Clive Christian Releases The World’s Most Expensive Perfume – Clive Christian No. 1

The Clive Christian No 1 Perfume Imperial Majesty Edition costs $215,000 and was created by famed perfumer Roja Dove. It is 500 ml and comes in a rare Baccarat crystal bottle engraved with the purchaser's name.

In 1999, famed kitchen and interior designer Clive Christian purchased the London-based “Crown Perfumery” company, which was founded by a corset maker and has been the royal family’s official supplier of smelling salts and perfume since 1872 according to to one source.  As a result, when Christian approached world famous perfumer Roja Dove, he had one criterion: Money is no object.

According to Symrise, Roja Dove “opened his treasure chest – his collection of scents – and looked for the most precious and expensive notes the world has to offer. Rose oil for 6,000 euros, orris root for 11,000 euros per kilo, jasmine from India, Italian cinnamon rose which requires at least 170 blossoms for a single drop of oil!”  A batch of this liquid gold reportedly takes six months to reach the perfect stage of spice.

The result was Clive Christian Perfume No. 1.  A single ounce, or 30 ml, costs $2,350.  And then, there is the magnificent Clive Christian No. 1 Imperial Majesty Edition …

Clive Christian No. 1 – Imperial Majesty Edition Perfume

The Clive Christian No. 1 Imperial Majesty Edition perfume is displayed at Harrods Department store in London.

A 500 ml release known as Clive Christian No. 1 – Imperial Majesty will set you back approximately $215,000.  This fantastic edition comes in a French Baccarat crystal flaçon.

According to the same source, the bottle is made of, “a material which is so difficult to work with that one of every three attempts breaks during the production process. The neck of the bottle is fashioned after the coronation tiara of the British queen and is made of 18-carat gold inset with a five-carat brilliant-cut diamond. This collar is later engraved with the owner’s name.” This one-of-a-kind bottle is then gently placed into a velvet-lined ebony case with gold and platinum details.

Clive Christian No. 1 Perfume Imperial Edition was released in a limited edition of only 10 bottles, of which 5 were stored in the archives.  Of course, these can be customized for clients.  The rumor is that Sir Elton John had his fragrance in a bottle shaped like a piano.  Katie Holmes reportedly wore Clive Christian No. 1 at her wedding to Tom Cruise.

Clive Christian No. 1 Regular Editions

Clive Christian No. 1 50 ml Bottles for Men and Women

The Clive Christian No. 1 Perfume in a 50 ml bottle is more affordable, though still comes in at a princely sum of $865. The Clive Christian No. 1 for men comes in a gold colored opaque bottle; the women in an ivory colored opaque bottle.

It is possible to purchase smaller editions of the Clive Christian No. 1 perfume for men and for women.  The current price of a 50 ml bottle is $865 and it comes in a beautiful gold colored, opaque bottle adorned with a crown when purchased in the edition for men and a rich, ivory opaque bottle for the No. 1 edition for women.

Clive Christian No. 1  Purer Perfume Crystal Bottles for Men and Women

This is an example of the Clive Christian No. 1 Perfume for Men in a Crystal Bottle that retails for $5,500. These are released in limited editions of 1,000 each year.

Another option for lovers of Clive Christian No. 1 is concentrated pure perfume, or parfum, in a lead-crystal bottle at a cost of $5,500.  The bottle comes adorned with a brilliant cut white diamond.  However, there are only 1,000 lead-crystal bottle editions released each year, which rapidly sell out and require long waiting lists.

Clive Christian No. 1 Perfume Fragrance Notes

According to industry sources, Clive Christian No. 1 features the following fragrance notes:

Top Notes: Pineapple, Plum, Mirabelle, Bergamot, Lemon, and Cardamom

Heart Notes: Rose, Jasmine, Ylang Ylang, Orris, and Orchid

Base Notes: Tahitian Vanilla, Tonka Seeds, Cedarwood, Sandalwood, and Musk Amber

Other reported fragrance notes include carnation, benjoin balm, white peach, and carnation.

Where You Can Buy Clive Christian Perfumes

In the United States, Clive Christian fragrances can be purchased at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus,

More Pictures of Clive Christian No. 1 Perfume

Here are some more images to enjoy of this remarkable tribute to luxury fragrance.