Aromatics Elixir by Clinique

One spray and it smells like four people. It intrigues me, scares me, attracts me, and yet repels me at the same time. I still don’t quite understand it, but I have a strong urge to try it more.

Wonderful perfume. For me, any vintage is wonderful. I’m a fan of complex scents, with a thousand notes, cypresses, greens, florals… but nothing that reminds me of pastries, candies, or food. I tested it on a blotter and loved it. However, on my skin it becomes unbearable: it transforms into something sour and rancid that overpowers everything I liked. It’s the first time this has happened to me. I don’t know if it’s the lemon verbena or some chemical component reacting badly. That’s why, although I usually get it right buying blind, with this Clinique one I recommend testing on skin first. In case I’m not the only “odd one”. A hug to all at Fragrántica.

I’m sorry. I like classic perfume, the kind that smells like a lady. Not to wear it all the time, but to smell and experience it. Aromatics is oriental. It’s more of a potion or an essential oil than a perfume. I love its dark and effeminate base. It’s feminine, but I understand some men might use it and smell interesting on male skin.

Disappointment. Either I’m not smelling what I should, I’m not as expert as others, or the perfume fails in quality. I bought two samples at different times and there are many aldehydes at the start followed by faint white flowers. According to a review, you need to give it time behind the ears for it to evolve… in me it disappears quickly (my skin and pH are a disaster, perhaps that’s why). The longevity is similar to vintage L’Interdit; they share several notes. What a pity not to know that powerful perfume from years ago. I like vintages and for my skin I prefer potent perfumes; surely I would have liked this one.

I tested it on a blotter; I didn’t dare put it on my skin for fear of smelling bad all day. And I have to say I don’t like it. It smells like Chinese cologne mixed with Jägermeister. It’s not for me.

I won’t contradict the majority, but no matter how I look at it, I can’t associate Aromatics Elixir with unisex. It’s a matter of perspective, but for me, it is eminently feminine and that is precisely why I love it. I acknowledge they have put the EDT on a diet, which is why I opt for the EDP. It may please or not, but it certainly does not cause indifference. It is bold, timeless, capricious, and demands security while providing it. It possesses a dark sensuality that combines perfectly with the austere elegance of women who are masters of their own destiny. A fragrance for ladies with a capital L. For me, it is a safe bet: it is one of my favourites and I will not hesitate to wear it, even if it doesn’t sound masculine (which sounds ironic, but even that is enjoyable). It is often read as a perfume for ladies or older people, and by current standards, it may be, but it is also said to be for people with character and style, things that are not abundant. Highly recommended.

This is one of my first fragrances and I still haven’t dared to review it. Not much more to say: I totally agree with the first review by @ladamenoir. I have felt it since my childhood as something exquisite; its trail always reminds me of a person with class and unique tastes, free-spirited, somewhat extroverted but jealous of their privacy. I base this not on what it transmits to me, but on the fact that for the few people who wear it, it is their lifetime insignia, no matter how it is 43 degrees in the middle of summer. They are very elegant, sometimes vulgar due to their opulence (what are we, at the beach, for heaven’s sake!), but authentic. I have let myself be carried away by its divine fragrance so many times that my father gifted it to me two years ago. Although I don’t use it much, it is a beast of a perfume; I put it on whenever I fancy, even in summer: it is an indescribable witchcraft (you do it better than me, my Fragrantica friends). It is sweeter at the start, with that green smell and makeup; the middle phase is the one I like least, the drier one, with chamomile and dried herbs everywhere, and the dry-down is wonderful, like the whole thing. It is the most beastly thing in my collection and even though I surely own the reformulated version: it is DIVINE. Its trail is from another world. I think people are so used to smelling fruity patchoulis and insipid things… or the world has gone very mad. If it smells like old lady, dust, closed drawer, etc., it is nonsense. I use it on special occasions and to stay at home, I enjoy it and adore it, and I am young, for goodness’ sake. When I am a grandma, I hope to keep such good taste. This aroma will not fade, it will prevail. It will be the same aroma of the gods. No one will be remembered for wearing Tresor Midnight, Black Opium, Velvet Vanille or Fancy. If we want something differential and enduring, we have to go for 90s perfumes. Long live the perfumes of this era, may they become fashionable again or be reclaimed.

My beloved Aromatics Elixir, you will always be my spoilt one. I abandoned it because they started using it daily in my circle, they stole my ”signature”, but I never forgot it. Yesterday I put it on again; I keep my bottle from 15 years ago, with about 50ml out of a 100ml one. Although it has darkened, the aroma remains intact, perfect, just like when newly bought and I never took care not to spoil it. I had it quite a while exposed to light without a box. When something has quality, it shows. I applied it yesterday morning (only two sprays) and I can still feel it almost 24 hours later. I know it is not for everyone, that it has nothing to do with what is in vogue now, but for me it is a scent of cleanliness, of luxurious soap, it brings me good memories and makes me feel happy. They say it has been reformulated and it is no longer the same, luckily I still have 50ml left to enjoy the original.

This perfume is pure power and absolutely wonderful. It smells of cleanliness, of good soap, it is impressive. The opening is very strong, so much that at first sniff it can seem a bit insidious, but wait, because it becomes a beautiful, soapy and clean aroma in a few minutes. Whoever wears it smells all day and whoever accompanies you also notices, it leaves a trail, it is not for going unnoticed; wherever you pass you will leave a mark. It is perfect for going well dressed, for women with character. I recommend it totally.

I spent years looking for this perfume. I have two neighbours who used it and left the lift and the whole building impregnated with the aroma. I re-love it. In my opinion, it is not for daily use, it can become tiring, but it has an unmistakable aroma, one of those where you arrive and fill a room. I do not recommend buying it blindly, it does not please everyone. Two applications are more than enough. I would categorise it as a totally unisex perfume.

Reformulated and it’s no longer that herbal and woody brew with a standout rose, oakmoss, and earthy aromatic patchouli. I agree with LaDamedeNoir: they’ve loaded it up more floral. It’s a dry, patchouli-heavy floral with touches of sandalwood. On my skin, the patchouli really stands out. It remains potent and survives the current sweet trends, but I dislike that poorly blended patchouli; it feels uncomfortable and classically unisex. For patchouli lovers who like flowers. It’s dry, potent, and very mature. I prefer other fragrances with better-worked patchouli, such as Laurent Mazzone’s Pachuli Bohème, which is creamy with woody nuances. It doesn’t suit everyone and has become an old glory for loyal clients who don’t want to change their lifelong perfume.

I’ve just started my journey into perfumery; I’m a novice to the genius behind a fragrance beyond personal tastes. I bought Aromatics Elixir intuitively; the yellow, the bevelled edges, the cap, I don’t know, it caught my eye. I became an enthusiast of buying without knowing, online, consulting reviews. I tried it, and I loved it. Within minutes, a scent like the heart of a seed, perhaps the oakmoss, which it shares with Cabochard, and it evokes the same taste… I used it a couple of times and, well, that was it. One afternoon, however, as hot as a dog’s day, I don’t know why, I applied it. I went for a run from home, not paying attention until the sun hit me full on, and then the perfume evaporating, oh my life, sweet as never before. I didn’t expect it; I repeat, I’m new, I don’t know how fragrances develop. But what a delight it was. It’s a must-try!

As mentioned in a previous review, the scent could be associated with an alcoholic herbal elixir, nothing sweet and that burns the throat. What a shock, but on me, it feels very similar to Aramis Homme, the classic. Perhaps it’s the aldehydes, but the scent seems very similar, and like Aramis, it’s strong, not suitable for timid noses. But this perfume is feminine; I don’t find it masculine or unisex. Then the rose and carnation appear, overlapping in a layer over the previous one, and it starts to remind me of the heart phase of Habit Rouge. And in the dry down… oh surprise! it brings me the scent of the dry down of my beloved Opium for Women. It’s a great old-school perfume, at a very affordable price, with quality and clear evolution. It’s better to have a trained nose and a vintage taste, and it’s not suitable for timid people as its trail and longevity are very significant. An elixir of another time for women of any era. Au revoir!

A fantastic perfume that I love. I got it when I visited a friend in San Francisco; she gave it to me, half-used, assuring me I would love it… and she was right. It’s my type of fragrance, as it has everything I like. Then she visited my country and brought me another bottle as a gift. It’s very oriental, sexy, spiced, woody, balsamic, unmistakable, and striking. It’s not for a young girl, nor for a timid woman, nor for one who fears attracting attention. On the contrary… it’s for a sexy, extroverted, bold, and mysterious lady. I’m fascinated!

Today, wanting to imitate Midnight Poison or the old Elle by YSL (which are the same), I thought about mixing Swiss Just’s patchouli oil with a damask rose oil my father brought me from Egypt (it’s not essential, it’s for use as perfume oil, like attar, but it’s just rose, young, fresh, and honeyed). The result wasn’t what I was looking for, and to be honest, I didn’t think it would turn out like Midnight Poison because that seems to be a different type of rose, more red, less honeyed, more velvety… And what do you think the resulting scent reminded me of? I fall and I rise: it reminded me of Aromatics Elixir! At least the current one… The same accord I feel when I smell the perfume cap. But exactly the same! Obviously, Aromatics Elixir is complex and has different phases, but that combination undoubtedly reminds me of Aromatics… And I thought that effect was vetiver. Turns out patchouli is quite predominant (a fairly pure patchouli besides)… At least in one of the development phases.