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Badless – :
Splendid creamy floral warm scent for cold weather! Glad I didn’t let it go in summer when I first tested it and found it too cloying and almost just a vanilla cream.
Now in autumn I could enjoy a wonderful developement of the floral notes over many hours.
Sillage 1-2m in the first 3-4h.
Longevity 8h with satisfying projection. After 12h skinscent. And longer staying in hair.
anarkamal – :
A gentle scent, which on man can be a colony alternative to many contemporary perfumes born only to amaze but that stink for many hours of the same wooden thing. This is a perfume in English style, kind, yellow, solar without wanting to make too much noise, if not on the wearer who can remember things that did not live. But it is never too late to return to cordiality and beauty.
One of the best perfumes for women and men.
urqfstojjw – :
Absolutely fabulous & an instant non hesitant love! It’s of the same family as L’heure bleue but sweeter and not quite as antique smelling as it so if you like that one for sure give this one a try. While L’Heure Bleue has a sadder feeling, this one is happy and warm, like putting on a super cozy soft fluffy sweater and sitting inside drinking a cup of cocoa while it’s cold and gloomy outside. I liked it the most out of 12 exquisite samples and I choose it to be my next buy.
rozdm14 – :
The notes read like a dream match for me, a floriental fan with an addiction to Orange blossom. Cornubia is not unpleasant it is just too much of a powder box for me. It should come with a powder puff because only my mum’s perfumed talc powders of old were more powdery than this. I have worn Allure in the past so can stomach some powdery -ness but Cornubia is through the roof. It does eventually die down into a lovely soft cloud but it takes far too long to get there…..elsewhere Cornubia has decent sillage and good lasting power….Cornubia is a good scent, just not for me.
A…xxx…Y – :
This smells like a soft and gentle Ciara to me. Maybe Ciara was a dupe for it back in the day??? I forgot who on here said Lucy from A Room with View would have worn Cornubia, but that’s my favorite movie, so I just had to get this! I will always think of that connotation from now on whenever I wear it and want to feel timeless. Thank you for the recommendation.
zagarinoff – :
This exudes an old-world charm, transporting one back to grand hotels and opera houses of a lost era. It is powdery as such an evocative scent should be. One feels like one is sniffling scented dust along the grand hallways of an antiquated building. It is a comforting scent. Considering how it is a Penhaligon’s EDT, it projects rather well, although I have yet to test its longevity.
ViktorKaplugkin – :
I would like to try this. Do anybody knows if penhaligon’s uses natural oils?
Lehninov – :
ooh i like this. i love heliotrope and crave more heliotrope-heavy scents. this does remind me of loulou but i like it better…do not see the comparison with this and l’heure bleue much at all though. i primarily get heliotrope, amber, orange blossom and neroli-a creamy powdery orange blossom bomb. just gorgeous! this is my first penhaligon’s and i am impressed. this does smell very classic, reminds me of some perfumes my grandmother used to wear, which i love.
ImmomoStickv45392 – :
That dark sunny day of heliotrophe eclipse with Oscar Wilde.
It was reformulated in 1989.
It is and embrace between Loulou and Obsession. It place itself more on the loulou versant. It has that dark powder vanilla patchouli smell.
Talc Iris aura from the heliotrophine and oily summer Jasmine & orange blossoms fights with dark murky woods.
Adorable. A 1800s long dress in taffeta.
Reminds me lettera da by Claudio la Viola and a bit Molto Missoni no such resemblances with L’heure bleue
ImmomoSticki96815 – :
Wow! Carnubia EdT is the strongest Penhaligon’s I’ve tried so far. I get no Bleu h’eure-wibe at all – I get Cacharel LouLou adult version. Carnubia is not as vanillasweet, but for 90% I find them totally alike. 1 spray goes a long way – on my skin almost 16 hours+. 3 sprays makes Carnubia awful and thick.
Wow! Carnubia EdT är den kraftigaste Penhaligon’s jag har testat hittills. Jag får inga Bleue H’eure-vibbar alls – jag får en vuxen Cacharel LouLou-vibb. Carnubia är lite mindre vaniljsöt, men de är lika till 90% i mitt tycke. 1 sprej håller väldigt länge, på mig mer än 16 timmar. 3 sprejningar gör denna till en rumsdödare och hemsk.
St1m82 – :
Gorgeous! I purposely bought Cornubia hoping that it would smell like VS Rapture after smelling an old empty bottle that I had bought for my mom years ago. I loved Rapture and since its sadly discontinued I went in search of something that sounded similar. Thankfully, they are pretty much dups! Yeh! As Cornubia has been around since 1910 we clearly know who copied who. So glad I took a chance and bought this. Its everything I was hoping for!! The packaging is really pretty too!
bahtik – :
I was surprised to find out that this one is on the market for over 100 years, because it doesn’t smell old-fashioned at all. I agree with some of the comments below that this one is strong and long lastig, but not very subtle – i.e. not bad, but if you’re looking for “loud” attention-getters, there are more inspired alternatives around.
***
add503 – :
I was gifted a big bottle of cornubia. I adore this perfume. It smells best worn in the fall And winter. The beautiful sweet , warm powder carries through the cold air wrapping around me like a cozy blanket. It smells alot like L’Heure Bleue. I can smell the difference. Cornubia is missing the carroty purple smelling iris. It has the same cherry almond Heliotrope. Its ambery and has a great soft woody dry down. It’s very powdery and boozy. Cornubia is strong, thick, and long lasting. Absolutely stunning perfume!
mac7sim – :
It starts with helitrope and ends with vanilla. And I must agree that it does remind me a bit of Guerlain’s L’Heure Bleu. Actually, they are very simillar. Yesterday I was trying the sample of it and was thinking that it reminds me of something and then I got it. I think that it is lighter version of L’Heure Bleu, as I wear it to work and this is may be even easier to wear for me. Really beautiful fragrance, maybe another piece in my collection. I must agree with Elisabeth M. it really evokes romantic English ladies of old times, but on the other hand I think it can be perfectly worn by nowadays ladies as well. Some scents are simply timeless.
green sova – :
On my skin Cornubia is divine! On me, this smells like violets and marzipan. It lasts for ages and has good silage, one of those where you keep caching a nice whiff of yourself. It smelt totally different on the blotter and I wasn’t that amazed but on my skin – wow!
benq10 – :
I really really like this old fashioned smell of Cornubia. It is indeed floral, however I sense a unique note that you cannot find it easily in fragrances nowadays. Maybe it’s the heliotrope. And this combined with amber makes a wonderful warm fragrance, ready to wear with a very elegant evening dress. It’s also strong and long lasting, worth the asking price, for its unicity
Зигулька – :
The musky note is just too much on me. It turns ammonia-y. I have tried so hard to fall in love with this.
If anyone is interested and has other high end fragrances available, I have a full 3.4 oz bottle I would consider swapping. Email heathertaff @ yahoo
bardosik – :
The heliotrope is very strong in the open and a little overwhelming, but once it calms down, I love this perfume. The neroli and orange blossom is lovely. The drydown after about 8 hours leaves a dustiness that is kind of odd. It layers really well with L’occitane Amicable and really highlights the orange blossom.
tdr2004 – :
My favorite Penhaligon’s fragrance! It projects such a beautiful vintage atmosphere. I can imagine Helena Bonham Carter in “Room with a view” wearing Cornubia.
Oblighblothdk – :
Rich opening, rich middle, rich drydown. I love every moment of Cornubia.
Sweet, powdery, heavy and intoxicating. Much so that I’d describe this as a boozy scent, but surprisingly smooth. I could drink of case a this and still be on my feet.
On a good day, I can smell pine and a tinge of spices. Very powdery.
It’s says it’s an EdT but it’s as heavy and long lasting as an EdP. Just a dab will do.
No other perfume makes me feel so enriched and nobody can pull this off like I can. Pardon my overconfidence but that’s how good I feel when I wear this. This one just makes me dauntless.
*Edit*
I just realised the opening smells like Coca Cola. Still lovely tho.
pompyifr129bedyWelty – :
This was a blind buy since I love white florals and amber and it was a good buy. Not my favorite in the penhaligons line but it is beautiful soft and warm nonetheless. It’s powdery in a way that I like with soft waves of neroli, orange blossom and hints of jasmin, sitting on a soft bed of albert and a hint of wood. I don’t get anything that even resembles oranges unless I sniff really hard and long. Overall it is smooth and warm like a nice cashmere sweater. Not heavy enough for winter but not a spring summer scent either. I haven’t gotten to the dry down yet but if I remember it correctly, almost becomes a powdery skin scent. Not exactly me but still a nice addition to my collection.
denzal-2106 – :
Comparable to L’ heure Blue and a beautiful spicy oriental.It’s elegant and sexy.
noknok – :
This scent definitely has that Vintage feel. To me it actually opens quite powdery (?) but then progresses to very sweet. The Heliotrope is stunning but unfortunately it fades too quickly for my liking and at this point to scent becomes linear and all the ‘power’ is gone. I’m left with a rather sour yet musky resinous type smell for the next 4 hours or so 🙁 The beginning of Cornubia (the part I enjoy the best) reminds me strongly of the heart of Esprit D’Oscar – which I adore. I will pass on the Cornubia and stick with my Oscar 🙂 Pretty much the same thing to my nose without the sourness or the expense.
L: Moderate
S: Soft
altyn.garik – :
Cornubia is a beautiful retro Neroli Heliotrope blend with an alluring helping of skanky Musk. It’s like if Espirit d Oscar contained civet instead of ambergris. It’s brighter and more opulent than L’heure Bleue, and deeper and more arresting than Espirit d Oscar.
I am in love with this and while I think it could stand to be less sweet, the sweet does offset the skank. Were the sweetness absent from the composition, men would probably be staggering after me like zombies.
You must love a little raunchy with your retro powder and some floral sweetness to love this. Longevity is 12+ hours. I wish I could trade in my L’heure Bleue and Espirit d Oscar for Cornubia.
I could see Ms. Fischer from Ms. Fischer’s Murder Mysteries wearing this. Drop dead sexy flapper material.
Alternatively, if you’ve ever seen David Lynch’s movie Eraserhead, I think the woman who sings the song “In heaven, everything is fine” would wear Cornubia. Haunted happiness.
dvvdv – :
Powerful, rich, long-lasting bohemian floral amber on solid woody base. My absolutely favourite Penhaligon’s so far. Surely, it has something from Guerlain’s HB, but even more so from Caron Montaigne. Cornubia is woodie, shinier, smells triumphant and glamorous, rather than motherly and absolutely addictive.
BOKA30 – :
Cornubia is something unique in our perfume world.It`s not easy to mix flowers with ambery, vanillic and woody notes in such a perfect way.Really not possible to separate them- first impression is about flowery cloud finished with amber.There are white flowers present:mostly orange blossom, neroli and jasmine slowly dominated by powderiness. Heliotrope and vanilla heaven opens in the heart!And last for long hours.
Cornubia is a velvety,fluidy, very rich scent with some sweet accents.Be careful about application, might be a bit overpowering so two/three sprays are enough.
Sillage is moderate, longevity over six hours.Very good emanation.Suitable for autumn/winter time.It reminds a bit L`Heure Bleue: but -lost memories yes, melancholy- no 😉
Bottle also is a small wardrobe treasure, with glass, spheric cap, and a violet knot.
One of my favourite Penhaligon`s:flowery, powdery,even a bit dark -creates a kind of mystery aura around a woman who is wearing this beautiful scent
Anastacia – :
This was recommended to me by an Associate at the Covent Garden store. When I 1st sampled this I did not like it and thought it was too feminine for a man to pull off. After trialing a number of times I thought it would be worth purchasing a bottle.
I use this as a nighttime fragrance. I really like the richness to the scent. It has a very traditional old time feel to it. I have never worn this on a day to day basis. Beautiful fragrance.
lor72 – :
Cornubia is not an original fragrance, but it is a beautiful one. It is like the love child of Christian Lacroix C’est La Vie and Guerlain L’Heure Bleue. It combines the sweetness of C’est La Vie with the powdery richness of L’Heure Bleue. The overall effect is a plush, velvety floriental, rich on iris, heliotrope and amber, with a soft, smooth drydown. It’s not terribly floral, so if you tend to avoid sharp or overpowering florals, this is a safe fragrance to wear. Wearing this fragrance is like draping yourself in a fur coat or a shawl of the deepest shade of indigo or violet — it’s the perfect fragrance for winter. It has a vintage feel, but does not smell old-fashioned, although it’s not light or playful. The only negative thing I can say about Cornubia is the lasting power isn’t great. I have to reapply it a few times throughout the day. Still, that’s not enough of a negative to turn me off from purchasing a bottle, which I plan to do soon.
Div11 – :
A copy of Krasnaya Moskva Novaya Zarya. And the same release time.
I have both and enjoy it)
offline – :
Cornubia…It’s my lovely and warm elixir for cold season. I detect a lot of amber, orange blossom and heliotrope with almond undertones – and don’t hear other floral notes but it doesn’t disturb me to have enjoy wearing Cornubia.
Some strange to find this composition (so saturated) among Penhaligon’s fragrances, most of them more ‘crystal’.
Retro style composition, obviously. It haven’t nothing superficial, light-minded, a bit conservative scent, to my mind.
This scent was moved to my wish-list.
vormiks – :
I have never seen my grandma’s perfumes…Maybe because I was too small, maybe because she did not have any…But I like to imagine the Cornubia staying on her dressing table and was used with care…
Cornubia is this kind of perfume that you cannot name as a scent or as a smell, Cornubia is the Perfume. It asserts its presence, it’s proud and feminine…and very retrò. It’s been discussed if Cornubia is heavy or not heavy scent…For me it is heavy. Who wears it, would like everybody to know that she wears a perfume. If do not think about the past, today I can imagine a lady in her best years, wealthy and sure of herself, wear the Cornubia.
carendituri – :
Fluid Velvet.
Dark purple velvet.
Between Loulou and Jil Sander n°4 (vintage).
shjilav – :
My first words wearing Cornubia: “Oh, fancy!”
If Penhaligon’s were to have an unofficial signature women’s fragrance from their house, this could probably be it. Cornubia is a classic, and although clearly from another time, it remains appealing.
I disagree with the reviewers who say the perfume is strong. The opening is bold enough, but within ten minutes of applying it and leaving the house I could only notice Cornubia when there was a strong wind. An hour later my boyfriend hugged me and couldn’t pick up the scent when I asked him if he liked the perfume. Mind you, I only applied two dabs. Orange blossom is always a bright and sharp note which cuts through air, which some people find strong.
This is the 2nd Penhaligon’s I’ve tried, and I’m thinking that this house is well-behaved. The notes in Cornubia and the overall impression hint at sensual abandon, but structurally this is no French perfume. It’s a red dress, but one that isn’t too tight. Ankle-length, long sleeves, and a collar. Penhaligon’s is British, and it seduces politely.
The citrus and freesia notes don’t have many votes on Fragrantica, but to me they dominate the opening, and last into the drydown – Cornubia being fairly linear. No generic citrus note, but fresh lemon specifically. The yellow floral note, to me, seems like an important element of the perfume.
I agree with those who say the perfume has texture. Some have said: heavy, viscous, creamy. It didn’t strike me as anything but honeylike. Cornubia’s texture reminds me a lot of honey.
The heliotrope, amber and orange blossom are on display in a balanced and inspiring combination here. I don’t always appreciate a mostly vanilla drydown, but it was beautiful here. I don’t have a plan to purchase an entire bottle, but I’m grateful I tried it and all other perfume lovers should give it a try it, too!
nutEnungug – :
Sometimes this happens, when first sniffing a scent You haven`t ever before sniffed, it brings You some distant memories. This happend today morning to me when I was sniffing Cornubia. What a emotional scent! Gives feels of safety and warmth, like laying in arms of Your Loved one feeling that deep safety. This scent represents that feel. What a beauty! Definitely will go to top of my purchase list. Without daniela3´s generous sample I would not have possible to experience this beauty. Thank You Dear ***<3<3<3***
ViesseToori – :
This struck me immediately as an old world classic perfume. I was attracted to it’s powdered dampness and heady oriental notes. I love all the layered drama. I dance around with the gourmands, but always come back to the orientals for my long term relationships. This is a stunning keeper.
poncikus – :
Wow, this is a killer. This is an amplified version of the Body Shop’s Neroli Jasmin, with amber thrown in. On me the most predominant notes by far are the strong, slightly bitter neroli and the orange flower. A mildly medicinal amber makes an appearance in the dry down. This has amazing sillage, but is just too strong a scent for me, a very heady floral. Use sparingly and this could be a neroli version of Fracas.
Woughaubrey – :
When I was at my teens I read an article about the ten best perfumes of all times. According to it, Cornubia was one of them. It was the first time I had heard about it. Carrying this name, it was presented as a very glamorous and elegant perfume and recomended for exotic beauties. Many years later I bought it and, I must say, I was a bit disappointed. I like strong perfumes, but it was too strong. I like deep perfumes, but this was dark in an old-fashioned way. No, it’s not for women with exotic appearance. It’s very dark, but not mysterious. It lasts all day, but it gets tiring. Everybody would tell me that this perfume lasts for many hours, but none of them ever told me he/she likes it.
plaidlaid – :
There is something that kills me in Cornubia.It has a sense of melancholy and deep sorrow which sets me off.Must be the combination of heliotrope and white flowers.Powdery enough to remind me of ”boudoir” scents.It does remind me a bit of Guerlain’s L’Heure Bleu although Cornubia is deeper and darker.Lasts well and has a moderate sillage.
Garlonerlop – :
Just back from Paris, spent one hour with the gentle mas in the shop, knowledgeable and kind. It smells like being dressed to the opera with heavy velvet dress, full make up. in the opera smelling of wood and velvet sits. reach and beautiful. plenty of textures. Very recommended. What an experience!
killer71768 – :
This fragrance packs alot of punch and I like that. ALOT. With its Initial Power walking in the same territory as other powerful scents like Angel and Black Orchid this scent is intense but also for my nose incredibly sweet at first which is what i need in order to draw in my interest for a fragrance. Like Dawnlady3 i too get a beautiful and very creamy vanilla base and it smells quite intoxicating, almost to the point where i wanted to lick my wrists and have the taste of the scent all over my tongue. It reminds me of growing up in the Country. Where my home was filled with wamrth and love and happiness. Although there is an incredible sexiness and suggestiveness about this fragrance the sentimentallity and the memories of home-cooked dinners and a house full of people and friends who would come and stay for the weekends and enjoy the estate are always fixated into my mind. THe lasting power is phenomenal although i find that when sprayed on fabric, it lasts months and i love the faint smell its left on my pillows. I think this is what love smells like. I cant wait to fall in love.
mcj774Diobtetty – :
Another blind guess, i knew i was gonna like it, turns out Cornubia=perfect! LOVE at first sniff
it’s a good replacement for lou lou & more wearable , it’s sexy and i love it *swoon*
too bad i already have quite a few winterscents otherwise i’d buy this in a heartbeat! BUT nevermind about that, a bottle is on it’s way
dddd – :
Cornubia is a very strong and deep oriental fragrance. to my nose is very sharp and i perceive very strong woodsy basenotes that cover its floral heart. is the kind of parfume that wears well a black haired woman with a sensual body shaped of provocative curves. a woman dressed in red with lascivious eyes,,,
fast99 – :
Penhaligon CORNUBIA is one potent little potion–again, I find myself wondering whether my sample vial might actually contain perfume!
This is a winter composition: thick, viscous, heavy orange blossom suspended in some sort of indestructible ambery resin. I like this heady concoction, but it must be very sparingly applied, and I have only dared to wear it on sub-80F days such as we have been happily experiencing of late.
CORNUBIA hits my nose as a linear creation which comes on very, very strong and fades over time, but it remains a spicy floral similar in some ways to champaca straight through to the drydown. Some will find this too heavy-handed and blunt. But for even those who like big, assertive perfumes, one drop will do!
Alcaponik – :
This lovely oriental fragrance is one of my favourite Penhaligon’s. I find it a bit powerful and sweet when I first apply it, so it is wise not to apply too much and to apply it a little while before you go out. Otherwise it can be a bit overpowering for the first half an hour. But then it dries down to one of the best vanilla bases I know (although vanilla is not listed here as a note!) The drydown reminds me vaguely of Shalimar – not that it smells similar, but it creates the same kind of mood. It is at its best about an hour after applying, and I find it lasts a long time on me. I just want to keep sniffing my wrists, and I really miss it when its gone – it is so warm and comforting and sensual – lovely.