Vivid Flame

Vivid Flame is the Dua inspired expression of Clive Christian 1872 for Men, a spicy blend featuring black pepper, rosemary, lavender, nutmeg, petitgrain, citruses, neroli, resins, and woods. The spiciness is quite intense at the opening but gradually subsides. Still, the fragrance is strong and gentlemanly while also having a sense of restraint and well-roundedness, a spicy blend that’s classy in the way of Montale Arabians or Parfums de Marly Nisean, clearly more apt for cold weather and the nighttime but perfectly acceptable in the daytime with restrained sprays. There’s some sharpness and vague resinousness and smokiness but I think the black pepper is the main player, anchored by some of the supporting elements that give it some color and shape. A little dark but also peppy and zesty, it feels like a good all-day option both in terms of character and performance, particularly when trying to stand out slightly but not obscenely. Really an underrated gem in the Dua collection but for which I do not have a good comparison to its inspiration, which I’ve not smelled in some time, but I love the Dua and it suits me perfectly well. Its retail pricing is $55 for 30ml, so slightly lower than most of the main collection, but sometimes quite a bit lower with discounts. 8 out of 10