Clutch

After smelling an earlier iteration of the then-unnamed fragrance to ultimately be named Clutch, Perfumology's third release, again a collaboration project between owner/creative director Nir Guy and perfumer Justin Fredercio, turned out in its final form to be something very special and improved. It's interesting seeing the creative process but the result is even better. I'm often not a fan of ginger, stated to the central note of the fragrance, since it sours a couple tobacco fragrances that I believe I would otherwise love (Phaedon Tabac Rouge, Roja Enigma/Creation-E), yet it does sometimes work wonderfully, as in Bleu de Chanel EDT. In being mixed with vanilla and elemi, though, in a balanced way, its spiciness is not overwhelming. The mix of these accords seems rather balanced and with cedar and oak, two components also used in Grange, the blend is sort of year-round-friendly, warm, cozy creation, despite the imagery of driving out on the open road and smelling nature and smoke. Those elements for me are rather comforting, and I get some deja vu from Clutch without being able to put my finger on what exactly it reminds me of. Performance-wise, it’s strong on longevity but moderate on project, on par with Grange but a little bit denser, presumably do the use of heavier ingredients like vanilla. The pricing remains very reasonable , with Clutch, like its predecessors, offered in a 50ml size at extrait concentration for $95, on par with Imaginary Authors’ pricing, for example. Overall, I laud Justin and NIr for this latest entry, perhaps edging out Grange as my favorite offering, and know I’ll picking up a bottle of Clutch when it’s restocked. Bravo! 8 out of 10

I have gone bonkers for this, love at first sniff! The ginger in this makes the fragrance for me. Clutch leans masculine yet I feel perfectly comfortable wearing it. It has classic masculine notes, cedar, oak, leather, smoke, and comes across as boozy, with lots of vanilla, but unlike most fragrances with those notes which are usually too much for me, it’s not too heavy or overwhelming because of the fresh ginger. It also isn’t too thick, it’s exhilarating with a balance of warmth and coolness and any heaviness is countered and uplifted by the truly excellent ginger used in this. This is one of my favorite qualities in a fragrance, a balance of heavy and light, so maybe that is why these fragrances appeal so much to me. I will go as far as saying Clutch is one of my favorite fragrances of 2018. I love a fragrance that comes with a story attached to it, it gives it more meaning, gives you something to ponder as you smell it, and makes it feel more personal. I feel more connected to a scent with a story to tell. Wearing Clutch today, I opened my sunroof, something I would not normally do in winter lol. But I wanted to experience it the way it was intended, with the feel of an open road and fresh cool air. Even if in a midsize fully automatic SUV without a clutch lol. Wonderful fragrance, highly recommended.

I got a sample of Clutch with another purchase and upon reading the notes I wasn't hopeful at all. Not only am I not a fan of smoky, leathery fragrances, but it seemed like it's going to be too masculine for me. And, boy, was I surprised when I gave it a shot. It's such a good quality scent, so smooth and well-blended that none of the notes really stands out. Maybe only the ginger tingles a bit, but I'm a fan of that note, so it's a win for me. It's not too leathery or smoky, it's cozy and creamy even in the dry-down, when the vanilla kicks in. Truly an autumnal, atmospheric, unisex scent. It does resemble Tabacco Vanille, but I feel that Clutch has better composition for a fraction of the price of TV. Longevity and performance are top notch. The only downside for me is the delivery - I've tried buying it twice, but something happens at customs and both times they had it returned to sender. Which is heartbreaking, because this is a gem!

Clutch was a slow surprise and somewhat familiar. Upon first sniff, I thought this was some type of slightly fruity ginger refleshing tea scent. But as it dries down, it becomes slightly smokey. It took me a few times to sniff again to make out the notes clearly. Now reading everyone's else's reviews, I can definitely agree, Clutch is like your unisex summer tobacco scent, which I wasn't expecting looking at the notes. Actually I remember now, this scent brought back memories of me going to our local Buddhist temple when I was a child. Aunties cooking in the background with ginger, people drinking tea, and incense. It took me awhile to come back to my 2ml sample (unsure as to why), but this really is lovely. I have been searching for a tobacco scent for summer, but most are quite masculine, but this is balanced in every way.

The ginger in this is woody and almost powdery, not quite the acidic bite of fresh ginger, more the calming warmth of the dried form. It almost starts to lean cola-like up close, but thankfully never goes fully in that direction. Combined with the leather and wood, this is a really nice, truly unisex scent. I'm shocked that tobacco isn't a note! Seems surprisingly versatile as well– the notes are all autumnal, but the ginger retains just enough brightness, and the sillage is soft enough, that I could see it working in warmer weather. This grew on me more the more I wore it, and now I reach for it fairly often. It makes me feel like the kind of person who exudes effortless cool... even if most days I'm just wearing it while working from home in my pajamas.

A sample landed into my path by fate. Nir mentioned it sold out of his first run and it's obvious why. It's unique but likeable, has an interesting way about it yet not intimidating. It has it's own unique view (thank you for that) and it's a fun wear. Definitely unisex. If you can get a hold of it.. definitely worth a test drive. Perfumology's scents keep getting better and better.

Absolutely beautiful fragrance. Of the Perfumology house I would definitely say that this is the best of the 3 in my opinion. I cant get enough of it to be honest. I can see why when I went into the store today Nir told me it was selling like hot cakes.

That sweet note straight off the top is killer for me absolute 🔥 FB worthy!! Love it

It's a brisk fall day, coming on winter, and people are finally starting up their fireplaces. There's a light note of smoke hanging in the air of the neighborhood. A vanilla cinnamon roll - (the kind with legs, of course) - is walking along a sidewalk lined with tall, mature oak trees, wood slightly damp from a rain the night before, smelling like partly cured fine oak boards in a woodshop. Our pastry notices a head shop ahead, and opens the door to have a look around. The store is warm, and fragrant with all manner of resinous incenses hanging along the walls. "Hi, what's up?", asks the proprietor. "Can I help you with something?" "Nah, just checking out your incense." Can I offer you a cup of ginger tea?", she asks. "We like to brew it in the Fall." "Sounds really good; that would be lovely", answers the vanilla cinnamon roll. Let me pause to ask you to remember the old Reese's Peanut Butter Cups commercial: "Hey! You got chocolate in my peanut butter!"/"Well, YOU got peanut butter in my chocolate!" In this way, our pastry is flirting with the head shop gal, getting one's vanilla in the others incense, and they hang out, talking and drinking ginger tea together for the rest of afternoon. It's five o'clock when they're both quite "dried down", as they say, and there's no more tea left, just a whiff of vanilla and resin together, and we know, friends, that they've fallen in love. Nope, no flowers or fruit or green anything ....and no (gasp) Ambroxan etc....to interfere with the full on autumnal smoke and sweetness of their love. Just a pastry roll and an incense girl together, forever. The End.

When I saw the note of smoke I was a bit concerned, because I've had some bad experiences with cigarette smoke smelling fragrances, but the smoke in here smells like tobacco, my love. When I sprayed this on, I immediately thought of Tobacco Vanille, which is so nice to find a cheaper fragrance that smells like that to my nose - I've tried many a tobacco fragrance, and nothing has come close, except for Herod...which is just as expensive. Clutch differs to me in that it's fresher, with tons of ginger, a beautiful note that is expressed in abundance here. Vanilla is here for slight sweetness but it never turns fully gourmand on me the way that Tobacco Vanille does. Clutch retains some fresh jauntiness, like a sport version. I guess the red cedar note also provides freshness as well as woodiness. It's softly spicy, woody, comfortable yet unique. I would describe Clutch as a ginger perfume, one of the few fragrances where ginger really gets the spotlight and doesn't die away. I could see myself getting this - Tobacco Vanille feels so heavy it's more for the deepest, darkest winters - Clutch comes in for you in every season <3

I enjoy Clutch very much. It’s such a pleasure when a fragrance is both very easy to wear and quite unusual. On me it’s mostly a smoky and sweet woody creation. I don’t get a lot of musk or leather. Other reviewers seem to find this scent dessert-like but I disagree. It has smoke, wood, spice and sweetness but is not far along the continuum for any of those traits. I share a similar impression with landshark. And for sure this and Grange are the two strongest offerings from perfumology.

the top was very very sweet, sappy, too sweet; right out of the sprayer it smelled like labdanum and smoke; that sweetness quickly burned off and you are left with elemi, cedar, leather and vanilla or labdanum while musk supports the structure though I wouldn't call this a "musky" scent; in the drydown this smells like something else I own that I can't place, almost a sweet pipe tobacco scent

Tried this for the first time as a sampler that came free from Perfumology, and it was pleasantly surprising. Really gives me a root beer scent in the opening, but more mellowed out and not overly fizzy. It dries down into a very nice ginger, vanilla, and woody scent with a backdrop of leather. Lasts a while!

The ginger in this fragrance is absolutely fantastic and Clutch overall could be a big love for me except for that pipe tobacco note, as others have mentioned. I know it is not supposed to be there but many of us perceive it nonetheless. I would go for Clutch in a big way otherwise.

Read John Biebel's article "Perfumology's Clutch and the Scent of Driving" and just had to try this one! I'm fascinated with perfumes like Xyrena 66 and Comme des Garcons Series 6 Synthetic Garage. They are super fun to try, and surprisingly wearable. I had a '64 Covette painted glittered emerald green in my early days, and driving it was one of life's pleasures. (Later I got one of the new sleek Corvettes similar to the releases today, but it never equaled that first love.) I can definitely relate to Perfumology's Nir Guy with his love of the driving experience and the thrill of the road. Clutch has a lot going on. The ingredients are all top notch. The smoke note is excellent and mercurious. Somehow it combines with the leather and elemi and . . . voila! There's a romanticized exhaust fume! There's also the aura of driving in the fall. The smoke combined with vanilla does double duty and evokes cool weather fires in the distance. And the leather stirs images of expensive car interiors . . . it's amazing how many associations are packed into Clutch. Without these mental connections, the aroma would be a pleasure to wear, but with them it brings back great times. Solid sillage and longevity.

This is an Amber Spicy fragrance and what I get when I first sprayed it is the ginger but then I get a blast of vanilla and some musk but the vanilla dominates the life of this fragrance! I honestly can't stop smelling myself! I honestly smell like some creamy vanilla icing 😋 that's the vibe I get. As well this fragrance projects on my skin as soon I come close to my wrist I still get the blast of the vanilla which smells divine and beautiful. This is quality 👌🏾 and well blended. I urge everyone to try out this house. To me it's Clutch and Grange that standout to me but I want everyone to try for themselves and see which ones from the discovery set they like.

This smells like if a cinnamon roll was a soda, but not as sweet. Imo, I'm not sure if that makes sense but honestly that's the vibe I'm getting. It's not that smoky (which in my opinion is a good thing). It smells good to me.The more this dries down the more I get a Xerjoff - 40 Knots kind of vibe, I really like this.

I wanted to like Clutch because I'm a fan of leather, and it is definitely a leather scent, but there's just something slightly nauseating about it to me. It's got a sort of powdery sweetness to it that isn't my cup of tea. It projects pretty well, and really lasts on clothes.

Am I the only one getting this Coca-Cola vibe? Nice scent,very smooth,but not my style.

Smells like strawberry cheesecake topped with crushed fig newtons