Hush Hush! Whisper who dares…

The full sentence that title comes from is “Hush, hush, whisper who dares, Christopher Robin is saying his prayers.” It’s from an A.A. Milne poem and although it doesn’t relate to this perfume, it does sort of relate to Sarah McCartney who made it, since like me, she grew up on Milne’s work. In fact the inspiration for 4160 Tuesdays Hush Hush couldn’t be diametrically further away from the innocence of childhood.

A collaboration between Sarah McCartney and amazing vlogger Smurfy Girly aka Claire Sprigmore, Hush Hush should ideally be worn in a Paris nightclub whilst wearing a trouser suit a la Dietrich and smoking defiantly, because why should men have all the fun? If you are anti smoking, just go with it for now, it was more about emancipation anyway. Now then, what does it smell like? Well I can tell you exactly how it smells because I visited the 4160 Tuesdays studio in Hammersmith, always total heaven for a sniffer, and left with a travel sized bottle (and other goodies, more of which anon).

Hush Hush has three of my favourites: violet, musk and iris. Iris is not only the name of my beautiful late grandmother, but it can wear several alluring disguises. In my mind’s eye, it can smell like expensive dove grey suede or the inside of a new car. It can also smell like linen or a ream of unused paper. It can also smell rich and buttery with a hint of violets or even carrots. But to my nose, it always smells luxurious and expensive. If you’re buying it in as an ingredient, it IS expensive. When perfumers gossip they say things like “Have you SEEN the price of orris butter lately? Don’t get me started on vanillin!”

Behind the scenes, Claire and Sarah were thinking flappers, violets, a touch of rebellion and empty cigarette packets. The latter is particularly vivid to me having grown up the seventies when smoking was so widespread it was almost rude not to. I have memories of sniffing packets of Embassy Regal back in the day.

So does Hush Hush succeed in meeting the brief and pleasing this perfume lover? Yes and yes. Hush Hush has a distinct twenties glamour not really found in modern launches these days. There’s a touch of talc, the purity of violets and the respectability of posh- girl iris. For those of us who were born in the wrong decade, it can be hard to find a new release that pleases, but this one does, in spades. It’s feminine, sophisticated, makes you smell expensive even when you’re dressed by charity shops (Hello!) and has a touch of mischief about it that puts a twinkle in your eye. Verdict? Colour me purple and pop me in a flapper dress.

Check out the video here and get the story from Claire and Sarah themselves.

Where to get hold of it.

You can buy 4160 Tuesdays Hush Hush from the brand website, using this link. Prices start at £40.

Disclosure

This article was written in 2023. I was given my 9ml bottle (no longer used commercially) by Sarah, in person, over a cuppa. Opinions are always my own and she has never asked me to write about her stuff.