Racquets Formula (1989)
by Penhaligon's

I thought this would but like a Lacoste, Polo or some other "sporty" scent for golfers, tennis players or other gentlemen style sports. I'm surprised that this is more of a huge citrus powder with a quince tartness to it (the clove I suppose). Lasts a good while. It smells "barbershop"-ish to me. Actually, I imagine this is what those big ol' powdered wigs that the judges wore back in the 1700's.

I'm surprised nobody thus far has picked up Racquets Formula being so similar to Heritage.

When I first went into one of the Penhaligon's stores to try this, the first thing I said when I put some of the EDT on the back of my hand was "I already have a fragrance that smells like this, Guerlain Heritage".

Racquets is a good fragrance if you haven't got Heritage, it shares some of the same qualities - but Heritage is the better of the two.

Racquets Formula, in my opinion, is both mis-named and mis-classified. “Racquets” suggests a summery-crisp green scent, a sporty tonic to be splashed on after a tennis match at Lords. Penhaligon classifies Racquets as a citrus scent. Having tried it, I would say it is a semi-oriental with minimal citrus. It has rich spices and an equally rich amber/powder backbone. There is only about 5 seconds worth of citrus at the beginning. Those citrus notes are immediately softened and immersed in the florals. Lovely spices and pleasant wood notes are noticeable, in particular the frankincense interacts well with the cedar. It is a complex and lovely scent, with many layers and stages. The dry-down has beautiful moments, as the vetiver mingles with musk and incense. But it still retains a powdery-amber aspect, thus it is a little too rich for my liking.

This is a most unusual scent - oceanic, powdery, with a marshmallow-like air (clove and a bit of rose). Unique, interesting, but not for constant wear. This is best as a seasonal scent.

14 notes:

Top: Geranium, Lemon, Lavender, Bergamot, Lime
Middle: Rose, Ylang Ylang, Clove, Cedarwood
Base: Musk, Amber, Oakmoss, Vetiver, Frankincense

The_good_life has it pegged -- this is a lovely and expensive English soap. I'm surprised as hell that this fine, soapy chypre came out in only 1989, as it has a distinctly Edwardian feel to it.

Distinctive, crisp, pure class.

Easily the longest lasting (along with Hammam Bouquet) of the Penhaligons frags for men.

If you fashion yourself a prep-master with a Range Rover; a golden retriever; a Ralph Lauren lifestyle, or wish to have such things in the future, Racquets is a better option for a scent than the RL stuff which is too obvious. A wonderful 25-40 year old man's fragrance with all the right connections and associations. Very nice, classy, subtle. Hard to explain.