Clinique Aromatics Elixir Perfumer’s Reserve. Sometimes I pull bottles out of the back of my closet and think, wow there’s some good stuff back there that I put away. This is one such thing.
This came out for Christmas in 2011, it’s supposed to the same formula as the 1971 original. I haven’t smelled the original, and I actually don’t own a bottle of the current formulation. I’m sure 2011 me kept this bottle because it was pretty, but if they ever bring this out again, I sure hope they change the packaging. The stopper on this is not the tightest and it’s caused me to spill the juice or drop the bottle more than once. But moving on…
This is an intense patchouli-based fragrance and the dabbed for it actually is the perfect way to apply this scent. I can see it being too intense otherwise. It’s a woody-chypre but it’s more rounded than any other chypre fragrance I own. It’s velvety smooth, with a good dose of jasmine and rose, a bit of dry chamomile, and a damp earthy base.
This is a scent that really takes confidence to wear – but I would say that about most chypres. They are thought of as being too “perfume-y” (in a bad way) by those who associate these scents with an authoritative female figure. They’re just not warm cuddly perfumes, and can sometimes feel too sharp. What I do love about the Perfumer’s Reserve is that it’s a strong formula with a dabber. I apply behind my ears and hope that those who hug me remember how I smelled.
Have you smelled this or any other Aromatic’s Elixir formula? What do you think?
