Clique by Roblé : launched in Spring 2014. Created in collaboration between celebrity chef Roblé Ali and Frank Voelkl, inspired by two of the chef's own signature creations, a fizzy cocktail and a decadent dessert.
From Chef Roblé 's website:
“For close to a year, Frank Voelkl (Perfumer, Firmenich) and I have been working on our Fragrance Recipe. Finding the perfect balance to incorporate scents from some of my favorite culinary creations required a lot of fine-tuning and multiple trials.”
“It started with the idea of developing an irresistible fragrance recipe that could maintain the freshness of a citrus cocktail on top, with an alluring and sensual dessert base containing notes from one of my favorite signature dessert recipes – French Toast Crunch.”
So what does it smell like? It is classified as a gourmand fragrance for women.
- Top notes: Blood orange, Curaçao, Lime, Mexican chili, Salt, Tequila
- Middle notes: Iris, Jasmine, Tuberose, Violet
- Base notes: Challah bread, Cornflakes, Honey, Sugar powder, Salt, Chocolate, Cinnamon
I received a pretty triangular glass flacon from the company and eagerly opened the metallic gold foil box, I couldn't wait to try this so I sprayed the sample on the back of my hand and deeply inhaled the scent. A rush of fizzy citrus explodes around me, so fresh and not the regular everyday orange scent, but the unique scent of the blood oranges and lime. It is as if I sliced open the fruits and squeezed them into a glass of tequila on the rocks, a little boozy, but definitely enticing. Then it smooths seamlessly into a delicious creamy aspect that reminds me of creamsicles, you know the orange and vanilla cream frozen treats on a stick. Then, a sweet scent of sugary marshmallow envelopes me like a warm, thick cashmere blanket, soft and cuddly, but not suffocating. A hint of the powdery violets and irises, a spike of narcotic tuberose and jasmine reveal themselves in a cloud of chocolate and cream.
My husband absolutely adored this one on my skin, where the scent bloomed effortlessly on my warmed skin. this one was a major hit with my friends and family as well. The longevity was pretty good, it lasted at least 8 hours on me as I sprayed it on before bed, and it was still there, though as wispy traces of honey and citrus, when I woke up the next day. I wore this every day for over a week and never got sick of it. It will be in heavy rotation til it's all gone. Which reminds me, I need to get the scented nail lacquer, body butter and the shower gel too. I wish, wish, wish, that there was a flavored and scented lip balm or gloss for this one. It would be perfect for kissing. Also, a flavored sparkly body shimmer would be nice too, I remember when Jessica Simpson came out with her Dessert Beauty line, it had a kissable body powder that tasted like cotton candy...very good. Hint, Hint.
When I try out a new fragrance, I like to imagine a vignette that the fragrance inspires in my creative mind. Here is a new one...
I close my eyes and imagine I am dining in one of those restaurants where one dines in complete darkness. I don't know what delectable treats the waiter is bringing me, but I sip my water nervously. This is a new experience for me. Usually I am able to see the food before I am about to eat it. I think back to the day before, when my husband suggested we try something new for our anniversary, a fancy restaurant for some cocktails and dessert.
A clunk of glass just hit upon the table and the waiter says "enjoy your cocktail...." My hand snakes around the table, feeling for the cold crystal tumbler, feeling it's icy surface, I bring it up to my face. I sniff nervously, trying to detect what it could be before I take a sip. I immediately smell citrusy scents of zesty oranges and limes. Thinking this could be good, I take a daring sip from on a salted rim. Blood orange and the unmistakeable taste of curacao. Oh, there is some tequila in here, and a spike of pungent chili pepper. This is a very refreshing margarita and tastes only slightly boozy, the citrus keeps this from tasting too alcoholic.
While waiting for our dessert to arrive, my husband remarks about how nice the floral arrangement on the table smells. I tell him, that the powdery irises smell a lot like the ones that my grandmother used to have in her garden. The ones that her mother brought to America from her native Sweden. I also tell him that the iris seems to blend very well with the subtle perfume I am wearing tonight which has notes of narcotic tuberose, jasmine and sweet violet.
I hear the other patrons in the restaurant mumbling over their own meals, but my attention is quickly diverted to the smells of something doughy and spicy wafting my way. Another clunk hits the table, this time, a porcelain plate. I feel around for my fork and find my way to the plate. I take a stab at something soft and slightly spongy. A slice of cake perhaps. I bring the fork close to my mouth and inhale once again, I smell cinnamon and dough. I take a bite, and chew a piece of what I am sure is fresh, slightly salty Challah bread, much like the one I ate years ago when I dated someone around Chanukah season, whose mother baked one for us. I taste honey and dark chocolate, which was probably drizzled just before serving so that it did not become soggy. Crunchy pieces, is that cornflakes? Yes. My memory thinks back to the cornflakes my mother and I would share before she would send me off to school in the morning.
Bite after bite, I taste the sweet bread and even sweeter honey and enjoy the rest of the evening with my husband on our anniversary. Thinking how funny it is when our sense of sight is deprived of us, our sense of smell and taste are magnified. This was a unique experience for my husband and I. Giving him a kiss on the cheek, I thank him for giving me 7 years of wedded bliss and for the interesting evening as we put on our coats and are lead from the darkened restaurant and to our waiting car.
I think they should make a tasty lip balm as well :)
