Reviews of X for Men (2001)
by Clive Christian

Thick and rich spices and very oily. Kinda reminds me of a Christmas store as it's a little piney with cinnamon. This smells a lot like a Avon product I tried recently so I wonder about the cost.

This is an interesting one. Probably one of the most interesting scents I've experienced. Again, I believe that Clive Christian is more marketing than a high end perfume house should be ... and they exploit the luxury market by selling their cologne at exorbitantly high prices. However, every Clive scent I have tried blows other high end designers out of the water. I would never actually spend the money on a bottle of this scent ... not because I don't like it, but because I can't imagine spending $1,000 on a bottle of cologne.

This cologne has a little more bite than the more expensive Clive Christian Number 1. It is more spicy ... whereas the Number 1 is more floral. I think the X is very exotic smelling and the notes that stand out most to me are the cedar, tonka bean and pepper. The most interesting thing is how well of a symphony these scents blend into to form a great scent.

I think that Lucky Brand used this fragrance as an inspiration when they launched their Oriental inspired fragrance. Obviously, there is no comparison between the two ... the Clive Christian is hands down more powerful and blended a lot better. However, if you are looking for a similar scent and only have a $50 - $100 budget, the Lucky Brand No. 6 would be along the same line ... but obviously much much less complex.

I seem to be one of the minority who like the Number 1 better than this scent. This is a little more powerful and less subtle and classy as the Number 1. The sample is labeled as 'unconventional, unusual and exotic'. It is also stated that it is made from a combination of 'some of the most powerful aphrodesiacs known to man'. A little too heavy on the marketing for my taste ... but this is the type of cologne I would expect a very well traveled explorer/adventurer would wear during the golden days of British Colonial Imperialism. I imagine someone like Teddy Roosevelt wearing this ... well traveled, exotic yet refined.

This definately does smell like some exotic middle eastern spice market. There are a lot of notes that are not used together in other colognes, which really does emphasize that Clive Christian really does know what they are doing in blending fragrances. I wish this was less expensive, because I would really love to have this scent in my wardrobe. However, even the sample sizes are too expensive for me to justify the purchase. I'd rather spend $200 on a large bottle of Creed than 3 small bottles of Clive in a satin holder. This is one of the most exotic and unusual smelling scents I've tried. It lasts a lot longer than some of the other scents I've tried. I am guessing there is a good amount of juice in this.

If I hit the lottery, I will always have a bottle of this in my travel bag.

The 'spicy' one from this line. There's really not much sillage or longevity, and it fails to offer anything unique for the hefty price tag. Honestly, the money would be much better spent on a Lorenzo Villoresi (and I'm not even a fan of this Italian house).

[Original submission date: 14 April 2008]

Wish I hadn't been a johnny come lately on this one, but to me, a LOVER of labnum, this one yelled at me a most refined, almost destilled cream-of-labnanum distillation that warrants its' sky high price. it's almost as if someone had distlled the very best of labdanum, blended it with some complementary citruses and sages, and marketed it as an uber-priced exquisite fragarance.

If you love labdanum and can't get enough, this is your holy grail Otherwise, be disappinted and exptect the hype. I love it. It gives me the very quintessence of labdanum that lasts for hours with minimal intrsion by the other hype notes. Sorry to sway from the pack on this onle. Five thumbs up.

A rich, dark, spicy oriental in the manner of Mona di Orio's Nuit Noir, Patou pour Homme, and Arabie. The cardamom note appeals to me, and the vanilla/woody drydown is extremely luxurious, but I'm not convinced that X is distinct enough a scent to warrant the outrageous price. (Mind you, this is coming from someone who doesn't flinch at buying Amouage, Creed, and Montale's ouds.) The quality is certainly there, but I don't get the "Wow!" I'd want out of a scent that's touted this way. Having hoped for something edgier and more challenging, I'm left a little disappointed. X may well be aimed at those who need to say they've spent a lot on fragrance (or clothes, or jewelry). Those folks aren't going to shell out for something that's original or quirky - it just has to smell of money.

Not worth the money. Maybe it's the juice I was testing but I didn't think it was very strong at all. Not much sillage, projection or longevity out of it. The only thing I noticed was the pink pepper

If you want pink pepper, get Isfarkand instead. Your wallet and nose will thank you

I can only agree with the positive reviews here - a wonderful, spicy scent that will always be in my collection.

The only point to add is that this is very much an evening scent, IMHO. It's warm, brown, sultry nature seems totally inappropriate on a summer's day - but apply in just the right quantity (a couple of squirts is ample!) before heading out for the evening, and you will love it.

Certainly not cheap, but worth every penny.

Really quite incredible. Many of my most resent purchases (at the time of writing this review) have been citrus based fragrances. I didn't know what to expect from X, but it fell pleasantly and surprisingly fell into plan.

The cardamom compliments the bergamot very nicely by reducing or eliminating the sour notes sometime associated with bergamot. This two piece band played for hours until the cardamom tired and was relieved by the cinnamon and cedar where the three played in beautiful harmony. Not long after being joined by cinnamon and cedar, the bergamot finally retired leaving cinnamon and cedar to dry-down into an uncanny resemblance to a Dunhill edition dry-down.

Justifying the cost doesn't concern me. For as often as I would wear X, one bottle should last me the rest of my life and my kids can fight over what's left.

Thanks to Shycat, I'm celebrating the rare treat of sampling this attractive fragrance. The top notes strike the most harmonious chord immediately upon application, then, after turning a little dirty, X transforms into a spicy Christmas pomander or simmering pot of wassail. I like how joeseattle interpreted the scent. Very special.

I received a bottle of X as a gift after I whined about it for months. When I initially smelled it at Nordstrom, I was immediately intrigued because it's unlike any other fragrance I have encountered.

To me, X at first smells like a pile of drying hay - somewhat grassy, but also decaying - old, musty, tart. After an hour or so, the initial sharpness fades and mellows, reminding me much more of an antique store or an old book. My apologies for not using correct fragrance terms.

X finally settles down after about two hours and continues to be warm and complex. If you've ever tasted a good scotch, say Johnny Walker Black, X is a bit like that – cloudy, with a lot of layers. X is absolutely incredible. It lasts almost too long, though I do have the perfume spray and not the weaker version. Is it worth almost $350 – hard to say, but I love it now as much as the first time I encountered it and is not a scent to wear everyday. Skip two really nice dinners out and buy a bottle – you’ll have it for years.

X has an exquisite cool-breeze-on-a-warm-day-by-the-seaside feel to it that I find hard to resist, but ultimately its lordly restraint and lack of intrigue spoil the show for me. And yes, it does exude massive amounts of refined dignity and class. In fact, so much class and calm self-assurance as to make X overqualified for my wishlist. I'll get back to it as soon as I'm riding a Rolls Royce with a chauffer or sailing a Riva Athena. In the meantime, I'll substitute with Erolfa or Garrigue.

I love the cardamon in this! It's what jumped out at me at first, balanced beautifully with earthy cinnamon and peppery spice layered over cedary woods. I didn't notice the bergamot much but to me it blended nicely with the prominent cardamon. On me it was not overly sweet or foody, but it is perhaps overpriced. OK very overpriced, which is why I don't yet own it. I need to sample it further before I could think of buying it retail. Good lasting power too.

Though there are spicy notes in it, the bergamot seems overrepresented to me, which gives this perfume an almost sticky sweetness. Mingled with hints of cinnamon and cardamom, but in a quite diffuse way, it makes this perfume an ideal companion for baking the christmas cookies. But when it comes to christmas eve, I'd always prefer Frankincense & Myrrh by Czech & Speake.