Rory Hutton x Penhaligon’s: Celebrating 155 Years of Fragrance and Heritage in Silk
A Collaboration Rooted in Scent and Story
Since 2018, alongside creating my own collections of silk accessories, I’ve had the joy of collaborating with over fifty museums, galleries, theatres, and historic houses across the United Kingdom. These projects have indulged my passion for history and encouraged me to step beyond my usual favourites — namely the decorative arts of 18th-century France and the splendour of British gardens.
From The World of Stonehenge at the British Museum to Wagner’s Ring Cycle at the Royal Opera House, each collaboration has offered new learning. The curators and buyers I’ve met along the way have generously shared their knowledge and insight, and I’ve sought to capture their enthusiasm in print — through linocuts, and ultimately, on silk.
This year, however, brought a different kind of invitation. Not from a museum, but from a heritage brand. Not a historic site, but a fragrance house — one with a global presence and a distinctly British heart: Penhaligon’s.
A Fragrant Milestone
Founded in 1870, Penhaligon’s is a name synonymous with British perfumery, elegance, and eccentricity. The opportunity? To help mark their 155th anniversary in suitably fragrant fashion.
Together, we created a commemorative silk scarf, a matching twilly, bespoke point-of-sale packaging, and a small range for the gift shop accompanying their travelling exhibition.
A Heritage of Commemoration
Commemorative design has become something of a signature for me. In 2023 alone, I created three coronation scarves for King Charles III and Queen Camilla — each commissioned by an institution with deep royal ties: Highgrove, Westminster Abbey, and the National Portrait Gallery.
The year before, I designed both a Platinum Jubilee scarf and a memorial scarf for Queen Elizabeth II, again for Westminster Abbey.
So I welcomed the challenge: how to encapsulate 155 years of British fragrance on a 70x70cm square of silk?
Distilling History
One of the great joys of collaboration is becoming part of a team — even if only for a time. Working with Penhaligon’s was no exception.
Together, we delved into their rich archive and reflected on the cultural figures who have worn their perfumes over the decades. To my delight, these included icons I’ve long admired — Oscar Wilde and Maria Callas, both devoted to Hammam Bouquet. I wear it now, too.
This deep well of history — rich with ritual, scent, and storytelling — became the heart of the design.
A Silk Tribute to Scent and Tradition
The scarf is layered with references: signature Penhaligon’s perfume bottles, traditional barber’s tools evoking the brand’s founder William Penhaligon, and at the centre, a lion — symbol of strength, heritage, and the many royal warrants the brand has held.
Floral bouquets and ripe fruits nod to beloved Penhaligon’s scents, while a leather-bound recipe book hints at the guarded secrets passed down through generations.
The result is a bold, graphic composition. Linocut forms lend a contemporary edge while honouring tradition. And the colour? A vibrant custom shade named William’s Green, in tribute to the brand’s founder.
Perfume as Poetry
This scarf is more than a celebration of a milestone — it is a love letter to a brand that has enchanted seekers and sensualists for over a century and a half. At its heart, Penhaligon’s is about alchemy: turning memory into scent, and scent into story.
It’s been a joy to contribute to that story.
Available Now
Priced at £95, the limited-edition 70x70cm silk scarf will be available exclusively at Penhaligon's Eau So British traveling exhibition. priced at £95.
A matching twilly, adorned with the same motifs, will be offered as a gift with purchases during the anniversary celebrations.
For future rebels and lovers of fragrance and history alike, I hope this design brings as much joy to wear as it did to create.
P.S. If you'd like to see the design come to life and hear more about the story behind it, you can watch the short film on YouTube here.