Just for Fun -- I met Clive Christian, creator of the World's Most Expensive Perfume

- December 07, 2007

I posted this the other day on both Perfume of Life and Basenotes. I've never met another perfumer before, and wanted to see the glitz and glamor surrounding Mr. Christian and his luxe line. He is well-known for creating "the world's most expensive perfume." Quite a heady experience for a niche artisan perfumer like me, LOL. One thing I didn't realize until afterwards -- the Neiman Marcus store was not awash in strong perfume fumes, despite many spraying and testing. I suppose they have good air "scrubbers". I appreciated this, as my nose is very sensitive, and it could have been an unpleasant experience. I was told his appearance made the nightly news locally, as did Paris Hilton's presentation of her perfume Can Can the next day. I did somehow restrain myself from going to her event, but had fun relating my visit to NM, the Chanel boutique next door, etc. Please not what a sanguine "reporter" I am, not even getting the names of the perfumes down! I will keep my day job as a perfumer, and not aspire to chronicle perfume events, LOL!
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All work and no play makes Anya a dull girl. After truly having
the nose to the grindstone, I made a vow to get out more
to fun stuff. Clive was signing bottles at the Neiman Marcus
at Bal Harbour (Miami). Very nice man, and I'm not sure of the
name of the perfume I sniffed that was refined and lovely, top note was pepper.
Maybe #1 for Her? Didn't do skin test, had my Kaffir on.

Overwhelmed by the hoopla, tons of people, etc., I was uncharacteristically quiet and only introduced myself as a civilian, said I was there for the POL peeps. His daughter Victoria piped up she was very aware of us and she was going to see Karen Lubin in NYC next week. I took some photos, most of which turned out lousy because of my new high-techie camera (that obviously doesn't have a stabilization mode), and I just enjoyed seeing a perfumer/designer living the high life. I liked all his perfumes, they were unique in their charm and stood apart from the "typical" stuff on shelves, for sure.

Wandered around a few perfume bottles from other labels, had stuff sprayed on strips, nothing excited me. Overheard two women (CC reps? NM SAs?) saying Lalique had been bought out by an English company. Chatted a bit with them speculating how the designs would change. (Less curvy, more linear was my guess.)

Back to CC. Dapper, his nose to the grindstone, I think he had been signing bottles for two hours when I got there. Great displays all over with his coffret, gorgeous bottles, and a mostly-natural juice. Wandered next door to Chanel, tried Les Esclusifs (spelling? I did pronounce it properly). Shocked at my first sniffs of Cuir de Russie -- sweet! Bois de Isles - boring. No. 18 ambrette. and more ambrette. so where to go from ambrette? Coramondel (sp?) wouldn't agree with my skin, I knew that. There was a "green" one that began with a C that was nice.

Well, such are my skills as a perfume reviewer. I'll just stick to making them, and besides, I would feel the fool to write a review of another perfumer's product. Painters don't write reviews of other painter's works, actors on other actors. If I hadn't liked and respected Clive's perfumes, I would merely have written nothing.

Wish I could have gotten a sample to take home, I brought my vials and blank labels like Robin on NST and others have declared is a good tactic, but couldn't bring myself to ask.

Oh, they served champagne and the atmosphere was very festive. I didn't have any because I was driving, but if he comes to your city, by all means, go, have a drink and a sniff. Maybe even buy!

And, oh, bummer, they didn't have the $250,000 Lalique bottle of his perfume there. BTW, I did see guards everywhere, guess for the smaller bottles with the diamonds in them.

I'm such a lousy shopper and reporter, but I've reported what I felt were the high points.