Words: Zoe Dickens
In association with:
When Czech & Speake founder Frank Sawkins was searching for a way to market his new luxury bathroom fittings company back in the 1980s, he hit on an innovative idea: why not create a fragrance that would invoke the indulgence of a lavish bathing experience?
Set on the idea, Sawkins began hunting for inspiration for the scent and found it in his own life. “The creation of the fragrance came from my first experiences of New York in the late 70s,” he explains. “This to me was the golden period and I was introduced to artists, photographers and writers. NYC had the best department stores with wonderful fragrance halls offering a huge variety of fragrance especially for men who were a multicultural mix but with a desire for a fragrance from an ‘English tradition’.” And thus No. 88, named for the company’s design studio at No. 88 Jermyn Street, was born.
Ageless and graceful, No. 88 opens with fresh notes of bergamot before developing into a warm and rich middle of geranium, rose otto, cassia and frangipani. A base of vetiver and sandalwood, meanwhile, adds complex smoky layers that linger enticingly on the skin. Blended using only the finest essential oils and raw ingredients, and offered in a striking black bottle with a subtle gloss label, the fragrance was an instant hit – spawning a hugely successful sideline in fine scents and grooming accessories that continues to thrive today.
However, in the more than three decades since it was launched, No. 88 remains Czech & Speake’s best selling fragrance. Why? Its classic scent, while originally marketed to men, is also loved by women while its delicate and carefully balanced fragrance boasts the kind of complexity that continues to enthral fans wear after wear. No 88 is not a scent you tire of easily.
So if you have yet to discover it for yourself, or are searching for the perfect Christmas gift for that notoriously picky fragrance lover, now is the perfect time to invest in No. 88. Thanks to its success, the No. 88 collection has expanded far beyond a simple fragrance, so there’s a whole range of grooming and scent gifting options to choose from.
Looking to upgrade your morning shave? The No. 88 collection offers both full and travel size shaving sets, including a razor, shaving brush, soap and dish – all of which can also be bought as separate components – to turn a quick morning chore into a luxurious daily grooming ritual. Finish it all with a quick splash of No. 88 aftershave to set you up for whatever the day has to bring.
Equally there’s a whole range of bath and body offerings to elevate your morning rinse into a sublime way to start the day. Place a No. 88 bar soap on your sink, pop a bottle of No. 88 body wash in your shower and add a shaker of moisturising No. 88 body and bathing oil to your bathroom cabinet for a quick hit of refinement and elegance throughout the day.
For the fragrance purists, however, there is something in the No. 88 collection for everyone. Available as a cologne spray, eau de parfum or in a travel size collection (ideal for filling stockings), however you prefer to get your daily dose of scent, Czech & Speake has you covered. Shop now and thank us for the introduction later.
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