No. 1 Twist Chamomile Clive Christian 2016 unisex 1

The Verdict

No. 1 Twist Chamomile by Clive Christian represents the British luxury house's effort to reinterpret its legendary No. 1 fragrance through the lens of specific botanical ingredients. Released in 2016 alongside its sibling Twist Violet, this pure perfume was created by perfumer Mike Parrot and launched exclusively at Harrods. At 495 pounds for 50ml, it occupies the ultra-premium end of the fragrance market.

The concept is ambitious: taking English chamomile, a note more commonly associated with herbal teas and relaxation, and elevating it to the centerpiece of a luxury oriental floral composition. The result is a fragrance that feels genuinely different from typical luxury offerings, though the limited number of community reviews makes a fully rounded assessment challenging.

For those with the means and the interest, Twist Chamomile offers something distinctive in a market where many luxury fragrances blend into one another. Whether that distinction justifies the substantial investment is a deeply personal calculation.

What It Smells Like

The opening of Twist Chamomile presents the English chamomile accord alongside citrus-spicy notes of pimento, nutmeg, and lime. This creates an immediately warm, herbaceous impression that distinguishes itself from more conventional luxury openings. The chamomile here is not the sleepy, tisane-like character one might expect, but rather a refined, slightly honeyed botanical quality.

The heart develops a rich floral bouquet of ylang-ylang, rose, and jasmine that complements rather than overwhelms the chamomile thread. These florals provide body and depth while the spicy elements from the top continue to weave through the composition.

The base settles into creamy sandalwood, vanilla, and cedar, creating a smooth, warm foundation. The overall trajectory moves from herbal-spicy brightness to rich, creamy warmth, with the chamomile thread maintaining a gentle presence throughout the development.

When to Wear It

Twist Chamomile's pure perfume concentration and complex composition make it best suited for formal evening events, special celebrations, and intimate occasions. The warmth of the spices and the richness of the base notes suggest cooler weather as the ideal setting, with fall, winter, and spring all being appropriate.

This is a fragrance that demands appreciation rather than casual deployment. Its price and character suggest reserving it for moments when the wearer wants to feel distinctly luxurious.

Longevity & Projection

As a pure perfume concentration, Twist Chamomile should deliver above-average longevity, though specific community data on this point is limited due to the fragrance's rarity. The concentration suggests intimate projection that stays close to the wearer, creating a personal scent aura rather than a room-filling presence.

The premium materials and high concentration typically translate to long-lasting performance with elegant sillage, consistent with Clive Christian's reputation for quality.

The Community Says

Community feedback on Twist Chamomile is sparse, reflecting the fragrance's extremely limited distribution and high price point. The few reviews available on Fragrantica acknowledge the quality of the composition and the unusual choice of chamomile as a featured note. The Fragrantica editorial announcement praised the pairing of chamomile with the citrus-spicy accents and the complex floral heart.

The lack of extensive community discussion is itself informative: this is a fragrance that very few people have had the opportunity to try, let alone own. Those who have experienced it tend to appreciate the craftsmanship, but the small sample size makes broad generalizations difficult.

Who Should Buy This

Twist Chamomile is exclusively for ultra-luxury fragrance collectors who are drawn to unusual botanical concepts and can afford the premium price without hesitation. Fans of the original Clive Christian No. 1 who want to explore reinterpretations of that classic will find this relevant. Those who appreciate herbal-floral compositions with sophistication will also be well served.

The price eliminates casual interest by design. Budget-conscious buyers, even those with generous fragrance budgets, should carefully consider whether the limited community feedback and narrow distribution align with their purchasing philosophy.

The Bottom Line

Clive Christian's No. 1 Twist Chamomile is a beautifully conceived ultra-luxury oriental floral that elevates chamomile into an elegant centerpiece, though its extreme price, limited availability, and sparse community reviews make it a purchase for dedicated collectors rather than general fragrance enthusiasts.