House Guide
Clive Christian No 1: the perfume crowned "the world’s most expensive"
September 2026 · Join CT Journal
The story behind the crown-capped flacon, what No 1 Masculine and Feminine actually smell like, and how the Imperial editions differ.
A crown, literally
When Clive Christian relaunched the Crown Perfumery archive, he chose the Queen Victoria crown as his signature cap — and saved it for the line he called simply No 1. The name is not modesty; it is a claim of rank, and for two decades the flacon held the record for the world’s most expensive perfume.
No 1 Masculine
The masculine opens with cardamom, bergamot and nutmeg over a heart of jasmine and ylang, and lands on sandalwood, vetiver and a confident amber base. It is dense, formal and unmistakably evening wear — a scent for black tie rather than boardrooms.
No 1 Feminine
The feminine side is a ripe, glowing floral: peach and plum over jasmine, orris and sandalwood. Where the masculine is stern, No 1 Feminine is operatic — the same crown, a different aria.
The Imperial editions
Separately from the standard flacons, the Imperial Majesty editions pair the parfum with Baccarat crystal and solid gold caps in tiny numbered runs. These are collector pieces with their own market, and we present them through our Exceptional Creations concierge rather than ordinary checkout.
