CLEAN RESERVE / SUEDED OUD + TERRA WOODS
Of all the ways to beautify and ready yourself for a night out, fragrance is by far the most personal. For more than ten years, CLEAN has been an innovator in the world of fragrance, bringing a simple and conscious view to perfumery. The brand recently introduced CLEAN Reserve, a collection of nine 'niche, authentic, sustainable and personal' fragrances. The release features six new scents, which include Amber Saffron, Blonde Rose, Smoked Vetiver, Sueded Oud, Terra Woods and Velvet Flora, alongside new "Reserve Blend" editions of three older CLEAN fragrances (Rain, Skin and Warm Cotton).
'Each CLEAN Reserve fragrance was created to be dynamic and evoke, not memories of the past, but possibilities and experiences yet to be discovered.'
As pioneers of fragrance, CLEAN wanted the new CLEAN Reserve scents to read as a collection of moments, while still maintaining their eco-friendly philosophy. Following the farm to table food trend, CLEAN took a 'farm to bottle' approach with this line by using sustainable ingredients such as saffron, spiced herbs, wild moss, birch, patchouli and leathery wood all housed in a 100% recyclable glass bottle. Turning to three of the leading fragrance houses in the world, Takasago, Mane, and Firmenich, CLEAN presented imagery as inspiration to create fragrances that embodied their definition of the new 'clean'. This approach was unique, giving the perfumers complete control over the resulting concoctions as opposed to focusing on the particular notes CLEAN wanted each scent to be reminiscent of. They also placed a focus on ensuring each scent was linear, without much movement from top to bottom, making the scents ideal for layering and blending. Three hundred scents, four months and a team of CLEAN executives later nine unisex scents emerged.
A SUSTAINABLE FRAGRANCE?
Creating a 100% natural and sustainable fragrance is downright impossible, but there are countless ways that a perfumer can reduce it's carbon footprint. For CLEAN that means that each of the CLEAN Reserve fragrances exhibit the following:
- A wood cap sourced from Spain, made of wood from certified sustainably managed forests.
- Each fragrance in the collection is infused with sustainable ingredients. Several fragrances also include ECOCERT materials.
- Fragrances are manufactured in a facility that uses 100% solar energy.
- The alcohol in each fragrance is derived from corn, allowing for a highly refined and pure juice.
- Aloe is incorporated in each formula for added benefits and skin feel.
- Glass bottle is 100% recyclable.
- Crystal clear cellophane is derived from corn, a widely accessible, renewable, natural resource. After use it can be composted and the material will break down and revert down to carbon dioxide and water.
- All paper is FSC.
- Bottle is contained in foam which can be re-used as a protective barrier for your fragrance.
- Box can be re-used to store your CLEAN Reserve fragrance.
MY 'clean'
After attending a launch for the CLEAN Reserve line, nestled at a quaint studio in the heart of Yorkville, each attendee was given the choice of two fragrances to test. As someone who strays from floral scents I figured my choice would be simple, Sueded Oud and another atypical musk. However the more I was introduced to the floral fragrances found within the line the more I was drawn to them. After deliberating between Amber Saffron and Terra Woods for what felt like an hour I left the event with Sueded Oud, Terra Woods, and a beautiful terrarium – complete with corn kernels!
CLEAN Reserve Sueded Oud ($125) – Inspired by 'the spiritual retreat' Sueded Oud channels the “instinct to explore and discover our individual destinies.” That mantra has been brought to life by perfume house Mane, who worked with the sustainable ingredient Bushman's Candle to create a fresh and creamy approach to a traditional oud. What makes Bushman's Candle sustainable is the fact that the nomadic Himbas tribe waits until the hard, spiny Bushman Candle completes its natural life cycle before harvesting the bark to sell for fragrance extraction. Continued use of this incredible shrub provides support that allows the tribe to preserve their traditional lifestyle and fosters sustainable plant growth.
“Bushman’s Candle was the inspiration for this fragrance. Its unique olfactive character includes inflections of warm woods, incense and amber. We worked within the structure, accentuating the spices and adding nuances of light oud notes, resulting in a modern scent impression that celebrates the richness of ancient ingredients.” – Claude Dir, Perfumer, Mane
Notes: Incense Oil, Blue Cypress, Birchwood, Red Pimento, Honeysuckle, Temple Oud, Night Blooming Jasmine, White Magnolia, Fir Balsam, Sarcocaulon, Soft Suede, Gold Patchouli, Black Amber, Praline, Skin Musk, Olibanum Tears.
Style: Sophisticated. Mysterious. Sexy.
Pairs well with: All CLEAN Reserve fragrances.
CLEAN Reserve Terra Woods ($125) - As the most unique fragrance of the collection, Terra Woods finds itself atop the vanity of the misfits, movers, and shakers of the world. Both floral and woody, Terra Woods combines Earth’s natural musks, capturing the Scandinavian sensibility of inviting nature into the home. The inspiration of nature’s imperfections and the ability to see them as beautiful, comes through vividly in this scent and is ultimately what captivated me. I was also drawn to the subtle notes of Madagascar Vanilla, which is the sustainable ingredient found within this scent. By harvesting the highest quality Vanilla pods from fertile, ECOCERT plantations in Madagascar, CLEAN funds continued education for farmers and their families by supplying school equipment and computers to foster growth and development in this beautiful nation.
“This fragrance is a creation using qualitative minimalism, the backbone of the Clean Reserve identity, as inspiration. It is taking the most luxurious materials and using them in a way to connote a new simplicity and elegance. The idea was to be white, cool and fresh while maintaining an inviting aspect of intimate warmth.” – Vincent Kuczinski, Perfumer, Mane
Notes: Fresh Accord, Fresh Geranium, Jasmine Sambac Petals, Coconut, Skin Musks, Textured Woods, Tonka Bean, Madagascar Vanilla.
Style: Unique. Enticing. Woody.
Pairs well with: Sueded Oud, Smoked Vetiver, Velvet Flora.
All CLEAN Reserve fragrances retail for $125CAD are available at Sephora in store, and online at Sephora.com. **Terra Woods is only available online**
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Have you tested the CLEAN Reserve fragrances?
Let me know your favourite in the comment section below!