Our take
What does Aromatics in White smell like?
Clinique launched Aromatics in White in November 2014, more than four decades after Aromatics Elixir. Nicolas Beaulieu composed this flanker. Bernard Chant's original is still a massive aromatic chypre known for loud rose and patchouli. The white version keeps the structure and changes the light. The opening blends labdanum, violet leaf and Sichuan pepper in a resinous, faintly tingling mood. The heart pairs orange blossom with rose water. The orange blossom brings the brightness the name promises, like a white shirt under a dark jacket. The base lays down ambergris, benzoin and musks, a soft salty warmth that lingers on skin. Compared with Aromatics Elixir, Aromatics in White is less herbal and less severe. It still keeps the longevity and the grown-up character. It's one of the few flankers that stay faithful to their model while still standing on their own.
When to wear it
A cold-weather chypre for the office or evenings out. One or two sprays, as it projects a lot.
It belongs to the Floral, Chypre family. Aromatics in White is one of 4 creations by Clinique in our encyclopedia.
