Matsukita

This is a very interesting fragrance for me and unlike anything else in my collection. My first impression was uncertain, probably due to the fact that I expected something different from the previous descriptions below. However, this has since become one of my favourites. The notes are well blended so many of the individual notes are difficult for me to discern. Apart from the mate, which has a strong dominance throughout. Off the bat, I get a juxtaposition of burnt, sticky sweetness against an opposing bitter accord, which is almost leather like. I can’t say I smell smoke per se, rather a burnt sweetness and it was this that initially threw me. There’s also a touch of sharp citrus in the opening combined with some spices. Fortunately, for me, the initial sweetness dies back a notch although it retains some of the sweetness which stops the scent from becoming too austere and dry. I can detect more musk and wood as it dries down. The jasmine helps to soften the bitter aspect of the mate and slowly the amber comes through with a slight touch of warmth. Though the mate tea is definitely the dominant player throughout, with all the other notes playing a supporting role. This is just my interpretation of the fragrance - it has subtle nuances and I think this scent will provoke different thoughts in others due to what their sense of smell is particularly attuned too. I particularly like the opposing factors of the bitter tea against the softer, sweeter elements. After trying this for a few days, I’ve grown to enjoy it more and more and have ordered a bottle. It really is a beautiful and unique fragrance and has become quite addictive. It’s rich but not in a cloying or dense way. The colour red definitely suits this scent. However, I’m unsure when I will wear this as it’s so unique. The rich tea, almost leather-like accord (I know leather isn’t listed, but it still gives me that sense) and bitter aspects of the fragrance point towards an evening. I would say it leans slightly masculine although not so much that it can’t be classed as unisex, especially with the addition of the jasmine and musk. Longevity is good with moderate projection. I’ve tried a few CC fragrances and none have grabbed my attention until now, especially at the premium price-point (fortunately, I was able to find a brand new, sealed bottle on eBay with a third off the price), however, this fragrance’s unique character has drawn me in and I’m very pleased to add it to my collection, plus it’s a beautiful presentation. Note: this has similarities to Widian’s Liwa. They both share a sticky burnt floral sweetness on top of woods. However, Liwa doesn’t have the mate tea note and is much sweeter as a result. I prefer this as the sweetness in Liwa is a bit much, even though it’s also a great fragrance. Liwa might be worth a try for those who don’t like the dominant mate in this. Edit: I love this fragrance so much, I bought a spare! I think it’s incredible.

This week I am going to do five sample reviews for five of Clive Christian's best known fragrances, as I was very kindly given five testers at HN in Dubai to spend some time with and see what they are about. Monday's is Matsukita. It is funny because I've smelt this one a couple of times before and it never wowed me, but this morning it absolutely rocked my world. The opening is a thick, resinous aromatic vibe with a heavy dose of smoke. It reminds me of the way Lapsang Souchong tea tastes; the way smoke curls around you in an embrace against the green freshness. I get more of the pink pepper in the top than the very subtle bergamot. Oddly, I have always found The Noir 29 by Le Labo lovely but a bit stringent and this should be similar but it is not at all. Matsukita is darker yet softer. The jasmine is woven into the sambar note here in the heart and together it has this soaring sweetness to it that works so beautifully with the moody mate and the tarry smokiness of the tea. It all sits above the cedar wood base in the most elegant way imaginable. The woods are smoky but there is also a coniferous aromatic vibe to it as well that stops this from going too heavy like The Noir 29 does. This is not fun or happy. It is moody and reflective and in that quite astonishingly well done. If you took Winter Palace by MEMO without the fruits and pushed it in a The Noir 29 direction via a short dalliance with Tea Tonique by Miller Harris, but without the bright citruses to sweeten, you have something close to Matsukita. Quite unexpectedly, it resonated with me in an emotional way. This fragrance evokes something lost from my memory; recalling an echo of something tender and fragile but powerful at the same time that I must have experienced in a past life. Sometimes I wonder why I love fragrances so much and why I entertain such an odd addiction for something that can seem so banal or vain at times. It is fragrances like Matsukita that make everything make sense to me. I do not need to tell you that I love this fragrance because that should be blindingly obvious, but I will tell you that this is my kind of perfumery and absolutely my kind of scent. It is breathtaking. If Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday's testers are anything like as wonderful as Matsukita is, I am in for a treat. Layering suggestion: Nope. This one is not for layering. There is nothing anyone could spray on top or below this that could improve it. Three Word Summary: Pure Moody Perfection Scent - 10/10 Drydown - 8/10 Sillage - 8/10 Bottle/packaging - 10/10 Performance - 8/10 44 / 50

When I smelled Matsukita for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised by the fragrance's DNA. It was a new scent that was unlike anything I had ever smelled before. It was like a scent from a distant culture, that of the Far East. Matsukita is a reinterpretation of a fragrance from 1892 commissioned by a mysterious Japanese princess from the Meiji era, a client of the Crown Perfumery Company, the predecessor of Clive Christian. Matsukita is complex, refined, and subtly mysterious. It embodies a form of discreet luxury, not flashy, but profound, like an elegant whisper steeped in history and culture. It is a memory that one has never experienced, a dream of the Orient, seen through Victorian England. A mirage of elegance suspended between two worlds, that of imperial refinement and Western romanticism. Fragrance evolution: The fragrance opens with a bright, fresh burst of bergamot and airy pink pepper, accompanied by delicate nutmeg. It quickly becomes more introspective, almost Zen-like. Smoky mate tea enters the scene and brings a soothing sensation, while rose and imperial jasmine intertwine like layered kimonos, adding a sensual aspect. It then evolves into a musky and woody base that is not rough, oriental but not excessive. The incense here is muted, never ecclesiastical, giving instead the sensation of white steam emanating from a hot spring in the Japanese mountains. The sillage is elegant, persistent, but restrained. Evocation/Inspiration: Matsukita is an artistic and cultural fragrance, a fragrance that transports you to a distant civilization, to the era of emperors and the Japanese empire. Fragrance: 5/5 (Masterpiece) Longevity: 4.5/5 Projection: 4/5

It is a fragrance with a unique scent. While it is fresh and juicy, it also has a beautiful soft smoky undertone. Clive Christian has managed to beautifully combine the dominant note of jasmine, which has a spring scent, with the smoky note, which has a winter scent, in a way that neither of these 2 notes has an olfactory superiority over the other and the olfactory share of these 2 scents is completely 50% to 50%. I think it is quite innovative to create this scent and it can make those who only like fresh and juicy scents and have the problem of what perfume to use in the cold seasons of the year that has both a refreshing smell and a winter mood very happy, because there is very few such perfume styles in the world of perfumes. عطری با رایحه‌ای منحصر به فرد. در عین حال که تازه و فرش مانند است، ته‌مایه‌ای دودی و ملایم و زیبا نیز دارد کلایو کریستین به زیبایی توانسته است نت غالب یاس که رایحه‌ای بهاری دارد را با نت دودی که رایحه‌ای زمستانی دارد رو طوری با هم ترکیب کنه، به گونه‌ای که هیچ‌کدام از این دو نت بر دیگری برتری بویایی ندارند و سهم بویایی این دو رایحه کاملاً ۵۰ به ۵۰ درصد است به نظر من خلق این عطر کاملاً نوآورانه است و می‌توانه کسانی را که فقط رایحه‌های تازه و فرش را دوست دارند و مشکل این را دارند که در فصول سرد سال از چه عطری استفاده کنند که هم بوی طراوت‌بخش داشته باشد و هم حال و هوای زمستانی داشته باشه رو بسیار خوشحال کند، زیرا چنین سبک رایحه‌هایی در دنیای عطرها بسیار بسیار کم است

Matsukita is a fragrance that takes you on a subtle journey. At first, it’s hard to distinguish the individual notes—they’re blended so perfectly that it feels like a single, seamless experience. But after a while, as it develops, you start to realize what you’ve been smelling: the smooth tea, the soft musk, the elegant jasmine, and the delicate mate. It all comes together in such a refined way—it’s simply so good. I love wearing Matsukita, especially in the morning. It’s refreshing and uplifting, but it also has a calmness to it that sets the right tone for the day. The balance of florals, woods, spice and tea is energizing yet serene, its more than just a scent—it’s an experience. The only downside is the price. Even on discount, it feels way too expensive for just 50 ml. Honestly, it’s so good that it makes me think about robbing the Clive Christian factory and walking away with an entire batch (just kidding... or am I? 😄). Rating: 9/10 (deducting a point for the price) Best Time to Wear: Morning or peaceful moments, could shower in if I could Would I Repurchase: If my wallet agrees—or if I can figure out that robbery plan!