Spotlight Fragrance for June : Penhaligon's English Fern & Geo. F. Trumper Wild Fern

[maxman]

Spotlight Fragrance for June
Penhaligon's English Fern & Geo. F. Trumper Wild Fern

Penhaligon's English Fern Created in 1910, English Fern is a completely unique, fresh and earthy tonic of a fragrance. Field-fresh clover, lavender and geranium bed down with woods, patchouli and moss to create a rich, spiced green scent that oozes Englishness. It captures that slightly soapy, just washed feeling with elegance and a touch of sensuality. English Fern is a finely balanced fougere for men and women looking for something a bit different. Top notes: Lavender and Geranium Middle notes: Cloves Base notes: Sandalwood, Patchouli and Oakmoss

Geo. F. Trumper Wild Fern he warm, leafy fougere aroma is intensified by sensual, woody notes featuring musk and oak moss, with a hint of pachouli. A truly unique and magical experience. Top notes: Bergamot, Lavender, Rosemary, Basil Middle notes: Carnation, Geranium, Fern Base notes: Oakmoss, Musk, Patchouli

[maxman]

Sorry I'm late on this one guys. I've been either sick or busy or both.
This will be the last one while I re work the idea.
Keep your suggestions coming.

If we've helped just one person have fun with fragrances, then we've done our job.

[Rudy Vey]

Like them both! Great classic scents!

[Quintar]

I haven't worn them side by side but after wearing both of them, they smell pretty identical. I'll have to put a spray of each on each wrist to tease out the differences...
They both smell green and soapy. At first I thought they weren't for me at all, they have a bitterness to them, but after a couple wearings I warmed up to them a bit. They work well in the heat, are nice for office wear and last the whole workday on me.
They also helped me really identify what makes something a fougere. I have many aromatic or fresh fougeres: azzaro, quorum, drakkar noir, agua brava, Jazz, paco rabanne, etc., etc. They all smell different and I could never really smell the "fern" (lavender, oakmoss, coumarin) accord that defines this whole category of perfumes. I think English and Wild Fern are pretty pared down, basic simple, straight fougeres and after wearing them I started smelling the same scent underneath many of my other fougeres.

[cernel_joson]

They're both pretty close, but English Fern definitely has a lot more lavender than Wild Fern to my nose. That gives it a more harsh opening. In any case these are great scents for people who love the smell of being right out of the shower, which is nearly everyone as far as I know. Also, I don't know if any of you have actually smelled ferns, but they're pretty acrid smelling. What these scents do seem to reference are damp, cool woods where ferns have just leafed out and briar flowers are blooming. Wonderful.

[maxman]

Well I don't have much to contribute.
I don't like either of them.

None of the Trumper fragrances appeal to me they just smell old and out of style.
Pen's frags are nice, but this one isn't one of my favourites.

[Dennard]

They both smell good to me. I have enjoyed English Fern since I ordered a sample a couple of years ago. And I prefer it to Wild Fern.

[Austin]

I owned both but favor Pen's version.

[hotreds]

Don't really care for either, Trumper's is a little less objectionable to my nose.

[erickson]

A white sport coat and a pink carnation! In addition to carnations and fern, I get black pepper which I really like in a frag. I can see wearing this frag for floral occassions such as weddings, anniversries, graduations, etc., but I do not think Wild Fern is an appropriate frag for use in the work place.

[erickson]

English Fern is not as floral as Wild Fern, but it also lacks its spiciness. Instead, English Fern comes across more of a soapy frag to me and is more suitable for the office than Wild Fern. Both frags have good projection and last all day on my skin.

[the_edski]

Mission most definitely accomplished!

If we've helped just one person have fun with fragrances, then we've done our job.

[Obsessed]

A white sport coat and a pink carnation!

Pleas don't embarrass Mr. Bond. That's a dinner jacket.

[BillC]

Very similar to my nose. English Fern seems sharper, Wild Fern has some of the edges worn down. Wild Fern - like every Trumper fragrance I've tried - just doesn't seem to last on me. English Fern, on the other hand, lasts all day. I prefer the assertive character of EF, add in the longevity and EF is the easy choice for me.

[Kevan]

English Fern is more nuanced to my nose. There's just more going on, even though they're both very close in terms of overall scent. The Pens is richer and for that trait I like it, but I also would never wear it. The florals in it have projection and tenacity that do not wear on me and might be a tad strong for some people.

Another pens scent that I can admire but never wear personally.

[Lamb Root]

I never tried Wild Fern, but I tried EF the other day in the afternoon. It's too heavy for me during summer. In the cold part of the year, winter jackets and all, it's just fine.

[djh]

Late in again- I have, wear and really enjoy both of these. Great fragrances- perhaps the Wild Fern is a little warmer.

[Phog Allen]

Well I am later than everyone but what the heck? It is never too late for a fougere conversation. I have a 50ml atomiser of Wild Fern. I like it and it wears okay on me. Definitley a spice note(pepper?) as it dries down according to swmbo. Then it settles down to the classic lavender/moss>fern scent. On me it is a very dry scent. I have used the English Fern from sample vials. Love it. It was not as dry on me after the dry down and I did not get the peppery note on that dry down either. Saying all that the scents are very similar and if I were away from my WF for any length of time I would probably have a tough time calling the differences in a blind test. The biggest grump I have is that Trumper discontinued their aftershave in this fragrance. It really is my favourite way to wear the style and the Pengaligons being close on $100 now for the a/s makes it prohibitive. The Trumper was a good compromise between performance and price. I truly wish there wss an economical a/s produced in this scent.

Cheers, Todd

[Phog Allen]

You know, after looking at the notes list for WF I suspect the peppery type note I detect is the basil. Basil is pretty sharp at times. And I never thought about clove in the EF but I suspect it is the reason I didn't find it as dry as Trumper's version.

Cheers, Todd

[Schad]

Have never tried WF, but I'm a fan of EF. It's actually more complex through it's top, middle, base notes than I would have assumed.