Aromatics Elixir Clinique for women

williamvargas, i agree with you, aromatics elixir used to have the scent that you love on your wife. my husband felt the same as you. however, she probably uses the one made in usa. i have just noticed that the new parfum supplied to me is made in switzerland. could this be the reason for the change in sillage?

amazed at all dislikes , i think when applied approriately,,because it so potent...but what a sexy, vibrant scent...i tend to think someone like cleopatra would have worn this scent...get the fuck out of my way...i am a woman...just a beautiful,powerful...such security..i love my wife to wear this sometimes...she will just spray and walk thru..that is all you need..still wows me.

this is yet another follow-up from my previous comments, it is very interesting maria-clara that you have actually been informed that the formula of aromatics elixir has been altered. my two bottles (which were lacking in sillage) that were purchased in los angeles at macy's were replaced in sydney. also with an explanatory note they were being replaced due to customer dissatisfaction, not of a change in formulation, but that i was suffering from "olfactory fatigue" in that i had been using it so long that my nose was becoming accustomed to the fragrance so much that i had lost my true assessment of the parfum. they pretty much implied that i was the problem. i don't think so.

Beginning this month (february 2012) I bought a new bottle of Aromatics Elixir. The one I'm using is almost finished. I didn't try the new one yet. Since I read in one of the comments that lately something changed in the formulation, I wrote to Clinique. And yes, they confirmed that the formula recently changed slightly, without giving any specifics. They also confirmed that the one I'm using is still the old formula. Now I won't finish this bottle, but keep it for very special occasion. And, now I will have to find out what exactly was changed.

Nopasho, you describe Aromatics so beatifully that there is nothing more to say. I so, so agree with you.BTW all your reviews are so nice to read.

This smells amazing on my mother and grandmother - really expensive and luxurious. I did buy a bottle but it just didn't suit me. It turned into cat's urine on my skin, which was disappointing. It does smell great on some people though, and lasts forever on the skin.

Another 'grande dame' of the perfumery art that gets bashed here regulary. Why? Because it smells too strong. Because it is not sweet. Because there is no vanilla in it. Because the sillage is too good, because the longevity is too long! What do you want? Weak frags that are breezes in the wind, are gone after half an hour and you pay a lot of money for because it has a cute bottle? This is a Strong Personality Fragrance. And those kind of frags always provoke strong reactions. I can't imagine that someone would waste the time hating mass fabricated run of the mill fragrance that has some celebrity name on it or because it has a cute bottle. 'Lola' by Jacobs. Raves because of the 'cute' bottle but most agree that the frag is nothing special. I can give you the link to a Chinese factory that sells these flower bottles mass produced before Jacobs launched 'Lola'. That's where Jacobs found that 'cute bottle'. Justin Bieber's frag: the bottle is 'Made in China' also. The Harakuju dolls of Gwen Stefani: mass produced in Japan. Nothing original. Not the bottle and certainly not the frag.
'Aromatics Elixir' IS certainly original. It is strong. It is like nothing else. It has chutzpah, cojones, balls, power, A Face, A Character. It is Something. Where a lot of frags are just 'nothing in a cute bottle'. I'll go for the strong frag in a whatever bottle anytime over the run-of-the-mill-gone-with-the-wind frags in a cute Made in China or Japan' bottle. The hate for this frag is IMHO because it is not sweet. Hell, it is anti-sweet! It is woody, earthy, herbal, spicy. When you wear it you wear A Unique Fragrance. Not some interchangeable sweet fragrance. And so 'Aromatics' belongs in the category of the great unique frags like 'Opium', 'Chanel 5', 'Dioressence'... No sugar, lot of fragrance! It is an absolute delight for the perfume-diabetics amongst us who are not a fan of syrupy sweet vanilla artificial-flower-extract fragrances. A treat. That gets rarer and rarer to find outside the niche ghetto. The 'sugar craze' has apperently crossed over from food to perfumes. Where fast food manufacturers bulk everything up with cheap sugar and cheap soy, you see the same thing happen in perfumery with sugar: bring on the glucose and the sweet flower and fruit syrups. To each its own. I don't hate fruity florals, I just don't care for them because most are so faceless, bland, interchagable and anonymous. Perfume is an art form. You can hardly defend that the sweet fruities that are churned out nowadays by the perfume molochs at incredible high prices, where sugar is a cheap ingredient as is the artificial vanilla, vanillin, are close to intricate perfume craftmanship.
Let's not turn the world upside down here. 'Sugary' is not a standard of measuring the quality of a frag, and 'weak', 'inoffensive' are also not a plus in my book. 'Aromatics' is shamelessly Bold and Beautiful. And I like it. As do many others because since its launch in 1975 it is still going strong. And it will be around to enjoy, long after Katy Perry's 'Purr' and 'Meow' or Gwen Stefani's fragrances are dead and forgotten.
What makes this unique frag tick? A lot of notes.
Top: Aldehydes, coriander, chamomile, lemon verbena, clary sage, bergamot, rosewood, geranium
Middle: Carnation, tuberose, orange blossom, ylang ylang, rose, jasmine, orris root
Base: Sandalwood, patchouli, musk, oakmoss, vetiver, incense.
Wow! No vanilla, no sweet chocolate, no cotton candy, no caramel, no popcorn-note... Halelujah! Diabetics can enjoy this scent too! There is no insulin needed when smelling this. Technically this frag is top notch. Great sillage, super longevity, perfectly mixed and balanced and all notes in harmony. Even the Aromatics-haters have to give it that. In fact it is one of their pet peeves: 'AE' smells too strong! Well, I say: the stronger the better. Because you also then use less of it, so it makes that frag less expensive. Why are all these new frags these days so weak? So that you would spritz a lot and your bottle will be empty soon and you can buy a new bottle at inflated prices. That won't happen with 'AE'!
The quality of a frag is determined by its base. Here we have a very strong but also very classical base. Almost textbook from the lesson: 'How to make a strong long lasting frag'? These six notes -sandalwood, patchouli, oakmoss, musk, vetiver, incense- is the perfume equivalent of a concrete-and-steel base. Then the top notes blast first. Some complain about a 'medical smell'. If you consider chamomile 'medicinal', you are right. It is also a very original and great fragance note. Its herbalness is strenghtened by the geranium in the 'herbal' top. The dry feeling is further amplified by the rosewood, the clary sage and the coriander. The aldehydes give this a creamy, cozy, dense 'Chanel nr 5'-vibe that is brightened and freshened up by the bergamot and the lemon verbena.
Then the middle notes make their presence 'felt'. A very flowery middle: tuberose, rose, jasmine, ylang ylang are very classic flowery combinations. But the stightly bitter and peppery carnation adds contrast and deepness to the 'floral' middle and the fragrance in total. It breaks that classic 'old school'-tuberose, rose, jasmine-ylang ylang- flowerfest. And next the cheery and zesty orange blossom in the middle (mostly it is in the top of fragrances) further lightens/freshens up the middle like the verbana/bergamot does in the top. The 'herbal' top and the 'flowery' middle play ping-pong with each other. And that 'herbal-flowery' notes combination creates all kinds of inner workings that produce 'herbal-floral' peeps of smells. But it is natural floral, not 'sweet flowery'. It is earthy 'herbal' not oriental 'spicy', despite the coriander, which is not too pronounced. That whole intricate combo mixed with the base of patchouli, incense, oakmoss, sandalwood... (also all herbal-woody) creates a decidely non-vanillic, non-sweet strong one-of-a-kind perfume heaven. Call this 'medicinal' if you want. I call it 'great!'. So 'Aromatics' is unbashedly-non-sweet. Therefore it is villified by a lot of people who can't imagine a fragrance without sugar and/or vanilla. Well, it exists: 'Aromatics Elixir'. And it is great.
If you think this smells 'medicinal, I advise you to visit a hospital. That's what 'medicinal' smells like. If 'Aromatics Elixir' is 'medicinal', it is IMHO a medicine that is good for you. Test it, take it and be cured of your oncoming olfactory diabetes and craving for sugary overload. Don't believe the clichés, test it and form your own opinion. I for one, who doens't love syrupy, sugary breezes that are 'gone with the wind' in 30 minutes, am open and honest about this. I like this sillage monster and longevity beast. I hope you give it a test run. You will be rewarded by discovering that a fragarance doesn't have to have vanilla an sugar in it. You will maybe be cured from your sugar cravings. And I will now be attacted by the American Sugar Alliance...

I absolutely love Aromatics Elixir, and AE loves me. It lasts very long. It is rich, it is warm, elegant, classy, feminine for women with balls. Not for everyone though.

Six days later I have to add:
Wearing Aromatics Elixir outside the house gets you attention, yes, the scent goes beyond your skin, yes it will be noted, but absolutely not recognized by everybody, as is suggested in some of the comments. Trust me, it will be recognized ánd appreciated by another AE passionista passing you, or standing near you in the supermarket. Compare it to the connection guys get when passing eachother in the street while driving their 1960/70s Mercury or Rover of a specific model or type. Everybody else thinks they're nuts to drive in outdated, ugly cars, but they themselves know better. Much better.

hi there, this is a follow up from my previous two reviews regarding the lack of scent of aromatics elixir that i purchased in Los Angeles recently. yes ginawadsworth i agree that the scent of the two bottles were very faint, dark in colour and definitely lacking in the "wake effect". i have personally taken both bottles back to clinique here in sydney (australia) and am awaiting their assessment. will let you know the outcome. bevysplace

Hi everyone. This is a continuation of my earlier comments about not being able to smell AE anymore. Today out of curiosity I tried Estee. This is what AE appears to have been reduced to in the last 2 bottles I purchased.A very subtle scent with no sillage. Has anyone else who knows both perfumes got any comments?

After chuckling about the recent reviews I just have to put in my two bits on AE. I'll admit its a classic. On paper I just love it. Aaahh....patchouli. It also smells great on some of my customers, and I mean "fantastic" on one lady!
Unfortunately, that isn't the case with my skin. It smells "ok" for approximately five minutes. THEN it turns into the dreaded "Rest Area Toilet Disinfectant" odor that I used to encounter as I drove between Florida and Arizona. I'd rather go out in the desert to relieve myself and take my chances with the rattlesnakes as opposed to walking into those restrooms!!! What a stench. Its an olfactory memory that I've tried SO hard for SO many years to keep repressed. Then I went and tried Aromatics Elixir. Bad move on my part, but you never know until you try!
Note: As for the comparison to EL's Knowing. I ADORE that fragrance! And it loves me back! A beautiful, magnificent spicy rose chypre on my skin.

I WISH THIS FRAGRANCE DIDN'T SMELL LIKE CRAP ON MY SKIN!!! WHY!!! NOT FAIR!!!!!

yes lyra knowing is also full of oakmoss :)
i dont understand why people like those mossy scents so much when they all smell basicly the same , or is it just me casue i cant stand it

The lady at the Clinique counter kindly gave me a 4ml sample the other day.
I sat in a glorious haze for about 6 hours yesterday and woke up this morning to a lovely dry down.
At 16 hours, it's even sexier now and still clinging softly to my skin.

Several hours ago I spritzed it on my wrist at one of the shopping malls. I think it's a type of perfume that one could be longing to smell during the August swelterings... I think it would counteract heat,refreshing the senses in a lovely way. I guess it's great when used sparingly, though; also, it somehow reminds a bit of EL's "Knowing" (just vaguely, because this one is fresher and less earthy).

For some reason, I feel the need to like this one but I'm not sure why. I've tried it twice. Both times, to my nose, it smelled like citronella based bug spray (not the smell I was going for). However, both times, other people said I smelled amazing. How can that be? I applied it, as everyone has suggested here, just walked into the spray but I could not stand it on me and could not get it off soon enough. It lasted an entire day and through a shower!

So then I ask myself, do I want to smell good to me? Or do I want to smell good to others? I'd sort of like to smell good to me and others so for now, this isn't the scent for me but I appreciate the complexity of it.

Thank you Bevysplace for confirming my review. Interestingly I purchased the bottles of AE in New Zealand and of the two versions offered I chose the darker scent in the bottle which is slightly opaque as I had never seen the lighter coloured version in a clear bottle before. (I actually thought I was being offered Beautiful to begin with because this was exactly the same colour). I also found that the atomiser leaked and I had to make sure the bottle was kept upright. Are there now two versions of the one scent, or two strengths? I would be keen to know the outcome of your complaint to Clinique and what, if anything, they have to say.

I forgot to mention that I consider this to be my signature scent and has been for at least 20 years. I just adore this fragrance and the effect it has. So I knew immediately that something was very different about the new bottles. Has anyone else has this problem? bevysplace

I too agree with ginawadsworth. I have recently visited Los Angeles and purchased 2 bottles of Armomatics Elixir at Macy's and upon my return found them both to be very dark in colour and lacking in scent. My husband agrees. Very disappointing. I have complained to Clinique and am sending them back for assessment. Bevysplace

What have they done to this masterpiece.
This was my signature scent for many years. Not only did I absolutely adore it, AE was my comforter. Helped me sleep, calmed me and gave me confidence.
I have purchased 2 bottles of late and they have absolutely no smell at all. Even my husband has confirmed this as I thought my nose was lying. Maybe this is a ploy to market the Reserve Edition, but my faith has been destroyed and I am not sure if I could even sample this. I sometimes use PP but this is like a sister being there when I would rather have my best friend.
Having moved on, and tried numurous fragrances, I have discovered Givenchy eaudemoiselles, but I do still mourn AE deeply.

Aromatics Elixir is fantastic! This is the kind of fragrance that makes lifelong perfume lovers. It's unique, outstanding, atmospheric, and memorable. I was wearing this fragrance when I found out I was pregnant with my first child, 17 years ago. Even though I associated the scent with nausea for awhile afterward, now Aromatics Elixir is incredibly special to me. I love it almost as much as I love Clinique Wrappings (and I really, really love Wrappings). Clinique fragrances really changed their effects with the advent of Happy. Those of us who love to smell like sexy, the-world-is-mine PERFUME rather than shampoo or laundry detergent, will always thank Clinique for Aromatics Elixir.

Paulab-best review ever to me...I had to read it to my husband and we were hysterical. But it is the truth, love it or hate it there is no other perfume on earth that lasts longer, period. This is my mom's signature scent since it came out; she occasionally wears some others too but always comes back to this. Now my husband has always said that I could lie and say I didn't spend the day at my mom's house but he would know because my kids smell of my mother's perfume (well he hates the stuff so he said reak of not smell of sorry). He also thought there was a man's version because my dad has the same smell but it is from being near my mom...hence why the bank robber dye packs made us laugh so hard! So my review so far seems negative, very negative and true on me this is one awful mess of a smell; AE is the reason I still believe that I detest pathouli and oakmoss. I have sprayed it on many, many times in the past seduced by the compliments my mom gets. Was it Robin Williams who said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different outcome? The body cream is even scarier on me and it rubs off on everyone that you hug. There are some people who say every perfume smells the same on every person, no such thing as body chemistry etc. Whatever....this smells amazing on my mom and vile on me. I swear everytime I go somewhere in public with her at least two people will stop her to say she smells so good. And I have done it many times too...walk in her house and say "wow you smell nice" AE is the proof that a perfume really has to work on your individual skin. That doesn't mean everyone will like it on you...my husband finds AE revolting but I like the smell on my mother and I have witnessed first hand the effect it has on other people who smell her. The drydown of AE (on mom) smells of rich, mossy forest, clean in a natural way not detergent. It blends with her skin and just smells comforting. As a side note in real life the bottle is a truly gorgeous thing.

Great review, Tulip211!! LOL

This one is my favorite, great combination of notes, like a master piece simphony. I can feel it is a very sophisticated feminine fragance with an unique taste, it is elegant, sober, deep but not annoying, intense but not bothersome, not agresive or invasive, just a perfect touch of scents that surounds you, perfect match for a great classic perfume. At the first time i loved it and i still do it, when i use it i always get compliments. This is the kind of perfume that others can perceive with out being nocked out. I have a great relationship with it, I absolutely love it great job Clinique :)

Okay. One of those scents that you know you hate, but you always try it at the store anyway. Just to shriek in horror. It never fails.

Strangely though, on one of these occasions, a bit of the fragrance got on my coat sleeve. I discovered it the next day as I put my coat on, and you know what? It smelled really good! Good enough for me to buy a bottle? No. But good enough to teach me that I shouldn't judge a perfume by it's initial violent attack.

I don't get the hype. I really don't. I can't stand this fragrance.

I have worn this perfume - elixir since the late 70's and it was - is commented so favorably by many as being delicious, inviting, so sensual, warm --- comforting at best. I truly have never "loved" a fragrance as much as I have AE. Earthy and Elegant. an Essential Frangrance.

Many years ago,I thought AE was a heavy oriental,judging by the way many women wore it.I finally bought it and I adored it;a comforting scent,a real elixir.Lasting power is unbelievable!

Protective and comforting. Soothing elixir for my nose and for my soul. Perhaps my medicine to wear. I realised I need it. I couldn't find a better review for this thick and dense juice. More than a thumb up.

ıts too heavy and not suıtable for me.ıncredıble lastıng power.

There are two seperate fragrances here.
1. The aldehydic assault that wollops you over the head.

2. The woodsy patchouli heaven that takes all day to reveal itself.

It's an original, to be sure, but the aldehydes are chokingly potent and I just can't handle the first twelve hours of it.

This is my mothers favorite fragrance. She recently sent a package to my kids. When we opened the box it smelled like she had just walked in the room. This package had just traveled 5,000 miles......AE could be used instead of dye packs to track bank robbers.

There's already been so much written about this perfume. I just want to add that this is the most positive, powerful perfume I know (and I know many, being something like a "perfume-addict"); it has outstanding longevity; I spray the tiniest amount into my closet and all my clothes smell gorgeous for days.
It's an uplifting smell and very elegant. Whenever I come to work, most of my colleagues greet me with "Here comes the good smell again."
The strange thing is, normally I hate patchouli and try to avoid perfumes that contain it, but in this perfume I don't mind it at all because it is so well-blended with all the light and fresh ingredients.
I recommend anyone who hasn't yet tried Aromatics Elixir to get a sample; you are missing out on a heavenly fragrance, in my opinion.

how haven't i discovered this beauty earlier??? i was going to the mall to watch a movie and i passed by the department store to get a bottle of YSL Opium (which they didn't have) and the lady on the Clinique counter suggested AE to me i was hesitant to try but then she said: i will spray it on your wrist and you decide and she did, at first i didn't like it but while i was watching the movie i couldn't stop sniffing my wrist every 2 minutes OMG what a beautiful scent naughty rich complicated wow, the movie ended and while i was going down the stairs my friend said: you smell so good ;) 1 spray and it was all over the place! the next day i went and purchased it :D and btw it lasts for 24 hours <3

There was a woman in my workplace who used to wear this fragrance. I wanted to tell her (but did not) that the fragrance was delicious, but would be even more pleasant if she used less: she'd worn it so long she was no longer sensitive to it and tended to apply too much. Fresh, green, dry,sweetened with white florals, but with depth. It is good.

jtd is right! I had the same experience with this scent: HATED it when it first came out and for all of the years after (30+ years), then amazingly, out of nowhere yeasterday I decided to pull out a small partial bottle of AE that soemone had passed on to me years ago to give it a try. BAM! I don't know what hit me, but suddenly this scent was like a newly discovered treasure. I couldn't stop smelling my wrist. If you love heavy vintage-style chypres, this is something you should try and if you don't like it, try again later. This scent is in the vein of Gucci No. 3 Mitsouko and Patou 1000 and layers well with Patou 1000 as I tried that combination yesterday and nearly fell off of my chair it was so gorgeous!

So apparently a lot of people hate this one, and i guess i can sort of understand why since it is a pretty powerful fragrance. But for some reason, theres something about it that i reallly love and I dont know what it is. Theres this slight lemoney freshness in it behind all this rosey/flowery scents. And theres also something kind of mysterious, sexy and kind of dirty feeling one has when wearing it. So if ever you walk by a Clinique counter, just spray this fragrance in the air and walk in it (or put your hand in the cloud) and thats how youll get the best results. Enjoyyy ;)
p.s. Cult classic...for a reason ;)

Behold the witch's brew!

Seriously, there has to be some sorcery involved when a fragrance with a nonexistent advertising campaign and plain Jane packaging is able to survive for decades. But thankfully it did, because it is utterly unique and bewitching.

Conhecí varias pessoas que amam esse perfume,inclusive minha mãe(é o favorito dela),entendo porque as pessoas geralmente gostam dele,tem um cheiro de natureza,é seco e se mistura a quimica da pessoa.Infelizmente não combinou com a minha quimica,ficou forte,doce e o final não ficou seco e herbal como fica na minha mãe.Mas tem uma fixação extraordinaria umas 12hs e na roupa de cama fixa por semanas mesmo depois de lavada.Uma borrifada já é suficiente se colocar mais ele quase mata os outros.

Yeah! I found someone who thought this resembled Estee's Private Collection. (Angel10) On my skin, it's almost identical but AE definitely lasts longer.

Both are wonderful! For both: Spray and walk into the cloud. Everyone around you will appreciate this - trust me. (one cloud) :)

Believe it or not, I have hardships in writing a review about a perfume which I find just perfect. Words are simply not enough to define my olfactory experience if I'm talking about something like Aromatics Elixir. Some perfumes are just meant to be experienced I believe...

Other than that, I can say that AE is a love it or hate it fragrance. You certainly need the chemistry and the correct way of application to pull it off, fully enjoy it, and to receive a lot of compliments.

This is on my top 3 list along with Opium and Youth Dew. So if you like deep, depending on your perception slightly dark and gothic, comforting, incense-y, church-y, and a real unadulterated perfume, look nowhere else.

Use this one carefully. It is potent like no other.

I love this fragrance! It has personality, its loud and very elegant!!

No matter how many times I give this perfume away, I always seem to have a bottle on my dresser. Clinique often includes it with their GWP.
I've tried wearing it over the years... about 12 years. This scent does not work on me. It makes me feel nauseas and I can smell it on myself. My nose will not get used to it and for that reason it is unwearable. I cannot be in the same room with someone who has the same chemistry with this scent as I do, it makes me feel like I cannot get air. As a matter of fact it smells on me just like it smells if one sniffs the bottle.
However, I do know many ladies who have been wearing this scent as their signature fragrance for years and interestingly on them it smells beautiful, totally different to the way it smells on me.On them this fragrance develops beautifully. This brings me to the conclusion that aromatics is only meant for some.
I do not practice spraying scent on my clothing. It can damage my clothing. Also I like to connect with scent and be personal with it.

For me, this is a love case. A scent hard to describe with a thousand facets. I must confess: I wanna the eternity to analises and take all his sides. Use it with EXTREME CAUTION, just a 1 or 2 sprays are more than enough for open spaces (at night). If you want to use it at the day, make like calyx93 says: just walk into a small cloud.

First wear: this is sour, green and flowery in all stages without much distinction between them.

Second wear: what a powdery fragrance! some acid notes too.

Today wear: rather nutty smell (maybe coriander) goes until the end, blended in top with strong green-aldehydic storm, a bit tart and acid. Powdery bouquet is introduced in this sour blend, getting softer. Now comes the smoky base with those classic chypre elementes: bitter and at the same time, fresh fusion of woods and grass such as patchouli, oakmoss and vetiver. Sandalwood make it more balanced and a little (just a little) warm. I love the incense note making it mysterious and sensual.

On my skin:

Sillage: extreme
Longevity: excellent, around +9h on skin, specially in clothes (more than 1 day)

I got a lesson in love and hate in fragrance from Aromatics Elixir. There are plenty of fragrances that on the first try I found uninteresting. Maybe I came to this conclusion as the top notes faded, maybe boredom set in by drydown. But I disliked AE. It was bitter chamomile, bitter oakmoss, bitter herbal along with that earthy/sacharrine imbalance that patchouli can have. I just couldn’t stand it. Until, without any feeling of transition, I thought it was one of the greatest perfumes I had ever smelled. Not just appreciation. I loved it.

I can’t really dissect this scent. I don’t have the analytical nose for that. But I don’t even want to. One thing I particularly love about Bernard Chant’s work is that I want to get taken for the ride. I don’t want to hear about the notes and all the stuff that’s in it. These are the moments of synergy that are made smaller by investigation. Let AE drive the car.

The secret to wearing this is to NOT spritz it on your skin. After bathing and while undressed, spray once into the air in front of you and walk through the cloud.

This is enough and any more will kill a person at 25 feet. Done this way, under the clothing, it will give you the gorgeous dry down scent that everyone complains about having to wait many hours for. It can be much more discrete than most folks think. The dry rose, dark musk and deep patchouli - plus those glorious aldehydes - are blended just perfectly and will give you a glow like no other scent can.

Still one of the best examples of the chypre genre, has very high quality composition and deserves its status as a true classic. I will never be without a bottle ... and I'm male ;)

My mom's signature fragrance. She likes heavy, potent bad boys like this one. Some days it smells nice on her, but it's REALLY easy to overdue and if you're around her up to 3 or 4 hours after she's just applied it - CRINGE, so headache inducing. After about 4 hours it settles down and smells okay.
The thing that really bothers me is that this perfume stays on fabrics for EVERRRRRR. I can never borrow any clothes from my mom cuz they all smell like Aromatics, no matter how much it's been washed.

I don't like this perfume at all. I have friends who love it, but to me it smells like it's gone off.

This fragrance is the bad boy of my perfume collection.

I know he's all wrong. I know I should know better. I thought I'd learned my lesson before, and everyone I know says he and I don't make sense. Even my best friend doesn't like him. But when all is said and done, I find him as attractive as I do repulsive. It's all in the chemistry, baby, and there's no fighting that!

AE smells like cat urine and incense mixed together with jean nate' and rotten wood. I loath it. If you wear it please only use one squirt.

I wore this in my early 20's and revisted it a few years ago. It is a late autumn winter scent that brings me back to 5th Avenue windows and the Met at Christmas. Chicago on a blustery autumn day. A comfort scent that wafted spice when I put on my winter coat and beret. Many of your analyses are spot on, but I believe a scent is what it evokes for you and the impression it leaves with others. I spoke with a long absent friend recently and he commented "you always smelled like the most wonderful spice in wintertime", made me smile. AE is not my favourite, but it still adds some spice to wintertime and some great memories as well.

AE freaks me out every time I smell it. How can something so obscene, so raunchy, so strong, so artificial, so 1960s drugstore, so Bunny Lake is Missing smell so fantastic? It's a true wonder, a masterpiece, a specimen of bizarrerie. I love it but would probably be red-faced of embarrassment if I tried to wear. Kouros, Yatagan, Kiehl's Musk--none of them are as uncomfortably sexual to me; I don't know if it's an association with something I've forgotten or if it affects a lot of people that way. Wow. If we didn't live in a Jean Claude Ellena world it would probably not be so startling, although I find it hard to imagine.

I wholeheartedly agree with Musicaficta's comment. Time we all started to review like the adults we are supposed to be and stop using negative or ageist terms, apart from being very offensive it also sounds so ignorant - once I read "old lady...." I just switch off so the rest of the reviewers comments are lost on me.

Come on ladies (and gentleman) - let's act like adults and start using our vocabulary properly!

This is a love it or hate it scent. I loved it--all of my friends and bf hated it. I ended up giving away my bottle to a coworker. Is it possible that it smelled horrid on me and I didn't notice? Is that possible?

I had a bottle of this once and had to throw it away...it actually smelled like urine on me of all things. I have no idea what was in this to make cause that reaction, but it was not good!

I'M SO TIRED OF PEOPLE IN THIS FORUM USING THE TERMS "GRANDMA" AND "OLD LADY" IN A DISPARAGING WAY!!! I TAKE OFFENSE TO THIS; NO GROUP OF PEOPLE SHOULD BE SINGLED OUT AND PUT DOWN LIKE THIS-- AGE, RACE, GENDER, RELIGION, SExUAL ORIENTATION, ETC. FRAGRANTICA NEEDS TO DO A BETTER JOB OF MONITORING THIS.

IF YOU FEEL THAT A FRAGRANCE MIGHT BE BETTER FOR AN OLDER PERSON, THERE ARE KINDER, MORE DIPLOMATIC WAYS TO PHRASE IT. (PLEASE SEE JANECANDY BELOW.)

THANKS TO "GRANDMA" WE HAVE SUCH CLASSICS AS L'HEURE BLEU, MITSOUKO AND APRES L'ONDEE, AMONG OTHERS. ALSO, THANKS TO GRANDMA, YOU ARE LIVING AND BREATHING. FOR YOUR INFORMATION, AROMATICS ELIxER IS FROM MY GENERATION AND I CAN'T STAND IT.

IT IS NOT OKAY TO DISRESPECT OLDER PEOPLE, OR ANYONE ELSE FOR THAT MATTER.

I am jealous at the people that smell so good when they wear this perfum. I do not get the powdery soft smell that a lot of people do. They have the perfect chemistry to wear this one as it should be. I love the way it smells in my nose. It is a scent that make's me calm and save. Lady's keep wearing this gorgious perfum so i at least can smell it the way it should. Because it doesn't smell so good on my skin.

The only perfume I've worn that stops people in their tracks! Especially men. I've only had positive comments and a few begging to know what it is. It's an addictive fragrance for those who respond to it. There is something so warm and primal about this perfume. Made by one of the greatest noses in the world and recognized as great same.

What I find so riveting about this perfume is its association *in any way* with clean, almost-sterile, innocuous, perky Clinique! Someone please explain this to me! There they are, the SAs in their white lab coats selling reasonably priced, classic, and very practical skin care and makeup to the masses while this dark, robust sex bomb lurks just below the counter! Completely vexing!

If I should name some uneasy yet significant fragrances Aromatics Elixir would probably be the first coming to my mind.

Some months ago the mere thought of spraying this one on my wrists would have just sounded absurd and very disappointing to me (a gentle way to say I used to hate AE with all my olfactive sense :)).
No way I could have managed to wear something so strong, harsh, outdated and absolutely intrusive, though my mum kept on telling me this is a great scent and bla bla bla (she might have been kind of influenced by her cousin because she didn't like this kind of killer scents before, at all!).
Just recently I've decided to give Aromatics Elixir a try on my skin, having some sprays from my mother's bottle once in a while.

Coming to the fragrance itself, I first have to agree with some reviews below about the discouraging opening.. I mean, what do the top notes smell like? An oily and aromatic medicament, a bunch of dried flowers with some spices in or maybe a concoction of the strongest smelling herbs and citruses peels ready to be part of a witchery potion? I just don't know.. geranium and chamomille are perfectly detectable here and it's easy for me to say they are among the (very few) floral notes I really can't stand, mostly if combined with spices and aldehydes. No and no.
Once survived to this part the fragrance shows an unexpected smoothness.. the golden cap and liquid are just a perfect match with the scent, creating something precious and a bit distant like an ancient jewel reflecting its light through a darkened room.
Rose and carnation play the main role in the heart, while some shy and fragile white flowers try to balance the thick, powerful and overwhelming floral accord in which aldehydes components will not completely fade away.. just a bit tuned down since the opening.
The drydown? Well, I should save what I have written until now and post the entire review on the late night because this fragrance has a longest development (an unbelievable longevity and tenaciousness on skin and - overall - on clothes). I will just say the base of AE results on my skin as a kind of smokened (the incense maybe?) musk and patchouli accord, a carnal embrace which tends to fade away very, very slowly...

Chypre accords, aldheides floral and aromatic notes, a touch of woody-oriental vibe.. Aromatics Elixir seems like a little perfumery's encyclopedia, there's a bit of almost everything in it (except the fruity-gourmand I guess). I also suppose this is a great quality fragrance from the oiliness of the juice.

I can't love you Aromatics Elixir, you're too distant from what I like, too serious I fear and you surely need the right person to wear you.. still I'm starting to appreciate your strenght and your undeniable bossy mood, and now I no longer hate you :)

For me this fragrance works best layered. Alone it's just too astringent/sharp. When I layer it with something sweet/floral - then it's perfect.

Perhaps this fragrance is before my time, but I find that it makes me think of an older women, which at my age is not appealing in a fragrance. I would not wear the fragrance, but would definitely buy it for my mother.

This is definitely my favourite fragrance.

Now, for those of you that wish to wear AE but say that you can't because this fragrance and your chemistry do not match, i may have a remedy.

This may sound silly, but if you detox your system through a cleansing program and/or drink plenty of water (a 1/2 gallon to a gallon a day, I'm serious)you will be able to wear ANY fragrance and you will smell great.

STRONG SCENT FOR WOMAN WITH VERY STRONG PERSONALITY.

Such a unique fragrance and instantly recognizable. Very long lasting even in the fabulous body smoother cream. I love it in winter, day or night. It's much too warm a scent for spring/summer. Although I tend to stick to French fragrances, this one just has to be one of my all time favourites. Thank you dear Cassiopeja for swapping this fragrance with me for Fracas and Allure.

If this perfume had arms it would give you a big hug, I'm sure of it as it wraps itself around every one of your senses with its warm-blooded spicy aroma (when applied conservatively; those AE devotees with heavy hands miss the point entirely I think).

The ultimate wintertime comfort scent for me. Chilly wet winter nights seem less gloomy snuggled up in the cosy heartfelt tranquil embrace of Aromatics Elixir's savory zest.

One of my grandmother's favourite perfumes when she was alive and as I'm maturing it is becoming one of mine too. Go Nan!

All I get from this perfume is sickly sweet, musty candlewax. My aunt wears this, and when she comes over the scent engulfs my whole house. Yuck!

Love this fragrance and have worn it for years but only the body smoother. The perfume is too strong for me. I get compliments on the scent a lot. Have had several MEN to say "are you wearing Aromatics Elixir?". Very distinct fragrance.

I first got a small bottle of this ages ago as part of a gift with purchase. It was my first experience with a chypre scent. It smelled very strong, cloying, and artificial on me, although I could detect a heart within in that was amazing and I wished I could smell only that, and get rid of the stuff that didn't agree with me. After a few tries I gave up on it. Then one day, I passed a very fashionably chic, beautiful young woman on the street, and I inadvertently got a whiff of her perfume. It smelled incredible and I knew I recogized it. It was Aromatics Elixir! It was the heart of the perfume that I loved, that came out so beautifully on her. I thought to myself "must try this again", so I did. With the same unfortunate results as the first time. This time, I got rid of the bottle. Fate approached me again recently when I inherited another small bottle of this from a family member, and of course I thought of that woman on the street and how good she smelled. I tried it again. Same sad results. I've now officially given up wearing this, as much as I desperately want to. In my mind, Aromatics Elixir will always be synonymous and ingterchangeable with that beautiful chic woman who walked by me on the street. They are forever one and the same. If you are one of those women, do not hesitate to wear this with abandon. The rest of us wish we could be you.

I absolutely LOVE the way this smells. My wonderful boss wears it as her "signature fragrance" and it's delightful on her. She definitely has figured out the magical amount to wear to smell warm and inviting without screaming to the world. She sprays her clothes ONCE the night before. That's it. I asked for and received a small bottle one year for my birthday and tried the same thing and found I received a TON of compliments every time I wore it. Lovely fragrance when worn in the right amount.

I also have to add that the Clinique trainers that conducted classes always stressed that this is a perfume meant to be sprayed into the air and then walked into. Don't spray it directly on your skin!! Let the mist envelop you.

I worked for Clinique in the mid eighties when I was about 20. One of the other gals that I worked with was the same age. I can't tell you how much I hated this back then. To tease each other, we would hide behind the counter and then spray when we came around the corner. Slowly over the years, I began to appreciate it because I met women that smelled divine wearing it. It is not for the timid. Tremendous sillage and lasting power and the people that wear it well smell amazing and it becomes their signature. I love it on others, but I can't wear it myself. It always smells too harsh, too medicinal. My skin doesn't warm it up. Chances are, if you love it, everyone thinks you smell amazing. It's definitely not one of the inoffensive fruity or aquatic smelling perfumes.

Oh goodness it´s great!! Warm, spicy, sexy. Like burning insense.

My mom uses it, and it's too strong. Definitely for older women but I can't stand it.

This is one of the most strongest perfumes out there. I love it and have worn it for 20 years. A little goes a long way, one spray is all you need. sometimes i only spray on my clothes, my whole closet smells for 3-4 months. This is potent. If you are not careful, it will make you sick and nauseous. You will either love it or hate it. More of a mature scent. Can't imagine anyone under 30 wearing this.

AE smells heavenly on some people but not on me :(

I do not like this one either and find it too strong. It's the signature fragrance of someone I know. Sometimes you just connect people too much with their scent and then it is even more difficult to like the scent.
I found this scent too be very aromatic and also very medicinal. I even got a bad remark on it when I sprayed the mini that was given to me. I never used it again.

When I wear Aromatics Elixer, I have people stopping me to ask what I'm wearing, and they tell me they love it. I guess beauty is in the nose of the observer. I can't understand people hating it, but then I hate some other fragrances myself, such as everything with the name Elizabeth Taylor on it, and Fendi, which smells like industrial bug spray to me.

I've tried, but I just can't get to like AE. It's too overpowering, however little of it is used and something about it makes me feel a little nauseous - I'm not sure which element it is that has that effect.

It's one of those fragrances that smells okay when it's first applied, but then deteriorates quite quickly. I find it unpleasantly herbal - almost medicinal. Then when it dries down, I find the woody base rather chemical-smelling.

Not for me.

a bit tooooo strong for me...

My ALL TIME favourite perfume! I have used many bottles of it throughout the years..If you think it's too strong for you, yes it is a heady scent and you should use it sparingly..Just spray it on your cleavage after shower and nowhere else..And see how you like (fall in love with) it then!

I really thought I'd like this one based on the notes. I tried it out today and was horribly dissapointed. First off let me start by saying that I love strong perfume, but I only apply a couple drops. This was in a spray, and I srayed it once on my wrist and started gaging. It should NEVER have been sold as a spray as this one clearly only requires a drop or two. Also, the scent turned very sour on me. I'm not really sure what wasn't getting along with my body chemistry as I like all the notes listed. I had more shopping to do, so I had to walk around the mall reeking, feeling very self consious. My husband rolled down the window on the drive home despite it being a chilly rainy evening. I was cold, but I couldn't stand to be couped up with the stench either. I spent 30 min in the shower trying to wash it off feeling like the sent was so pungant it had gotten into my hair as well. It may be a beautiful scent applied sparingly to the right body chemistry, but my experience was so bad that I think I'd be sick if I smelled that again! (my husband feels this way too). Sorry to all those who love it, but it's just not for me :(

I had read about Aromatics Elixir many times, thought it sounded like my kind of thing, went to smell the tester in the store and said "blech!"

At the time I didn't realize that sniffing the cap is not an effective way to sample a perfume. I got a tiny bottle that was included in a Clinique giveaway and tried it on. I still didn't like the opening, which I now recognize as aldehyde/rose/chamomile. Those aldehydes are a real boot in the head. But once the drydown started, wow! It is exactly my type of thing. The drydown is a beautiful, rich, deep patchouli-oakmoss that is quite different from hippie scents in that it has a quite soapy edge to it. The drydown might take about an hour to kick in, but once it does, it lasts all day for me. I can't think of any other fragrance that has this much sillage and longevity. Throughout the day I catch the scent and it does indeed have that fabled aromatherapy effect for me. If I indulge in some of the kind of imagery people like to put in perfume reviews, I'd say it reminds me of mythological forest-dwellers found in every culture - hauntingly beautiful but not necessarily benevolently-inclined to humankind.

This might be some kind of classical conditioning thing, but after a while I started to enjoy the sour opening as well.

It did shock me the first time I gave it a full wear because of the obvious presence of aldehyded-geranium notes morphing into rose accords, so later I decided to layer it with patchouli eo. (BTW, this drew compliments).

I kept on trying this at home, AE is one of those scents that in my case call for sensory analysis. I find it very complex and not an easy one to get, at all, besides the fact that several questions come to mind when testing this, for example, the notes I perceive during the time the fragrance evolves and the associations and descriptors I can think of.

Today, when sniffing it on my arm, I realized that what was getting me was this herbal animalic accord, which could be due to musk, the note which might explain its masculine character: as mentioned so many times, AE is a women's fragrance that can be worn by men. Thus, the floral accords would be suddenly forced to a turn in direction by musk, before proceeding to a gentler dry-down.

I strongly belief this last effect is the reason why AE is so difficult to appreciate, for it makes the blend smell somehow discordant - it is not the usual development found in most blends, for the initial olfactory proposal radically changes after minutes, somehow similar to a trader that sells you some good, being that due to the manufacturer's prowess it magically morphs when using it.

I have to make clear that this is what the ones wearing it could perceive; however, what others smell on those wearing AE might be another completely, different story.

Addenda: a chypre, yes - rose, oakmoss and patchouly. Roses are flowers, so "floral" chypre might be redundant. Mix these three oils and you will get Aromatics Elixir, so you might as well understand the reason for its manly character, namely, oakmoss and patchouly being the ones responsible for these attributes. What about the original Chypre by Coty? Sorry, no idea about it whatsoever...

Absolutely horrible. Another one I just don't understand. Who wants to smell sharply resinous? Why? I've worn better smelling mosquito repellent.

Indescribable and splendid.
In first begins very herbly .I feel the rosemary ,verbena and coriander as from true princely scent.
For several minutes is developed splendid,pretty aroma. How I sprayed in the office straight off the person sitting several metres he asked what the scent and he began to look about.
After 30-40 minutes this scent becomes clean ,pure, delicate from flowers of the choice high quality essence. Reminds sisley soir but is more delicate of them,more light.Yes is truth I feel little Mitsouko too.
I remember as two years back I returned from Austria and in the book I had in bloders scents Etro: Etra , Margot, new tradition. How I opened this book after half the year so just it smelt as Arom.Elixir. Splendid !!!

I wish I could wear this perfume!! When my mom wears it it smells amazing!! But on me it just does not suit me and does not smells anything like what it smells like on my mom.

A small spray is very, very strong. Strong soapy aldehydic blast is hard to cope with but I persevere. It calms down eventually, thankfully, because I'm not sure how much longer I can persevere with my test. Different from anything I recall trying before. What a fascinating fragrance, but really NOT my cup of tea. Would this be a case of not me wearing the perfume but the perfume wearing me? But still an interesting ride on the fragrance rollercoater.

I have just smelled this again (body lotion), and it IS very soothing....I think I will put it on lightly after my bath today and enjoy it, just for me.

Update: This is a therapeutic aroma. That is my classification for it. It soothes, calms, and almost protects. It also seemed to help with my migraine this week believe it or not!

I will have the lotion for therapeutic purposes, but not as a fragrance for now. Is magical, but not sexual. I guess everything needn't be about sex hey?

Good stuff.

Not for the faint of heart! This is some potent perfume! It kind of reminds me of a cross between...Youth Dew, Cinnabar & Opium with some Samsara & YSL Elle thrown in. If you are looking for something that will last until the cows come home this is the perfume for you! Use with a light hand!!! Good stuff!!!!

Aromatics Elixir, how I love you. You are a hold out from another time, yet you hold so many secrets underneath. Sometimes I find fruit, or a flower, or a wild herb. Sometimes I am in the woods with you, or in a bright field, or in a dark forgotton corner of a mysterious house. You may be florals or aldehydes swirling on top, but underneath there is always moss and vetiver and patchouli, not polished or clean but somehow fuzzy and murky. I can be walking around downtown with you, or just reading at home with some iced tea, I always look forward to wearing you.

I can see why people don't like you, but when I sense what they dislike I think I like you even more.

This fragrance is a Tender and Classic Chypre from the 70's.

This kind of Chypre are quite different from those who were made in past. They are more light, delicate and pleasant. Anyway Chypre category is still a Love or Hate topic. I don't love Aromatic Elixir but i really like it, and I think Aromatic Elixir and Diorella are both very well made and inoffensive Chypres.

God I wish I could wear this fragrance. I tried the edt and it was a disaster! I am hoping my chemistry has changed and that the bottle I got sprayed with had turned! I will try the edp and cross my fingers this time.

In the '80s this was my 'big girl'fragrance, to wear as a sign that you had matured and 'finally arrived'. To me it spelled mysterious sophistication
and unbeknowest to me at the time became my reason to fall head over heels for aldehydes. I still have a corner of a bottle from way back when. I rarely use it anymore since my significant other has told me that it reminds him of his 80-something neighbor.
Bummer . . . but I still do love it. Yes, I do sometime get reminded of bug spray when I smell it but then it does a twist within my olfactory senses and I get a balsamy patchouli aldehydic scent, totally wins me over. I used to have the body cream and it suited me better than the EDP for summer wear

I just don't understand this one at all. I'm one smart cookie too. But this is like University level Calculus or something.

I still have it in my collection, and in the body cream to tone it down as suggested, but I just cannot wrap my head around it as a fragrance.

I don't like AE, but I don't dislike it. I usually give all of my frags that aren't in my LOVE or LIKE list away to family, but I cannot seem to part with it either.

Maybe I sense that at 40 years old, I am not quite ready for it, but on some level I think that it totally lacks any sex appeal. I don't think I will be ready for it even when I am 80. I don't know.

It's just not quite right. I have never smelled Ben-Gay, but my nose tells me it might smell like AE. I will find and smell some Ben-Gay this week....review to follow! Tee hee! Jokula.

Update 2 mins later: I have just read wdrlnd's review, and I am very sorry. I believe that your view is how many people see AE, and I sure want to! Maybe someday. I know there is SOMETHING about it, but I haven't "got it" yet. I do love patchouli & depth, but I might just be too immature for this one. Maybe I will just never grow up this much.

I think that Estee Lauder's Private Collection runs along the same vein as AE, but is sexier, less medicinal, and easier to wear. Both have kick-ass lasting power.

Lovely review wonderland!

Thank you Queenkey for addressing the "old lady" reference. As a community, perfume lovers should boycott that description. My 84 year old grandmother is the most sophisticated woman I know, and she always smells wonderful. "Old lady" means nothing, let's be a little more creative.
Elixir, while I wouldn't perfume myself with it, smells magnificent to me! I have a small sample that I've blotted with a tissue and laid on my nightstand. Incredibly warm and rich. It's one of the few fragrances that lifts patchouli up off the ground and into the heavens. Woods, moss and roses, to me it smells like an enchanted forest of golden-leaved trees.

I like to know what is an old lady smell? Just think, many of those old ladies were young and appreciated quality fragrances. We may consider them "old Lady" because of the depth and combination gathered by the the perfumers. Clinique elixir is one of those scents. And guess who is still around! Yes, you have your younger designers coming out with such an array of scents you can't keep up with them.

But the "old" quality scents many cherish because of the brave tenacity to try something different! I appreciate the depth of the chypre and it's like no other. Yes, application should be light, in this way not only you but others can value its sillage.

A truly glorious chypre - strong and spiky in the beginning, then drying down into a lush bed of blurred florals, musk and mosses. And it's positively unisex as well. All men should try this before going to AE's fraternal twin, Aramis 900. I've been wearing this for nearly ten years now, and nobody believes that it could possibly be Aromatics Elixir - not the slightest bit "grandmotherly" at or suffocating all. A man's skin chemistry can change it dramatically. The floral notes blur and mesh perfectly with the deep patchouli and oakmoss to give a timelessly strong, present and confident aura.

Believe it or not, I can actually wear this at my office without offending a soul - it's all in the application. Discrete spritzes in discrete places ;)

It's 1981. I'm at the park, where my dad is coaching my soccer team. I do something to irritate my dad, and in a rare moment, he loses his temper with me and sends me to the station wagon to wait for him. I am in big trouble. But being in trouble never stopped me from rummaging around the car. I open the glove box and what do I find? A tiny plastic spray bottle. What is it? I must spray it! I MUST SPRAY IT ALL! In a closed confined space. I don't like it. It makes my eyes feel funny. And now I have pain behind my eye. My father comes to the car. I am crying. I am hiding in the back of the station wagon and sobbing. He is mad at me for making the car smell, but then he realizes I am throwing up and can't focus on his face. He races me to the hospital. I have my first migraine. The car smells like this on a hot day until 1990 when my parents finally sell it.

This experience has shaped the way I look at many scents, and I think it is why I can not use a scent with patchouli in it, in any form.

I think this is the worst smelling perfume on the market. It smells like someone sprayed the room with insecticide. There is nothing pleasant about it.

I've smelled it on others, not just in the bottle on the cosmetics counter....first time was in the locker room with a bunch of ladies getting ready for work. I thought the maid or janitor had sprayed BUG SPRAY. Then I realized someone had put on this horrid perfume.

Then, to be fair, I tried it on myself....equally as horrible. I had to wash it off instantly. I would like to know what others find appealing about a scent that it so sharp and synthetic smelling. Not at all clean and refreshing.

This perfume is just me....
Using it, it feels just like i've found myself again.
Its a smell i can get lost in, it is seducing.
The first note i always smell putting it on is patchouli, what I totally adore.
It also kind of brings me in a balanced mood, or is it just my imagination going on a run with me??
anyway, i think i found my perfume-match!!

I've worn this for years. I no longer wear the EDP, but choose the body spray and shower gel. In that concentration it is subtle, never overpowering....still luscious and different from anything else. It never fails to get me compliments.

My Nonna loves this fragance, its her signature scent and it brings me back to the good old days of childhood lol, very nice strong scent...... i love it

I love this one so much. It's perfect for my skin. I find it strong, very lovely and romantic. You can feel the forest in it, smell the trees and touch the grass and wet ground. So deep and yes, it smells like something old but I wouldn't change it. I know most people don't find it easy to wear but we all have something we love.

The first hour was grandma's dusty attic. Then I got attacked by SOAP! Almost as bad as the opening of Chanel No 22. After 4 HOURS, it finally settled down and was just gorgeous. I just don't have the patience to wait a fragrance out like that on a regular basis. The really disturbing part was that when it hit the unending soap, it was very recognizable. I almost stared at my wrist in horror- "you mean, women don't just naturally end up smelling this way? They buy a perfume that smells like this? And wear it? In public?!"

I'm going to try the lotion and see if there's a better result, because I really did enjoy the way it smelled at the 4 hour mark, but I'm not willing to smell like those dusty soaps in the guest bathroom for half the day to get there.

I don't wear this often but when I do, I love it.Its big and loud, even on drydown. It is a scent that you either love or hate (like poison). Nothing else like it that i've found but try it before you buy it, its not for the faint hearted

Aromatics Elixer. It does seem to be a love it or hate it. Me? I've found love. Out of all the perfumes I've tested over this long year I finally think I've found a true love.

Even amoung those who claim to like it dislike the topnotes. I LOVE the top notes. They are a bit intimidating, sure, straight from the cap, but the fuzzy-musky sage/chamomile/honey waterfall topnotes are heaven to me. I also like it because chamomile is an unusual note.

The heart is simply one of the best florals I've come across. The florals are deep and autumnal and rosey. They indeed have a sweet edge of a warm fall day in the woods when you are crushing leaves underfoot, but maybe there is a greenhouse nearby and you can catch the flowers in the air.

The drydown is very musky, woody, mossy, dark, intense, I love it.

For those looking for an old school oakmoss fragrance this is it. Oakmoss extract is listed on the ingredients. The oakmoss purrs it way through the whole scent. So does the pachouli.

I am used to the 4 hour stints offered by Annick Goutal and Bulgari, so I was really surprised when 2 sprays (applied to my neck and then dabbed on to my pulse points) lasted me 12+ hours.

AE is quite strong. I don't suggest spraying it on and then immediately taking a long car ride with someone, or sitting next to an innocent stranger in the theater.

A few years ago, if I simply smelled the cap at the department store, and probably would have said 'yuck' and left it at that. But luckily Clinique still makes AE and I would bet money that the formula hasn't changed much. I hope they never clean it up and sanitize it for today's Pink-Heiress-Circus-Glow noses.

I am so glad I found this.

This is a difficult one to talk about. You either love or hate it. I happen to love it. I don´t really know why. It is loud, opinionated,and strong, but it is always with you.-It seems I am describing a man, not a perfume, John Wayne perhaps? Plese don´t bath yourselves in it,a little goes a long way. Good signature scent , people will remember you.

Let me start by saying I don't wear AE to church. It would be too distracting. I'll wear it around my husband who likes it and for myself whenever, but not too often. I'm one of the curious who walked around a tall counter to find the person wearing the most enchanting fragrance wafting over. I didn't know about its value as an aromatherapy scent. I know I feel fantastically happy while wearing it. Is that why? I love the way the scent clings to pillowcases and collars. Ummm...

This did not work for me at all. It started out smelling like plastic. Later it turned into a cheap-smelling floral-scented bug spray. I tried many times and always got the same results.

This is going to be a weird review. This fragrance seems rather two-faced.

When I sprayed it on, the first hour was revolting. Based on the glowing reviews I forced myself to continue wearing it. It smelled like sour, dry grass--like hay. I felt like I was at the children's petting zoo with the goats and sheep. I could smell chamomile, a scent (and tea) I detest. The whole concoction was just heavy and sour.

A (long) hour later, things changed for the better. Or maybe it's just the power of suggestion? I began to smell touches of incense, vetiver, and moss--now we're talking! I went from being in a petting zoo to being on a walk in the woods. Definitely aromatherapy. The longer I wore the perfume, the better it got. I'm buying this one! It's reasonably priced too.

Update: I looked at the reviews from the Nordstrom website. Almost everyone who bought this perfume was over 50, and one person in the 65+ category said they buy it for their mother. Yikes! Do I really want to smell like I'm 91?

Update: Tried the body cream, and it's gorgeous! The sour note is completely gone and it really compliments the perfume.

Melancholy Child, have you ever had the chance to try out Lancaster Chantage? It really reminds me of Aromatics Elixir, but I cannot seem to find the notes of the Chantage.. Maybe you know it?

"Smelling Aromatics Elixir on a strip and especially in the air following a string of "modern" fragrances is like watching Lauren Bacall in The Big Sleep after twelve episodes of Cheers." (L.Turin)

I've been testing AE on and off for about two weeks now and I must say, the more I wear it, the more I fall in love with it.
I am by no means a fan of aldehydes, and most of the perfumes with strong aldehydic opening tend to go awfully wrong on my skin/to my nose. But there's something about AE that just makes it worth the effort.
As soon as the aldehydes are gone, it's all about herbs. It's a moist, autumnal aroma of fallen leaves being crushed under your feet when you take a walk in the forest in October. Then gradually it takes on a balsamic vibe, very close to what one might encounter in a traditional Chinese pharmacy. Call me crazy, but I do love a good dose of medicine in my 'fume. Just out of the medicine cabinet, the most beautiful and exquisite floral bouquet slowly takes over the show.
I simply must give credit to the rose in AE. It IS one of the most beautiful roses out there, creamy,velvety, perfectly laid out on a cushion of ylang, orris and (not listed but ever present) tobacco leaves. (Actually, it just occured to me that the insense and rose accord is rather similar to that of Pour Un Femme de Caron, which I too love dearly.)

But it's the drydown of AE that makes it so hauntingly beautiful. It's wonderfully blended, so seamless that no singular note steps out, but in unison they create the perfect chypre accord, as clear as the church bells in the crisp, cold, yet sunny morning air.

I read that the drydown was unisex so when the opportunity came up to do a swap, I acquired a partial bottle of this. When I took the cap off, I could smell the aldehydes, and it also smelled sweet and a bit animalic. I decided to decant a tiny bit into a vial so that I wouldn't have to deal with the top notes, and hopefully the aldehydes and sweetness would be less of a problem that way as well.

It may have helped a bit, but this is too aldehydic for me and too floral for my tastes. It's not as animalic or sweet as thought it might be, however. In short, there isn't enough going on beyond the aldehydes and floral notes for me to be interested in it, nor to consider it unisex. However, someone with a different skin chemistry, one that really "eats up" fragrances, might have a different perception.

my name is junior , i know there is aromatic elixir for men, aromatic elixir is my favorite perfume,how could i get that perfume?
i use this perfume since 10 years
junuior.monamour@yahoo.com

Adding to my old review...I just wanted to share a way to wear this fragrance if you find it too strong out of the bottle. This is two of the ways I wear Aromatics Elixir:

1. I take the bottle with me into the bathroom and sit it on the ledge of the bath. After I completely finish my shower, I take the bottle and spray 2-3 sprays on my neck, then I put my head back under the water and let the water wash away the harsh top notes(it does not wash the fragrance off, just the top). Being that the top notes are where many find this fragrance at its worst, this is a great method to relieve you from that.

2. If you don't like step one, maybe this is another way to enjoy this perfume. Take a cotton ball and spray 1-2 sprays into it. Dab the cotton ball on your neck or wrist a couple of times. It keeps the punch-you-in-the-face blast from becoming overwhelming.

One of my top 5 favorite fragrances ever. And yes, it is one for all ages. I'm 25, and people are VERY surprised to learn this is what I have on when they ask what I am wearing...even the ones who despise this perfume will say it smells good.

I first noticed this on a work colleague... the sillage was subtle and evocative. Like patchouli and flowers, just beautiful. When I asked her about it, she told me she used the body cream, as she found it lasted longer, and was more subtle. So naturally, I went out and bought the parfum ;-) First spray, and I nearly dropped dead. It STUNK! I was appalled... even the dog recoiled in horror. Too late to do anything about it as I was running late for work. So I went to work with the rank stench all about me. But wait! What was that? The stench had dissipated, and in its place was the most glorious aroma. Earthy, damp, mossy. Like a deciduous forest in autumn, despite the abundance of tropical flowers. Nothing out-of-this-world, like Alien, but totally of this earth. Not a 'fake' or 'chemical' sort of scent, but rather a wonderful approximation of nature herself. If you are prepared to bear the "OMG! What the....?!" of the first spray, it's well worth it. Maybe the body cream or toiletries are kinder, and possibly I shouldn't have gone for the strongest concentration of perfume for the first try. But I am SO glad I did. A big thumbs up.

very famous in the middle east,ofcours, it belongs to the "Arabian Nights" fever!!!
love it and it is in my Wardrob althoug in a 10ml bottle,but used bigger bottles years ago

I love Elixir. To me it is more like aromatherapy than a perfume. It smells very "spa-y". I went off it for a while when a colleague of mine (whom I disliked) wore copious amounts of it. But now it is back to being my signature scent. I wear the perfume during winter and the cream during the summer. I love it when the scent lingers on my clothes.

This perfume expects you to work a bit and to think critically as you enjoy it sensually. The opening is a shock--the base incense immediately comes up with the bitter sage and coriander. The initial nose is precisely the smell of marijuana smoke. As the rosewood and chamomile come in the scent continues to sharpen. This is the point where even if you dislike the herbal bitterness, bravery will pay off. As it warms carnation and tuberose combine with the orange blossom and orris--powdery and spicy at the same time. As it ripens geranium and oakmoss come up, leaving a scent that is rich and satisfying. I think most people quit when the uncommon bitterness comes up first. As it warms and settles into your skin the perfume softens into a warm rich orange-spice-wood scent that is structured with true greens. Even if you ultimately dislike it you should wear a real spray for several hours and experience a truly sophisticated juice.

This was too strong for me to even try on in the store! It's a winter scent for sure and I am sure it would smell lovely on someone else. I have a heavy hand and would kill this scent lol. I am almost positive it's the kind of scent that smells good if you picked up someone's scarf that has worn it. I think borrowing someone's scarf the next day is the only way I'd be able to wear this. Even if sprayed very lightly I think it would be too strong until it's worn down and I think smelling it too soon in the "pew" stage would wreck the lingering scent. I think I might always smell that heaviness in the very light trail. This is best left for others to wear and me to enjoy!

Just treated myself to a bottle. I am returning to it as an autumn and winter scent.

I have worn it to the office for the last two days. I asked my office mate, who has a sensitive nose, if my perfume bothers her. She said she didn't notice I had any on. I do the walk through the mist thing.
This morning someone asked, who's wearing perfume. I said, "I am, is it too strong?"
He said, "No, it's nice."

I love the clean smell of it. It almost smells like soap, but more fiery.

I had read about this perfume in several different places and my curiousity was piqued. I was at the Clinique counter today and saw a tester sitting there. I spritzed some on a test strip...OMG! Who wears this stuff? I am sooo glad I did not spray it on my skin. It must be an aquired taste, because well...YUCK!

A volte lo amo, a volte io lo odio…

This is my signature scent. I chased down my boss in 1987 and have been wearing it ever sense.

I used to wear Este Lauder Youth Dew and still love it but it's not my AE. I spray a full spray and then walk into it and get just the right effect. I do not spray it directly onto me or my clothes.

I always get complements from strangers and I too am protective of this perfume. Isn't that crazy?

I love to have it on my pillows. I feel very exotic when I wear it and yes, I think it is a very expensive and subtle blend of fragrances.

I'll never wear anything else, although it was $35 when I began to wear it and now is almost $70. A bottle lasts almost a year so I'm not complaining.

Anyone who thinks it too strong try my technique and you'll love it.

AE rules!

I like to wear this perfume in the winter, very lightly sprayed. I find this perfume very comforting, clean and therapeutic. It uplifts my mood and makes me feel rather elegant. It is not a girlie friuty perfume but a perfume that gives a feeling of well being. What I do know is that people like it too, I recieve many compliments when I wear this perfume. A good perfume for winter but do spray lightly as it is a ultra strong perfume; too much of a spray can be dangerous.

i could never wear anything else, after putting it on in the morning, going to the mall,and later to the club, sleeped at 3am and was smoking in between, oh that beautiful scent was there for me all the time....its true it smells like wealth..love it love it love it

I adore this fragrance. It was my Grandmother's signature scent and I have loved it since childhood. I would still be wearing it if my husband could stand it. It's a love it or hate it fragrance. Very rich and strong. Lasts for DAYS on clothing and until you wash it off on your skin. Definately a mature scent.

I can't find the review in which someone mentioned the benefits of wearing the scented bodycream instead of the EDT or EDP..

I'd so much like to thank her!

I kept remembering this advise because, though I was happy finding the EDT, there were times that even that one was a little too much for me.
So I finally bought the bodycream today.

If you're the kind of woman that has a love/hate affair with AE, love for the scent, but hate for it's power, you're gonna love the scented bodycream!
The patchouli is much less prominent and the association with 'bug-spray' that is so often mentioned, won't come to mind, wearing the bodycream...
This really is the tender version of it!
Still is has that same aromatic and sensual feel that so many people love about this scent.
No need to fear that your wearing something offending...just the benefits of this scent.

This is my mother's signature scent - and I can't stand it.

It's a classic for a reason I suppose, but I can't get past the overpowering bug spray mixed with mothballs smell. (I don't care for it on skin or on clothing, on myself or on others).

I know I hate aldehydes, incense, orris, ylang ylang and tuberose so perhaps all these together add up to one giant headache for me.

With these type of heavy hitting scents you really need to know what notes you can handle - and do not buy this one unsniffed.

Adding: For what it's worth, Chanel No. 5 also smells like mothballs to me, and it also has aldehydes, orris and ylang ylang. These are notes that I need to stay far, far away from.

I have worn Aromatics for approximately 30 years now and it still has the same effect on me and on the people around me. (it smells like money and shopping to me, a dark green forest with bones, rust, wood and mystery's as a base.

Men (and women) run down the street after me with a confused and anxious look in their eyes, to ask me what I am wearing.

Thank Goddess that not every-one likes it. It is not meant to be worn by mainstream followers. They will never understand it and this is a good thing.

People that do wear it, tend to be secretive about the name of it. We do not WANT every-one wearing this nectar of the Gods. Personally, I lie about the name every time I'm asked. I tell people it is called, "Secret". How strangely possessive we are. I would never tell a woman "how" to wear it, as I do not want anyone but ME wearing it.
Once, when a couple of teenagers chased me down the street after the name of it, my Ego got the better of me and I sprayed some on them, then swore them to secrecy.
Some people I knew were in a restaurant when the girls ran in squealing and offering their wrists to anyone and everyone. But true to their word, they announced that they could NOT divulge the name. Please Do Not Buy this perfume! And if you do, keep the name a secret.

I like it..."ish", "sorta", "in a way".

At the risk of sounding weird, I'll tell you: The ONLY way I like this perfume on ME, is if I spray it into the air FIRST, then WALK THROUGH THE MIST.

The second I apply it directly onto my wrists or my neck, it becomes an obnoxiously strong...yes...bug spray.

Many of its notes are heavy. Not my favourite kind of woody scent (I prefer cedar), but it does have oakmoss chypre (which I like). I really don't enjoy patchouli or incense but, depending on how heavy-handed you are with your spraying, they needn't stand out.

Still, despite its jumble of ingredients that don't usually agree with me, I find Aromatics Elixir intriguing and pleasant -- if applied LIGHTLY.

I'm telling you, friends, for that cosy, aromatic scent that lasts throughout the day: WALK THROUGH THE MIST! WALK THROUGH THE MIST!

Update: So I bought the EDT. Good price too for a 45 ml bottle that will go such a long way, taken the fact that you should use it with care.
And, although even the EDT should be used sparingly, I still think that it makes a lot of difference using this or the EDP. Though the scent is comepletely the same, the experience is quite different because it realy is more subtle and less overpowering.
I'm smiling at the reviews saying it is just too much, because I do understand them very well...
Using AE properly is kind of an art and needs skil...using the EDT instead of the EDP may be like using a paintingkit for starters before buying the 'real thing'...
So I consider myself a starter...

To me it smells like bug spray. Not good at all. Dont know what people like in this stuff

I had this one years ago and I did regret the fact that it gave me a headacke when, at the same time, everybody around me was telling me how good I smelled and was asking me what scent it was....So the question, if I was prepared to suffer a headacke to gain compliments, seemed an unovercomable dilemma...(-:

But yesterday I ran into the EDT...I had never spotted the EDT before...
The more transparent glass seemed to promiss a likewise more transparent scent and, after spraying it on my wrist, it indeed appeared to be less overwhelming and, even more important to me, less 'headacke-inviting'.

Unlike many other scents, like Coco mademoiselle for instance, the EDT has the same notes and smells exactly like the EDP, it has the same lastingpower too but, like I said: it's less overpowering.
Kept it on my wrist the whole evening to make sure it would not give me that headacke and it didn't

I'm thinking of buying it...

I remember that they marketed it not like a perfume but like a full body healing and relaxing experience... very impressive. I had it as a present 20 years ago and didn't like it - chypre does nothing for me. but when I wore it to honor the friend who gave it to me, I had the most wondrous experience. Strangers stopped me to tell me that they loved my perfume...

It took me some time to finish the bottle and I myself never really got into the scent -but it secured compliments for me wherever I went.

Go figure ;-)

I got this one as a little sample ages ago. It's quite strong, so a little is sufficient, but it's a subtle smell - warm and smoky, clear but not sharp.

It isn't traditionally 'clean' smelling, but when I wear it I feel calm and elegant - it's an interesting scent, gentle but noticeable & a nice alternative to noisy gourmands. I like putting it on my sheets, it helps me to drift off.

I used to have this one.very special and powerful,sharp and noticable.Imo kinda old fashioned yet sophisticated,pitty i hade to give it away.It was too heavy for me.lasted for ever on my skin without melting down!

Aromatics Elixir ...
Smells strong, very woody and powdery and sooo dry !!!
On my skin the drydown it's very woody and incensy mixed with cigarette smoke !
I find it a bit outdated !..:(

... and yes i agree that a man can wear AE, if he wants to smell old-fashion-classic !

The lasting power is great, it won't go away from you're skin easily!!!

And i can see it as a fall-winter fragrance , perfect for the cold days.
...:)...

This is another perfume that a man can easily wear. It's not sweet or floral I just love it! This will sound odd but this is the way I think a vampire would smell. Sophisticated, elegant, and sensual! The bad image some people have of it stems from using too much. Even Chanel #5 smell bad when too much has been used.

This fragrance stinks on most people. it might even stink on me to others. I've been wearing it for years (20) though and feel like it is the most perfect aromatic magic I've ever smelled.
I loke that kind of enigma. I've been wearing it less as I get older because I feel like it was a more intriguing fragrance for a younger person.

Do you ever get possessive about a scent??? I used to wear Aromatics, and was likely well on my way to being a lifetime user. I had become a skillful purveyor, having sussed that a wee tiny bit of this goes a long, long way, so I never over-used it. If you happen to pass a woman who has happy slapped herself with this stuff, you can be engulfed, and there is no escaping the overwhelming aroma. Don't get me wrong; I love it, but it has to be treated with respect, and used sparingly. I developed the ability to gently depress the spray nozzle just enough for some of this liquid gold to ooze out, so that I could touch an index finger to it to dab my wrists, curves of the elbows, backs of knees and the nape of my neck. Gently does it!!!

An then, my Dad, who did not know the calamity he was causing, bought my Mum a bottle for her birthday, and she has been wearing it ever since.

IT HAS BEEN STOLEN FROM ME!!! When I smell it now, it makes me think of my mum and I can no longer wear it, no matter how much I love it.

Devastating!! A fabulous perfume.

I love this scent. This is a fragrance that you either love or hate.

I have been wearing AE for nearly 35 years... still get compliments from strangers...still think it is the most unique perfume I have ever worn...still after all this time cannot give it up! I have tried to change but just cannot...some of my friends absolutely hate it, most love it... I guess what counts in the end is what I think...I think it is good!

My sister wears this and she loves it, have to be honest I find it HORRID on myself, it stays for 2 days on my skin and it is just the worst perfume I have ever tried, EVER!!!! It smells strong powdery rancid and well you get the point. I prefer happy by clinique, it is way better I think! Even 1 spray is too much of this stuff!

When cver I use this perfume I always recieve a lot of compliments. I work in a hospital and for some reason Patients always ask me what my perfume is I am wearing. I only use a small amout given that it can be overwhelming if sprayed too much. I find it comforting and given the compliments so do other people. It not my favourite perfume but it is like a friend who I know is highly reliable and will never let me down.

I got married in this - and was also expecting my first child. My stepmum used to wear it. I guess I found it 'comforting' and 'moving'. I don't wear it any more though really...

This is so rich, woody and clean like no other scent I've ever smelled. This is for the flashy ones. You know a woman that enters the room and all eyes are on her? She is classy and powerfull and drinks strong red wines and wears long floaty skirts and expensive leather boots. She lives in a huge mansion and on Sundays you will find her playing cello or riding through the nearby forest. You can still smell her two days after she left.

Before to make love with my girlfriend I want her to dress AE. It makes me feel as I make love with a goddess.

- AT LAST!
- That woody scent I've been searching
for!
- Simply perfect!
- I FEEL LIKE HUGGING A TREE

update------------------------------------
this is fast becoming my favorite fragrance
------------------------------------------
KITTYMOON - love your description above... I wont to be that woman!

@pandorosa:
EDT is a light version of EDP. I like EDP better, but if it is too strong for You, try EDT, maybe You'll like it more...

is there any difference between edt and edp?? i first sniffed it many years ago and it was heavenly. i tried it yesterday again and it is so strong and sharp!!

I love it! I really do. Smells nice and clenan. Very woody. The best, long lasting and lovely!

My late mother's signature scent. Smells clean and spicy at the same time and just means "mom" to me. When I smell it now it makes me want to cry I miss her so much. Rest in peace.

REVOLTING. End of story. Horrifically strong, old and dirty scent. I've sprayed it on over the years and it never changes. I wish Clinique would stop supplying this in their gift with purchase packs, although the alternative is Happy which is almost as bad.

I sold Clinique back in the 80s for a brief time and this was a Big seller. I used to receive the tester samples to use and I couldnt wear it. It smelled "off" on me. Elixir was a cult favorite to say the least. The cosmetic ladies and I used to make a game out of guessing which customer was going to come up to the counter and buy Elixir. We were right about 9 out of 10 times! As many have written here; its a body chemical reaction that either makes this a winner( love it) or a sad loser ( hate it).

I bought a parfume spray in SaSa years ago out of curiosity. The 1st sniff was so pungent that i wanted to it away immediately but i kept it away and forgot about it.
One day, maybe a year later when i was packing out my things (where AE was kept) i caught a wiff of lovely dry woody patchouli and soon i found the source. I fell in love with this scent and bout a new bottle!! But i found it hard to wear it out as it makes me concious that someone around me may find this offensive.

update: I had gotten a complement that I smell powdery with this. Powdery?

I purchased this perfume when I was first entering my full blown obessession phase of a pefume addict. First sniff and I pulled back in surprize and a little horror. This was my first sniff of a true chypre. Then with both wrists dabbed with different perfumes, I experienced them. The other was a Boucheron. And I discovered something about myself. I repeatedly sniffed Aromatics Elixir. It dawned on me that I was fascinated with it. Pretty? no. Sweet? no... But fascinating. It is dry, foresty, and endlessly interesting. If I put on a fragrance that sickens me with cloying sweetness I just use my Aromatics Elixir and feel happy again.

Amo muito esse perfume, uso desde 1997, sempre tenho, é tudo de bom, aqui em Belém, é muito dificil de encontrar, é caro, mais vale a pena, sempre que uso, as pessoas comentam: vc tá com um cheiro maravilhoso ou perguntam q perfume é esse?? Amo muito Elixir Clinique

That is one of my mother scents, and everytime she wears it I think that this perfume smells as if you were spray yourself with hairspray. I really dislike this fragance, but my mother loves it

I can't understand this fragrance. I can almost see why people love it, yet at the same time I can see why people dislike it.

The opening is bitter, strong and alcoholic. To me it smelt like nail polish remover complete with hints of acetone. Not a particulary pleasant olfactory experience.

The heart is fierce and powerful. It's like a floral explosion on your skin. I found it confusing and disturbing to say the least.

I get the medicinal and herbaceous quality that other reviewers have described, in the drydown. It was too green and musty for my liking. In fact it was very difficult for me to identify any particular notes. Aromatics Elixir can be quite messy at times.

I wanted to experience a rich, warming and unique fragrance, but what I received was unwelcoming and strange. I still for the life of me, can't understand this scent. Definitely not my cup of tea.

I remember the first time I smelled this scent. I was a cleaning lady in a dental office and one of the assistants would walk past me and I would feel like following her down the hall to catch another whiff. I later found out by asking that it was Aromatics Elixer. I have worn it for years and nothing else quite matches the warmth of the lower notes. Too much though, will drive me into the shower and put me off of it for a while. One little spray on one wrist and blot with the other and then neck is all one needs. I always return to it though. I also like Coco by Chanel, and Secret obsession by Calvin Cline. Nice blog ladies.

Love this one! First smelled it on a real estate agent who was selling my parent's house - couldn't wait to interject - "What is that you're wearing?!" I get more compliments on this than almost any other fragrance (tied with Magie Noir and Bal a Versailles).

I have been wearing Aromatics Elixir since 1982 and I love and will always love it, this blend of exotic perfumes are the most pleasing to my skin and all around have always complimented me on how lovely I am to be close to

Somente uma vez senti o perfume de ELIXIR DA CLINIQUE, foi na Justiça do Trabalho em Belém do Pará uma assistente administrativo do local usava eu não resistir e perguntei qual o perfume que usava e ela me falou que era o elixir da clinique eu nunca mais esqueci aquele cheiro maravilhoso de sabonete lux que nunca passava pena que até hoje eu nunca o tive é muito caro e dificil de encontrar aqui ele esta mais de trezentos reais,sem contar que é só 100ml.se algum frances filantrópico quiser me fazer uma doação agradeço.delmacorrea@yahoo.com.br

The first stage is a strong, pungent blast of herbal, medicinal notes. Soon, it turns into a fresh rose surrounded by burnt wood. During this stage, the fiery add showing flames around the bottle couldn't be more fitting. The drydown is a completely different beast - a soft, serene, clean soapy scent. Best worn with a light hand as it could easily become overpowering. Very elegant, unique and sophisticated.

Too much patchouli... Just too much. I love trying strong perfumes and love to see how they grow on me and become more tolerable. But this never turns into a wearable form for me. Anyway I was thinking that as a perfume fan, I can tolerate even this one on a right person until to I met with a lady wearing this perfume in a meeting early in the morning, before I had my breakfast. Smelling it from the bottle is still nice, but I cannot imagine a right moment or a right person to wear it. For me, patchouli & incense dominates all other notes and I cannot feel any flowers, maybe it is my nose, I don't know...

Ok, I'm gonna be the guy that's here to ask you to stop wearing this crap. It wreaks. Stop it. For the love of all that's good in the world, it doesn't matter if you spray it in the air and walk through it, dab it on your neck or drink the whole bottle and fart it - it smells exactly the same: wet muskrat. Leave it alone. Stop torturing us with it.

Thank you all,

Stoob

The smell of patchouli is too much for me. I usually like bold and confident perfumes, yet I could not like this perfume. My mother wore this perfume and White Linen. I bought her a large perfume of Beautiful by Estee Lauder and Coco by Chanel, and I was glad to know that she loved both of them and made a switch.

Well I love it. My preferred perfume is Coco Channel, but when I can't afford that one, I buy this. It is strong in the beginning, but a little goes a long way. I can still smell it in the evening after a hard day at work. It works for me and yes, people have actually stopped me to tell me how good I smell. When I first tried it in the early 80's it did remind me of bug spray...but now it makes me feel warm all day and it is definitly aromatherapy!

This is some strong stuff!!!!!!!!!!!! It has evoked many outcries from people. One said he wouldn't work where I worked if I continued to ware it! Another said it was the cleanest lightest scent she ever smelled! Jeeze Louise!!! Make up your mind folks! I still ware it but now that Im not in a confined area I don't care what anyone thinks of it-EAT CAKE! This a beautiful scent but must stay with winter otherwise its too heavy. I can't imagine waring it in the summer months because its so heady and strong but to each their own. Love the woodsy sandalwood!

My husband noticed that I wear Aromatics Elixir when I head out on a tough assignment - it has power. I noted that a number of ladies state that it doesn't work well with their skin chemistry; one small suggestion, when I first used it ( as an eighteen year old in 1979!) I was told to spray it into the air then walk through the vapour - works beautifully and worth a try.

For over a couple of months now, after ordering a mini, I've had a love, not-so-love, like, not-so-like, hate relationship with this one. After all this time, I've finally decided I love it! Upon first spray, I get an intense, incredibly medicinal, assault to my olfactory senses. But, after about five or ten minutes, it does soften and dries down to quite an elegant chypre, although still very unique. It's quite intense and one needs to refrain from being heavy-handed with it, but the drydown, at least on me, is rich and lovely. If you're a fan of heavy chypres, you may like this one once you get past the opening. It's also quite affordable and a little goes a long way.

Smelled great on my mom, smells like Black Flag on me. Chemistry, chemistry.

I have worn Aromatics Elixir for years and I always get compliments from strangers on how good I smell. I live in a warm climate and in the summer months all I use is the body smoother cream. That combined with my warm body gives off a really fresh scent and lasts all day. I've never found another perfume that I like as well.

One perfume that I finished the whole bottle. I would not wear it again but at the time I loved it soooo much. It is really spicy and clean. you will not smell like any one else. It is a very unique scent. There is nothing out there even close. If you haven't tried it you should. I am sure you too will finish the whole bottle to the end. I keep my empty bottle in my t.shirt drawer and every thing still smells Aromatic!

It is a love it or hate it fragrance.A little goes a long way, too much can cause headache.I personally love the dry down very refreshing and at the same time sexy.

Yet another fragrance that can be very elegant and sophisticated on people who are not me - again, one of my coworkers wears this, and I couldn't believe it was the same fragrance I had. My chemistry just makes it smell like something that was forgotten in the back of Grandma's bathroom cupboard, or perhaps something you'd find in an old-fashioned medicine cabinet. Medicinal herbs, old soil, and enough patchouli to keep a New Age shop in business for a year.
Incredible lasting power, though. I've scrubbed my wrist so many times, I'm starting to feel like Lady Macbeth. With extra patchouli.

Aromatics Elixir is like walking through the dark woods of Sleepy Hollow on halloween night. It projects the aroma of damp leaves, the crisp night air, and moist herbal plants. Its herbal qualities make it an excellent scent for relaxing and wearing to bed. Aromatics Elixir is very herbal, mossy, and woody, with a few floral notes mixed in. I agree that it is does produce a therapeutic effect. I love this perfume in the fall and winter the most. I know it gets many bad reviews, but please do not be scared to try this fragrance. Many people simply put too much on, and that is where this perfume can take a bad turn. Just a tiny bit is all it takes for this scent to be known. At least give it a shot and wait for the great base notes to kick in. I recommend it to all Chypre fans and anyone looking for a truly unique fragrance to try:)

I only remembered this perfume when I bumped into a lady wearing it at a party recently; it really suited her, and she said she always wore Clinique Elixir because it reminded her of her favourite drink, champagne poured over freshly picked violets. She said it was the most heavenly taste she knew, and this was the closest scent to it she could find. On her it was warm and intoxicating, but when I owned this years ago, all I got was a weird thirsty geranium note, with a very dry undernote. Doesn't evoke a thing.

Just shows that for every skin, there is a perfect perfume with a story!

I bought the second bottle of Aromatics. It's deserves every single money! It is a classic, but it must be used in small doses. It gives a stylish aura and a soft hint of grass. It leads you to nature and can be used in summer too ( eau de toilette). Enjoy it! Buy it! Cos it's worth!

My mother-in-law wears this, and I have always loved the scent. I just tried it on my wrists, and it smells nothing like it does on her. I agree with those who recommend trying it on yourself before purchasing.

I compare the power of Aromatics Elixir with Youth Dew. But while Youth Dew can turn bitter almost sour on the skin after time, Clinique does not. I add it to the morning and/or evening bath and it is wonderful!
Update: A favorite for seasonal change into cooler weather. Very cozy with just a little going long into the day. Stays loyal with a warm, spicy dry down. A very nice perfume.

strong, bitter, meditative, sensual, sharp, GREAT. perfect for me to fall asleep in.

I first had this as a free sample to try as a brought a load of products by Clinique. i ended up giving it to my nan as she loved the smell. I however couldnt stand it!! It reminds me of a old ladies purfume!! Sorry!!

Oh dear, my honesty has offended - but it is my honest opinion, & one shared by my entire family (up to a very sophisticated 99!). Very rarely does a perfume totally offend me, there is usually something that helps me to at least understand it, but I have struggled with this creation. I am really curious what it is that draws people to this scent - please enlighten me...

This scent is real aromatherapy for me for many years. One of the best chypres, very feminine. I think, girls who "hate" this perfume maybe are too young for this unique scent jet. And ,people,never be agressive-it's only chemistry.
Thanks to vertgo for good comment-really "match point".

Please, someone tell me what I'm missing...how can ANYONE create something so hideous & unconnected as this?!

I cannot find one thing nice to say about this . . . it is not even deemed worthy of loo-air-freshner in the outside loo. A horrible pot-pourri concoction that provokes strong feelings from all judging by the reviews I have read....sorry, but I'm definitly in the HATE camp. Boo!

It's certainly very spicy, just like my other perfume, White Linen by Estee Lauder. But, aromatics elixir is much more stronger.

My Aunt has been wearing this for years and I have started wearing it recently. Very rich, glamorous and stays in the room long after you have left. Timeless and distinctive.

Thanks Vertigo for your great words.

I thought this fragrance was created in 1972.

Aromatics Elixir is a classic and eternal fragrance. A very long-standing, strong composition, but not causing dizziness.

It was ment to be aromatherapeutic and was an addition to the other cosmetics by Clinique. Soon, it started to be seen as a single and very luxurious product.

Aromatics Elixir is very intensive, but not as tart as a lot of the fragrances from the chypre family. It is exclusive, sophisticated, ambiguous, elegant, intellectual, independent and bold, but not very dominating.

Surely it's not for everyone. It's for exceptional, classy women, individualists, who respect everything that is lasting and eternal, complex and inaccessable. Women with a sophisticated style who know that easy solutions don't guarantee the success. They travel their difficult road to success with a lot of sense of humour and autoirony.

I bought it today!!! And.... what a wow- how could I not see this perfume for such of long time?! Absolutely wonderful!

Aromatics Elixir is a very lovable, refreshing fragrance, like a big bouquet of wild flowers and herbs, still a bit damp as it has been picked early in the morning. In the absolute beginning it is very sharp and herbal but after some minutes the floral heart opens up, adding a warm mild sweetness to the scent from the gardenia, rose and white flowers. On my skin, the oakmoss in the base is quite dominant which also makes the perfume a bit dry and slightly bitter. Therefore I use it most daytime, but it would also balance a very romantic outfit at any occasion. I think Aromatics Elixir is a very classy and feminine fragrance that should be applied with care because of its overpowering nature.

WHen I first spray on this scent, it is overpowering, but it later settles into a herbal fresh scent with a delightful muskiness and mossy scent. I prefer to put this on when my skin is damp from a shower, so that it is not too strong.
If applied to strong, it will make everyone around you sick to thier stomachs!

i had it for test and this felt like a granny scent. i felt like i was 80 years old and didn't feel right. i guess these kind of scents aren't compatible with my skin and personality.

It s one of my favorite parfumes, so sophisticated, long lasting , u need a small quantity and it last all day long. If u like aromatic elixir u can try Midnight poison by Dior too.
From the first tine u enter a room your smell will be notice it s hard not to.
It s more a winter fall parfum then summery.

This is a dry, non-sweet fragrance. The closest sensation you get from it is if you put on white romantic dress and go into the fields to pick chamomiles, cornflowers and marigolds, or if you lie down in a stack of dried hay in August. It does have a slight quality of herbal medicine. For me it is an alternative to fresh juicy scents to wear in the summer, but it would also suit for Indian summer.

Sometimes I love it, sometimes I hate it...
The start is greeny, bitter, herbal. I always experience an initial embarrassement on the first spray! It's inevitable. That's why I use it in tiny quantities. In the course of time, the aroma settles softly on the skin - you will need discipline and patience to sense this feeling. Suddenly the ingredients "appear from the dark" - freshly chopped camomile flowers, ylang-ylang and "cold" jasmine. The oakmoss is always sensible like a mattress on a wet soil.
At the beginning, I am like a cat on hot bricks - as if I have very important work to do and I'm running out of time. Gradually, I calm down and the feeling of herbal shower on my hair and body gets over me - clean and steady. The final accords are most comforting - I finished my work successfully and I am sipping a cup of hot herb tea with lemon by the fire place and I am reading a book for a great woman.
In conclusion, I would say that Aromatics Elixir is not an easy to wear gragrance, but once it's been accepted the self-confidence and contentment are guaranteed!

A classy chypre, sophisticated and very radiant.

There is not typical smell. There are not ordinary perfume. There is fine aroma. Classify it as chypre, but I feel it as smell oriental with wonderfuls elements -herbal , balsamic, with sweetish patchouli. I like Aromatics Elixir. It pacifies - and it disposes for world positively.

This is so very very nice. Very aromatic, sensual; it envelopes you and enchants. Not too girlie either. More sophisticated and elegant. Good job, Clinique!