Penhaligon’s Fortuitous Finley

Why We Love It:

We love it… but it lets us down.

Fortuitous Finley by Penhaligon’s is a beautifully crafted scent with all the elegance and charm you’d expect – but it struggles to deliver where it counts: performance.

Fresh from Penhaligon’s Portraits Collection – their fictional world of aristocrats, scandals, and secret affairs – Finley is introduced as the handsome gardener. Think mid-to-late 30s, strong hands, slight roughness, but refined around the edges. It’s a character-driven concept that really works, and the scent tells his story well.

Finley centres on pistachio, but this isn’t the cloying, sugary nut note we saw everywhere last year. It’s dry, flaky, and subtly woody – lifted with a soft violet note for brightness and grounded by a smooth suede leather base. Creamy, earthy, and elegant. It’s refined and grown-up. It’s not a trend-chaser, but something with staying power… in idea, if not in performance.

But for £245 (75ml), it just doesn’t last. Two hours in, it’s barely there. A whisper of pistachio and leather on the skin. Gorgeous while it’s alive, but sadly short-lived.

If you love the Portraits concept and appreciate subtle, skin-close fragrances, Finley will charm you. But if you’re looking for a powerhouse with projection and presence, this one might leave you wanting more.