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Have you ever wondered why Clive Christian perfumes are always created and released in pairs? The answer lies in both a love story and in celebration of perfume creativity. Our love story relates to our patron Queen Victoria and her enduring love for her husband prince Albert, a love story written in perfume. The creativity in pairing comes from the endless possibilities to create a signature scent through perfume layering.
Perfume layering is a wonderful way to create a signature scent by combining two different perfumes. The art of pairing scents gives you so many more options by experimenting with your favourite perfumes and exploring your existing fragrance wardrobe – creating a truly personal scent that is completely unique to you. It is important that you pair perfumes that have a similar perfume concentration so one fragrance doesn’t overwhelm another. You will get the most striking results by mixing perfumes with different notes rather than pairing perfumes with similar characters. For example, do not pair florals with other florals but do pair florals with woody perfumes.
A great way to learn how to pair perfumes is with Discovery sets. Our sets for example feature four of our most iconic perfumes. You will have countless options to layer all these striking perfumes.
From the ICONS Discovery set for example we suggest you try 1872 Citrus Floral with Jump Up and Kiss Me Ecstatic, a truly energising scent with intense florals. You can also pair Rock Rose with 1872 Citrus Floral for a fresh perfume with hidden richness. Rock Rose also works lovely with Jump Up and Kiss Me Ecstatic creating a warm and mysterious floral smell. No 1 Oriental Woody paired with 1872 Citrus Floral forms a spark of brightness with a citrus burst. Layering Jump Up and Kiss me Ecstatic with No1 Oriental Woody oozes opulence and warmth.
The romantic story behind why Clive Christian develops perfumes in matching pairs is inspired by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert who were customers of our predecessor ‘The Crown Perfumery Company’ (which was bought by Clive Christian in 1999) and who had perfumes made as gifts for one another as a symbol of their love. Our pairs consist of one perfume with stronger notes that could be classified as a bit more masculine and one perfume with more feminine notes, both carefully crafted with shared ingredients to perfectly complement each other – just like the perfect pair.
Do get in touch with us on Instagram or Facebook and let us know what your favourite combinations are. We would love to hear about your creations.
Explore the exciting art of perfume pairing with the help of our guide to perfume layering.
Either fresh and spring like or heady and intoxicating florals span a variety of ingredients and effects.
Classic ingredients in this scent family include: Rose, Jasmine, Tuberose and Violet.
| Pair with | |
|---|---|
| Citrus | Citrus notes cut through florals to freshen and lighten. |
| Fruity | A touch of juicy fruits adds richness to floral notes. |
| Woody | A woody note can cool and deepen top heavy florals. |
| Oriental | Spice spiked florals are rich and exotic. |
Sharp, zesty and refreshing this top note adds energy and sunshine to perfumes.
Classic ingredients in this scent family include: Lemon, Bergamot, Petitgrain and Mandarin.
| Pair with | |
|---|---|
| Woody | The perfect combination creating green freshness. |
| Fruity | Creates a sweet cocktail when paired with citrus notes. |
| Fougere | Brings lightness and a more zesty top to fougere. |
| Chypre | A bright opening delves into a dry mysterious scent. |
Sweet and juicy fruity notes bring a playful note to perfumes.
Classic ingredients in this scent family include: Peach, Rhubarb and Berries.
| Pair with | |
|---|---|
| Floral | Creates a sweet and more energetic bouquet. |
| Gourmand | Sweetening fruity notes to create a juicy edible tone. |
| Chypre | Lifts the dryness of a chypre from the top. |
Warm and dry and almost all built round a woody, mossy accord, takes its name from the French word for Cypress, birth pace of Aphrodite symbolizing the beauty and aphrodisiacal appeal of these perfumes.
Classic ingredients in this scent family include: Oakmoss, Patchouli and Rock Rose.
| Pair with | |
|---|---|
| Floral | Brings a soft romanticism to chypre fragrances. |
| Oriental | Brings a spicy richness to dry woods and moss. |
| Woody | Adds further dryness or aromatic characteristics. |
Like a breath of fresh air, icy and fresh like laundry or a sea breeze.
Classic ingredients in this scent family include: Sea Salt, Watermelon and Galbanum.
| Pair with | |
|---|---|
| Citrus | Citrus is an exciting offset to cool blue notes. |
| Floral | Creates a light breezy floral affect. |
| Woody | Giving depth and anchoring top notes to the earth. |
Meaning “fern like”, these perfumes are green and fresh but with more depth than simple top notes, often incorporating herbaceous accords.
Classic ingredients in this scent family include: Lavender, Vetiver and Geranium.
| Pair with | |
|---|---|
| Woody | Gives a more robust depth by enhancing woody notes. |
| Floral | Brings warmth and delicacy to fougere. |
| Citrus | Brightens and lifts to create a vibrant energy. |
A variety of different characteristics come out of this family from rich ad smokey to clean and smooth, aromatic and fresh, dry and damp. These ingredients are incredibly versatile in the perfumers’ palette.
Classic ingredients in this scent family include: Sandalwood, Cedarwood, Hinoki and Oud.
| Pair with | |
|---|---|
| Oriental | Adding warmth and mysterious depth to create complexity. |
| Citrus | Lifting from the top to create a harmonious balance. |
| Gourmand | Adds a touch of sweetness with vanilla or cocoa notes. |
| Floral | Spring like notes lift darker woods from the base. |
| Ozonic / Aquatic | Aquatic notes cool and lighten deeper woody notes. |
Spices, musks, incense and resins, these ingredients make up some of the oldest in perfumery and are warm, rich and multifaceted.
Classic ingredients in this scent family include: Cardamom, Black Pepper and Frankincense.
| Pair with | |
|---|---|
| Floral | Adds romanticism where exotic spices meet sensuous florals. |
| Fruity | Spicy and fruity, a combination that creates tantalizing delights. |
| Aquatic | A surprising combination adds depth to ozonic notes. |
| Woody | Increases depth and resinous accords. |
Edible but not necessarily obviously sweet (coffee and salt are the new gourmande trends), warm and comforting gourmandes are perfect for winter.
Classic ingredients in this scent family include: Vanilla, Cocoa, Milk and Coffee.
| Pair with | |
|---|---|
| Fruity | A touch of fruit can add juiciness to overly sweet notes. |
| Floral | Creates a charming delicacy like sugar dusted roses. |
| Woody | Sweetens resinous tones, bringing candy to dry woods. |
| Oriental | A rich blend of spices and sweetness, an exotic delicacy. |
