Aromatics Elixir (Clinique)


By Dane

Yet another treasure to steal from your granny (or mum), Aromatics Elixir is a treasure of classic 70's perfumery that, like many from the same era, comes across as much more masculine than any of today's actual masculines.

I would guess that technically speaking, AE would be considered a "green chypre", but I'd almost put it in the same category as the "uncategorizable" Chanel No. 19. Floral, green, mossy, and utterly crisp. Picture a musty earth accord with loads of patchouli, leather-tones, and subtle florals. There's a reason why fragrance like AE remain on the market. Besides having a loyal fan-base, they smell great and are timeless. Unlike Bernard Chant's other masterpiece, Cabochard, AE remains dignified and somehow avoided the reformulations that made so many other classics unrecognizable today.

A little rough around the edges, but still classy, and the only thing worth smelling at the Clinique counter. For another great review, check out Helg's poetic descriptions on Perfume Shrine.

Year: 1971
Perfumer: Bernard Chant
Notes: Rose, Jasmine, Ylang Ylang, Vetiver
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7 comments:

  1. I used to wear this a lot more...maybe I should revisit it. It was one of my first purchases as an adult. It is unique, and you gotta love that sillage and lasting power!
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  2. Wow, I always thought clinique is advertising with being totally perfume free in all of their products and now u jus teached me a lesson ...
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  3. One of my long time favorites and I will always have a bottle in my collection.
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  4. A question? I have worn this scent AE for years, and also used it as a home scent...over the past summer either my sense of smell changed or the 5/8 full bottle of AE I bought on EBay was a fake? Do you have any ideas??? It now has a smoky, acrid and annoying to my very sensitive nose, smell...I had to stop using it in the house and I dearly miss the scent? Are there really fakes? Did I buy something poison? HELP!!!
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  5. Could be a few reasons...the formula is changed frequently to comply with regulations; your bottle was kept somewhere it shouldn't have been (bathroom, near sunlight); or you're getting tired of it. I doubt it's worth Antibes time to fake a perfume like this...money is in Light Blue, No. 5, etc., not AE.

    Check out a local Lauder retailer if you can and compare.
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  7. Again, you've hit at least MY nail on the head (that's a compliment, btw :) ) when you compare this to no. 19. Aromatics Elixir wafted up to my nose today and I could have sworn I got a whiff of no. 19. As a newbie, I was tickled pink to read that here--at least SOMETHING right is going on in my "newly-discovered" nose...I find myself turning to your site more and more, for concise, to-the-point comments. Thank you!
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