THE WORLD OF ELITE PERFUMES - THIS IS SOMETHING ARISING LONG BEFORE TODAY. WHEN dressed for royals and aristocrats gather on balls and dinner parties, when in the summer WAS MADE Embark on ocean cruises, WHEN reigned everywhere SPIRIT SURVEY flavored luxurious fabrics, lace, jewelry ... And, for the lack of air conditioning, a persistent smell of human bodies .
It was then that concentrated perfume compositions became almost the main component of the image of every self-respecting person. It was then that each representative of secular society simply had to have his own perfumer, along with a tailor and jeweler. In England, the heyday of the perfume industry fell on the blessed times of Queen Victoria. It was in 1872 that Clive Christian dedicated one of his spirits, and the current Queen of Great Britain assigned the perfumery House Clive Christian the status of the supplier of Her Majesty's Courtyard, and she bestowed the Order for outstanding services to the country to Clive Christian herself. Since then, perfume bottles of this brand have been crowned with a “royal” crown and conceal inside all the secrets of bygone eras ... We talk with Victoria Christian, the daughter of perfumer Clive Christian and the brand’s ambassador, about the new creations of Clive Christian House and the very concept of elite perfumes.
Victoria, Clive Christian did not immediately begin to engage in the production of perfumes. What prompted him to do this?
Yes that's right. House Clive Christian is not always engaged in the production of expensive perfumes. Initially, my father's activity was the design of kitchens and other Victorian-style furniture, permeated with beauty and luxury in every detail. However, Clive has always sought beauty in everything and everywhere. He decided to revive the old English traditions of producing luxurious, persistent and concentrated perfumes created from the very best ingredients.
So our leading “pairs” of fragrances for women and men appeared - “No. 1”, “1872” and “X”. Currently, our family is known far beyond the borders of England. She turned around the world view of high-quality and expensive perfumes, creating something that no one could even imagine some 30-35 years ago. I am sure that a real luxury Clive Christian perfume, created from high quality materials, not subject to the passage of time and fashion, will always be afloat and it will find its true connoisseurs.
They say that you played an important role in the decision of your father to produce perfume. Is it so?
It turns out that yes. One of the decisive moments in the life of our family was the most common find. I was a child and helped my parents raise the flooring in the newly purchased mansion in London (currently the house is our main residence). There I found a rolling bottle. Subsequently, it turned out that it was the original of old perfumes, released in 1800 by a British perfume company. Exactly the same as the spirits used at that time, which were popular in aristocratic circles of the 19th century. This find, first of all, changed my views on a lot in life. I became a connoisseur of good spirits since my youth. Having matured, she took up ballet, and for some time she performed at Covent Garden. And all this continued until Clive discovered that the old UK perfume factory had actually gone out of business as a result of bankruptcy. Having thought it all over well, and knowing how I love the unique perfume, Clive decided to resume production and show the world the true expensive perfume, which is unique in its kind. In my opinion, it’s not so important what you do, the main thing is to bring beauty and perfection to this world, decorating it with your creations. My father in this sense is a genius. Therefore, without any doubts, I immediately abandoned my career as an actress, and joined the world that had long attracted me to me.
When we met with you at the Paris Gallery several years ago at the presentation of the main collection of six Clive Christian fragrances, including the famous “No. 1” listed in the Guinness Book of Records, you said that this is the pinnacle of creation and step beyond it limits are impossible. Today you are introducing two new Clive Christian fragrances in Dubai - the perfume “C” and “V”. What is this dedication to Clive and Victoria?
Oh no, of course not! (Laughs). Although I’m certainly flattered that my father used my photo in an advertisement of “V” fragrances for men and women, and everyone might think that this is the first letter of my name or the name of Queen Victoria (by the way, I’m also flattered that they called me in honor of this queen of England). And the letter “C” in the name of the second pair of fragrances does not at all indicate the initials of my father. Both of these names are, in fact, Roman numerals, just as we once released perfumes called “X” (Roman numeral “10”). So, “V” is the number “5” (from Latin Quinque), and “C” is “100” (from Latin Centrum). But, if you still want to believe that the names are hidden in the names, so be it, in the end, in each of his creations, the father leaves a piece of himself, his attitude to the world, his environment and his experiences over the years.
I would classify our new perfumes as deluxe, slightly elevating them above an existing collection. They are more saturated, in their formulas there are unique and very rare ingredients, combinations of aromas of different roses, jasmine and woody notes, which makes each of these aromas open for a long time and on the skin. Their concentration is such that after applying the perfume in the evening, in the morning you can enjoy the “train” remaining from it. Perfumes from the “C” and “V” collections are placed in bottles of dark amber color, crowned with branded gold “crowns”, which is designed to further emphasize their nobleness and elitism.
Which perfume created by Clive do you like most?
Everything! And here it all depends on the case, occasion, circumstances. Clive Christian perfumes allow me to always and everywhere feel like an actress trying on different images. By the way, sometimes I can apply two fragrances at the same time, for which I always carry with me a complete "travel" collection. True, a certain atmosphere is needed for this, but the result is difficult to convey! I am sure that you can love or not love elite perfumes that return us to the time of our great-grandmothers, but it is impossible not to notice and feel it! In any case, people always turn in my direction and compliment my spirits.
What do you think is more difficult to describe in words - a work of art or perfume?
Both that, and another are impossible. Both that, and another concerns the field of emotional perception, to the field of feelings! I am able to guess our perfume collections among thousands of others. They are unique and therefore valuable. They are true works of art. Just like a picture, a sculpture, and a book .... All this must be able to understand and feel.
Victoria, relying on your feelings, what will happen next, after the deluxe collections? Something already claiming the Nobel Prize?
It’s hard to predict. When our first world-famous collections were published, I was sure that Clive would continue to work in furniture, porcelain and other areas of the family business. However, today, when “C” and “V” appeared, I’m not sure of anything! I know for sure that it takes time to create something completely unbelievable, and Clive is not one of those people who are in a hurry. Let's wait a bit!
Ok, let's wait. And thank you for the conversation, Victoria.
