# Clive Christian — Iconic Feminine > Iconic Feminine is Clive Christian's saffron-and-damask-rose amber-floral. It first appeared in 2019 as the limited "20 Iconic Feminine," marking the house's twentieth anniversary of reviving the Crow ## Essence Iconic Feminine is Clive Christian's saffron-and-damask-rose amber-floral. It first appeared in 2019 as the limited "20 Iconic Feminine," marking the house's twentieth anniversary of reviving the Crown Perfumery, and returned in 2025 as part of the permanent Iconic Collection. A parfum-strength, rose-centered composition framed by saffron warmth, honeyed plum, and a soft modern amber-cashmere base, it is polished and contemporary rather than vintage in spirit — and it arrives carrying one of the most-repeated talking points in recent fragrance discussion: that Louis Vuitton's Symphony is widely argued to be its clone. ## Scent Profile The opening is bright and sparkling, with an aldehydic lift that melts into a light, airy saffron. The 2025 version adds a citrus accent up top, giving the start a fresher, more luminous cast than the original 2019 release. At its heart sits the signature accord: a saffron-spiced damask rose, joined by a delicate violet and, in the relaunch, a transparent aquatic facet. The rose is clean and pristine rather than jammy, often described alongside a fresh, laundered musk that lends the whole a crisp, modern airiness. The drydown warms gently as honey coats the rose, adding volume and depth over a soft cashmere-wood and amber base. Some find the honey faintly plasticized, and a minority read the later stages as sharply ozonic or amber-oud. Overall the arc is moderately linear — a fresh-floral opening easing into a warm amber close rather than a dramatic transformation. ## Performance Performance is a relative strength. The fragrance is parfum-strength, stated at a 20% concentration, and most wearers report above-average longevity that comfortably lasts a full day, with moderate-to-strong sillage. Estimates of roughly eight to twelve hours of wear circulate for the line. The trail is elegant and moderate rather than aggressively projecting, so it announces itself at conversational range without overwhelming a room. ## Wearing Context This reads as a year-round scent that leans toward cooler weather, comfortable across daytime office wear and dressier evening occasions. Despite the "Feminine" in its name, it is frequently perceived as unisex or even masculine-leaning, and at least one critic classified it outright as unisex. It suits anyone who wants a refined rose without sugar-bomb sweetness, and it is equally wearable by men comfortable with a saffron-rose. ## Comparisons & DNA The dominant reference point is Louis Vuitton Symphony, which many wearers argue cloned this fragrance — though Symphony is generally cataloged as a brighter citrus-and-ginger scent, so the comparison rests more on the 2025 version's fresh opening than on a settled olfactory match. Within Clive Christian's own line it is positioned as a more interesting alternative to the house's Blonde Amber, and it shares territory with the brand's Town & Country. More broadly it lives in the modern saffron-rose-amber lane, adjacent in spirit to compositions like Maison Francis Kurkdjian Oud Satin Mood, while no exact, reliably documented dupe exists. ## Reception Reception is genuinely polarized. Admirers call it elegant, refined, and underrated, and the one located critic review described it as a pretty, nostalgic, effortless perfume with a soft, pastel character. Detractors are sharper, with some questioning whether it lives up to the house's reputation and citing a synthetic, musky-saffron-with-aquatic impression and a gap between the listed notes and what they actually smell. Three axes recur: gender perception (many find it masculine or unisex), value (broad agreement that it is expensive for what it delivers), and whether it reads luxurious or synthetic. The consistent advice is to sample before buying rather than commit at full price. ## Versions & Reformulation Two versions exist. The 2019 "20 Iconic Feminine" was a 50 ml limited edition built on the saffron, plum, violet, rose, amber, and honey pyramid. The 2025 "Iconic Feminine" relaunch is also 50 ml, stated at 20% concentration, with an expanded note list adding bergamot, heliotrope, calone, and cashmere wood. Whether the 2025 is a true reformulation or a re-presentation with a broader pyramid has not been explicitly confirmed, and reported ingredient counts vary across sources. A related limited "Baies Rose Iconic Elixir" oil and an Extrait de Parfum listing also accompany the line. ## Acquisition Notes This sits at top-tier luxury pricing. The original 2019 release retailed around $440 for 50 ml, and the 2025 relaunch is priced at $500 for 50 ml, having launched in October 2025 through the brand's own site and major department stores including Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. Those authorized channels are the safe places to buy, and decant houses offer samples for testing first. Given the price and polarization, sampling before committing is strongly advised, and unusually cheap full bottles should be treated with caution. ## Notable Facts & Lore - The "20" in the original name marked Clive Christian's twentieth anniversary of reviving the Crown Perfumery. - That heritage traces to an 1872 royal warrant to use Queen Victoria's crown, which still tops every bottle. - The fragrance was released as the feminine half of an anniversary pair, themed around the damask rose "at dusk." - The single most-repeated talking point about it is the claim that Louis Vuitton Symphony is its clone. - The 2025 relaunch moved it from a limited anniversary edition into the permanent Iconic Collection.