Heraldic Workshop from the Art Studio Traditions of Times LLC

Late 19th century. London. Fog creeping across Covent Garden. The jingle of horse-drawn carriages and the rustle of silk skirts will soon be replaced by the roar of the first automobiles. After all, in those years, London was the largest city in the world. It was the center of trade, finance, and politics. Technological progress influenced many areas of society and inspired creative individuals. People like William Henry Penhaligon, a barber and perfumer from Cornwall, or more precisely, Penzance, who opened a tiny shop on Jermyn Street. His clients were initially simple gentlemen wanting to look good, and later, Victorian aristocrats, actors, and royalty, for some of whom he had fragrances created personally. For example, Blenheim Bouquet (1902) was created for Sir Charles Spencer Churchill, 9th Duke of Marlborough. And the very first fragrance, Hammam Bouquet (1872), smelling of Turkish rose and cedar, was created as a reminiscence of the Turkish baths popular among the nobility at the time. It so happened that this perfume became the first in the long story of the perfume brand. In 2025, the house of Penhaligon's crossed the 150-year mark and celebrated its 155th anniversary.

There's always one person who starts it all. They don't usually plan their story in advance, even for generations to come. They simply follow inspiration. William Henry Penhaligon was one such person. He sought his own harmony, his own golden mean in fragrances. And apparently, he found it. Queen Victoria used his products. Penhaligon's fragrances were granted a royal warrant, which brought privileges but also responsibility. The warrant was issued by decree of Queen Alexandra, wife of King Edward VII. William, and later his son Walter, drew inspiration from the life around them, from nature, from the professions of Londoners, from their travels, and dedicated their fragrances to this. Incidentally, it was Walter Penhaligon, continuing his father's work, who created a unique interpretation of the English Fern fragrance. This perfume has long been considered a cult classic, celebrating the British countryside and forest. The history of the perfume brand spans over a century and a half; ownership has changed, but the Penhaligon's name has endured, as has the tradition of creating fragrances. Some of these fragrances remain popular, while others have been discontinued. But new ones have also appeared. The Portraits series of fragrances is very interesting. This collection tells the entire story of one aristocratic family. Their family history is laid out like a family tree, a genealogy. Each character is depicted and assigned a fragrance and a spirit animal. In fact, the caps, shaped like animal figures, adorn the bottles of the Portraits series of fragrances.

So, imagine England, Victorian era, the elegant and cozy ancestral estate of a typical British family. Looking at their family tree, you can easily picture the following characters. By the luxurious fireplace, the head of the family, Lord George, sips his favorite drink, rocking in an armchair. However, he doesn’t mind spending time outdoors, hunting on his lands. Penhaligon’s sees him in the form of a noble stag. This fragrance was released under the name The Tragedy of Lord George. It is paired with the cold, like London rain, socialite Lady Blanche. Her leopard, a sign of inaccessibility and hidden strength. Although she is the child of wealthy parents, she still married for convenience. Lady Blanche wears her title, manners, and fortune with dignity. The name of this perfume is The Revenge of Lady Blanche. Of course, these two have a daughter named Rose. The young Duchess is fresh and beautiful. She inherited the best traits from her parents, although her marriage, as they say, was not very happy. But she can take care of herself; her fragrance is presented in the form of a fox, called The Coveted Duchess Rose. As we already know, Duchess Rose is married. And her husband is none other than Duke, that's what they call him at home. Duke means duke. And believe me, he lives up to his title. Duke shines at social events, he is flamboyant and outrageous, a great connoisseur of opera. He is personified by a foxhound, and the fragrance Much ado about the Duke. The story could have ended there. However, the perfume house Penhaligon's decided to continue the story. Why not? When there is such an idea, intrigue only adds to the interest.

The same Portraits collection from Penhaligon's. But the characters are new. The beautiful Clara, she travels a lot, but now she decided to stay at the house of Lord George. She is in the form of a peacock, and with the scent of Clandestine Clara. And of course, how can an estate exist without an omnipresent butler. He is played by Mr. Thompson, he always knows everything and keeps secrets. His totem is an elephant, called The omniscient Mr. Thompson. The fragrance Changing Constance, in the form of a doe, represents a girl, outwardly beautiful but aloof, but with a kind heart. She fights for women's rights. And does as she pleases. The family tree grows. And the next character in this family story is a young man named Arthur. Apparently, he is Lord George's brother, and he loves to travel, recently returned from his travels. He amazes the family with Eastern wisdom. His bottle with a dragon figurine, called "The World According to Arthur," continued the fragrance series, and the characters remained. Interestingly, this collection attracts attention both for the fragrances themselves and for its unusual presentation. Animals have always been associated with human character traits. This is clearly evident in heraldry. Here, animals can appear in family or personal coats of arms, either as supporters, as figures on the shield, or crowning the coat of arms with their presence on the helmet. And each animal has its own significance in heraldry.

Interestingly, heraldry features animals that, so to speak, don't exist in nature. They emerged due to insufficient study of the natural world. Heraldry is an ancient historical discipline, and in those days the world wasn't as well-understood as it is today. Therefore, upon seeing wild animals in passing, people often drew them in, imagined their image, in other words, imagined them. This is how the unicorn, pegasus, phoenix, martlet, dragon, and merlion (also known as the sea lion) were created. With the development of symbolism, these animals were endowed with characteristics and specific meanings. It was also popular to depict such unknown animals on shields to intimidate enemies. Here is a brief description. The phoenix, a fantastical bird that rises from the ashes, is a symbol of eternity and victory over fate. The unicorn, most often a white horse with a horn on its forehead, is a symbol of purity, innocence, firmness, and strength. The martlet is a fantastical messenger bird, the size of a swallow. Because it is constantly on the move, it lacks legs, often depicting tufts of feathers instead. In heraldry, the martlet most often symbolizes a fourth son. In the age of knights, a martlet on a coat of arms could signify daughters whose father was a knight. Pegasus, besides heraldry, is recognizable in Greek mythology. In heraldry, it is a winged white horse. This symbol is suitable for those who wish to depict contemplation, eloquence, and glory in their coat of arms. The Merlion, or sea lion, is half lion, half fish. This fantastical heraldic animal. In heraldry, the Merlion possesses fearlessness in the face of danger, possesses courage and fortitude, and has dominion over the element of water. And the dragon is known for a wide variety of roles in fairy tales and legends. In heraldry, the dragon is a composite image: the body of a crocodile, the head and claws of an eagle, and the wings of a bat. The dragon can be both a destroyer and a protector, depending on who is looking at it. It can symbolize negative traits, but in European heraldry, it often signifies wisdom, strength, and power.

These creatures have long adorned coats of arms. They remain present in the art world, across various fields, to this day. Because everything great is symbolic. And everything symbolic has something personal. Penhaligon's fragrances and heraldry are two art forms where animals convey not just the roar of beasts, but human stories. Both are capable of conveying essence through imagery. Incidentally, the perfume brand Penhaligon's offers a personalization service. Perhaps your coat of arms will shine on the bottle of your favorite fragrance, alongside the royal coat of arms. Penhaligon's, as a supplier to the royal court, is permitted to use the coat of arms.

Photos from Instagram: penhaligons, gerb_family