Clive Christian The Private Collection Men’s Perfume Review - Seductive For Life’s Memorable Moments

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A striking collection of perfumes that celebrate the extraordinary moments of a life’s work brought to vivid, fragrant life. Drawing on the inspirations and encounters that have permeated Clive Christian’s world – from infancy to royal recognition.

Seductive, with a fondness to be carried on the air, the anticipation laced with memories fills the senses. The private collection marries the illustrious heritage of a revered perfume house and its propensity for skilled artistry with a modern sensibility led by Clive’s very own experiences and influences.

The result is a perfumed interpretation that feels contemporary, fresh and thoroughly befitting of today’s fragrance tastes, while keeping true to the complex and intense concentration that Clive Christian is best known for. It provides an intimate glimpse inside a world where creativity, craftsmanship and a love of luxury is king. The Private Collection is an homage to the life of a true curator.


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The use of illuminated letters in The Private Collection were chosen as a nod to the graphical elements that are made up in Clive Christian’s OBE, given in recognition of his services to British luxury design.

C Green Floral, 50ml $395 100ml $625

A perfume that provides an aromatic journey through some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. Evoking the invigorating beauty of the Scottish landscape, from its frothy coastal edges to its rugged mountain peaks, the perfume explores the fragrant facets of Clive Christian’s place of birth, his very own exquisite corner of the globe. Exploring the terrain so majestic and mysterious in its vastness, yet so familiar to Clive as a young child growing up, the perfume is the essence of Clive’s own nostalgia brought sharply into focus. Encompassing the green tang of moss-covered rocks, the sweetness of wild flowers, the woodiness of heather and the salty whip of the wind, the perfume captures a moment of bold freshness that summons the deeply elemental and awe-inspiring allure of the vista.

C Woody Leather, 50ml $395 100ml $625

Recalling the majesty of the Scottish wilderness, the perfume is a sensory discovery, a childhood recollection brought to vivid life. Born entirely of Clive Christian’s own memories, those deeply personal and potent entities, this is a fragrance with awesome power of immediate evocation, transporting you to the place where the North Sea meets the Atlantic, to mysterious brooding skies swollen with thunderous clouds, to the still, dark and deep waters of the lochs. While often brutal in its desolation, the sweeping grandeur and unending natural beauty of the landscape studded with the vibrant fuchsia of bell heather, reinvigorates the soul and irreversibly stirs the senses. It is from this starting point that this vibrant fragrance with its green leaves and oakmoss has been developed.

L Floral Chypre, 50ml $395

For the inquisitive young scholar, discovering the bustling metropolis of London and Edinburgh, with an abundance of museums, galleries, libraries and theatres was the epicentre of style and sophistication that opened his eyes to the idea and exploration of the concept of luxury craftsmanship. Finding inspiration in almost every corner he turned, from esteemed edifices, more contemporary cutting edge places, to the secret gardens and natural beauty of the open spaces, all fuelled his creative desire. The perfume, a vision borne from Clive’s own gifted mind, was born in homage to these cultural colossus — its sparkling top notes of pink pepper and peach in particular referencing the vibrant depth, breadth and variety of all he experienced.

L Woody Oriental, 50ml $395

Energetic and metropolitan cities, bursting with inspiration and brimming with possibility; it is the story of Clive Christian’s curiosity as a young scholar, that lends its narrative to the extraordinarily complex and smoky yet sweet aroma of this classic fragrance. Like the capital cities that it takes inspiration from, this is a perfume that captivates and entrances with its unexpected vivacity and surprising notes; this is bright lights, sophistication and cosmopolitan life in wonderfully fragrant form. Perfectly capturing the enigmatic spirit of some of the capitals best-kept secrets, this newly crafted perfume is awash with persuasive charm and the promise of discovery.

I Woody Floral, 50ml $395

Exploring the inextricable lure of a natural calling, the perfume conveys the very personal journey Clive Christian began when he discovered the world of luxury interiors. What started as simply a desire to create a beautiful home for his family, soon led to the realization of his natural talent, and one with such creative potency at its heart that it had to be shared with the world. Mirroring this chronicle of material magic is a perfume of striking complexity that encapsulates the delicious dichotomy between dark and light present throughout Clive’s interiors work. Unveiling itself as an interplay between a sense of depth and warmth provided by the rich mahogany marquetry, and the sparkling light and vibrancy of his signature Mother of Pearl inlay, the perfume is his perfected vision brought to life.

I Amber Oriental, 50ml $395

The jarring creak of an opening door, the earthy hum of exotic woods, the acrid tang of varnish: the perfume conjures all the intoxicating scents of a master workshop, and beyond it, the peaceful wooded enclaves that inspire much of Clive Christian’s luxurious design. Through the use of notes such as Atlas cedar and fir balsam, memorable signifiers of his revered work are invoked, and at once the wearer is overloaded with sensory experience, feeling the carving of the intricate wood panelling, smelling the rose-like aroma of scented woods and caressing the textured leather trims. Like its material counterparts crafted in the signature Clive Christian manner, the fragrance imbues its wearer with style, warmth and a depth of character synonymous with a taste for the finer things in life.

V Fruity Floral, 50ml $395

A classically trained dancer with a charismatic spirit and a curious mind, Clive Christian’s eldest daughter, his beloved Victoria, provides the inspiration behind one of the collection’s most exquisite perfumes. Possessing both elegance and grace from infancy, it was Victoria’s ceaseless passion for fragrance from a young age that inspired Clive’s acquisition of the esteemed Crown Perfumery Company years later. Bearing the same style and charm as its namesake, the fragrance is an olfactory dance for the senses, tantalizing them with bergamot, black pepper and frankincense and brimming with aromatic allure. It is a perfume that cavorts on the skin and reveals itself to its wearer with the rhythm and lyricism of a beautifully choreographed ballet.

V Amber Fougere, 50ml $395

Fuelled by his daughter Victoria’s deep-seated fascination with fragrance and antique perfume bottles, the discovery of the Crown Perfumery Company by Clive Christian, once revered to the point of patronage by Queen Victoria herself, was just the beginning of a mutual appreciation for fine fragrance, shared by father and daughter. Mingling woody, resinous notes with the uplifting scent of cassis, are beautifully captured in a perfume of stunning vintage quality.

E Green Fougere, 50ml $395

This is a perfume of royal spirit, a perfume with character and tenacity that will stand the test of time and still emerge as one of the most exalted perfumes in the collection. Glimpsed by Clive Christian on a visit to Buckingham Palace to collect the lifetime honour of his OBE, the perfume references the exacting elegance of the royal gardens complete with immaculate topiary and lush lawns. Expertly married with this is Clive’s own love of beautifully crafted landscaped gardens and the energy and vibrancy he felt on such a remarkable day. The resulting fragrance is a tributary triumph to a lifelong royal influence, a perfume with an aromatic herbal heart that’s brought to luminous life with the fresh outdoorsy notes of rose, lavender and narcissus.


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E Gourmande Oriental, 50ml $395

A perfume inspired by the opulent interiors of Buckingham Palace, where Clive Christian was inducted into the honours list and received his OBE for services to luxury British design from Queen Elizabeth II. Conjuring the grandeur of the palace through the use of some of the world’s finest ingredients, the fragrance perfectly encapsulates the aura of excellence that permeated this most auspicious of occasions. Inspired by the Fleur-de-lis he saw jostling for space amongst diamonds and intricate gold leafing, the palace’s abundant spirit spoke to Clive’s sense of craftsmanship and immediately upon arrival he felt compelled to create a magnificent sensory tribute. As well as expressing the sublime design detail of the palace and the momentous mood of the day, this rich and sumptuous perfume built around a resinous amber base, gives life to the overriding sense of pride and joy that Clive felt upon receiving his remarkable honour.

About Clive Christian Ltd

Clive Christian Ltd is a British luxury goods company specialising in premium perfume and high-end furnishings and interiors. The brand’s predecessor, the Crown Perfumery Company established in 1872, is the only house ever to have been granted permission to use Queen Victoria’s crown on its bottles. An image that defines every bottle of Clive Christian perfume to this day. In 1999 Clive Christian perfume launched the Original Collection which includes 1872, X and No.1. This was later followed by The Private Collection and more recently The Noble Collection and The Limited Edition Original Collection Twists


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All of the Clive Christian perfumes are sold by the world’s most prestigious retailers including Harrods, Fortnum & Mason, Selfridges, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Paris Galleries. The Company’s headquarters are in Mayfair, London. http://www.clivechristian.com