Eclix is one of my all time favorite comfort scents. It was launched by the high-end lingerie design house La Perla in 2000, and the fragrance features notes of bergamot, blackcurrant leaves, osmanthus, waterlily, may rose, almond blossom, exotic woods, cocoa and white musk.
Eclix starts very fresh and citrusy with a hint of green; in addition to the bergamot, there is a something that smells very much like lemon or lime. The early dry down is creamy and lightly sweet, and reminiscent of key lime pie (or maybe lemon meringue pie) with a light dusting of cocoa powder. The floral notes are sheer and indistinct; the osmanthus weaves in and out but I can’t say that I notice any other flowers. As it continues to calm, there is the slightest tinge of almond, and a nice woody-musky base that tempers the sweetness.
I call Eclix a comfort scent, but it doesn’t fall neatly into any of the obvious comfort scent categories. Despite the gourmand ingredients, the overall effect isn’t really foody, nor is it very sweet. It is not likely to satisfy anyone looking for a high calorie, “feed me something rich” sort of fragrance. Nor is it an introspective, calming kind of scent: for that, I turn to Luctor et Emergo by The People of the Labyrinths. It is more of a “wrap me in a soft cloud of something delicious” sort of thing, perfect for someone like me that can’t take the heavy powder of the more obvious entrants in that category like Talco Delicato by i Profumi di Firenze.
I have always found the alien-eye bottle design vaguely disturbing. I am not sure if it bothers me because it is ugly, or only because it is so completely at odds with the personality of the fragrance itself. Ah well.
La Perla Eclix is an Eau de Parfum, and the lasting power is good. It is easily found at the online discounters for less than $35 for a 50 ml bottle, and is also available in body lotion, body cream, and shower gel.
Tomorrow: Serge Lutens Rahät Loukoum
Note: image via Images de Parfums.
24 Comments
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Thank you for a lovely review, R! I now know that I simply must try it, because it sounds wonderful. You mentioned osmanthus, which is enough to sway me!
The bottle is very kitsch, which is part of its charm, I suppose. Not my style, but I can appreciate it. I knew someone who collected these bottles.
Lovely review R, and the fragrance is lovely too, if a tad too lime-y for me. It will also come as no surprise to you that Eclix wasn't sweet enough to “comfort” me LOL…nor powdery enough.
Can't wait for tomorrow's review!!
V, this is yet another that I just can't picture you loving…perhaps you will surprise me!
Ah, its my EFT
Great review R! I like it too and have a massive decant somewhere – will now go look for it. I agree with V – the bottle is kitsch.
Hope you are well.
(((((R)))))
Thanks for a nice review, R! This is what I pull out when I'm in the mood for something sweet and refreshing in cool weather. I find it too sugary and powdery in the summer. I can't say I love this scent, but I'm glad it's in my collection.
I dislike the bottle intensely. The design looks like a reject from a bad sci-fi movie. The aluminum top looks and feels cheap. The spray is anemic. How can a high-end lingerie maker commission such an inelegant bottle design?
*embarassed* what is EFT?
R, what a coincidence: today I found my sample of Eclix – I didn´t know where I put it, silly me…When I received it, I wasn´t interested in it (as a “fragrance-snob” I thought “mainstream” & didn´t care for it…). But then I read some good reviews about it & remembered the sample. Well, today I found it, so I´ll test in the near future.
Do you think it´s a fragrance that one cant wear in autumn/winter? It sounds like it should be great for these seasons.
Oh Eclix sounds perfect for this cold and dreary day. I think I have a sample upstairs – I must retry this asap. Thank you for the inspiration to re-visit this one again. I must say the bottle design is somewhat disturbing and might be worth decanting into another bottle
It did remind me of B&BW Coconut Lime Verbena, only CLV goes all wonky and “perfumey” in the drydown, and Eclix stays nice. I didn't feel it was full-bottle worthy, but it was fun to use up my sample.
Even better: Eclix body cream.
:)
Hugs!
I, you are right, it is too much in hot weather. I hate the bottle so much that I've never bought it, just been scraping by on decants. Was meaning to cave on it eventually but now I may reconsider if the spray mechanism is bad too!
Evil fragrance twin!
N, kitsch is the perfect description. If they wanted kitsch, the least they could have done was found something in that vein that at least matched the feel of the fragrance. Hope you are well now too!
S, it is “mainstream”, but nice mainstream
To me it is a spring or fall scent. It isn't warm enough, perhaps, for deep winter, but it is also a bit too sweet for summer in my book, other than a cool evening.
F, a cold & dreary day is exactly when I tend to reach for it. I am redesigning the bottle in my mind, and basically came up with something very like the bottle for Agent Provocateur. I'll call La Perla tomorrow and give them my advice, LOL!
T, everyone says they are the same, but I see only a very vague relationship. I do like the BBW though!
R, really? Ok, I'll look for it. I usually prefer the fragrance though, at least partially because I can at least share it. What am I going to do with a whole jar of the body cream? Or do you layer it with anything else?
What does one do with a whole jar of body cream?
Why, my love, you smooth it all over and feel fragrant and luxurious all day long. Like POTL body cream, Eclix body cream easily substitutes for the fragrance and helps keep your skin smooth and subtle.
:)
Hugs!
Oooh this one sounds really lovely. Wish I'd had some of this today as it is ultra dark and gloomy fall weather right now. La Perla is pretty scarce where I live, but I did try La Perla Blue this summer and thought it was really nice.
I'm a citrus freak so Eclix sounds right up my alley. I have to agree with everyone else – I think the bottle is hideous. R, what kind of bottle would you design for this fragrance?
I know I must have tried this at some point but have no recollection of it. I'll have to try to find some to retry. Tania's assertion that it is a clone to the BBW Lime Verbena,Etc is a bit dampening, however ;D
R, I knew you'd have a good reason for me to buy it
I am not creative enough to think of something new, so I'd just give it something very like the Agent Provocateur bottle: opaque pink, or maybe white, in some classic shape. I do wish more bottles were opaque.
L, it is not a clone to me, but not so far off that you wouldn't recognize the similarity. Have a feeling this isn't one you would love.