Czech & Speake

Independent London niche house focused on classic English, grooming-adjacent compositions.

Niche Official Website

About Czech & Speake

Czech & Speake was founded in 1978 by Frank Sawkins in London's Jermyn Street, where the company built its reputation first in luxury bathroom fittings, accessories, and grooming goods before moving into fragrance. Sources note that the first fragrance appeared in 1980, and the brand has since developed a perfume line of more than 20 scents.

Its fragrance identity is strongly tied to classic English composition rather than trend-driven sweetness. The best-known example is No. 88, named after the company’s design studio at 88 Jermyn Street and presented as a distinctly English scent with aromatic woods, herbs, and old-school masculinity. Czech & Speake still positions itself as an independent, family-owned London brand, and its perfumes tend to sit in the refined, tailored niche rather than the loud designer mainstream.

At a Glance

The Brand

Founded 1978
Founder Frank Sawkins
Country United Kingdom
Category Niche

Scent Personality

Sweetness
Low
Freshness
High
Boldness
Moderate
Uniqueness
High

Worth It?

Price ££££
Value
Moderate
Accessibility
Moderate

Scent DNA

Aromatic woody citrus herbal fougere
  • The brand is best known for restrained, gentlemanly blends that feel polished rather than flashy
  • Many compositions lean dry, aromatic, and woody, with a heritage British barbershop feel and a generally understated presentation
  • It is not a sweet-fragrance house; the signatures are cleaner, more herbal, and often quite traditional

Top Notes

Grapefruit Neroli Lemon Bergamot Lavender

Heart Notes

Geranium Jasmine Clary Sage Rosemary Carnation

Base Notes

Musk Cedar Sandalwood Oakmoss Vetiver

Typical Performance

Longevity
Moderate
Projection
Moderate

Positioning

A niche, luxury house known for aromatic compositions.

How It Compares

Who It's For

Best For

  • office wear
  • smart casual settings
  • men who prefer classic scents
  • fans of aromatic woody fragrances
  • spring and autumn

Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths

  • clear British identity
  • wearable without being generic
  • good for people who dislike sweetness
  • distinctive classic masculine styling

Weaknesses

  • can feel old-fashioned to modern tastes
  • not very versatile for lovers of gourmand or amber-heavy perfumes
  • some scents may seem understated or reserved
  • brand awareness is lower than major designer houses

Brand Evolution

The brand began as a luxury bathroom and grooming business and later added fragrance as an extension of that lifestyle world. Over time, its scent range has stayed consistent with its English tailoring roots rather than chasing modern mass-market tastes. The line has expanded, but the core language remains aromatic, woody, and heritage-driven.

Quick Verdict

Czech & Speake is a real niche brand with a clear point of view, not a fashion-led fragrance label. If you want polished, traditional English masculinity in scent form, it delivers; if you want sweetness, novelty, or big performance, look elsewhere.

Perfumers

John Stephen
John Stephen 3

Czech & Speake Perfumes

Browse all 22 Czech & Speake perfumes