Strange Heavens Out Of The Blue

Dust Drenched in Moonlight The moment I smelled this, I knew it possessed a rare level of character and intention. This is not an everyday cologne, nor is it a contemporary mass pleaser. This is perfumery as art. It carries an Old World character that reads strangely ancient, even ceremonial. To me, the atmosphere is unmistakable: a solitary female archaeologist researching lost civilizations, uncovering secrets buried in desert dust, surrounded by forgotten manuscripts and tools long surrendered to time. This is the scent of a woman archiving fragile papyrus scrolls, her hands veiled in the fine silt of history, yet remaining undeniably feminine beneath the labor. It evokes the aura of a Pharaoh’s wife. Dusty. Drenched in full-moon light. Intensely academic. Strange Heavens is not easily understood. It is an underrated gem, as polarizing and coveted in spirit as Bibliothèque by Byredo or Guidance by Amouage. Not in scent profile, but in narrative force. Each communicates a message. Each feels authored. What continues to fascinate me is the visual branding. The box art prominently features a panda within blue kaleidoscopic swirls, yet the fragrance itself calls for weather-worn papyrus, the golden gaze of Tutankhamun, or the silent sun-baked stone of the Great Pyramid. There is a subtle, almost amusing dissonance between the panda and the spirit of the perfume. The art tells a whimsical modern story, while the juice evokes a civilization thousands of years older. And perhaps that is its greatest strength. The bottle may tell one story, but the fragrance whispers another, one written in dust, stone, and moonlight.

NEW ALL TIME FAVORITE?! I haven't logged into this account in years. Years. Seriously. That's how fired up I am about this cute AF little blue bottle with the panda. Bought a FB yesterday at Nieman and it's all I can think about. Just absolutely wonderful feel good what perfume is meant to be nose ambrosia type of prestige purchase self-care love love love. Gourmandy floral masterpiece with enough smooth grit to be dude friendly. The blending and complexity and top shelf ingredients shine through like sunlight through sheer curtains into a penthouse suite at a 5-star hotel overlooking Eden. Can't stop smelling it. Please send help. Go away! I'm busy. Come back! Let's talk later. Ok bye.

Mixed bag. Kinda in love but not at the same time. Opening is a beauty of this composition. Pepper and spices warming up your nostrils, and into your brain, blowing it into pieces. There is something sweet, rich, sentimental, taking you to a different realm for this few miliseconds now and then. Blended to perfection. And this creamy notion keeps you wanting more. The thing is, it gets boring while time pass, as it’s mostly linear. You can catch layers, but not much going on. Till it fades out after several hours. This is quality blend, worth testing. I blind bought it, and not regreting. But in oversaturated market, better sample first. It might be your new obsession

Today, I am testing a 0.5 ml sample of this perfume. There are numerous fragrances from fine niche houses featuring a similar scent pyramid. Some are truly excellent, perhaps even masterful, but what unfolds from a single drop of this perfume is true magic. I live for such moments. Seriously, for moments precisely like this. I had read the notes, I had some expectations regarding the ingredients, yet what this drop has delivered is nothing short of incredible. A flawless blend – a sweetness that is non-obvious, mysterious, and wrapped in a delicate dust or cloud. The fragrance envelops you without overpowering your surroundings. I am utterly enchanted.

Yesterday I went to Clive Christian to try the new fragrance. After showing the sales associate my Clive collection, she kindly gave me a sample of Strange Heavens. At first, in store, it reminded me of Amberwood when I smelled it on paper. But once I applied the sample on my skin, it completely changed. It easily became one of the best Clive fragrances I’ve tried. I’d describe it as less “warm” than Amberwood, and on the dry down I clearly pick up a beautiful blossom note that makes it feel more refined and balanced. This will definitely be my next acquisition but not at retail price. I’ll be waiting for a good discount before pulling the trigger.

Someone told me this smells like mix of one the most popular fregrance from clive which is blond amber and hedonistic and i absolutely love both of them and i bought this a blind buy and oh my goodness it does smells like both of them its got opening of hedonistic and base is more like blond amber but i can still smells hints of blue tone in background with soft Vanilla and coca,its definitely got staying power as it lasts 11 hrs plus on my skin and projection also good,i wish its cheaper so i can buy my back-up bottle but this is absolute craftsmanship in perfumery 5/5 star from me💙💙💙💙

Oh my God the hype is real for this one, i know some people judging from sample i have done same and didn't try from original bottle but i can confirm from sample vial and og bottle they smell different , iy smelld synthetic from sample bottle may b i got fake sample or shit plastic quality of bottle but boy oh boy this stuff is gorgeous and worth every penny i spent definitely worth adding in collection and yes i put above blond amber in my list 5/5, sorry blond amber this took your spot 😀

Love this fragrance and will be picking up s full bottle soon! Definetely has elements of Hedonistic, Ecstatic and abit of Blonde Amber. Definetely less masculine than Hedonistic and not as feminine as Ecstatic nor as floral. Not overly gourmand (thank goodness). Very well balanced and very unisex imo.

I received a sample of this fragrance and its great. I have hedonistic and it does remind me hedonistic and blonde amber had a baby. Very intoxicating and addictive. The dry down to me smells to me like MFK grand soir. Great fragrance and I cannot wait to purchase a full bottle.

I’m just wondering.. why there is so little discussion, reviews of this lovely perfume? You could always sample online or visit local fragrance butique or go for a trip to one, if you live in remote place? I would like to hear more about it

I really like it one of the best Gourmand perfumes ever. Beautiful blend you can feel the coffee with the cocoa combined withe caramel and vanilla!! Oh it’s smells amazing. But honey the price is crazy!!

This is my new obsession, its a bit floral and harsh at opening , but soft and creamy in dry down, absolute masterpiece. Very good performance and good but not masive projection. Love it

All these idiots rating low are the hipster tik tok cucks with the broccoli hair going on who will damn will wish there will be a clone of this because it’s all they can afford

Very smooth. It’s very expensive but, I Really like it. The coffee is not super Strong but it’s detectable. I don’t like gourmands that smell just like food.

This is what I called best blend from the house, well balanced beutifully crafted love at first sniff 😍

I love this scent , the projection is really good!!!

Its unique, classy and mysterious, lovely scent

Clive never misses. Overpriced asf tho

The everyday Addictive Art I love the two previous fragrances from the Addictive Arts collection that are still in production, so getting this new release was inevitable. The main reason for this blind purchase wasn't that I expected it to reach the same heights as Ecstatic or Hedonistic, but rather that I've been enjoying coffee and cocoa notes more and more lately. The idea of a jasmine fragrance built around the Addictive Fusion accord (Opium, Absinthe Wormwood, and Cocoa Leaf), combined with those two darker gourmand notes, sounded incredibly appealing. "The AddictiveFusionTM accord serves as the structural heart of every fragrance in the Addictive Arts collection (currently nine fragrances, although Manic and Euphoric don't list Absinthe Wormwood among their notes). According to Clive Christian, the accord is created using Pioneering Perfume Technology (PPT), which employs headspace technology to capture the molecular profile of living materials. This allows the house to recreate complex, illicit-inspired accords through a proprietary process that cannot legally or physically be replicated by other perfume houses." From the very first spray, I immediately recognize Out of the Blue as part of this distinctive Clive Christian collection. Within the first hour, however, I also realize that it is noticeably simpler than its predecessors. I find myself reaching for it again and again - not because I'm struggling to understand it, but because I want to make sure my initial impression is correct. At first, I simply didn't want to believe what I was smelling. All the notes emerge almost simultaneously upon spraying rather than unfold gradually or relying first solely on its opening. It actually takes some time before the coffee fully develops and its dark, roasted aroma begins to emerge. For a brief moment, it smells like freshly roasted coffee beans before blending seamlessly into the cocoa listed in the base notes. So in reality, the cocoa is present almost from the beginning. As the coffee slowly retreats, the cocoa lingers much longer, remaining dark yet airy, like a fine layer of cocoa powder dusted over an otherwise creamy texture. This is where Out of the Blue differs most from Hedonistic and Ecstatic. While those fragrances certainly reveal recognizable individual notes, their compositions are extraordinarily intricate, rich, and intoxicating. Out of the Blue is comparatively more straightforward. It lacks some of the remarkable depth that made its predecessors feel so captivating. I still can't decide whether that's ultimately a strength or a weakness. On one hand, its relative simplicity makes it much easier to wear. It doesn't demand a particular mood or occasion, and I can reach for it without giving much thought to what I'm wearing. On the other hand, I keep waiting for a hidden dimension or an unexpected revelation that never quite arrives. Alongside the coffee and cocoa, Out of the Blue is primarily a jasmine fragrance infused with the Addictive Fusion accord. Orange blossom never becomes particularly prominent. Jasmine is also present in Hedonistic, but there it remains buried beneath the fragrance's far more multidimensional composition. Here, it takes center stage. The Smoke Fusion listed in the base never translates into any distinct smokiness on my skin, and the "vanilla caramel" accord also remains surprisingly subdued. Personally, I had hoped it would contribute an irresistibly seductive sweetness that would add another layer of interest to the composition. I also wouldn't classify Out of the Blue as a true gourmand. To my nose, it's a floral fragrance with gourmand nuances rather than something overtly edible or dessert-like. Nevertheless, it feels genuinely original. I can't think of another high-quality fragrance that combines jasmine with dark roasted coffee and cocoa in quite this way. I love for example Kilian's Intoxicated but it's not floral at all. One thing that genuinely surprises me is how few women seem to wear it. Neither Hedonistic nor Out of the Blue strikes me as particularly masculine or feminine, and I'd comfortably recommend both to anyone. Ecstatic is equally unisex, although its user base appears to be much more evenly divided. Performance is very good. Out of the Blue easily lasts through a full workday, although its projection is noticeably softer than Ecstatic and somewhat quieter than Hedonistic. Given its dark, rich character, many people consider it strictly an autumn or winter fragrance. Personally, I disagree. While I wouldn't choose it on the hottest summer afternoon, I find it perfectly comfortable - and even beautiful - on cooler summer evenings. Out of the Blue ultimately feels like the most approachable fragrance in the current Addictive Arts lineup, but also the least ambitious. It retains the unmistakable DNA of the collection through its Addictive Fusion accord, yet strips away much of the complexity and almost hallucinatory richness that make Hedonistic and Ecstatic so compelling. Whether that's a compromise or an advantage depends entirely on what you're looking for. If you expect another densely layered masterpiece, this may leave you wanting more. If, however, you've admired the collection but found its earlier creations too demanding for everyday wear, Out of the Blue offers a more relaxed interpretation without losing its distinctive identity. It may not be the fragrance that redefines the collection, but it succeeds in broadening its appeal. Thank you for reading, I hope my review was helpful. I would appreciate if you follow me on my IG and/or YouTube (English subtitles available): @ninamariahperfumes It gives me a lot of motivation to write more.

The "reminds me of" section is very very representative of the scent. It does carry the mystique and allure of the JUAKM series. It indeed smells like a very wealthy cousin of Noir Extreme (if you substitute the animalic notes with florals). You feel rich before the perfume droplets land on your skin, as soon as they're in the air. The amazing multi dimensional opening will remind you of a coffee liquor, a rum and coke, a spicy toffee based desert and lots of other things. And then the Blonde Amber mid and base start to show up, but the florals are thick and much louder (and remind you of Ecstatic). And this is where Strange Heavens turns feminine and stays there for a very long time. By the time the jasmine loses some of its strength and things balance out with the gourmand base, grandma vibes have taken over the room (it is a very strong performer sillage-wise). I will be retesting in colder weather, perhaps the opening lasts longer and covers some of the jasmine overload in the mid. No matter what I think of the scent on my skin, the blend is exceptional and almost justifies the elevated CC pricing. Of course, I'm talking about the discounter pricing, no perfume is worth more than 10€/ml.

I'm still a bit on the fence with this one. I like the scent, but I'm not obsessed. To my nose, it’s like a fresher version of Blonde Amber with a hint of Ecstatic, it honestly feels like a mix of Hedonistic and Ecstatic. It's definitely unisex, but it flips back and forth between masculine and feminine vibes. On the plus side, the longevity and projection are great. I have a full bottle now, so I’m going to give it some more time to see if it grows on me.

What a strange concoction! It starts off a mild roasted coffee with a hint of spice, like a coffee popular in middle eastern cultures. Very quickly, the spicy coffee is met with the sweetness of cocoa and caramel. You would expect an aroma along the lines of a cafe mocha or macchiato, but no, instead you are left with one of the strangest scents I have experienced- maybe soy sauce? I know! Weird! I hope for everyone else’s sake, this was just an unfortunate by product of Out of the Blue and my skin chemistry. The “soy sauce” doesn’t last too long, and soon develops into a smokey, almost earthy drydown. Although the drydown is better the soy sauce, it’s not much better. Absent for me are the noted white flowers, I suppose these were overpowered by the soy sauce and spices. On the bright side, this fragrances takes you on a journey, I just don’t like where it travels. For me, “Out of the Blue” is “Into the Trash”. It’s so off putting, that I can’t think of an occasion to wear it. Luckily, I only had a sample but this is a solid no for me. There are so many great fragrances, so many great Clive Christian fragrances, that this is not worth your time or money. Overall rating 2/10. The “2” points are for projection and longevity.

Feels very masculine and well blended overall, but the opening is not my style at all. The pink pepper and anise are all very noticeable right away, with the anise especially coming through too strongly for my taste. It transitions into white florals in the heart, before settling into a vanilla and caramel-smoke base. While I don’t personally enjoy this combination, I can still see why others would appreciate how composed and well-constructed it is.

such an overpriced perfume, for what?? its a boring smell, i mostly pick up the spices (the pink pepper) then its a regular jasmine then vanilla smell. isnt sweet to my nose at all. maybe its because i tested it on paper, but did not really perform well either. wayy overpriced

keeps smelling vaguely "pig-like" on my skin, i don't know how else to describe it. not a blind buy unless you know your nose and skin very intimatelt, thank gods it's just a free sample

Last of this week's series of five Clive Christian reviews is Out Of The Blue. I will skip straight to the bottom line from the off: this is the fragrance I wanted Blonde Amber to be. I enjoyed Blonde Amber but found it a bit polite and restrained, as if it was trying to be all things to all people: a very fine and expensive fragrance that maximises accessibility over character. OOTB is the opposite. This is a fragrance for people feel things viscerally; who love fragrances and who want something remarkable. The opening is a lovely black espresso note with a bit of honey (?) sweetness and a citrusy note to keep it fresh. Once again we see that characteristically fine CC blending so typical of this wonderful house, where the notes are more of a challenge to pick out as they are so well put together. The very slight anise note in the coffee evokes a cup of Turkish coffee in Kadikoy with some Raki on the side. Like Turkey's beautiful largest metropolis, OOTB is a melding of east and west, a blend of cultures. We have dark coffee, charcoal smoke, some rich burned caramel notes, dynamic pink pepper and spices from the Grand Bazaar. But we also have the loveliest white jasmine florals woven in, with a fresh orange blossom accord that seems to dance on your skin as you wear it. The drydown is just captivating. It gets in your head. The way the vanilla works with the florals and those rich and dark notes of smoky coffee and burned caramel in the heart and base is something to really enjoy. This is one of the best things I've smelt in a very long time. Like a weekend in Istanbul with someone special, it is complex, unceasingly dynamic and it is just so exciting to experience. My favourite thing to do in that bustling stage drama of a city is to walk around the Sultanahmet district from the Blue Mosque to the Aghia Sophia then down to the shores of the Bosphorus and in many ways that is what this fragrance evokes for me. It is sexy, timeless, unrelentingly complex and something to savour and enjoy. It is anything but shy, retiring or restrained. That is what I want from my fragrances and in some ways, why I felt Blonde Amber didn't quite get there for me. OOTB meanwhile is absolutely on the must-buy list because it got in my head and my heart and will not let me go. Layering suggestion: BohoBoco - Coffee White Flowers. Double down on the coffee and the florals to stay in the same theme, or Cafe Rose by Tom Ford over the top to push in a Turkish Rose accord that sort of feels at home here. Three Word Summary: Beautiful, Dynamic Vibrancy Scent - 10/10 Drydown - 9/10 Sillage - 8/10 Bottle/packaging - 10/10 Performance - 7/10 46/50

How beautiful this is, especially in the drydown 🫠 My first encounter with this fragrance wasn’t the most successful, I applied it only on a blotter, where it barely opened up and even felt rather heavy. The indolic jasmine combined with a slightly bitter smoky accord created quite an unpleasant impression. I was even disappointed, wondering how a fragrance with such an interesting note pyramid could turn out to be so unattractive. But the next day I decided to give it a second chance and applied it on my skin and that’s where it revealed itself in a completely different way. Yes, the opening isn’t the strongest part of the composition, but after about 10–15 minutes a soft enveloping caramel appears, paired with slightly powdery cocoa. At the same time, the fragrance doesn’t turn into a straightforward gourmand, everything feels very refined, delicate, and mature. There’s also a light bitterness of roasted coffee beans, which smells very natural and realistic. In the end, tested on skin, this fragrance = pure bliss and pleasure 👌🏻

All I smell is Jump Up And Kiss Me Hedonistic with some added notes. If you’re familiar with that fragrance then you’ll definitely smell the dna in here too. The coffee note is faint and wears off fast with the top notes. I didn’t care for this at all, it’s a scrubber to me but Jump Up And Kiss Me Hedonistic is a fragrance I dislike so of course I’m not going to like this either.

Reminds me of powdery candy cigarettes, light incense and watery coffee. A sweet fresh, slightly masculine, borderline gourmand fragrance that smells opulent. No indolic florals detected at all, a nice punch of pink pepper and the cocoa didn’t make presence until the drydown. It’s dofferent from all the other Clive Christian fragrances. Loved

smells like a beautiful spring day. white floral and pink pepper are most prominent to me and it comes across just a touch powdery whenever white floral is mixed with smoke. this is honestly pretty potent for something that you would expect to be much more light. reminds me of a bit of ylang ylang or a sugary carnation.

Finalmente Clive tira fuori un'altro gioiello, la composizione è perfetta, equilibrata come il brand ci ha abituati. Vero, il prezzo è alto, ma qui siamo si fronte al top, tra l'altro un profumo unico e mai sentito, questa è vera nicchia. Seguitemi sia su YouTube che su Instagram. SimonFragrances

Experimenting with a 10ml decant, i love love love the opening but it seems to vanish so fast on my skin. The coffee smells so good i wish it lasted longer. Thereafter the only thing i can smell is the florals. While the floral aspect is pretty i just miss the opening. Will update further.

This smells oddly familiar. Good memories associated with this scent. But these memories were made several years before the release of this fragrance. I think its the combination of Cocoa + Vanilla and Jasmine?

This one is too synthetic smelling. Blonde amber is a better alternative without the chemical synthetic smell that irritates stomach. Big fan of c woody leather, b amber, and town and country though

Was hoping for a lovely gourmand, but too spicy to me, strangely was getting cardamom. Did not even buy the smelling it on skin, so take my feedback with a pinch of salt.

@Ninamariah Thank you for the very informative approach to this beautiful fragrance! And yes I will follow you on your other platforms 😊

This literally smells like the aura of dark clouds when twilight falls in late autumn somewhere in Paris! A new favorite.

clive christian now doing coffee gourmand scents let clive christian cook

Imagine Hedonistic + Smooth white floral twist