Clive Christian — Chasing the Dragon Euphoric
Essence
Chasing the Dragon Euphoric is a 2017 parfum-concentration (25%) white-floral oriental from Clive Christian’s Addictive Arts collection, composed by perfumer Angela Stavrevska. It is one half of the “Chasing the Dragon” pair (alongside Hypnotic), and the collection’s gimmick is “AddictiveFusion” - a proprietary, marketing-heavy headspace technology said to incorporate facets of wormwood, poppy and cacao for a “dark heart.
Scent Profile
The opening is a tart, sparkling blackcurrant (cassis) with a green, almost chaste muguet (lily-of-the-valley) lift over a thread of artemisia. This quickly gives way to the heart, which is the main event: a heady, syrupy white- and yellow-floral chord of ylang-ylang, jasmine and narcissus, shadowed by orris (iris) and warmed by cinnamon. Reviewers describe the florals as “very creamy, well rounded and untamed,” with a “smooth vanilla type feel, super creamy. Aggregated critical framing captures it sharply: “spicy, grapey jasmine and ylang syrup poured over bitter, burning balsams and headshop amber cubes. An unapologetically literal sweep of all the big hairspray classics from Mother’s vanity (Poison, Coco), the only adjustment for modern tastes being a white musk element that dilutes the texture down to a socially acceptable level of loudness. The base is a Guerlain-adjacent amber-musk-vanilla with patchouli, oak, sandalwood and a boozy oakwood facet. The “opium”/cacao notes are largely conceptual rather than perceptible.
Performance
And list projection and longevity as above-average, consistent with the 25% parfum concentration. However, performance is a point of mild disappointment relative to expectations: one reviewer noted “it wasn’t the super strong and lasting scent I thought it would be from the opening. Performance is very good, just not atomic like some white/yellow florals of this calibre. The house’s “AdditiveFusion technology” is credited by one buyer with giving “the fragrance a very long longevity.
Wearing Context
A cool-weather, evening-leaning feminine floral, though fans wear it year-round; one long-time devotee notes it competes with vintage Poison as a signature. Dressy and romantic settings suit it - “a sensual, creamy floral. A gorgeous satin nightie with lace trim. It skews mature/classic and feminine; the powdery-amber drydown and Poison/Coco DNA read as opulent rather than casual.
Comparisons & DNA
The clearest DNA references, cited by critics and wearers alike, are Dior Poison and Chanel Coco - the big, spicy, fruity-floral powerhouses of the 1980s, which Euphoric updates with a modern musk. The standout value comparison comes from a critic who pits it against Richard James Savile Row: “The comparison with Richard James’ Savile Row is well-founded and valid throughout its life. Savile Row gives you 95% the experience of CCE [early on]. [but] CCE is something like 2000% the price of Savile Row. That same reviewer credits Euphoric with one thing Savile Row lacks - “a genuinely impressive transition” from florals through spices into “a Guerlain-style amber-musk-vanilla accord.
Reception
Polarized along a value axis. Devotees adore it - one calls it “heaven on my skin,” ranking it alongside vintage Poison as a signature, and others praise the craftsmanship and quality. The dominant criticism is price-to-performance: “Turned out to be quite average; something you can acquire for $150-250. ARE YOU KIDDING ME WITH THE EXCLUSIVE BS PRICE? This is no Roja or Serge’s gold collection!
Versions & Reformulation
Single composition; no known reformulation. Status: discontinued (“the production was apparently discontinued,” per ). The discontinuation is the key market fact - see Acquisition. Sold in parfum concentration; common sizes were 50ml and 75ml.
Acquisition Notes
Ultra-premium tier, now discontinued and commanding a markup. While in production it carried a steep Clive Christian price (wearers references to a $150-$250-“worth” scent that retailed far higher; aggregators show 75ml listings starting around $601 at the high end). Discontinuation means remaining stock and secondhand bottles drive pricing; decant sites and eBay are the realistic channels. Sizes encountered: 50ml and 75ml parfum.
Notable Facts & Lore
- The Addictive Arts collection (2017) is pitched as Clive Christian’s “most cutting-edge” and boundary-pushing line, “inspired by tales penned by Britain’s literary greats” exploring heightened, indulgent emotional states, using the bespoke “AddictiveFusion” headspace technology the house claims “cannot be copied or imitated.
- The “Chasing the Dragon” name overtly references narcotic intoxication, fitting the collection’s hedonism-and-addiction theme.
- Clive Christian the house traces to the Crown Perfumery Company: per the brand’s official heritage page, “In 1872 The Crown Perfumery was established in London and its most famous customer, Queen Victoria, granted the use of the image of her crown on the perfume bottles” (established as a subsidiary of Thomson, Langdon and Co.)
- The house’s reputation for extravagance is anchored by the Guinness World Records-recognized No.
- 1 Imperial Majesty, created in November 2005 as a 10-bottle limited edition priced at £115,000 (then $205,000) per 500ml, presented in a Baccarat crystal flacon decorated with a five-carat white diamond and an 18-carat gold collar - with delivery in a Bentley included in the price.