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kvk305 – :
This discontinued lily is inescapably beautiful. I ordered Lily & Spice blind from Greece mostly based on the high praise Objections had given it in recent forum discussions. At the time, samples were available only overseas and ridiculously expensive ($35 + $15 shipping) so it just made sense to put that expense toward a full bottle. Additionally Perfumeaddict777’s penchant for animalic florals in her reviews I recently read swayed me more to hit the order button. I love Fragrantica for that!
This lily is bona fide. It’s not full-blown sexy but it has an undeniable enigmatic natural beauty. This is the Mona Lisa of lily scents.
On first spray I pick up a distinct alluring animalic note which is similar to the old-school ambergris in some pre-2000 Creed florals like Jasmin Imperatrice Eugenie and Jasmal. Here, if it’s not a hidden note of ambergris it could be attributed to styrax benzoin. Somehow this note projects a little medicinally, vinyl like, and almost like that which I encountered in Santa Maria Novella Tuberosa, giving intrigue and depth to this pensive flower. It’s much the way Helsinki notes below, a little leather-like. This is different to the vegetal indole that I experience with Lush Death & Decay (equally beautiful and natural but a little more floral forward — the same lillies, fully mature and cut in a vase as opposed to still growing in the ground).
As the flower begins to bloom, the animalic notes dissipate and make way for clove, pepper and saffron, with clove being the most distinct, reminding me of the quality fragrances of yesterday.
Subtly sweet petals unfurl and tease my senses, Soft, warm, inviting, yet quietly aloof. Incredibly natural. As the scent grows, roots become unearthed and spices infuse the woody mulch and mineral rich soil that the lily emerges from. Slightly bitter green leaves shoot forth and white sap emanates. But all the while, the scent of salubrious petals dominates.
To my nose, there is none more realistic than this lily. Outstanding quality and a real shame that Penhaligon’s discontinued this glorious flower.
Erlantb – :
Lily earthy dirt. Thick & heady. White & dark brown tones. Smells like peppered floral soil. Sensuous Confidence in a bottle. Lush.
ljijkmhososmlalqe – :
This feels like lilies. I mean those huge white lilies that you put in a big vase and wait for them to open, and when they do the fragrance surounds the whole house for several days.
The spices does become noticable, and add a little warmth. But to me, at least, it is the lily that dominates throughout. It is quite powerful – a little goes a long way – and I find that it lasts well on me. Overall a very well made fragrance
aghvan – :
Depressing that Penhaligons discontinued such a masterpiece of a scent. Stargazer lilies are one of my two most favorite flowers, the other being carnation.
In terms of actual perfume (and not essential oils), you simply cannot get closer to the smell of a natural lily then you will with lily & spice. Baiser vole by Cartier is another must have lily obsession of mine, and it always will be, but where Baiser vole is clean cut lilies in a vase, Lily & spice is the actual plant growing in the ground. Soil, pollen, and all. So rich, earthy, and dirty.
A work of art in fragrance form.. One of the best lily fragrances in the world hands down. I no longer have a bottle of lily & spice, so penhaligons, PLEASE bring back this beauty!
kur362intitytek – :
As previous reviewers have already stated,this is the most gorgeous rich lily scent. Sadly now discontinued ( thankfully I stock piled a few bottles when at the clearance price). If you like Lily and Spice you might like to try Penhaligon’s Ostara. Centred around the Daffodil(narcissus) it is lighter and fresher,more green,in the beginning but the heart and dry down are similar to this creamy lily. I also love Cartier’s Baiser Vole especially the more intense version( sorry I can’t remember it’s exact name) which has a good slug of vanilla combined with the original lily scent of the first Baiser Vole. Lily and Spice is warm,rich and inviting without a caramel cupcake in sight!
P.S Just looked up the more intense Baiser. It is the Essence de Parfum version.
medvedev94 – :
Oh my goodness this is sexy!! I didn’t know i was a lover of lilies until this perfume! I do not smell a funeral or anything sad in this perfume. To me it smells “noir” , sexy, intoxicating!! I love it from first sniff! I love anamalic white florals, benzoin, spices, and this has it all! I thought lilies were sharp green florals but this lily perfume is creamy, sweet, heady and a little dirty! At first spray i can smell alot of lily, clove, and saffron. I love clove, it’s one of my favorite spices! The lily is thick, waxy, spicy and sweet. Soon vanilla and benzoins join the lily and there’s that underlying anamalic note that i crave so bad, could it be jasmine? Whatever is creating that note, i adore it. As it wears it gets sweeter and the spice gradually dies and im left with a georgeous creamy ,sweet lily and musk. The longevity is amazing! 12 hours on my skin and sillage is soft but noticeable to those standing in your personal space, if you hug someone or move your hair or something while they are sitting close to you. Love love love!! Why do all my favorite perfumes get discontinued:(
vladis33 – :
Just fabulous.Lily in a bottle,exotic and sexy.
Wipasiada – :
Why oh why did they discontinue this fabulous fragrance! I grow double oriental lilies and Penhaligon have captured the best of this exotic fragrance to a T. The oriental lily fragrance as many know is very powerful and for me migraine inducing. This is the only fragrance that has come anywhere near close to recreating the beautiful aspects of the oriental lily fragrance in a very wearable scent. I will probably wear it late summer and autumn. Beautiful
gbakerqkc3 – :
I have been on a quest for a stargazer lily scent. Everything I have tried so far has been off somehow. I wanted to try this discontinued scent terribly. I was lucky enough to find a bottle on Ebay and it just arrived. This is it! This is a stargazer lily in all its glory and complexity. I beg you Penhaligon, make this perfume again so I can drench myself in it!
mentor12 – :
stante la mia idiosincrasia nei confronti dei profumi floreali, mi sono accostata a Lily & Spice con estrema cautela: un paio di spruzzate da un decant. il primo impatto è con il giglio, molto realistico, senza sovrastrutture, con le sue caratteristiche proprie di lieve cremosità. spezie: non pervenute. man mano che il tempo passa, il giglio si fa più leggero ma non affiora null’altro che il mio naso possa intercettare. peccato, perchè, nonostante tutto, la fase floreale è per me sopportabile quindi aspettavo con trepidazione la comparsa dello zafferano, dei chiodi di garofano e del pepe. ma niente. per me rimane un soliflore di giglio: a chi piace il fiore non rimarrà deluso. nice but forgettable.
JaniNNeTelame – :
I love this perfume, as a big Lily devotee, i am always searching for nice lily perfumes. This one is a very pure, realistic lily with no additional fancy layers, which might distract too much the complex beauty of the lily : i smell a creamy, waxy lily but kept in a luminous green frame, i do smell the spices : clove, pepper add a bit of extra sparkling but just well dosed in order not to suffocate the beautiful creamy lily. It is only meant for real lily lovers, very pure and no compromises, maybe a bit colder interpretation than other beautiful lily perfumes as FM ” Un Lys” , which is a very wet, lush lily perfume. However, not as sharp and crisp as Cartier’s ” Baiser Volé” – a pure hommage to the Lily and a bit sad Penhaligon decided now to discontinue, probably because most people don’t appreciate such a linear, “virgin” lily scent but if you have the chance, try this beauty before she fades away in memory lane…
german6807 – :
I am in new york and running low on Lily and Spice
if ANYONE has a bottle they would like to get rid of, please let me know. It makes me think of the sweetest oriental lilies on a summer day and cannot picture the rest of my life without it…for those of you who are equally disappointed from its discontinuation, lets please all petition or email Penhaligons to get this scent back!!!
алексаа – :
This bottle was gifted to me by a dear Fragrantican and it was a blind swap. I looked at the notes and I thought, yes, those sound wonderful so why not.
The initial spray is the most realistic, fresh, stargazer lily smell I have ever smelled in any lily perfume. It was like walking straight into a florists shop.
This perfume is all about the lily. I seriously don’t get much else. Is this spicy to me? No, Can I smell patchouli? absolutely not. Do I smell a huge beautiful bouquet of lilies in a vase of fresh water? Yes, absolutely!
My verdict on this perfume is that it is a linear soliflore which is wonderful for all you lily lovers out there. Longevity is simply astounding and silage is impressive.
One thing that this has done for me is to make me want to explore all of Penhaligon’s fragrances,because if this is anything to go by, the other fragrances will be a very high quality use of ingredients and composition of notes.
Shuher-SL – :
This is one amazing rendition.
It smells like the petals (sweet and supple) and the pollen, and it has a hint of earth at the base.
It goes on strong, but dries down to an incredibly soft and *very* true and natural lily scent: a little creamy, a little sweet, a little green, and a little dusty.
It’s beautiful.
replikostiansa – :
To me, it’s just too much vanilla and overwhelmingly sweet. I like my lily scent to be fresh and sharp like Baiser Volé. I tried this one, because I wanted one that lasted longer than BV. Since it’s supposed to be spicy, I thought I would like it. But it’s just way too sweet. Not really a pity this one’s discontinued. (at least in my opinion…)
Sega48 – :
The closest you will ever get to a giant oriental stargazer lilly. Think what it would smell like if you were standing in Sagent’s painting Carnation Lily, Lily, Rose.
I wore this for an entire summer and had to stop and switch to something else because I was worried I would run out.
Its spicy peppery sweet like the real flower, green, polleny, and adehyde-ish, a tiny bit of animal.
Bronoeryday – :
I just adore this scent. I think it is now discontinued. Dramatic uber lily with a spicy base. Smells the same through dry-down but you must love lily. Apply lightly and wear with caution.
Armen99beno – :
creamy soft lilies with additional notes that don’t stand out or interfere. It’s very nice but almost too sheer and simple that I have trouble detecting it. I would definitely wear this if it was given to me, but I won’t seek it out to purchase.
vandervyd – :
This to me is everything I have been looking for as far as a stargazer fragrance. And thanks to my good friend Vie Cafe I have been able to experience it.
Every time I go to the market I walk past the florist stand and go directly to the stargazers. I lean in deep and breath that beautiful pungent floral. I always leave with the yellow pollen all over my nose and forehead. And my husband laughs every time! I don’t care if I look like an ass, my face smells fantastic! This reminds me of that along with a bit of citrus blossoms mixed in it. Even though they are not part of the makeup thats what I get from it. I also like how the musk is very subtle but yet present. January is the time that stargazers are ready by bulbs for purchase now I don’t have to wait I can just sprits myself. I wish I had a home fragrance of this stuff.
Aerohopleneriaid – :
It smells as if there is quite a lot of Carnation in amongst the other notes. It smells nice when first applied then fades to a rather dusty, musty and not too nice fragrance. I only bought a sample to try but this is one that I will not be buying.
djus2112 – :
When I first tested this scent, I loved it. Then I found it too floral and too centred around lily, I thought it was a soliflore that did not match me really and I was about to swap my bottle away for no matter what scent.
I am glad I kept it, although it is not the easiest scent to wear and yes, it does require forgetting about connotations lilies have as funeral flowers. I have not attended many funerals in my life, so maybe that is why I did not find the scent ‘sad’. It starts off a bit sharp and spicy, slightly citrusy perhaps, to later on develop lily’s full potential. It turns very floral and very musky as it develops. Again, more of a soliflore, since I do not really get any of the other notes, spice including except for the first few minutes.
It is airy, light, but has an edge to it as well, I would by no means describe it as soft and fluffy. There is a wilder side to it, the green side, the scent of a garden in the morning, with the dew on unfolding petals. Quite charming.
I found use for it- it works really well for me on warmer days when I give up on my heavy in vanilla fragrances and need something lighter.
Xeroxhlcpm – :
I was made a perfume profile at Penhaligon’s today. The SA served me for an hour with undivided attention. I give the SA my top marks. I highly recommend visiting Penhaligon’s.
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LILY & SPICE’s insolent petroleum top note fades slowly into an intriguing peppery fragrance that isn’t very floral. Thaocrockett is right about the cloves at the top. L&S is quite loud of a fragrance compared to the other 33 frags Penhaligon’s has to offer.
The drydown – when the fragrance finally settles down – is strongly reminiscent of Hermès Kelly Caleche! Leather, maybe oud, and rose. I think I brought my wrist to my nose about 250 times today and am going to purchase Lily & Spice for springwear.
It was a pleasure to be introduced to Lily & Spice. It gave me a real challenge and an unforgettable perfume experience. 🙂
bogdanoleg – :
When I first sprayed it on, I smell a lot of cloves. After about 10 minutes, it turned to a salty and spicy on my skin (almost disgusting although I am a BIG FAN of black pepper). Now since it dried down more, I could smell some lily (just some.
Overall, it’s decent and smooth; a plus for not harrassing my sensitive nose. However, it’s not a WOW factor for me. Maybe I need more time to get used to it.
pro100stasik – :
When I was growing up, we never had lilies in the house because my mother thought they were “too funereal.” While other people bought those gorgeous white Madonna lilies for Easter, we had humble hyacinths in my house. Naturally I grew up to be fascinated by Lilies: The Forbidden Flower.
There aren’t a whole lot of realistic, appealing lily frags out there, but this is certainly one of them, down to the weird “ham” note found in lilies that was described by Luca Turin in The Guide. I don’t smell much saffron, but the pepper and clove are certainly present in the background, complimenting the lily in a mellow way. It takes a long time for the lily to give way to the patchouli and musk drydown, which is just a little too subdued for my liking. Of course, the bottle is spectacular, as it usually is with Penhaligon. Great showcase for a high-quality fragrance.
RokEcopeFrork – :
This is the first time I tried a niche perfume. I only used a tiny bit from my sample bottle. I just lightly wiped the little wand (what do you call that thing anyway?) on my wrists and neck. The smell was light and lasted at least 6 hours. I didn’t use a lot. just enough so I could smell it when I lifted my wrist to my nose. It is a very real lily smelling perfume. It opens with the lily and then I can smell the pepper (and maybe patchouli) And it seems to take turns switching between the lily being dominant and the spice being dominant. Then it settles down with more amber and musk combined with the lily and spice. I think it is a quite lovely perfume. It never gets too sweet or too spicy! I don’t think I will ever buy this, but don’t get me wrong I do like it a lot! It’s just for that kind of money I would rather spend it on something I am totally in love with rather then just like a lot. Had I unlimited funds this would be in my collection as more then just a sample vial. I would hope that everyone could at least try this as a sample vial because it is quite an experiance to wear. Next time I wear it I will be putting more on because the ammount I put on this time was light (and that was on my part, it has nothing to do with the fragrance being too light!) Again I say you have to try this one!
edixxx85.85 – :
Lily & spice: the name is absolute correct of it.:) I got the freshly picked bunch of lily, what is still wet from the morning dew,and your hand still dirty from the soil. 🙂
Lightly spiced, well made, warm, almost sweet lily scent, not funeral-like. I recommend over 40.
rewas – :
Have you ever wanted a “warmer” lily scent? One without all the sweet flowery girliness and some of the serious richness of asiatic liles warmed with spice and incense?? Look no further…
Lily & Spice is astounding in its beauty! Lily (very like a stargazer or an asiatic variety) dances with the saffron to a tune called and conducted by smooth warm cloves and sharp pepper. This is where flowers and spice become one…very spicy, almost camphorous (for a bit) but amazing! The flowers SEEM to fade quickly, as on the “second sniff” and all you have left is the Spice…but on the exhale: they are there, still dancing, all entwined and glowing with an almost balmy aura. Benzoin’s vanillic cinnamon vapors wrap this in something sweet yet pungent, and very different from most floral scents. Patchouli adds a rawness to this, as musk and vanilla lurk beneath waiting to entice. The benzoin here is so prominent that I am almost (along with the cloves) reminded of Tiger Balm (an ancient chinese muscle balm made from cloves, cajeput, benzoin and camphor). If it had been made with creamy dreamy flowers alongside the original ingredients. This “tigery balminess” (how that for a made-up word?) does fade…and when it does, that flowery essence loaded with golden pollen remains…haunting you. The name really DOES say it all, folks! LILIES AND SPICE!!
Sillage: very good
Longevity: fierce
Overall: 4.25/5
Penhaligons’ scents always makes me smile! And their price tags? Well, suffice it to say these minis and vials that I have will have to do…for now. This (along with Malabah) are two of the best spicy florientals I have ever smelled. Quality is obvious at first sniff, and also resonates in the price they fetch. You do get what you pay for…at least from this House!
StevenLy – :
I have a vial of it, thanks I didn’t bought big bottle. This one is for lily lovers. If you like lilies it’s a must have. I’ve never had lily smelling scent, but I’m not huge fan of lilies so 2 ml enough for me.
79522705979 – :
This is one of those ‘truth in advertising’ scents. Lily and Spice? Yep, that’s what you’ll get.
Before writing this review I read the entertaining ad copy. Let me share some highlights: ‘carnally spiced’, ‘thick, hedonistic blooms’ and accords that ‘plunge into dark spices’. My my, pass me a fan and call me blushed.
Now here’s what you’ll really get: a white floral. And spices? They make a flaccid appearance, yes. Blooms? Sure, but they are so well behaved you could take them to a church social and let them sell cakes.
Oh, and plunges? Only into mediocrity.
I can’t say this is a stinker, however. I liked it for a sample run, but I”ll probably pass it along. The dry down ‘edges out’, becoming less white and more soul, which is nice.
But hey- if anyone is looking for a tantalizing swapping experience that will leave you gasping for more, let me know.
andreyehfufy – :
I’ve never been a huge fan of strong lily notes, but this fragrance is an exception. I’m about to make a rather strange comparison here, but this is what my nose is telling me, so:
Lily & Spice smells very similar to Thunderstorm by Demeter on my skin…plus lilies. Dirty lilies, not fresh-cut lilies in a vase…not dirty in an animalic way, but dirty in an earthy way. Lilies growing up out of the soil with the scent of the ground surrounding them after it has rained.
This similarity truly surprised me, as I haven’t detected another accord like the one Thunderstorm contains that genuinely replicates the smell of wet, earthy ground. I do get a hint of spices here and there, especially the last few hours with a pinch of patchouli.
Today’s lesson: Arrington likes her lilies dirty! 😛
2122008 – :
Tried a tester of this fragrance. At first just overpowering lilly. Those big beautiful pink and white lilies. Then a while later I get…. more lilies, but this time mingled with a smokey smell. If you love lilies this is your fragrance.
alex1987771 – :
very particular fragrance!i really appriciate the original mix between lilly and spicy notes, it is very suggestive and the lillies are sparkling and fresh.
Galalbult – :
Oh this is the most perfect lily perfume of all. My husband adores them so I bought it to surprise him . The spices don’t overwhelm but it’s longevity isn’t good so I will spray it on a silk scarf .
ptv171Unlogrere – :
Simply divine!
I had the opportunity of purchasing a 50ml bottle from mister_chaz, thank-you so much, and all I can say, I wish it was big enough to fill a bathtub with it so I could bathe in this utterly beautiful perfume!
It smells like a garden full of Casablanca lilies, the ones everybody buys at Easter, and spread heavenly scent all around the house.
There is a mystical quality to them, perhaps because they are called Easter lilies and have a religious association, somehow I believe they symbolize life after death, purity and transcendence.
That being said, the perfume is wonderful, airy, fully enveloping in an intoxicating lily scent, while the spice only appear subdued and in just enough quantity to bring a small dose of sexiness to this otherwise very virginal scent.
It’s addictive and natural smelling, a lovely floral, on me it’s more of a skin scent. I adore it!
panasoniczv – :
I approached Penhaligon LILY & SPICE with some trepidation, as the explicit mention of “spice” immediately called to mind “spice drawer” fumes, which I find too heavy handed. Happily, my worries were for naught.
LILY & SPICE is a beautiful floral composition in which lily looms VERY LARGE, and the spices–especially saffron–serve as complements. The saffron is definitely stronger than the clove here, which is a relief, since I easily o.d. on that note.
It’s not really possible to wear this very longlasting, big sillage floral edp–verging on perfume–without thinking of Easter. Lilies are literally everywhere. The wearer is transported on and through a fluffy cloud of lily petals for hours! I like this one a lot–though it’s officially a stinker (which, by the way, is a term of endearment in my private lexicon)–and will acquire a full bottle at some point, as I do not yet have a good lily perfume in my collection.
l1te – :
I bought this unsniffed as a substitute for Un lys, which I found far too expensive considering how rarely I would use it, and it does a great job at substituting that gem I crave.
A bit sweeter, a bit less smooth and less rounded, a bit more earthy and sparkling at the same time, it’s a beautiful scent of spicy lilies on a base of patchouli and musk (I don’t get much vanilla, thankfully). Has medium sillage, but is remarkably long-lasting. One spray lasts all day, which is a wonder given the heat wave we are experiencing right now.
I might end up using it a lot more than I thought I would, especially during summer:-)
incornRofTict – :
Definitely lilies. Lots of them. With a bitterish bite: saffron. And everything is covered in a spicy-clove envelop with a pepper note as a stamp.
The dry down is quite oriental. I can see this fragrance bringing a headache to the delicate noses: patchouli , vanilla, benzoin with a hint of musk.
Strong fragrance that reminds me of Easter Sunday Mass: intoxicating lilies and heavy oriental perfumes. Interesting construction but I was expecting something else… Maybe love at the first sniff. That didn’t happen. It is not going to make my “want” list but I appreciate the good composition.
7.5/10
PS 08/09 I was comparing Un Lys and Lily and Spice.
I was really trying to love this fragrance. I had good intentions. Unfortunately it failed. Badly. Somehow, at the first try, I didn’t notice an awful tone that comes in 20-25 min after application. It stays strong for 30 min or so and blends in after, becoming less noticeable. I can’t believe I didn’t notice it in the past … It is hard to find a name for it… it reminds me of animal waste. (I would love if somebody else could do the same comparison.)
It is difficult to understand where it is coming from. I would guess the saffron, musk and patchouli combination could create this. I don’t know.
All I can say… the cleanness of the other perfume made more evident the dirtiness of this one.
Really sorry. 06/10 as I still like the opening notes and the dry down.
gadj_g – :
I bought this on a clearout without smelling it before. I was sure you can’t do wrong when it comes to Penhaligon’s scents. I was so disappointed, when I took the first sniff and hoped the scent would turn out to something more subtle and light. Unfortunately it didn’t. The Lilies were nice but the spices gave me headaches, it’s such a strong perfume, I wouldn’t recommend it to pple who like floral scents.
Riana906 – :
Lily & Spice has a very oriental feel – rich, delicately spiced & with a deep, soft sweetness.
It is ALL about the lilies. It is like the enjoyment you get from burying your nose into those heady, white Madonna lilies without getting the annoying, staining yellow pollen on your face.
Normally, I find saffron too metallic, but here it is hardly noticable. The clove is added with an equally delicate touch. There is a gentle resinous feel to the base of this perfume that mingles well with the patchouli. All-in-all these notes combine to simply enhance the scent of the Madonna lilies – they are supporting actors to the starlet on the stage.
The lasting power is good & it is a lovely scent for cooler weather, being slightly powdery & having that amber glow. Lily & Spice is one of my favourite Penhaligon’s perfumes – well worth a try if you are a lily-lover or enjoy classy, warm florientals.
Ollgis – :
This really does smell of lilies. Those huge white lilies that you put in a big vase and wait for them to open, and when they do the fragrance drifts through the whole house for several days.
When the perfume has had a little time to settle, the spices do become noticable, and add a little warmth. But to me, at least, it is the lily that dominates throughout. It is quite powerful – a little goes a long way – and I find that it lasts well on me. Overall a very well made fragrance – but you have to really like the smell of lilies to enjoy wearing it!