Clive Christian X for Men – New Year’s Revolution

Resolutions come and go.This year it´s not about the big stuff.This year it´s about the quirky stuff. Among other things, I´m working on losing my techno fears.I´m doing more philosophical reading.I´m counting smaller, odder blessings.I´m discarding various baggage and shifting some priorities.I´m trying to be more careful and kind in some places, and more reckless in others. But I can´t break my longtime resolution not to buy Clive Christian X for Men.

Clive Christian X for Men is a picture-perfect example of many things I hate about snob perfumery.First there´s the faux “exclusivity” – it´s expensive, sure, but it´s hardly in short supply.It´s probably as close as your nearest Saks.

Clive Christian has exposed me to more sales-counter folderol than your average fragrance line.Check in with your local SA selling Clive Christian and you will hear it has the most expensive fragrance (No. 1), the most exclusive, their scents are made with the rarest blah blah blah — it might as well be extracted from the droppings of civet cats.From their ersatz-royal packaging to their stuffed-shirt marketing, they work my last nerve.

None of which erases the fact that Clive Christian X for Men smells amazing.Don´t tell anyone, but you know what I do? I cheat on my loyal, stay-at-home fragrances with Clive Christian X for Men.If I´m in Saks and I walk by the bottle, I can´t resist spraying it on.(Ignore the ladies trying to hand you the Clive Christian X for Women.I don´t care if you are a woman.I think you have to check the label on the back, because if I recall correctly the men’s and women’s bottles look pretty much identical.Also, if you luck into a particularly dim SA, s/he will tell you there is only one version.)

The Saks website lists Clive Christian X for Men notes as: bergamot, spices cardamom, ginger, pink pepper, sambac oil, jasmine hedione, pimento oil, orris, amber, styrax, labdanum, vetiver oil, cedarwood, cinnamon, vanilla.

What I get is the briefest appearance of bergamot in the history of perfumery, followed by a fusillade of orris-rich spicy notes, enveloped in a warm, violet-woody incense.Reading the notes I can pick the different bits out – the cinnamon and pepper against the jasmine, the bite of ginger and the rasp of wood – but on the back of my hand all I smell is a seamless, powerful display of beauty.I was flipping through the Armani jackets in the Saks men´s store recently, reeking of my in-store assignation with Clive.Have you looked closely at Armani merch?What interests me is the texture of the fabric.Move past the flashy gigolo stuff and spend some time looking at a plain black suit coat; the closer you look, the more beautiful it is, maybe a mid-weight wool crepe with a subtle herringbone, shown with slacks where the pattern is smaller and flipped on the diagonal.From a distance you can see the elegance of its cut, but that beauty doesnt diminish when you move in close — rather, you gain even more appreciation for the detail.  Clive Christian X for Men is like that for me.

I left the store with some great sillage (although not an Armani jacket); Clive Christian X for Men lasts all day on me.At home I put on my favorite Christmas gift — a giant pink mohair sweater from my sister-in-law Kate.She got it in a consignment store, and it´s handknit, with one of those sew-in labels that says Made Especially For You by Mom-Mom.It leaves telltale pink tufts in the car, on the floor, on the sofa.I look like a refugee from The Muppet Show.

It´s a gift from the heart, because Kate and I are two people who appreciate the intrinsic beauty of an XXL pink mohair sweater knit by Mom-Mom, even if it´s not our Mom-Mom.It´s the visible manifestation of my own personal New Year´s Revolution.What if I treated every day like that mohair sweater?Like a quirky gift?One that clearly wasn´t crafted with me in mind, but still something I can greet with joy?A gift that´s a little bit scratchy yet makes me feel warm and loved.I enjoy the public reaction I get to that sweater. It´s hard not to smile when you see it.That’s part of the gift, I guess. (That’s me outdoors yesterday in the howling wind, I think it was 10 degrees with the windchill).

Here´s hoping you get your gift of a joyful 2008, knit more or less the way you want it.If it´s overstretched, frayed or a little off-kilter, try tilting your head and squinting.

  • jimmyfresno says:

    Loved the review. Why does no one mention the labdanum absolute that leaps from this fragrance from minute one? To me, it is the very essence of labdanum, one of my favorite notes, and brings out an aspect of this note that seems to have been distilled from the absolute to make it a heady topnote that dissipates after awhile. The bergamot seems only to be supporting cast. A shame that it dries down to a generic post-disco era ambery musk.

  • Cheezwiz says:

    Hi March!
    I’m late to the party, but the windblown picture of you in the sweater made me grin from ear to ear! Nothin’ like mohair to keep you warm huh? Last year I bought a vintage mohair coat in a brilliant blue/green colour. I love it but don’t wear it often because it is crazy warm (possibly suitable only for sub-arctic temperatures). Amazing stuff that mohair! I must say you look smashing in pink too. I know many people abhor pink, but I love it – I think it is the colour of delight.

    I also love your resolutions and agree 100%. This year my only resolutions are fun ones – inject more fun, spontaneity, colour, exploration etc. into my daily life. I think those are resolutions I can keep.

    Happy New Year to all you crazy perfumistas!

    • March says:

      Okay, you are immediately causing major conflict with another of my resolutions, which is not to covet … babe, “brilliant blue/green” vintage mohair coat? I will trade you …. how many children would you like? I can spare four — for that coat. Visualizing that coat makes me look like =:)

      Yeah, I had no idea mohair was so TOASTY! Wish it shed a little less, but you can’t have everything. Or so they say.;)

      Yes, let’s have fun resolutions, and a great 2008 to you too!

  • pitbull friend says:

    What a great suggestion, March — I need more tilting & squinting for sure! OK, I think I will de-lurk right now. I weaned myself off this lovely blog for a few months for a couple of reasons. First off, when the bridge collapsed here in the Twin Cities, I realized that I was treating you all as imaginary friends — expecting you to remember where I lived, etc. — when I really should be cultivating actual friends.

    And then, I realized that I was getting way past my budget with perfume. So, I’m resolving to do this halfway and see whether that works. 😕

    Lee, I hope this finds you doing better. Are Hob-Nobs as medicinal if they’re a domestic cookie? –Ellen

    • March says:

      I’m so sorry! I missed you. It’s difficult to remember where everyone lives, but I’m glad you are back and hope you’ll join us when you can. And I don’t want to get you in any $$$ trouble, as much as we joke about it.

      You’re right, though. We’re nice and all, but you need someone you can go have coffee and see a movie with.>:d< Have you gotten out there and aggressively pursued people? That sounds weird, but when I moved to a new city, I was hustling for friends.

    • Lee says:

      Yay, Ellen! Lovely to see you, but glad you’re putting in some irl energy! Matt’s forever telling me ‘You spend too long on that bloody computer’ and perhaps I should’ve taken March’s approach when we moved to this village (I’m good friends with all my neighbours, if that counts…).

      Here’s hoping 2008 is a year full of doggy snuffles, perfumes within budgets and a healthy balance between online and real life. Love to you.

      And Hob nobs are classified as a medicine by the National Health Service.

  • Christine says:

    That sweater is equal parts hilarious and awesome. Although, I did notice right off the bat that it is a bit too big, but it’s from “Mom” so all is forgiven.

    Happy New Year to you! That picture is just adorable, even if the sweater does look like it took many a muppet to make 😉

    And I will have to try the Clive for men, if it doesn’t work on me, my boyfriend is usually a willing participant in the perfume testing.

    • March says:

      THINK of ALL THE MUPPETS that DIED in the making of that sweater! And my own kids won’t snuggle with me because I’m “scratchy.” But in our cold, drafty house it’s a godsend, I tell you.

      I answered the door to the delivery guy and he just looked at me and burst out laughing. In a good way.:)>-

  • Sariah says:

    That’s some sweater girly. I need to dig out my bright pink mohair, yes I have one too but haven’t worn it this winter – will wear it tomorrow!

    I have no resolutions but I like yours, will have to think on that and maybe adopt one.

    • March says:

      Sariah — how did I miss you?!?:( Sorry about that. Hey, I bet a pink sweater would look *amazing* with your skin tone. If we went out together in them, do you think we’d draw a crowd of admirers?:-?

  • Patty says:

    Lord, that sweater is a joy. I always wish I could wear yellow because I would want it in the brightest sunshine yellow I could find. Since I can’t wear yellow, a really bright kelly green would be great. I wish I had the patience for thrift store shopping, but I just don’t have that particular genetic code. My kids have laughed at my “fashion sense” for years, telling me pjs are NOT a fashion item, and I keep telling them there was a point, before I had them and before I started working from home all the time, when they were still young, that I did dress damn fine, lots of very expensive designer stuff, I still have a pair of FM Gucci black slides that my ankles scream at if I try to wear them now.

    i think my New Year’s resolution should be to put on makeup at least 2x per week. I usually get once in because I have to go to the office for meetings.

    Now, on that CCXX (the extra X for the X in guy’s chromosome) has been on my major crush list forever. I adore it beyond belief. I’m not saying that a bottle on ebay is reasonable, but now is the time to pick one up, as people with no taste casually discard this treasure for a fraction of its price. Actually, I could use some more, I would split a bottle with you. Just say the word, you won’t regret it.

    I just despise the whole CC thing, but their CC#10 (using the o for women’s) has probably some of the best sillage I have ever smelt. I thought it was just okay when I first put it on, and I think I wrote about this ages ago, but all day long I would smel the most divine thing, and it was me!

    • March says:

      Really?!?! I should re-smell the woman’s then. The No. 1. Although I don’t want any more Clive Crushes.

      Well, I should have snagged the eBay bottle FIRST before writing this, eh? Although I bet post-Christmas is a great time to watch for those things… if they didn’t make me so darn mad, I have to say I don’t think the price is outrageous. Maybe I will do a split, I certainly don’t need a ton of it.

    • March says:

      PS I love thrift shopping. Will waste many an hour there and in consignment stores. And I’m now officially loving mohair. A sunshiny yellow or a wicked kelly would be just the ticket, wouldn’t it!?

  • Lee says:

    Babe – you looked glorious with red hair, but you’re gorgeous with that dark brown. I want to snuggle with you in the fluff. Particularly as I’m currently in bed, my cold having progressed to something slightly more virulent. Slept all morning, doc’s in half an hour. Had to check in here first.

    I’m a colour person, as you know. Love pinks, plums, greens. People at my work place think there’s something wrong if I’m in neutrals rather than colours. Hell, the world is drab enough…

    And I’ve never sniffed CCX, more fool me.

    • Divalano says:

      Awww feel better! May your doc prescribe 5 cc’s of pink fluff, wrap every hour until better. I’m sure that’d work. With tea, of course.

    • Patty says:

      YOu poor sugar, feel better!!!

      • Lee says:

        Thanks you two. It’s just a chest infection, though I have to be careful with those. Don’t want bloody pneumonia again.

        Doc gave me horse tablets.

        • Dusan says:

          Poor boyo,
          be sure to stay in bed till the infection tides over completely – in the past month I was twice stricken…
          Here’s wishing for a fast recovery! Hugs

    • March says:

      Oh, take care of yourself! I think it’s the damp air… let me prescribe Hobnobs and a big pot of tea.

      I love color on men, particularly greens and (go ahead laugh) pink, if the guy feels comfy with it. Purple, even. I recall you were wearing a fetching shirt when we met.:”>

      And thanks for the compliments on the hair. It was fun having it red, but I am very pleased with this as well, and I think it’s a nice color with my skin. My “real” hair is an off-black, but that’s just too harsh out of a box at my age…

  • Suzanne says:

    What a sweater! It reminds me of a big, yummy swirl of cotton candy. And you look so girlishly lovely in it! I think dark-haired, dark-eyed women look surprisingly beautiful in pink. Of course, I always liked the look of a pink oxford on certain men, too. But it’s definitely a color that not everyone can people can pull off.

    OK, you actually have made me happy that I live hours away from any city where I could find Clive Christian X for Men. It sounds absolutely gorgeous, but no, dammmit! I’m not falling for something that expensive. My resolution in 2008 is to do some traveling, and perfumes like CCX for Men could put a serious dent in my plans. Thanks for a lovely post, though!

    • March says:

      Okay, thanks for the compliments!!!! I avoided pink like the plague for years and years because I feel like it brings out the pink undertones in my skin (NOT what I am looking for, thanks) but there’s something so cheerful about pink. You are so right, I hadn’t thought of that, you made me laugh — it DOES look like a big swirl of cotton candy!

      Traveling should always be on everyone’s list to whatever degree possible, every year. More stuff? Who needs it. But when I am old and feeble, I hope many years from now, I want to have seen as many places as possible.@};-

  • Gaia says:

    Such a lovely picture. Makes me wish I could pull off things like pink mohair. You look gorgeous.

    I’m only familiar with X for women and it never spoke to me. The SAs of that juice are, indeed, among the most annoying. A couple of months back I was in Bergdorf with my husband. I wanted him to sniff the No. 1, just for the education. The two SAs started with the spiel, to which my man responded by pointing towards the JAR alcove and said: “I still like that stuff better”. I loved the look on their faces.

    • March says:

      Oh, I Love the Blond!!! Excellent response! X for Men is the only one that did anything for me, but oy, the pain you have to put up with to try it.

      Sniffing with your husband sounds like fun, I wish mine would do that.

  • Silvia says:

    There is something about hand-knits that goes straight to the heart: they transcend fashion, someone out there cares for you, they are a statement of love and who has enough of that ? Same for gifts of home made food, of which -she says with gluttony- I got lots this X-mas.
    This year end I had a bit of an epiphany: I no longer want to hoard stuff just-in-case. I want to live in a clean, uncluttered environment, and only hold on to items with real meaning. If WWIII breaks, I might not be so well prepared but never mind, think I’ll have bigger problems to worry about.
    Perfumes don’t seem to be affected, so far, but who knows, may be I’ll also feel the need to streamline in that department at some point.
    Have not tried X for men, but sounds terrific. Loving my husbands’ Encre Noir a lot at the moment.

    • March says:

      Oh, I have such sympathy! I’m a (check this out) hoarder NEAT FREAK. So the two urges are always struggling. I’ve been attacking ONE thing (the coffee table, my reading area in my bedroom, the spice shelf) and saying, pretend you had to pack this to move. How much stuff would you toss? And then doing so. Once I get over the initial horror it’s lovely.:o I will have clutter for the time being, though. There’s a train set in front of my computer right now, chugging around the top of the dining room table.:)

      Ah, the HUSBAND’S Encre Noir! Cheese told me not to get him for Xmas some frag I wanted for myself, he’s on to me.:-\”

  • Judith says:

    Wonderful sweater!! And I am not jealous at all, because that color wouldn’t look nearly as good on me as it does on you! You are beautiful!

    (I have to say that though I like CCXMen, I haven’t experienced an intense craving for it–yet. Probably I should avoid spraying it any more):)

    • March says:

      Yeah, don’t spray it any more! One of these days ingredient X will seep into your nose and tap into your Visa card.;)

      And thanks for the compliment — I didn’t really look at the “me” part of it before I posted it, just the sweater, which is sort of funny. I didn’t know it would trigger such thoughtful interpretations! I was mostly thinking WINDY.

  • Marina says:

    I need that kind of sweater to venture outside today. If I am not commenting here tomorrow, know that I froze to death somewhere between NJ and NY.:((

    • March says:

      I’ve been watching the weather report, and today is supposed to be miserable. The Cheese just came back from walking the dog, and HE was complaining about the cold, so it must be terrible, he’s immune to the cold. I heard stuff blowing over last night.:o

    • tmp00 says:

      If it’s any consolation we are supposed to get about four days of straight rain here. Malibu will be washed out to sea… 🙁

  • MattS says:

    Wow. That’s a Sweater. I love it. My color palette tends to run from gray to charcoal to slate. I received a beautiful plum colored cashmere sweater for Christmas and I’ve resolved to add more color to my life this year.

    My big New Year’s Revolution is to spend less/save more which is why I don’t even want to sniff this Clive Christian X stuff? (It smells divine, huh? Exactly how much is it? Just curious.) I resolve to explore Beautiful Things on a Budget. Someone gave me a bottle of Grey Flannel for Christmas and I love it. It makes me feel like I’m in high school again. (Disregarding the Giorgio for Men I dabbled with for a spell in tenth grade).

    What’s your favorite cheap perfume?

    Happy New Year!

    • March says:

      Matt — seriously, that is a great resolution! I think in terms of color some of the fun/interesting choices come from other people, stuff we wouldn’t pick. So check out your comfort level with the plum (which BTW I love on men).

      I love Grey Flannel. My dad wore a bottle of it a long time ago that I gave him, although he’s an Old Spice man (which I also love because of him).

      Seriously cheap? Check out Coty Wild Woods. I think you can buy it online for six bucks or whatever. Marina (blogger of PST) and I jokingly call it “Bois Sauvage.” Great fragrance (and it’s supposed to be for men.)

      Um, hon, with your incense jag, you would really love CCX. But you know what? You don’t have to break your resolution. You don’t have to smell everything this year, and I don’t think it’s going anywhere. BTW I think it’s $375ish? Which doesn’t even sound that ridiculous after this last year.[-(

      • MattS says:

        Hmmmm…375ish…that’s just a minor organ, I wouldn’t have to sell a lung or anything. I just got my vial of CdG Patch, which I like a lot more than I wanted to. But what I love more than that is the little vial of Arabian Oud Black Musk you blogged about recently. Filthy, nasty stuff and I adore it. I wore it to work New Years Day and didn’t even care who smelled me ’cause I did. All day long. Maybe I should change my Revolution to no full bottles of anything that I haven’t lived with for longer than a a few months. But than Black Musk, it seems like a necessity.

        Must try this Wild Woods stuff, I’m feeling really cheap this month, and kinda guilty for recent excesses. Speaking of cheap, I have to confess, I also love Jovan Musk for Men. Certain scents, certain people you love…

        • March says:

          Heh heh. Jovan Musk for Men, eh? The stuff dreams are made of…;) Yeah, eggsactly. Less than $400? Practically free!

  • Anne says:

    My reactions before reading … wow, I didn’t know March was a knitter. She is gorgeous! Is this going to be a combo perfume AND knitting blog?

    Beautiful yarn, obviously hand knit with lots of love. That soft pink is perfectly your color. I think you wear it (the sweater and your resolutions) so, so well.

    Thank you for a soul-warming post. :)>-

    • March says:

      Are you a knitter? You know what I didn’t put up there? I want to learn to knit. I’ve had it as a resolution for three years. This year I still want to knit, but I’m going to take the pressure off.[-(

      I wish you could see the shape better. It IS beautifully knit, and the shape is interesting, a wider funnel neck and a longer, flared bottom in the front. I’ve been wearing it wrapped and pinned shut with a brooch, which looks pretty great.

      And thank you for hanging out with us.:)>-

      • Anne says:

        Yes, I do knit. All the sisters (3 of us) knit and my 2 daughters too so family get togethers include trips to yarn stores, pattern searching and lots and lots of knitting!

        Knitting is how I found Nancy’s site on ebay. Did a search for decants and fishbone came up. Then happened to do a search for knitting books and there was fishbone again. Perfumista and knitter, my lucky day!

        • March says:

          Knitting is the coolest thing. I have Knitters Envy. Seriously. One of my most treasured baby things is a sweater a friend knit in the softest, softest yarn. You’re right, handknit stuff is extra special.

      • cherriesinthesnow says:

        March, that sweater is just — d.i.v.i.n.e. I am a knitter, and I would kill for the pattern for that sweater. The color is amazing (and it’s a good one for me!). I’m printing a picture of it and taking it to the yarn shop near me; one of the knitting mavens there can probably figure out the pattern. It looks simple and basic enough: maybe a 3-inch ribbing stitch, then the body appears to be most stockinette stitch (and even I could teach you how to do that, I learned when I was 10)– the beauty is in the yarn which makes it so luxe and elegant. Ironically enough, this represents one-third of my “holy trinity” of passions: perfume, sweaters (either hand knitted or store-bought) and handbags. And before I close, I gotta tell you, you look incredible in that photo. It’s like a shot from Vogue. Rock on Mama!!
        (cherriesinthesnow, a/k/a Chanel 22 lady from Nov. 10th sniffa)

        • March says:

          I wonder if I should send you some close-ups of the sweater? It has this amazing detailing (amazing to me, anyway) — the knit seems loose and open, but there are these subtle vertical stripes spaced wide apart where the knitting changed for a row (or whatever it’s called.) And I love the big, sort of funnel neck. Yes, there’s that ribbing you can see around the bottom, and you can’t see from the photo but the sleeve ends have the matching ribbing, smaller than the rest of the sleeve — you can’t see it in the photo under the hair, but it’s there, and *also* around the top, although it’s not really a “collar.”

          The idea that you could actually *make* something like that fills me with awe.^:)^

  • Bryan says:

    March,
    May all of your posts be as charming and adorable as this one (and this picture) in all of 2008. I got goosebumps reading this and it truly brought a smile to my insomnia having face. I am running out to try the X for men, but I agree about the line working the nerves. Any bottle of perfume can cost 200,000 if diamonds are attached, right?
    xoxo

  • Louise says:

    I love the scale and skew of your resolutions, March. Curious where you’ll be careful or reckless…

    That CC is glorious-I have almost, almost given in to the temptation several times, but have thus far resisted. Must check my resolution list…no, no, it doesn’t say “no ridiculous prices for perfume” anywhere on its little virtual card.

    The sweater is glorious. Frou-frou and elegant. And just the size to wrap all the kids close to you. You don’t look sad to me, but a bit pensive, and very cold. Go get some hot cocoa!

  • Maria says:

    That’s a perfect sweater, March. You look so chic. I’m tired of my fellow perfumistas looking so stylish. =:) (That’s me being an alien who is green with envy.)

    I don’t live near a Saks, which is all to the good–no CCX temptation!

    • March says:

      Oh, look, you’re down here too! I only saw you up there.

      “Chic” is not the first word that would come off my older daughters’ lips when describing that sweater.:d I do love it, though.

      I don’t know, Louise your FT says this thing is fab on her. It’s certainly very strong.

  • Divalano says:

    Wow, you’re stunning. Sweater is smashing too, and you’ve wrapped yourself in it it just so to great dramatic effect but beyond that, wind tousled & all, you’re stunning. Just so as you know. And I love the idea of greeting each day as a quirky gift. I’ll have to remember that.

    Unfortunately (or fortunately for my pocket) I didn’t love Clive X. I was cornered last wk by a smashingly intense chic blond Brit SA who conspiratorially asked me if I was there to try the most expensive perfume in the world. I wasn’t but what the hell, sure try me. Man, she was smashing. Did I say chic? And intensely fab? And trying to convince how fab I was right along with her (how, in my down coat & jeans, amongst the Bergdorf Ladies did she think we both thought I was having a fab moment I don’t know.) She perceptively figured me for a Clive for Men type but incorrectly figured that I’d love it. OK fine, blah blah fabulous ingredients blah blah & well, no. I made for the makeup counter, grabbed the nearest alcohol spritz & got rid of it. Not for me. Must be the bergamot.

    • March says:

      Wow! Scrubbbbbbber!!!! And that’s not an easy one to get rid of, either. I remember getting hit with a blast of Cartier Baiser like that and wishing I could cut my own arm off….

      how’s your life going, anyway? Have you moved from weird into quirky in the new year?;) Less stress, I hope?

      • Divalano says:

        Not quite scrubber, just not me & I wanted to walk out of Berdorf’s bespritzed w something wonderful.

        Things aren’t destressed quite yet. New Year’s day we went to our friend’s for a dinner soiree. My hair caught on fire from a badly placed candle. Really. I cried. But I’m working on seeing it as quirky, really I am. I can’t make any of my sick loved ones well but maybe I can get a fab new haircut, eh?

        • Kim says:

          I had a year like that – stressful life stuff and cars going berserk (doors opening on bridges, stick shift coming out on the highway, etc.) :-ss
          Now I can see it as quirky, but at the time, I just wanted to scream.

          Hope you get to spend some peaceful time with your loved ones.

        • March says:

          OMG. OMG, you set your *hair* on fire?!?!?! Hon!!!! I am so very, very sorry! I will utter the immortal words, It Will Grow Back, and I am glad it sounds like you weren’t injured. I caught my bangs on fire once, lighting a cigarette (And they SAY smoking is dangerous!)

          And another >:d< from me too.

          • Divalano says:

            Thanks for the hugs 🙂 My hair’s very long so in a pony tail it’s hard to tell what I lost. I definitely screwed the layering up & my ends are ummm … fried & choppy. It’s certainly a bit shorter in a few places. Yes. It will grow back. And I should get a fabu haircut & replace all that layering just as soon as my credit card recovers from Xmas.

  • MarkDavid says:

    Oh boy – how ’bout it? Its so damn exclusive but its in more stores in this country than a cash register. Im convinced those SAs have actually been brainwashed. They will defend its exclusivity till they hemmorhage. Thats just not normal.

    Of course, I do love X for men. Its the only one from CC that I like.
    One day I will buy it. Truth be told – for as long as it lasts on my skin (over 18 hours WITH a shower, easily) – it may not be a bad price after-all. I dunno. How many scents can you say that about? I can barely make Chanel No. 5 extrait last 4!

    But Its definitely one to save for Bergdorfs Beauty week…

    I’ve never compared them side-by-side – however, I am always immediately reminded of Cartier Declaration Essence when I hose myself down with X in Saks. So I like to pretend, in my head – that everytime I put on CDE, that I’m actually putting on CC X. Isn’t that stupid? Ive never claimed to be brilliant… BUT – It does make me feel a bit more luxurious – if only for a few seconds.

    I’m loving you in that sweater. Pink or not – I want one too.

    • March says:

      Huh, so it lasts on you, too? Longevity for me is nothing to brag about, everything lasts on me. BTW to be fair to the SAs, several times when they’ve done their weird “analysis” they do come up with CCX for Men as the recommended scent, and that’s the only one I like too.

      The Declaration Essence – I can see the comparison? But on me the Cartier is a lot more cedary, in a mildly BO way.:”> I mean, I’m not complaining, I like it. But I really bring that note out, it’s a different effect than Clive.

  • clare stella says:

    i think that sweater is one of the most beautiful i have ever seen. i am allergic to it but i want it so badly. no, it’s yours and i have to accept that. i will never steal your sweater and will hopefully never smell that scent because it is so far, so very far out of my budget!!!!

    • March says:

      Clare — well, I’m sort of allergic too.:”> Wool and cashmere make me itch, but they are so warm. I’m pretty good at devising a system where I have a layer of protective fabric between me and the fabrics.

      • Divalano says:

        I’m jealous of your layering ability. I’m also allergic to the stuff but I get sneezing & itchy eyes along w the skin itchies so I have to keep away. Makes winter a real chore, you can only look but so chic in down & polarfleece so I try to add silk & leather into the mix as often as I can afford.

  • Dusan says:

    That’s a stunning photo, March! The sweater really looks lovely, you want to spend a wintry afternoon cozied up inside its warmth, sipping tea and munching scones, just like your favorite blankie. But it only comes second to your eyes, your beautiful eyes March — intelligent, dark, sad, unforgiving. Gracious ringed hand holding up the sweater, wind toying with your hair – this captured moment moves me so much and I can’t quite tell why… I mean, for all I know, you could be smiling underneath that pink tuft but what I am seeing is sadness, one you’ve accepted and learned to live with, but sadness no less. Which is strange cos it’s not how you come across, so I hope I’m wrong.
    Sorry for this blabber, I was smitten by this photo, and you in it. 😡

    • Maria says:

      Dusan, that’s a beautiful analysis of the photo and March. I can’t help bringing in one practical consideration though. A very cold wind was blowing violently. I’ve known those conditions to make a lot of people’s eyes look sad and watery. I’m just amazed the eyeliner is not streaking.

      • March says:

        Well, you were right:) please see my comment to Dusan below. It was so very very cold! And I was standing in the only (windy) spot where I could get the sun on the sweater. Enigma’s wisecracks weren’t helping. Believe it or not under the hair that’s not eyeliner, though — that’s just dark eyes against my Friendly Ghost Skin!

        So, have you tried CCX, as Elle called it? Because Louise down there loves it.

    • March says:

      Dusan, thank you for that thoughtful, kind, beautifully written analysis … and I will have to confess Maria is right. I was *laughing.* And my eyes were tearing, from that and the wind. I was standing in a specific spot in the retreating late afternoon sun, so I could capture the saturated color of the sweater, and it really is that color! But I couldn’t keep the hair out of my face, and 11YO Enigma kept goofing around. I saw my hair and thought, oh well, at least you can see the sweater perfectly. I did dye my hair darker this fall, though (a chocolate brown, close to my real color) and I think that makes everything pleasantly dramatic.@};-

  • Kim says:

    Aggressive SAs? I do the same as for yappy dogs – stare then in the face and say NO! Amazing how well it works!

    Definitely agree with the head tilting/squinting. I also remove my glasses – then all the annoying little bits of the day disappear and everything is softened! (not recommended while driving!)

    An added bonus? Your sense of smell is enhanced! 🙂

  • tmp00 says:

    I once was at the local Neimans with my ex- boss and did a grand jete over a pile of sale sweaters to get away from an over-agressive XA who was trying to squirt me with this stuff. When then-boss asked me why I didn’t want to sniff I had to tell her what it cost- and that I was afraid that I’d fall in love with it.

    Of course now that $350 is the new $100…

    • March says:

      Yeah! It’s practically free! :d It isn’t even the expensive one — isn’t No. 1 $900 or thereabouts? And that’s the regular bottle, not the schmancy Baccarat flacon or whatever.

      If you haven’t smelled X, I think you’d really be into it. Just saying.

  • Elle says:

    OMG. I love, love, love that sweater! It’s just beyond brilliant. How could you possibly have a bad day wearing that? I’m going to have to check ebay and our local consignment shops for something similarly divine and fun. I also have a mad crush on CCX – pimento is a note I could mainline and it’s so beautifully used in this scent. Broke down this year and got some on ebay. Don’t regret it for a second. CC annoys me to no end, but I just inhale deeply of X for Men and try to forget him and his corporate decisions (Crown…grrr).

    • March says:

      Aha — should have known you’d love the sweater (and Clive) too! And I got really tired of typing Clive Christian X for Men in that post, from now on it’s CCX.

      Can I tell you? She also got me ridiculous, froufrou hot pink flats to go with it. Wearing it makes me giggle. And I can’t believe how WARM it is! Our house is cold. My first mohair, but not my last.

    • March says:

      PS Crown!!!! Don’t get me started … b*st*rds. They had to destroy the village in order to save it … and then he has the stones to put a crown on the bottles.