V for Men Amber Fougere With Smoky Vetiver

Rugged, confident, unfazed, unapologetically masculine, yet sophisticated, old-fashioned and gentlemanly in the same breath. It's something I only bought for myself recently and yet I find myself wearing so often. The scent profile is addictive. It's complex, invoking both vintage and modern tastes, suiting and any type of setting. Layers of resins, like rich elemi and deep amber, make the fragrance warm and inviting, but in a zestier way than, for example, Grand Soir (in other words, the resins lean much smokier and spicier as opposed to sweet and vanillic here). The scent profile is then entirely brightened with fresh pepper and vetiver accords, lending a fresh aspect, yet overall the vibe is still blatantly warming, spicy and ambery. I'd actually argue that, because of the multitude of shared notes, V is, in my opinion, essentially the winter version of Elysium by Roja. I do have to note, here, that just because V is a "cold-weather" fragrance, this is in absolutely no way sweet, honeyed, vanilla, tobacco, oud, or any of the classic winter notes that we know and love. At the most, it's vaguely leathery. It's actually a complete 180o from what I normally like to wear in the cooler months. BUT, I do adore it for what it is. And if you like this fragrance but wish it had a sugary aspect to it, I find that it smells divine when layered with certain fig fragrances, such as Gris Charnel or Figuier Eden from Armani. I have yet to try layering with my more vanilla-centered fragrances (Black Tie, Althair, etc.) but I'm willing to bet that the combination there would be delectable as well. Performance-wise, it's not a MAJOR projector, as I think Clive Christian intended to create a more subtle sillage, but it lasts decently long, up to 6-8 hours. I would go moderate with the sprays, perhaps even milder in an office setting, but trust me when I say this fragrance is not offensive at all. It may be rough around the edges in its vibe, at least in occasional parts of its development, but it wouldn't really cause anyone to go dizzy or anything like that. One aspect I appreciate about this fragrance is its versatility. I could see myself using this equally as well on a cool, crisp day at work, as I could for an evening soiree at some Baroque chateau around Paris. It just screams signature, and I think if one were to look for a signature, one-shot fragrance on the higher end (though I don't recommend this), V is a great contender. Overall, V was a beautiful introduction for me to the Clive Christian collection. I was reluctant to try any fragrance from this brand because of how old-school they were known to be, and actively avoided it after the one and only fragrance I've previously (and briefly) tried from them smelled like somebody's dead grandfather. I used to even question what certain celebrities who were known to use Clive Christian, such as Drake, were even thinking. But over time, I've come to appreciate vintage, timeless classics, and while not every fragrance is a hit for me, I feel that I can finally understand the craft behind it, at the very least. Now, I am ready to explore Clive Christian even further, and hopefully find even more hidden gems along the way.

The first time I wore this I received an unsolicited compliment from a woman in her late 20's - early 30's. She liked it so much she asked me what the name was and of course I told her Clive Christian V for men. There is a lot going on during the initial application. You get a nice rich pepper with a slight hint of fruitiness in the opening. After the opening the spices and resins present themselves which adds to the complexity of the composition. Later on it settles into a deep rich amber accord with hints of smoke and vetiver. It lasts for several hours and you only need two or three sprays. Highly recommended but if you can try before you buy since the pepper is quite strong and may be off-putting to some people.

I was undecided on V until I tried it on a hot, dry summer day... then I went and got a bottle. It will probably last me a long time, though. There's a business quality to this scent so it pairs well with formal occasions. It feels sober, masculine and definitely mature. There's no playfulness whatsoever. It opens peppery and citrusy then it goes for a well-behaved, mass market appeal dry down. As such, it will garner compliments. It performs acceptably, though perhaps a bit too moderately for the segment. I think most people will like it, but not "love" it. It's probably been done before and at a better price point.

this is the best smoky amber scent that i tried after testing hundred of niches . versatile for all seasons and occasions , to the point it became my signature scent as you mature you are more leaning towards green fougerees fragrances, this one isnt challenging at all, suitable as a entry niche fougerees opening is a blast of pepper, it tones down in seconds revealing a airy sweet amber smoky aroma that lingers in the air for hours, the overall scent reminds me of chrysanthemum tea

I really enjoy every second of this scent, its telling its own story and getting more beautiful as it develops. The vetiver and incense are very smooth and creamy, at the very end it kind of reminded me of Gucci Pour Homme 2, that's how smooth it becomes. 10/10 for this beautiful masterpiece