Clandestine Clara

Clara will always have a special place in my heart as it was the first fragrance that made me fall into this deep rabbit hole of perfumes. It totally captured my heart at first sniff. At the time, I was unaware of anything perfumes but I saved every penny I could to purchase this bottle at full retail price. The notes in here are still notes that I gravitate towards when it comes to scents, vanilla, tobacco, rum, amber and subtle spices. Clara is a boozy ambery warm vanilla that dries down a touch powdery, it doesn’t transform much but I don’t get bored of it (it doesn’t last long enough to get bored of lol). She looks sweet and innocent but there’s a dark sensual side to her that very few gets the pleasure of experiencing. She is self aware and gives of idgaf what you think of me you'll love me anyways energy. Layered together with the very bewitching yasmine (amps up the sweetness and longevity) and that is now a signature scent to me. That’s when I feel the most myself. Every time I put this on it reminds me of my first love, Clara.

Looking at the accords, I simply knew this was for me. I love perfumes with smell all boozy and cinnamon-y with just a hint of tobacco on my husband, but he isn’t a fan of those. Which is why I took to buying perfumes meant for men that smell like this! But this? Everything I want in a pretty bottle :) I might be a bit partial though - I was ready to love this even before I smelled it because of the copy from Penhaligon’s. I mean, Clara does sound like the woman I want to be. I know people have had issues with longevity and sillage but to be honest it doesn’t seem to bother me. I am surrounded by a cinnamony spicy cloud that I am basking in. So, so unique. So different from any other perfume I am used to. It does border on unisex and I would love to smell this on a man! I imagine someone who’s confident and willing to admit it wearing this one. This is the kind of perfume that you’ve got to know better to find the soft core within, know what I mean? Get past the hard exterior shell to find the warmth inside. Gorgeous smell!

So I got this today and I have been racking my brain trying to think of what it reminds me of. It has a bit of a vintage edge to it and it's wafting something really familiar to me.... Its just come to me! It reminds me of Samsara! But the OG, not the current formulation. When I put my nose to my wrist it doesn't smell like it, but wafting in the air I get that distinct Samsara vibe. Off the top its spicy play dough with a marzipan/almond nuance. This isn't boozy, it's dry and powdery with a touch of sweetness. The dry down is where this frag shines for me. The play dough burns off a fair bit and you are left with a creamy vanilla, cinnamon and rich amber that is a touch powdery from the lingering playdough. Its such a shame that when it gets to the divine dry down it is almost gone. 2 hours and it's a skin scent, and it only projects for maybe 20 minutes. For the price thats a joke. Its a true unisex fragrance.

Think sweet powdery smooth aged rum by the fireplace. Even after years of maceration, longevity and spillage is disappointingly weak for the price you pay. Such a shame for a beautifully blended fragrance. Extremely close to the skin but a warm surprise oozes out upon discovery. My batch is JUNE 2020... at room temperature on my hand I need to be at least 15cm close to get an essence - an odd liquorice opening which eases in to sweet woodiness. The only way to comfortably wear this out is for it to ride on the back of a projecting fragrance like Mancera roses vanille. Given then name, I gather Clara is very quiet and mysterious, not wanting to be easily identified hence the subtle complexity. 7.5/10 - losing points for price, longevity, and projection but smells divine!

I do like testing female/ unisex fragrances to wear for myself (I am a heterosexual male) and would layer some with different molecule compounds to alter the tone for a more masculine offset as I'm very much into gourmand and vanilla notes. I tested this out after reading all the reviews on this at first, especially with the opening spray - I wasn't a fan. Though as most fragrances I wanted to give this a chance so I just bought it anyway and tested it for a week and where this shines I feel is the dry down and when its in the air. I layer this with ambroxan, so perhaps that had something to do with it but it was surprisingly pleasant and have received a lot of compliments both female and male.