Penhaligon’s Portraits is a long-running series of an aristocratic family drama gone wild. There’s intrigue, romance, forbidden romance and… murder? (Wait, there is no suspicious death… at least not yet.) As the narrative progresses, so does the stable of characters; each of them is an animal and the scent contained within, a complement to its personality. The bottle is slightly heavier and is topped with a polished animal head, inspired by the character it represents; the package is designed, as ever, by Kristjana Williams.

So far there’s Lord George who has a mistress, Clara, outside of his marriage with Lady Blanche who plots to get back at him. Their daughter, Duchess Rose, is wedded to Duke Nelson and they are not happy about their marital arrangement. Oh yeah, there’s also Radcliff, the illegitimate son of Lord George and Clara (the scandal). In this latest chapter, another player enters the scene, this time he takes on the form of the mythical. Meet Arthur, who’s a muthalovin’ dragon. His backstory has him, after a brief run-in with the law, return from the Orient (wait, is it still cool to say ‘Orient’?). Why is he back? Does he have an agenda? I’m actually more curious that dragons are canon in Penhaligon’s Portraits series.

But what does Arthur smell like? Imagine a serene garden with a strong incense at the start before you come to its sage heart and then end with the nutty profile of tonka beans and frankincense. It is that nuanced characteristics that add a little more kick to the unfolding drama that is Penhaligon’s Portraits.

Penhaligon’s Portraits’ The World According to Arthur retails for SGD420 and is available online and at all Penhaligon’s boutiques.