replaced with more of a ‘classic’ bar soap. I find most within this genre of soapy neroli scents comforting, and this one seems to last well enough, so I think it would be a great value if you’re interested in either of the other two aforementioned scents
Deroxxxwji – :
This perfume is a neroli-bomb! Beautiful scent, but gave me a sense of nausea because of the very strong presence of neroli
frisbyzzmx – :
I think I found my new favourite Penhaligon’s fragrance (which is tough, because I love most of them!).
This is a lovely, clean, barbershop fragrance with a twist. The open is a crisp, citrusy bergamot with a hint of petitgrain. The neroli then kicks in, and sustains throughout the drydown. The neroli is definitely the star of the show here.
It may not sound like the most original of compositions, but Penhaligon’s has balanced the notes just right which makes this fragrance stand out. I would say this is unisex, and more of a daytime, fragrance for spring or summer.
Surprisingly, I get very good longevity (for Penhaligon’s) from this – around 6 hours, with moderate sillage.
boriskkk – :
it smells of old fashioned neroli – like an traditional barbershop shaving soap.
i absolutely love the classic soapy scent this has! there are some definite white florals breaking through the sudsy clean surface. it smells like extremely luxe soap from the Mediterranean!!
Deroxmvlgy – :
Starts quite sharp and almost caustic, like really, *really* clean sheets and washing detergent, but the dry down comes quickly and is a lovely white-grape-y-bubblegum Neroli that lasts for ages. This is one of those clean, soapy all-rounder scents, but an elegant one, like a slightly fresher, citrus version of Prada Amber pour Homme. Prada for the warmer months, if you will. Exactly what I was looking for.
dosia0078 – :
Very nice, clean and elegant offering, like most of Pehaligon’s. Though some of them seem to me to be “just another good cologne” but with a different twist, this one has a very distinctive feel to it. Neroli, neroli, neroli. This one is definitely for neroli lovers. My partner wears it and I’m quite surprised by the longevity considering it’s a “soft” scent. After an evening out I can still smell it in the car as we drive home. Gentle and beautiful.
Drjynfrnt – :
Very clean and fresh fragrence. Smells almost identical to acqua di parma colonia.
ruslantyi – :
This is a great fresh scent. A lot like Mugler Cologne I love, which is not surprising as the main notes are the same between the two.
Castille, however, starts much sharper, develops much stronger and its dry dow is slightly warmer that that of Mugler’s.
I sense it as a truly unisex and versatile scent, which can be adapt to most climates.
Castille is clean, soapy and awakening. It feels elegant and far more noble that many other clean citrus scents, possesing a sparkly quality that remains well into lower stages, woody, musky and slightly metallic facets.
djdrad – :
I really enjoy this at first. It’s a fragrant viridescent mélange of citrus zest, neroli, musk, rose and soap. It’s radiance and sharpness is really awakening and uplifting. A few hours in, perhaps 2 or so on my skin, the citrus burns off for the most part and you are left with the smell of average handsoap – not a luxury hand-milled olive Castile soap – but just any old liquid soap from a dispenser in a public restroom. I do like soapy notes, but I need a little more depth and balance. There is a sick tinge of sweetness to it that grosses me out. This was a blind buy for me and I’m still trying to decide how much I like it. Something does keep pulling me back to spray and I’m hoping I will start to understand it better and fall in love.
DANGER 163 – :
This is just really pleasant. It’s a finely balanced slightly soapy, slightly peppery citrus. I really enjoy wearing it on a sunny day and find the longlivity good.
Penhaligons have quite a lot of these type of slightly spiced citrus based fragrances (duo, no33, bayolea, quercus etc..). I like castile the best, probably in my top 3 for Penhaligons. I hear they used to make it a a soap too, would have loved to have tried it.
It’s not particularly original but there is a lot of balancing and finesse behind it that shines through and makes it worth the price.
rebel05 – :
I love me some soapy scents and feed on prada Amber pour homme and sung homme. Compared to this they are lazy clean, this is soap with a bolt of electricity running through it. Effervescent and deep. Like an outdoor bath in a tangerine grove and it rains Tom ford neroli portofino but the sun is still dazzling
seryikuhto – :
Castile is my fifth Penhaligon purchase. Already bought Blenheim Bouquet, elixir, english fern and Hamman. I have reviewed these on Fragrantica.
I have to say that Castile is the most clean and soapy fragrance I have smelt for some time. It has a classic fresh “just had a shave” scent which I find very uplifting. This is definitely a Sunday Morning Scent. I.e. Washed and shaved, slicked back hair, crisp white shirt and chinos sat in the local trendy coffee shop reading the Sunday papers. The fragrance is just so calming that it deserves those moments of quiet contemplation. The woman in your life will love this scent as it just projects a laundry clean smell that she will want to get close to and snuggle in there. I have english fern shaving soap and Castile EDT compliments this perfectly. A classic soapy barbershop fragrance I highly recommend.
urgin111 – :
If I had the ability to turn orange blossom water into an eau de parfum this would be it.
inte.al – :
Wow for me this is a totally new take on orange blossom in that it doesn’t start out with that waxy, over the top white floral, neroli thing to begin with.
It’s a dirty kind of citrus to begin with which has a vague Orange blossom underneath…and I honestly do detect rose and musk, it’s a good opening which unfortunately doesn’t last long.
About half an hour in… all that disappears!
It becomes the familiar soapy white floral thing…incredibly soapy in fact!
I don’t particularly like this fragrance I just find it interesting how the opening notes mask the floral heart in the beginning.
Not bad…a unisex fragrance with moderate longevity.
zamaraikin2012 – :
This smells very nice, very classy. But also (at least on my skin) very feminine.
What I get out of this perfume is mostly the flowers. I usually dislike it when the rose stands out too much (like Penhaligon’s Peoneve), but here the orange blossom balances it out nicely. Together with the bergamot it gets a fresh lemony (and kind of soapy) vibe.
rneesvixhxy – :
Citrus blah but good quality citrus blah. Good longevity, classic but uninspiring.
tuman1982 – :
I shouldn’t really like this. It’s a summery, soapy floral lemon to start with, like a mixture of Acqua di Parma and a good eau de cologne such as Extra Vieille. Maybe it’s missing the rose in former, or the saltier herbs in the latter, but either way it just feels better balanced to me. Sniffing closer after a few minutes, it’s a bit darker and greener with a wet, rich grassiness, but still somehow light and crisp; a combination seen in some of the better Gendarme scents such as Green. In the end, unfortunately, little is left beyond a well-groomed florid soap aura. Generally I’m very harsh in my judgments of Pen’s scents because many have a common theme that seems too “perfumey” and feminine to me…Castile almost should as well, with such extensive floral notes, but I think it avoids that by its crispness, and ends up somehow unisex in a well-put-together way. Be prepared for the drop-off in strength later on, but I’d say that’s forgiveable in this scent family.
bobi73 – :
SOAPY, in a good way.
It lasts and lasts on my skin. Even after I shower, I can still smell the drydown on my skin. No jokes.
Pilinov – :
This Penhaligon`s scent is an absolute sheer delight to wear.
It starts fresh, crisp and citrusy until the neroli note arrives; this note plays the main theme of the scent for hours.
Longevity on me is good; at least 5 hours with 3 sprays on my neck and chest.
I choose to wear it on bright sunny winter days because of the uplifting effect it has on me. If the winter weather gets you down spray a bit of “Castile” on your neck and see what a big difference it makes on your mood and spirit.
A Big winner from the House of Penhaligon`s.
Big Thumbs up!
айвар – :
A nice if dull tradition cologne. While the notes seem well blended and suitable, this one just doesn’t grab me.
Along with a lot of the other Penhaligon fragrances, this one also suffers form a lack of longevity, here and gone within a couple of hours.
Nice pleasant and soapy, but don’t expect a great deal from this one
krab83 – :
It doesn’t feel like a perfume, it feels like a cologne, citrusy, lovely, fresh and classic.
gjh820Unlogrere – :
Smells exactly like Acqua di Parma Colonia. Nuff said.
vgpavlon – :
Penhaligon’s Castile is a very beautiful,one of the loveliest Penhaligon’s scents. Starts with bergamot and neroli,slightly citrusy,then you get orange blossom and soft rose.Yes,it smells soapy,but very natural soap. The drydown is woody,musky with wood and orange blossom. Castile is a reminiscent of sunny Spain,it reminds me of sweet orange marmalade and sunshine!Uplifting,energetic,soothing!Lasting power is good for a citrus scent! 10/10
гб2д – :
in luv with this perfu……………………………….the opening starts with soapy and fresh bergmote then u will start 2 hit on the rose notes u will ends up with a musky rosey soapy cologne gorgouse
virus37 – :
As a rule, I am not very fond of citrus fragrances, but I am always open to trying them just in case. Castile did not prove to be an exception though. Tart, citrusy, with a lot of neroli. Hardly a ground breaking combination in theory, in practice is even less exciting. And as a subject for a review, totally uninspiring. Very clean, almost too clean- with a big dose of soapiness. It does not stand out among other citrus-orange blossom based scents, I have an impression that I sniffed it many times before. As a Penhaligon’s take on citrus, it will probably be a good choice for the brands’ fans. Otherwise, I am telling you, there is better stuff out there.
Mezhs026bedyWelty – :
A “no surprise” eau de cologne. A blast of neroli/orange blossom in the opening joined by a subtle rose note and some floral patterns. Musk does a remarkable part during the drydown. Simple and somehow rich of clichè. I’m not the biggest fan of this type of fragrances, but my preference would go for other (legendary) compositions in the same genere. However, if you’re into ADP and the likes, you may like Castile (assuming you don’t get easily annoyed by a strong soapy vibe). Not for me.
Rating: 6.5/10
MishGan-013 – :
I’m not familiar with what this kind of soap smells like, so I have to tread carefully here. Whatever the scent profile is, I’m not enamored with what settles on my skin from Penhaligon’s version of Castile. This smells like truck stop restroom soap, and strong soap at that. Definitely a clean, aggressive scent, but positively unwearable.
Callambus – :
Penhaligon CASTILE opens as a citrus aromatic scent with pronounced petit grain, but shortly thereafter the castile soap facsimile takes over and persists. This soap has an alkaline edge which does not appeal to me very much. In fact, it reminds me a bit of the soap base of the Clean line, of which I’m also not very fond.
This is definitely not a feminine scent, nor is it masculine. It is a particular type of soap in a bottle. Those who do like CLEAN might want to check this one out. However, those who prefer their soap in perfumes to complement complex floral compositions will probably be happier with something along the lines of WHITE LINEN or CALECHE.
edichka21 – :
The opening starts fresh with petit green
and zesty Orange blossom but turns soapy
within a few seconds which it is overwhelming at times like antibacterial soap but what notes makes it responsible
for the soapy feel i think it’s the rose and the wood note. and the dry down of musk
is nothing to write home about.
breiks – :
I wish I would have gotten this sample before summer. Castile would have been fab for the summer-months. Well it´s definately a must-buy next year.
First the orangeblossom and bergamott is most prominent But after a while I got something like almond/heliotrope(allthough not listed amongs the notes)ending with woody vanilla.
This is just smooth, soft and vibrant at the same time. on the negative side..lastingpower is quite poor
Ulyania – :
I received a mini collection of these rare and very expensive colognes. Lemony and woody neroli are the first notes that a few minutes later develop a warmer tone and become more earthy with a soapy aspect. I don’t detect any roses, they just temper and soften the harshness and bitterness of the fragrance somewhat.
Being true to its name, an hour later is smells like castile soap (savon de Marseille) a regular washing soap made from olive oil and caustic soda), Funny, but I kind of like it. The drydown is a soft, clean musk with the odd hint of woods. Staying power is about 4 – 6 hours, quite tenacious and a little goes a long way.
Overall, it’s a soothing, clean, unobstrusive and gentle cologne with a hint of soapy (maybe slightly masculine) freshness that gives you a just washed myself with lemon / neroli / castile soap feel. It still doesn’t justify Castile’s exorbitant price, for that amount of money I can wash myself a thousand times.