Contemporary
Designed for collectors who appreciate crisp aromatic structure with unexpected fruit accents, this fragrance bridges classic tailoring and modern freshness. It suits anyone seeking a refined, daytime signature that transitions easily from morning meetings to evening dinners. The blend of tart blackberry, green geranium, and spicy nutmeg appeals especially to wearers who enjoy woody and fresh spicy profiles with a touch of powdery violet. Community voting strongly favors spring and summer wear, though its grounding moss and malt base carries enough weight for cool autumn afternoons. If you want a polished unisex scent that leans slightly masculine while avoiding tired aquatic cliches, this release offers an assertive, well-balanced option.
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Performance Metrics
718 VOTESOpen Performance Breakdown 1 TAKE
Community polling confirms impressive longevity, with 82 wearers rating it long lasting (7 to 12 hours) and 6 marking it eternal, against 27 voting moderate. Sillage is pronounced, led by 57 votes for strong projection and 49 votes for moderate, ensuring a clear arm's length sillage bubble through most of the workday.
Notes Pyramid
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The scent profile of Contemporary is built on an aromatic fougere structure featuring top notes of tart blackberry, green geranium, violet, and black pepper. Its heart reveals dry cedar spiced with warm nutmeg, while the base relies on damp oakmoss-style moss and grainy single malt. The overall impression is fresh spicy, woody, and mossy with subtle powdery nuances.
Main Accords
8 MAPPEDFresh spicy and aromatic accords lead the composition during the first hour, propelled by vibrant geranium and crushed black pepper. Woody tones soon emerge as cedar blends with powdery violet, smoothing out the sharper edges. In the dry-down, earthy and mossy accords combine with malt, leaving a grounding, slightly rustic wood finish that endures on skin.
Community Data
1,374 TOTAL VOTESCOMMUNITY SENTIMENT
OWNERSHIP STATS
GENDER APPEAL
REVIEW SENTIMENT
When to Wear
TAP TO VOTETIME OF DAY · TAP TO VOTE
OCCASIONS · TAP TO VOTE
It looks easiest to wear in summer and spring. The vote picture leans most toward daytime.
Pros & Cons
Quick take before you sampleWHY PEOPLE MAY LIKE IT
Crisp opening pairing tart blackberry with herbal geranium
Dependable 7 to 12 hour longevity supported by voter consensus
Noticeable moderate to strong projection suitable for open spaces
Refined blend of dry cedar and warm kitchen nutmeg in the heart
High 25 percent oil concentration provides substantial depth
Versatile profile well suited for spring, summer, and daytime work
Subtle malt note adds an intriguing twist to the mossy base
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
Substantial retail price rated overpriced by a majority of voters
Fruity blackberry note fades significantly within the first hour
Dry-down leans heavily traditional, which may feel dated to some
Earthy moss notes can lean somewhat sharp on certain skin types
Not sweet enough for gourmand or pure berry fragrance enthusiasts
Black pepper in the opening may feel too pungent for sensitive noses
Fragranxe Review
EDITORIAL“Clive Christian Contemporary Review: A Sharp Fruity Fougere”
Contemporary by Clive Christian introduces itself with an immediate, bracing contrast between crisp floral freshness and dark fruit. The initial spray delivers a sharp burst of green geranium and piquant black pepper, immediately cut by the tart sweetness of hedgerow blackberry. A cool, powdery violet tone threads through the background, preventing the berry note from feeling like candy. It feels brisk, clean, and unmistakably upscale right out of the bottle, projecting a vintage barbershop energy updated with a modern fruit twist.
As the zesty top begins to settle after thirty minutes, the composition warms noticeably. Dry cedar emerges as the central pillar of the fragrance, wrapped in the nutty warmth of nutmeg. This transition bridges the cool opening with a solid, structured midsection. The berry and geranium tones recede into the background, leaving a trail of woody warmth. In the late dry-down, earthy moss steps forward alongside an unusual malt note. The malt provides a rich, fermented grain character that pairs naturally with the damp, green moss, giving the base a rooted, masculine-leaning finish.
Over a full day, the scent moves through distinct aromatic phases. The prominent fresh spicy and fruity accords dominate the first hour, broadcasting a punchy, energetic sillage. By the second and third hours, woody and powdery elements take over, creating a smooth, gentlemanly aura that stays steady and balanced. Finally, the mossy, earthy, and aromatic accords anchor the long dry-down. While the fruity sweetness fades relatively quickly, the aromatic cedar and moss core stays intact, maintaining a clean, structured presence without collapsing into a flat skin scent.
Performance lines up with its 25% concentration. Community voters overwhelmingly rate it as long lasting, with 82 votes recording between 7 and 12 hours of wear, supported by strong sillage votes. The scent projects vigorously for the first two hours before settling to an arm's length radius. It is exceptionally well suited for professional workplaces, outdoor events, and smart casual settings. Seasonally, community consensus points to spring and summer as the ideal backdrop, though the warmth of nutmeg and moss makes it wearable on crisp autumn days as well.
This release suits fragrance lovers who appreciate traditional fougere structures revitalized with contemporary berry and spice accents. Wearers who enjoy refined woods, barbershop grooming aesthetics, and assertive day scents will feel right at home. However, anyone expecting a pure, sweet blackberry perfume will likely be disappointed once the mossy, woody base takes command. Furthermore, budget-conscious buyers may want to steer clear, as community feedback heavily flags the retail price as prohibitively steep for the genre.
Contemporary by Clive Christian delivers an impeccably crafted take on the classic aromatic profile. It balances sharp spices, tart fruit, and deep moss with undeniable polish and lasting power. Given the luxury pricing, this is definitely a perfume to sample rather than blind buy, but dedicated fougere fans will find plenty to admire.
FAQs
What does Clive Christian Contemporary smell like?+
Clive Christian Contemporary smells like an aromatic fougere that blends tart blackberry, peppery geranium, dry cedar, and earthy moss. Black pepper and powdery violet create an energetic opening, which warms into nutmeg and cedarwood. The base finishes with damp green moss alongside an unusual malt note, giving the woody profile extra depth.
Is Clive Christian Contemporary long lasting?+
Yes, community voting confirms that Clive Christian Contemporary is a long lasting fragrance that typically persists for 7 to 12 hours. Over 80 voters logged long lasting performance, with several recording eternal wear past 12 hours. Its 25 percent oil concentration helps the cedar, malt, and moss base cling reliably to skin.
How strong is the projection of Clive Christian Contemporary?+
Clive Christian Contemporary projects with moderate to strong sillage, easily radiating an arm's length for several hours. Community votes are split predominantly between strong (57 votes) and moderate (49 votes). It creates a noticeable scent bubble without becoming intrusive, making it well suited for both social gatherings and standard office environments.
Is Clive Christian Contemporary unisex or masculine?+
While officially marketed as unisex, community sentiment leans slightly masculine due to its classic fougere and cedar structure. Community voting places unisex as the leading category with 36 votes, closely trailed by more male (32 votes) and male (26 votes). Anyone who appreciates crisp, woody aromatic scents can wear it comfortably.
What seasons are best for wearing Clive Christian Contemporary?+
Community voters select summer and spring as the ideal seasons for Clive Christian Contemporary. Summer leads the seasonal poll with 100 votes, closely followed by spring with 94 votes. The crisp geranium, tart blackberry, and peppery freshness flourish in moderate warmth, while the moss and nutmeg sustain it on cooler autumn afternoons.
What occasions suit Clive Christian Contemporary best?+
Clive Christian Contemporary is best worn for professional work environments, business meetings, and daytime social gatherings. Its crisp cedar, herbal geranium, and clean violet evoke a polished, tailored appearance. It functions equally well as a sophisticated daytime signature scent or for upscale dinners where you want an elegant, restrained presence.
How does Clive Christian Contemporary develop from opening to dry-down?+
The fragrance opens with vibrant blackberry, herbal geranium, and biting black pepper before shifting into a dry, warm cedar and nutmeg heart. After a couple of hours, the bright fruit recedes. The dry-down settles into an earthy base of forest moss and grainy single malt, delivering a steady, traditional woody finish.
Is Clive Christian Contemporary worth the price?+
Most community wearers consider Clive Christian Contemporary overpriced relative to its standard aromatic fougere genre. Community price-to-value votes lean heavily negative, with 66 votes rating it overpriced or way overpriced against only 8 finding good value. While its 25 percent concentration offers strong quality, buyers should sample first.
Should I blind buy Clive Christian Contemporary or sample it first?+
You should definitely sample Clive Christian Contemporary first due to its steep retail cost and traditional barbershop dry-down. While the tart blackberry top note is immediately appealing, the prominent moss, cedar, and malt dry-down can feel too conservative or dry for some wearers. A sample decant will verify how the base develops on your skin.
What fragrances are similar to Clive Christian Contemporary?+
Clive Christian Contemporary shares aromatic DNA with classic woody fougeres like Creed Green Irish Tweed and Penhaligon's Sartorial. However, neither of those features Contemporary's distinct hedgerow blackberry opening or single malt base. Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay offers a similar tart berry top note but dries down into a much lighter, sheerer cedar scent.
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Dupes & Alternatives
COMMUNITY DUPESCOREWhile Contemporary lacks exact direct clones, Creed Green Irish Tweed offers a comparable classic fougere freshness driven by violet and woods, though it lacks the dark blackberry and malt facets. Jo Malone London Blackberry & Bay captures the tart hedgerow fruit opening but remains much lighter and lacks the mossy cedar backbone. Penhaligon's Sartorial delivers similar barbershop moss and spice without any fruit sweetness.
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