E for Men Gourmand Oriental With Sweet Clove

I’ve had to revisit this as I don’t think my previous review captured succinctly how good this is. If you like clove this is the ultimate representation other than Beaute Du Diable by Liquides Imaginaires (which is more syrupy and smooth) or Captain Fawcetts Booze and Baccy (not as poignant and a half/half scent with tobacco). This one chokes!!! In the best possible sense. It’s like someone throws you into a room covered into finely ground clove dust that is three inches thick and every movement stirs up a cloud that suffocates. This is the cinnamon which adds sweetness too perfectly mixed just behind the ground clove. It comes across especially at first application with a vinegary opening and quickly followed with a melted chocolate sauce like McDonalds used to have on their sundaes before the drydown shows it’s dustiness with the clove and cinnamon. Behind this is a not overly prominent Ylang Ylang, binding it together as a base and stopping it from coming across as a too dusty dry and in your face cacophony. Amazing scent. A challenging one, not because it is loud but because it may make people cough! It comes across not as loud, brash and showy like some but rather as a genuine gourmand with enough twerking that makes it a loud head turning mature scent. It will polarise, I’m sure most will either love or hate it. Worth the experience no matter what you decide as it’s just so unique.

I've got to say I really like this perfume. Having worn it when it was released (Thanks Clive Christian for the samples) I remember being quite taken by this. It's a chewy, resinous, gourmand, a kind of dark, boozy dessert, with ashy, smoked wood undertones. Sounds lame, but it's completely unique I'd say, I really can't think of much that smells like this. I revisited it today because I found this sample in my garage, randomly. This is the kind of thing I should really hate coz it's in the style perfumes everyone seems to rave about, and I'm just kinda like 'really?' but this one is a better version of your Black Phantom (another one I revisited in the last week or so) or a bit like the sort of boozy, cakey stuff I do like, see 1270 by Frapin. This has something extra for me, it smells expensive and I can't help liking it A LOT! I'd never pay the daft price tag and do I think it's what I consider 'proper' perfume, no, and not really. However, I'm really enjoying wearing it today and did the first time (the fact I could remember it says that it left a lasting impression) that's what counts.

Clive Christian E for Men takes the idea of a Gourmand Oriental to the extreme. Upon initial spray you’re blasted by an intense accord of oak barrels housing beautifully aged rum and red wine of the highest quality, with a noticeable alcoholic burn hitting the back of your throat. From here there’s a slight fruity, leathery touch from peach and labdanum, which paves the way for the dominant note of clove. Clove is the biggest hitter in this fragrance - it’s dark, earthy, powerful and intoxicating, supported ever so slightly by cinnamon. The base is where the gourmand qualities shine through however; bourbon vanilla, maple syrup and caramel make up the delicious edible facet of this scent. This takes gourmand perfumery to a whole new level and is perfect for those who love boozy scents. It smells like gorgeously sweet and syrupy mulled wine which makes it perfect for the Christmas period. Completely unapologetic and overpowering, this is definitely not one to blind buy but so so incredible for the right audience.

Wow!!! Out of the half dozen samples gifted me and CC purchases this is the first one that grabs me and puts it within my bench marks from Xerjoff, Lucas 777 et al. Get the oriental hint but it’s pretty much gourmand for me. A stinker in the best possible way from get go, vanilla ever present it seems, with chocolate, coffee on a powdery base smoothed by a not particularly prominent Rose and a definite but not overly prominent ylang ylang binding the clove and sandalwood (which I assume is feeding the false vanilla choc and coffee). Whilst clove is smashing you in the face for the most part it surely can not be the only gourmand ingredient as I swear it’s vanilla and coffee and tobacco too... if it is then it’s hats off for the creative journey you sent me on... Not for the faint hearted or for professional use...

I tried samples of this fragrance on several occasions for about 2 weeks and I thought it was intriguing. Days later, I still smelled the fragrance on my coat sleeve from the overspray. I bought it. It is absolutely wonderful. The marketing says it brings calm and promotes relaxation. I think it does. The cinnamon, cloves and sandlewood are a very pleasing blend. This is excellent, a master’s blend. It lasts a very long time. Here it is 2:30am and I can still smell wafts of it from this mornings application. It may remind you of Bond’s New Harlem. It has that sweet syrup and light rum undertones but I’m sure that it’s the sandalwood base that is conducting the refined cinnamon and cloves. It smells expensive and it is, but is great for me. I love it and look forward to putting it on in my rotation of fragrances.