Clinique Aromatics Elixir : Perfume Review

55555

Aedark

Star rating: 5 stars–outstanding/potential classic, 4 stars–very good, 3 stars–adequate, 2 stars–disappointing, 1 star–poor.

It is my firm belief that all great fragrances are polarizing, eliciting a strong response. Whether you love Clinique Aromatics Elixir or find it detestable, it cannot leave you indifferent. Among the legends of American perfumery, it is a fragrance that deserves a chapter of its own. It is bold and confident, with an unusual combination of sultry darkness and austere elegance that marks the best of American chypres such as Estée Lauder Azurée, Private Collection and Knowing. Some fragrances should be smelled simply to know that they exist, and Aromatics Elixir is one of them.

The creator of Aromatics Elixir, the renowned perfumer Bernard Chant, must have been inspired by Christian Dior Diorella, because he used a similar hot-cold accord of patchouli and hedione to weave the structure of this perfume. The end result is very different in character though, with Aromatics Elixir possessing a languid, voluptuous darkness contrasting with the honeyed sweetness of rose and ylang ylang. It opens up on a bitter herbal note laced with lemon, which immediately evokes both Chinese medicinal concoctions and Indian beauty preparations.

After this exotic prelude, the fragrance begins to take on an elegant, dry character with amber, patchouli and vetiver becoming more prominent. The floral layers lend a radiant quality to the orchestration, lightening its heft and smoothing out the rough edges. The sweetness is very minimal in Aromatics Elixir, which functions well as a masculine fragrance. Chant went on to explore a similar idea in Aramis 900, and those men who like this leathery chypre might find Aromatics Elixir equally interesting. It is also related to Paloma Picasso Mon Parfum and Jean Couturier Coriandre, the dark, femme fatale compositions.

Aromatics Elixir was not an immediate love for me. My favorite chypres are lush and velvety a la Guerlain Mitsouko, rather than dark and medicinal. I could appreciate the beauty of the composition, but it seemed like some kind of gorgeous garment that simply did not suit me. As time goes on, I find myself falling more and more under the spell of Aromatics Elixir. Instead of spraying, I dab it on my skin, an application that allows me to enjoy it at a softer volume. Next to the bland florals and sugary gourmands that crowd the Sephora shelves today, it stands out as something otherworldly. While Clinique may not have the cache of some impossible-to-find French niche label, the quality of Aromatics Elixir is such that it can rival most of them.

Those who have been wearing Aromatics Elixir faithfully for years will, no doubt, notice changes in the composition which have become more dramatic over the past few years due to various restrictions on the use of oakmoss, eugenol, Lilial and other important materials. Nevertheless, I find that Aromatics Elixir has weathered all of these changes beautifully, and while it is not identical to the original formula (and to be honest, few fragrances are these days!) it is still splendid.

Clinique Aromatics Elixir includes notes of rose, chamomile, oakmoss, jasmine, lily of the valley, ylang ylang, patchouli, musk, amber, and sandalwood. Available widely from various retailers and online.

Sample: my own acquisition

Subscribe

96 Comments

  • Nancy C.: Thanks for reviewing one of my favorite fragrances. I find cold dry weather like we’re having right now to be the perfect foil for this scent. November 16, 2011 at 6:20am Reply

    • Odile Bergeson: Someone once told me that AE is the one and only perfume one may use as a base to make one’s regular scent(s) last longer. I’ve tried it and it does work beautifully… For instance, this morning I’m wearing AE eau de parfum with AE eau de parfum in white.. Yesterday, I was wearing AE eau de parfum with J’adore by Christian Dior… I’ll do it with all my perfumes and people are always commenting on how nice my perfume smells and asking me what I’m wearing. Another anecdote is that AE is kind of an aphrodisiac smell loved by many men! January 28, 2022 at 12:06am Reply

      • Teddyburr: Now it’s 2022…..and AE is simply RUINED!! I’ve worn it since it was first introduced. It was my Signature perfume. It was so rich it was OILY when you sprayed it. Lasted on clothes and scarves for days and weeks….without going “off” or smelling rancid. A pure joy it WAS. Clinique should not even be able to use the name AE now….because it’s not the same….it’s now a mere SHADOW of its former self. January 28, 2022 at 10:34am Reply

        • Hannah: Couldn’t agree with you more. It’s totally ruined. My 80 year old Mum has worn it for years. I bought her another bottle and she was so upset, I’m trawling the internet trying to find her the “classic” scent….. September 18, 2022 at 5:35pm Reply

          • Claudine: I would like to lnow how to distinguish the old formulation from the new one pls… would most appreciate knowing as I really want a bottle. April 5, 2023 at 3:09pm Reply

        • Sharon: I absolutely agree. I’ve worn AE since the 90s. I was frequently stopped by strangers who asked me what I was wearing. The scent lasted all day & lingered, in a good way, on my clothing & in a room when I left it. Not anymore. This new formulation is nothing like the old one. I’ve been looking for another that smells like the “original” AE. Any ideas! December 22, 2022 at 11:05am Reply

          • Dar Klemm: Same here. I’ve reached out to them a few times and there doesn’t seem to be any plan to bring back the original formula, despite the overwhelming number of decades long users voicing their discontent with the new version. Makes no sense to me…especially when I’d always be grabbing a few other things when I bought my perfume. January 24, 2023 at 3:58pm Reply

        • Sue: I totally agree. I known for a long long time that it was smelling different, but whenever I asked the rep at the counter they denied any change, so I thought it was my sense of smell. Today I find out that it has definitely changed. I agree it is ruined and should not be called AE. When I have finished my latest large bottle, I will be saying goodbye to a perfume I have used for decades. I feel cheated by Clinique,s dishonesty’s in not letting customers know. November 22, 2023 at 2:19pm Reply

          • elaine: Noooooooooooooooooooooo. My 2010 bottle has about an inch left. I love this fragrance and was counting on being able to repurchase. What can replace it ? at a similar price point??? November 24, 2023 at 10:14pm Reply

  • rosarita: Goodness, why haven’t I tried this? Sounds like something I could love. Thanks for a great review. November 16, 2011 at 7:33am Reply

    • Ellie: Don’t bother. I wore it for 25 years and was complimented every day. They have ruined it. There is a lingering curry smell now. So sad. March 10, 2018 at 12:14am Reply

      • Georgia Morandi: YES! the newer versions are soapy. The dry down is totally different. Any clues about how to identify older versions? November 1, 2018 at 6:44am Reply

        • Amanda M: I’ve managed to find a few used bottles on eBay from the USA…the bottles that have dark to very dark coloured perfume are the older ones as patchouli darkens with age.

          The ones I bought have aged very well & the fragrance is stunning, long-lasting and very potent! Definitely worth searching for. 😊

          Also, I’ve found that the bottles made in USA seem to be much better than the Swiss made ones. June 1, 2020 at 9:47pm Reply

      • Sandra Paul: Wore this perfume for years until they changed the formula. It has been ruined Do not buy you will be wasting your money. Wish Clinique would bring back the original. January 30, 2020 at 5:41pm Reply

        • Vikki Woodson: You’re exactly right ifeel and felt the same way. I have been using this since I was introduced to it by my friend from New York . while in the military in Fort Benning, Ga. this was back in the 80’s I definitely got positive compliments from all age groups and ethnicities., back then . The original bottle had an enscription on it that definitely was true. And the parfume was darker and lasted much, much longer I remember being able to still smell the cologne on my sheets. pillow cases and after the wash my clothes. It has been my favorite then since being introduced to it and still iis! I also am disappointed and don’t know why they changed the composition of it . Remember when you could get the powder in a gift set during the holidays? I miss that alot also. thanks for your comments.I appreciated it from 1 favorite customer to another! September 16, 2021 at 1:47pm Reply

        • christine: I totally agree with all the comments, i’ve worn this perfume since early eighties and daily i had lovely complimentary comments, everyone i knew at work knew where i was…it’s been totally ruined August 8, 2023 at 6:58pm Reply

      • Chris Mckenna: It could be the acid in your skin have changed & that’s affecting the fragrance.
        I’ve worn it for donkeys years & it’s the only fragrance people stop me to ask what I’m wearing. April 4, 2021 at 7:12am Reply

        • Sandra: Acid in my skin sorry no offence but nonesense.The formula was changed as they could not get one of the original ingredients.I am one of many who are upset about this.Just wish there was an old batch from a few years ago out there.Clinique should have been honest and upfront.Loads of women bought this and were shocked,disappointed and out of pocket.Shame on Clinique. April 8, 2021 at 6:40pm Reply

          • Victoria: You’re right, the formula is now different. The changes you notice are due to these reformulations. April 9, 2021 at 2:49am Reply

        • Teddyburr: Unfortunately NOT the case Hun. It’s changed. It’s now SO weak…I used to smell it on my pillowcase…on scarves, etc., it’s beautiful aroma used to trail behind me…with other folks chasing me to ask what the beautiful perfume was that I was wearing. It’s gone. Clinique need to bring this beauty back to its oily headiness and beauty it ONCE WAS. Only users of its ORIGNAL formula will agree with my comment here….those gals who experienced the first few years in the life of AE. It’s gone…and I’m devastated as I’d used it for over 40 years. If you applied too much it was so strong it would almost choke you…and surrounding folks. The original AE is to be mourned. January 28, 2022 at 10:44am Reply

          • Joan: Agreed! I, too have worn it since it was first introduced-so many compliments. Absolutely heartbroken about the new formulations. I’d definitely pay more for the original formula….. September 21, 2022 at 6:12pm Reply

        • Gail: They did the same to me.I know a lot of people started buying it.But my grief is I ordered the special offer at Christmas time and I noticed the color was different from the one I always brought and the smell is different also. April 25, 2023 at 9:57am Reply

      • Carla Wells: Ellie I’ve actually been wearing it over 40 years. I will wear Happy when I’m casually dressed. I have not tried the Black. I hope they have not changed it because I have been loyal.
        I only were Elixir and Marylin Miglins, “Pheromone” EXCELLENT May 10, 2021 at 9:14pm Reply

  • [email protected]: I think Bernard Chant has composed some of my favourites – this, Cabochard and Azuree – though that sounds as if I wear them lots and I don’t because they are quite strong! I used to wear Aromatics Elixir in the body cream and had many compliments on it. Lovely review of this classic, thank you.
    Nicola November 16, 2011 at 8:39am Reply

  • Suzanna: I wore this for a while when I was far too young to attempt to pull it off, and then because it had the cachet of being nearly a secret. I only stumbled across it because at the time Clinique was branding itself as a specialty, almost cult line, and I had some skin problems the line promised to solve.

    There was and is nothing like it in the American market. That it stands apart today as much as it did 25 years ago says something–it’s an icon and a deserving one. Unfortunately on me it never settles, or else I am overly aware of it the same way I am of Paloma Picasso. On those it suits, however, it is a stunner! November 16, 2011 at 8:44am Reply

  • Nikki: I agree if it suits you, wear it…I had a Brazilian teacher once who wore this and it was absolutely stunning on her and she said she always got compliments wearing it. I tried it a couple of times but couldn’t really enjoy it. I also think Knowing by Estee Lauder is an amazing perfume and I always ask what is this when I smell it on somebody else. I used to wear Jean Couturier’s Coriandre which was perfect for humid Chicago summers. November 16, 2011 at 9:32am Reply

  • dleep: I have loved Aromatics Elixer since the early ’80s. Right now I have it in the solid version and it is perfect and gets many compliments. I also just purchased the newest version and love that one also. It is definitely a love or hate fragrance. November 16, 2011 at 11:58am Reply

  • Dante’s Bra: I agree about the body cream– it’s a little lighter way to use AE, and it’s great for layering with other fragrances… November 16, 2011 at 12:17pm Reply

  • Victoria: It is a perfect time to bring it out. I even got a compliment on it yesterday. November 16, 2011 at 7:38am Reply

  • Victoria: It is one of those must smell fragrances! An American classic and a fantastic dark chypre. Clinique and Estee Lauder seem so ubiquitous, but the quality of their fragrances is anything but common. November 16, 2011 at 7:41am Reply

  • Dionne: Aromatics Elixir is the signature fragrance of my son’s aide, and she smells absolutely divine in it. Unfortunately, it smells horrible on me. Darn that skin chemistry! November 16, 2011 at 12:57pm Reply

  • Nancy: The mention of Aromatics Elixir brings back a rush of memories — a good blast from the past, perhaps. My fondness for chypres continues and I enjoyed the review!

    Nancy November 16, 2011 at 1:19pm Reply

  • silverdust: “Back in the day” when I was all of 16 and working afterschool jobs, AE and Azuree were the first things I purchased when paydays came! I smelled Azuree on a customer when I worked as a checker and ran out to buy it ASAP. Alas, it didn’t smell nearly as glorious on me.

    These days, SA’s never have samples out and normally have just one or two bottles in the display case. They say they aren’t allowed to open one for use as a tester either. What a shame. They are doing a disservice to a great product.

    I ran out of AE eons ago, but remembered how strong it was and never repurchased. The body products route is an excellent suggestion. November 16, 2011 at 2:40pm Reply

  • Janine Yasovant MPA.: Aromatics Elixir is my passion almost 20 years , strong scent with Aroma (cinnamon ??)but out of Allergic! more than 5 times I went back to buy..

    and also can buy in ChiangMai Thailand.. November 16, 2011 at 5:00pm Reply

  • Victoria: Thank you, Nicola. Another friend of mine swears by the body products in AE range. I also liked the sheer version of the original fragrance that came out a couple of years ago as a seasonal edition. November 16, 2011 at 12:10pm Reply

  • Victoria: Oh, and I went to try Chanel Rouge Allure Matte lipsticks and walked away with La Fascinante (38.) Loved the colors! That red is exactly what I've been looking for. November 16, 2011 at 12:13pm Reply

  • Raluca: I’ll have to give this fragrance another try. It has happened to me that I did not like a fragrane at first but started to like it later.
    Thanks for the review. 🙂 November 16, 2011 at 12:38pm Reply

  • Austenfan: Thank you for this wonderful review of one of my favourite fragrances. It was Perfumes the Guide that first drew my attention to it. I happened upon a full bottle of the limited edition that was done a couple of years ago, and got it for a song on ebay. The initial blast is strong but after that it wears quite smoothly, and lasts for hours, days even, on clothes. It’s funny; I know that AE is American, yet it feels very French to me.

    I don’t like many of the Lauders although I am sure they are admirable fragrances. White Linen is an exception as is Calyx. ( Prescriptives was owned by Lauder I think). I like the opening of Private Collection, but not the dry down. I think I tried Knowing once, and did not like it. But testers in shops rarely show perfumes of to their advantage.

    And I wish I had smelled Cabochard in it’s heyday. November 16, 2011 at 5:42pm Reply

  • Victoria: How does the solid compared to the alcohol based version? I've never seen it, but sometimes they have these extra products behind the counter. November 16, 2011 at 1:08pm Reply

  • Victoria: It is good to revisit, especially classics. They are so complex that sometimes they need a longer courtship. 🙂 Plus, it is enjoyable to discover other facets in them. November 16, 2011 at 1:08pm Reply

  • Victoria: I miss the kind of fragrances that make a statement and have a great sillage. AE's sillage is fantastic! November 16, 2011 at 1:12pm Reply

  • Victoria: Coriandre is something I love, but do not wear anymore. It just doesn't smell right now. November 16, 2011 at 1:12pm Reply

  • Victoria: It is a demanding fragrance, and I'm not sure if it suits me completely. Still, I love having a bottle around, if only as a potion to counter the bland perfumes flooding the market today. November 16, 2011 at 1:13pm Reply

  • Victoria: I'm so glad! I love to write about classical fragrances, because it is interesting to read comments of those who wore them for a period of time and sometimes even have stories associated with these perfumes. And I myself have many associations with AE, because it is such a memorable fragrance. November 16, 2011 at 1:24pm Reply

    • Ellie: Sorry Victoria but I cannot agree. They have butchered a most remarkable fragrance. I used to love being complimented and it smelled so fresh and feminine. Sadly no more March 10, 2018 at 12:19am Reply

      • Teddyburr: I agree Ellie. It’s now 2022 and Aromatics Elixir is totally RUINED….I’m absolutely heartbroken. I’ve worn AE for over 40 years. Last few years it’s GONE!! I still buy it now and then…just HOPING the original has come back. Not yet….not yet. January 28, 2022 at 10:54am Reply

        • Antje: I agree. AE has been altered completely. Now it smells like the lotion etc. that were part of a set and made me wonder how they could even be considered close to the original AE scent. January 16, 2024 at 1:35am Reply

  • donna: Hi, I’m such a fan of your blog, i have learned so much about fragrance thanks to your wonderful writing. I hadn’t had one fragrance in my life for years and years, this was the first one I purchased on my fragrance journey over the past year. I had read it was the favorite of arielle dombasle, whom I adore madly, and when I first got it I loathed it. But now that I’ve figured out to dab it on my legs and enjoy it after it has traveled though the air, I absolutely love and respect it. Thank you for reviewing it. November 16, 2011 at 7:22pm Reply

  • Paeonia9: When I 13 or 14, my grandmother gave me a Clinique gift set that included a small bottle of AE. At the time, I was a Sand & Sable girl, so it was quite beyond my realm of experience. I found it quite “nose wrinkling”, but for some reason I kept that little bottle for ages. I’d spray the tiniest bit on my pillow at night. It smelled so dark and mysterious; almost ancient. I’d just read The Good Earth and thought it’s what the character Lotus would’ve smelled like…I think it’s time to get another little bottle! November 16, 2011 at 7:30pm Reply

  • Musette: I agree. I cannot wear it (migraine-inducing) but I acknowledge its weird beauty and respect the craft that went into creating it. EL and Clinique do get short shrift – and it’s a shame. They do great work!

    xo November 16, 2011 at 2:50pm Reply

  • bulldoggirl: Another compelling review! Maybe this is going too far out on a limb, but I consider Lauder as a brand to be the American equivalent of Chanel. Consistent in quality, innovative in design and composition, and exceptionally wearable while still retaining a very specifically American aura of luxury. Certainly, the company has produced some of the world’s all time great perfumes, as witness Aromatics Elixir. November 16, 2011 at 9:50pm Reply

  • Mikeperez23: Have you smelled the newest Aromatics Elixir Perfumer’s Reserve – it’s in a splash only bottle, says ‘Parfum’ on the box and has to be asked for as it’s not on display? It’s very good and, like you suggested, it wears much nicer than spraying.

    I have tried to wear AE for many years and every time I do it ultimately doesn’t work for me, but the parfum I mentioned above might be FBW for me.

    A woman I worked with used to have it as her signature scent & gosh it smelled FAN-tastic on her. Just brilliant. I remember reading Chandler Burr say the same thing in one of his NYT reviews…smelled on someone else to get him interested in it.

    I love the advertising Clinique/Lauder has done for it too. November 16, 2011 at 10:07pm Reply

  • Lindaloo: So glad you reviewed this. In the 70’s and 80’s Aromatics Elixir and Diorella were the scents I wore most frequently.
    I was, however, always conscious of and nervous about the intensity of AE and so sprayed lightly. The consequence is that I got mostly the austere aspects (the herbal and woody notes) and little of the florals twining through that smelled so lovely on others I recognized it on, unless I sprayed it on fabric.
    Suprisingly, it never occurred to me to transfer some to another container and dab it on as you have suggested. I tried it this evening — what a revelation! I’ll be a dabber from now on. One problem still exists for me: I have to resist the urge to sniff frequently (whether sprayed or dabbed) as I become anosmic to AE quite quickly if I keep sniffing at it. For me it’s best caught in unexpected wafts.
    I also will have to check out the Perfumer’s Reserve, as Mikeperez23 suggests, since it comes in a splash bottle. And a beautiful bottle at that. It’s my recollection that AE was originally introduced in a dark amber glass bottle (in the same shape as the existing frosted bottle) — so much more suited to the name and advertising. (Perhaps I’m just dreaming?) November 17, 2011 at 12:06am Reply

  • Lindaloo: Perhaps White Linen and Calyx share some DNA having both been conceived by perfumer Sophia Grojsman? November 17, 2011 at 12:10am Reply

  • Victoria: I can relate! Coco is a migraine recipe for me. Frustrating, because I really enjoy it. November 16, 2011 at 7:12pm Reply

  • Victoria: I’ve encountered this with Lauder too. They never have their classics on display and even if they have bottles for sales, they often do not have testers. I am not even going to comment on the samples situation. Asking for those you get a look as if you are asking SA for her first born. November 16, 2011 at 7:14pm Reply

  • Victoria: Sounds like a true, long lasting love affair! 🙂 November 16, 2011 at 7:14pm Reply

  • Victoria: Private Collection is something I wear often. I love its verdant green top contrasted with that rich chypre base. I used to wear Calyx at one point when it first came out, and I still enjoy it. You are right, Prescriptives was owned by Lauder, until they decided to shut it down (it is sold online only.) November 16, 2011 at 7:19pm Reply

  • Madelyn E: I have been wearing and Loving AE since it’s launch in 1971. It is so enchanting and magical for me . You can imagine how many wonderful memories were lived in while wearing this classic. I favor It’s use in thé cols weather. For some reason Aromatics holds on true to itself during the dead of the snow and ice.
    I have dabbled in the body lotion – but the elixir has enough oomph on its own .
    I also adored with a capital A , Paloma Picasso , Coriandre and Aramis. Guess Bernard Chant is my kind of man ~ November 17, 2011 at 1:19am Reply

  • Victoria: It is one of those must smell fragrances! An American classic and a fantastic dark chypre. Clinique and Estee Lauder seem so ubiquitous, but the quality of their fragrances is anything but common. November 16, 2011 at 9:33pm Reply

  • Austenfan: Most certainly; my all time favourite, Paris YSL is hers as well! November 17, 2011 at 7:32am Reply

  • Victoria: Thank you for your kind words, Donna! Arielle Dombasle was so beautiful in Pauline at the Beach and Blue Villa. I need to watch them again.
    I like your way of wearing AE, it would certainly soften its presence and the way you experience it around you. November 17, 2011 at 10:01am Reply

  • Victoria: Ancient is a great way to describe it! I also liked the ad Clinique ran at one time with bottles and plates of various incenses and potions. It matched AE’s character perfectly for me. November 17, 2011 at 10:02am Reply

  • Victoria: I agree, it can certainly match Chanel in quality. Even the new launches, while not necessarily avant-garde, are very well-made and distinctive. November 17, 2011 at 10:04am Reply

  • Victoria: I first smelled it a while ago, but then Clinique postponed the launch, and I forgot about it. I will definitely revisit it. I love it, it was a bit softer than the original, but still excellent and memorable. November 17, 2011 at 10:05am Reply

  • Victoria: I do the same thing! When I am in the mood for AE, I find it so addictive that I keep smelling my wrist nonstop. I do love when the whiffs of it appear all of a sudden.
    I already have a fantasy of wearing it on a cold snowy day, dabbing some on my coat collar to get the most of its sillage. November 17, 2011 at 10:08am Reply

  • Victoria: He was very talented. Lauren by Ralph Lauren is another one of his fragrances. I love the original. November 17, 2011 at 10:09am Reply

  • Debbie: This is an interesting one for me as I love the smell of it when I wear it myself but I cannot bear it on anyone else. Usually it would be the opposite; love a perfume on others but can’t wear it myself. As a result I never wear it incase it offends. November 17, 2011 at 3:46pm Reply

  • Lindaloo: My kind of man too. And I never knew the original Lauren was one of his. No wonder I love it. November 17, 2011 at 9:13pm Reply

  • Victoria: Yes, it is usually the other way around for me. If you like it, definitely wear it. I personally love its sillage on others. I bet that it smells beautiful on you. November 17, 2011 at 8:08pm Reply

  • Angelika: Thanks for reviewing AE – I owned it for the first time 20 years ago and now that I (re)discovered my love for perfume and am constantly on the search for “the” perfect scent, I have found only two: Shalimar and Aromatics Elixir. I love its softness and depth – both things I miss in modern compositions. And I definitely have to try the Paloma Picasso! November 22, 2011 at 6:15am Reply

  • Susan: I have loved and worn Aromatics Elixir since its debut many, many years ago. My most recent bottle smells nothing like the years gone by and I am so disappointed. I used to get compliment after compliment. Now on me, it is almost benign…nothing to talk about. After obvious changes, it for me is not worth the $67 price for something that no longer makes me feel good just spraying it on. I am not clear on why the formula had to change. I really am sad to be saying goodbye to something that has been a part of my daily life for years. October 21, 2012 at 9:39am Reply

    • Roopa Dudley: Try the concentrated version – Perfume Oil of Aromatics Elixir from “The Fragrance Shop” – the only perfume shop that sells expensive fragrance oils. Two drops go a long way. Zero alcohol. You get what you pay for. The website www dot thefragranceshop dot com. And it lasts forever. May 3, 2020 at 11:27pm Reply

  • Becky: In the mid-nineties, when I was 21, I worked with a girl who was maybe a year or two younger than me and she smelled amazing. She had this clean, sexy, feminine, un-frilly, earthy aura that sort of wafted around her when you got up close. It was the way I wanted to smell. I was so surprised when she told me it was Aromatics Elixir. I sampled it and was so sad that on me it smelled musty, old and awful. It’s one of those fragrances that if it blends magically with your skin, you are in for such a treat and if it doesn’t, you just have to except reality and step away. Nearly 20 years later and I’m still searching for a scent that will make me smell as amazing as that girl did. January 27, 2013 at 9:04pm Reply

  • Iman: This has been my signature scent for over 15 years. I always get complimented for it. Generally, I tend to spray perfume on my clothes (the larger dose) and a little on my neck and wrists (a tiny bit) and I find the scent stays truer for longer. I do love the Elixir lotion and I sometimes (and don’t shoot me) layer it with Michael Kors’, Michael body cream. Di-vine. July 15, 2013 at 3:44pm Reply

  • Pat Culleton: Recently I purchased aromatics which I love but, it does not smell the same. I am so disappointed. Why have you changed the smell. August 19, 2014 at 5:14pm Reply

    • Victoria: I would recommend that you write directly to Clinique or Estee Lauder, the parent company of Clinique, and voice your dissatisfaction. Contacting them is the only way to make the company aware of these issues. In some cases, if they receive enough complaints, they will take actions. August 20, 2014 at 5:40am Reply

  • Jo: My recent purchase of Aromatics is not the same scent as before. I have used it since the 1980’s and loved wearing it and getting compliments on my fragrance. It smells more like paint thinner than an expensive cologne. It was not worth the 57.00 I paid for it. December 27, 2014 at 1:55pm Reply

    • Renee Naidoo: I hate the new smell of aromatics. It’s nasty. Makes me throw up. The old scent was sexy. Had many compliments
      Now if I use it my whole family hate it December 12, 2019 at 11:50pm Reply

  • Kaitlin: My mother wore this all while I was growing up. It immediately think of her when I smell it – to me, it’s a strangely comforting fragrance due to that association. (She also wore some kind of pear fragrance from Victoria’s Secret that holds a similar allure for me!) January 23, 2017 at 4:57pm Reply

  • Linda Burdett: I put tAE on after giving birth to my now eighteen year old daughter, another new mother commented to me ” I want my daughter to know my ‘ smell’ my reply this is my smell my daughter will know it.

    Many years later I wore a different perfume one evening to go out,my daughter as I was going out she gave me a hug her words were ” you don’t smell like you! February 3, 2017 at 3:52am Reply

  • betty Partin: I feel in love with Elixir about 6 yrs. ago after chasing down a woman who was wearing it and asking her what the name of it was. So sorry to say that the company has done something to the formula as now it has an off smell similar to pickles. I was SO disappointed as the smell before was divine. March 13, 2017 at 11:04am Reply

  • Maureen: I was really interested in buying this product because two of my neighbors have used it for years and I love the fragrance. Now, when I mentioned it them, both said it has changed and not to buy it. Why would a company do this? June 1, 2017 at 11:30pm Reply

    • Victoria: Sometimes they have no choice, because the regulations force them.

      I still recommend trying it. Perhaps, you might like it, even in its changed form. June 2, 2017 at 9:50am Reply

  • PERFUMEKEV: I live in New York, and I have a friend that shall remain nameless. She worked at the original Clinique counter in N.Y.C.. When Aromatics Elixir was first launched (for the first 6 months) It came in a brown laboratory bottle. It was applied like an oil ( kind of like Youth Dew) My Friend said that the very early original formula had one more ingredient in it that caused A Lot of skin irritation. The formula was changed and it was moved into the spray bottle we now know. She said it never smelled the same. She said it was spicier than it is now. This was all the info she could give me. I would love to know if anyone remembers this very early version. Thank you, Perfumekev August 3, 2017 at 1:25pm Reply

    • Victoria: I’ve heard a similar story, but I haven’t tried the original original. August 7, 2017 at 1:16pm Reply

  • Jacquie: I tried it yesterday, the latest formulation.
    It still smells fantastic to me!
    Sure, they are not like what they used to be, me favourites of Poison, LouLou, Coco, Obsession, Opium, Rive Gauche but they are still very good. August 5, 2017 at 10:17pm Reply

  • les odeurs: I’m 27 years old man and I’m wear Aromatic Elixir for years. I have lots of perfume from the niche and mainstraim houses but I always thinking that Aromatic Elixir is most beautiful perfume on the world. How beautiful! May 23, 2018 at 6:25am Reply

  • Kate clarke: Have to say , I am one of the ladies who always had clinique elixir as my perfume for well over twenty years. The bottle which has the same name is NOT the same perfume. It has lost at least one main ingredient that has altered the balance totally. I am disappointed in several counts 1/ that clinique has continued to sell the new version to the public without any warning that they changed the perfume ingredients 2/ I find it detrimount to fruedulent action to sell a product which isn’t the original and that thousands will buy under the belief that they are purchasing the original perfume elixir. 3/ can we now trust clinique in any way with regards to any of their products? If they are the type of company who change ingredients of their products without informing their customers – can they or their products be trusted? . 4/ it smacks of a company who has no respect for their customers and are totally focused on taking monies off the public. As you have gathered by now, I am not a happy bunny and have gone from purchasing Clunie perfume and their range of cosmetics to switching to a make which isn’t associated with clinique as I now have no respect for their integrity. December 19, 2018 at 11:59am Reply

  • Barbara Zimmerman: I just bought a bottle and immediately returned it. They have changed the formula and now I have to say it just stinks no way does it smell like it used to I put it on and my husband told me go wash I have worn it since 1979 and now I’m looking for something to replace it anyone have any ideas July 10, 2019 at 1:48pm Reply

    • Amanda M: Barbara, I love Aramis 900. It is very very close to AE, although not as potent. It has a more pronounced rose. Eventhough it was marketed for men, as a woman, I adore it! It’s very unisex. The nose behind it is also Bernard Chant. He is a genius.
      Oh, and did I mention, it’s extremely affordable!
      Also see my comment at the top of the page about how to source a vintage version of AE. I have a few bottles and it ages very well. I just love it! September 18, 2020 at 10:44pm Reply

  • TERRI PINTO: I agree with Elie and Georgia. I have worn Aromatic Eliker for many years and loved it. I was always complimented on the scent by many, many women (as well as men) and was asked what it was and where could it be bought. I believe I have sold many bottles of the Elixer for Clinique as I have always given the information to those who asked for it and had even been told by them when I had met them again that they “love” the scent. I recently bought a bottle of Aromatics Elixer at Macy’s (were I have always bought it) but returned it because I felt I was paying more and getting less of the scent I adore. Please mske it the way it was so I and others will buy more. July 14, 2019 at 2:32pm Reply

  • Dee Riley: I have used Aromatics Elixir since the early 1970’s when it came in the amber colored bottles. It was an amazing fragrance and smelled sexy, delicious and feminine. Whenever I wore it I always received multiple compliments from both men and women. I felt powerful when I wore it. It is very easy to tell the difference between the old formulation and the new. One stands out and the other smells ordinary. One is in rarified air and the other is in the sunken places. One is exotic and the other is not. One smells very expensive and the other smells like a cheap imitation. Suffice to say I am extremely disappointed in the newer formulation and have a bottle that I absolutely hate but keep it as a reminder of how things in life have changed and not always for the better. April 22, 2021 at 7:48pm Reply

  • Neriah P: Aromatics spray perfume used to be my favourite over 15 to 20 years back. I stopped using it and tried other perfumes . I recently decided to buy aromatics again and yoh i am so dissapointed. The smell i was so fond of is gone, i only smell it when i spray it on, a minute later u forget that u a wearing a perfume. No August 16, 2021 at 2:05am Reply

  • Evie Rivers: Hate the new aeromatics plz bring back the original December 13, 2022 at 4:36pm Reply

  • Nina Thiebaut: Simply I don’t understand why they change the nice smell formula to the bad smell one and lose bunch of clients. The original one was really smell awesome. I hope they find out soon that they have to go back to original one. March 18, 2023 at 12:59am Reply

What do you think?

Latest Comments

  • Aire in Recommend Me a Perfume March 2024: Aria is a mature, nice fruity chypre. Fiori is a gentle, soapy tuberose – old fashioned. I have it in parfum, edt, and edp. March 27, 2024 at 3:34pm

  • Aire in Recommend Me a Perfume March 2024: I know exactly your dilemma. Had a “debate” at a Alexis Hotel perfumery as they sold me a post- reformulation Amouage Woman Gold bottle, but had me sample the pre-reformulation… March 27, 2024 at 3:31pm

  • Aurora in Recommend Me a Perfume March 2024: I have tried Carat several times, I agree, perfect for spring. March 27, 2024 at 3:27pm

  • Angela in Recommend Me a Perfume March 2024: I’m wondering if someone can recommend some “modern” chypres. I’m looking for a perfume that is reminiscent of the style, but lacking most of the qualities that might be considered… March 27, 2024 at 1:31pm

Latest Tweets

Design by cre8d
© Copyright 2005-2024 Bois de Jasmin. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy