Czech and Speake

‘A modern and luxurious take on tradition’

When Frank Sawkins founded Czech & Speake in 1978 bathrooms were bog standard. Happily the success of his range of elegant fittings was so resounding that he opened a store at No. 39 Jermyn Street with ‘the bathroom as a sanctuary’ as his mantra. Soon after the development of beguiling and enchanting scents were added to his professional vocation.

No.88 (named after his studio opposite the store) rapidly had a cult following and it remains his most complex fragrance to date. It combines fresh top notes of Bergamot with the richness of Geranium, Rose Otto and Frangipani and lingering base notes of Vetiver and Sandalwood. More than thirty years on Czech & Speake Czech are continue to produce unique and innovative fragrances (the latest is Spanish Cedar) alongside an expanding range of covetable leather and grooming accessories.

In a world where superbrands concoct new fragrances in focus groups an experienced ‘nose’ is always welcome, and when it comes to good old fashioned olfactory alchemy, Frank Sawkins at Czech and Speake takes some beating! Here at The Grooming Guide not only salute Sawkins resolutely modern take on tradition we also appreciate the fact that for him the creation of luxury products starts with artistic considerations rather than marketing strategies.

The unstoppable Sawkins continues to research and compose as he criss-crosses the globe and here at The Grooming Guide we look forward to sampling the fragrant results of his next voyage.

Nick Cox

Czech and Speake
39c Jermyn Street
London SW1Y 6DN

Czech and Speake
54 Pimlico Rd
London SW1W 8LP

Phone: +44 (0)20 7439 0216
Fax: +44 (0)20 7734 8587

21 May, 2014