Aromatics Elixir

Clinique was born in 1968 within the Estée Lauder group and built its reputation on allergy-tested skincare sold without fragrance. Aromatics Elixir, its first fragrance, arrived in 1971 and turned its back on that image: a dense, heady chypre with a rare presence.

Bernard Chant at IFF

The fragrance is signed by Bernard Chant, an IFF perfumer who also created Cabochard for Grès, Azurée for Estée Lauder and Aramis. Carol Phillips, Clinique’s co-founder and a former Vogue editor, accompanied its creation within the young brand.

More than a fragrance

The house describes it as a cult elixir that plays the role of a fragrance and goes far beyond, touching the senses and the spirit. It claims more than seven hundred ingredients and intends it for strong personalities, for individualists who reject conventions.

Forty years and variations

Aromatics Elixir celebrated its fortieth anniversary in 2011 and has been extended into variations, including Perfumer’s Reserve the same year and Aromatics in White in 2014. The original remains in the house’s catalog as an eau de parfum from 10 to 100 ml.

For this anniversary, Clinique brought together the original in a 100 ml collector’s bottle, Perfumer’s Reserve, signed by Laurent Le Guernec from materials distilled by Laboratoire Monique Rémy, and a solid perfume set in an amber-colored pendant.

The line also includes Aromatics in Black, Aromatics Black Cherry, Aromatics Elixir Premier, and an eau de toilette, so many variations on the original.