X for Men Clive Christian 2001

Breathtaking, signature-scent worthy creation from Geza and CC. Unlike anything you have tried until now.
At first I was not convinced, the price had me skeptical so I bought a small decant from a Facebook group, wore through it, I was intrigued. I then purchased a 30ml bottle shortly after and it started growing on me.
Finished that in 2 months and bought a 100ml immediately after, upon realising there is quite nothing like this, it is a masterpiece.

In a couple of words: cinnamon, airy hot&cold spices, woods, some slight sweetness from amber finishing with smokiness in the base from the vetiver. However, this doesn’t do the scent justice. There are lots of small nuances from the other notes which you pick out the more you wear it. It is simple and mass-appealing enough to be appreciated by anyone at all occasions, yet all it’s extra notes and expert blending add an additional level of complexity, making an unequivocal statement and leaving a distinct impression.

Lasts forever and smells expensive. Moderate silage, it won’t fill a room but it will get you noticed by people around you.
A little story: I have a travel atomiser of this and I sprayed it in my friend’s bathroom before a dinnerparty at his parents place this christmas, he said the scent lingered on the walls and basin for almost a week and was quite mesmerised by it. He bought a decant from me shortly after. His parents, despite not knowing the brand, both people of significant financial means and status who I look up to, also complimented me on it when I wore X to their party. This is a testament to the quality and impression X leaves.

The price is high, on par and higher than many niche houses. I have many regrets, buying scents from Roja, Creed, Fragrance du Bois, etc. but this one I do not regret for a second. The other offerings from the house are “okay”, I definitely wouldn’t purchase at their prices.
This one stands in a league of its own and I cannot recommend enough to at least sample.

When fragrances are as hyped up and expensive as those from house Clive Christian, one would expect them to be the 'holy grail' of all perfume ... so mindblowing that one would feel the need to sell one's grandmother to possess them! While CC X for men is nice, it certainly doesn't inspire one to lofty delirium, simply to delusions of grandeur.

Fruit in fragrances falls out of my enjoyment circle when not used cleverly, and unfortunately the blast of Pineapple over-sweetens what could have been a tingling Bergamot at the top of this fragrance ... the Rhubarb would've been plenty. This sweetness is fortunately short-lived until the fragrance enters my favorite part of its evolution ... the peppery Jasmine in the heart is wonderful and if X was only about this combination it would be super chic along with some of the lovely base notes. Unfortunately the effect becomes 'so much the same as' a few other masculine Oriental Fougere's out there. In actual fact, this fragrance reminds me a lot of one of my favorites, Costume National Homme, in the drydown ... but CNH is much better.
The supposed 'snob value' of CC X falls rather flat in the end. Far from X-'citement' all I am really reminded of is 'portly and balding' ... this fragrance strikes my nose as extremely dated.

I would probably wear CC X for a short while were it presented to me as a gift. The £350 odd that it retails for, however, would be better spent on things that one really loves and not merely likes.

X for Men goes on with a splash of bergamot and orris before transitioning to an absolutely heavenly combination of cinnamon, pink pepper, jasmine and ginger with hints of cardamom, amber and vanilla. Primary base notes of oakmoss and cedar ground the slightly sweet but mainly spicy heart with just the right amount of woody and mildly mossy balance as they peep into the background early before growing in strength late. Projection and longevity are average to above average.

X for Men is an absolutely incredible stunner of a scent from start to finish. The cinnamon, pepper, jasmine and ginger combination that is the primary accord at its heart is absolutely awe inspiring. It is perfectly balanced in its sweetness with the spice, and extremely easy for just about anyone (male or female) to feel super-confident wearing it. The woody/mossy base just compliments the spicy sweetness brilliantly and is the ideal foundation for the scent. As an aside, I was really hoping I could pan X for Men (the first scent I have smelled from the house) as I can't stand the overly ostentatious marketing Clive Christian employs, but I guess if you are going to rub your ridiculously lofty prices in people's faces you better darn well deliver the goods and at least with respect to X for Men, Clive Christian (and Geza Schoen) definitely do. This one is a masterpiece and easily is deserving of its 4.5+ star out of 5 rating (and just maybe even its relatively lofty price tag as well).

Along with 1872 and N1, this is the third corner of the classic masculine collection of Clive Christian.

While 1872 leans Italian with its use of citrus, and N1 is the most expensive English soap bar you've ever encountered, X takes it far East, and while it maintains the powdery, rounded edges and class of its two brothers, the addition of cardamom and cinnamon give it the oriental twist the other two were missing. I doesn't declare incense, but I somehow feel it lurking in the back. Who knows.

All in all, delicious, classy, crafted with the best ingredients (that cardamom oh boy).

A must for me.

If you haven't read my Spice and Wood review, I described the man who wears that fragrance: an aficionado and enjoyer of fine things, and classy as hell. He would wear X Masculine too - the perfect pair with Spice and Wood as a day/night combo

The opening is spicy: cardamom and cinammon combine with hints of ginger and bergamot to introduce an energizing yet dark signature. The cardamom in particular is full-bodied and almost heavy. But the spine of the fragrance is a fougere; the spicy opening leads into a heart and drydown that is old-school, woody, mossy with just a hint of vanilla to lessen the bite.

Very very close to a perfect 10 from me. I think the only thing I would change is a bit more oomph from the heart notes that don't really bridge the gap enough between the wonderful spicy opening and gorgeous mossy drydown.