New Bond Street did what it does best on Wednesday night. The doors of Clive Christian opened to a candlelit crowd, Champagne already being poured, the scent of the house’s newest launch drifting through the wood panelled rooms. If perfume can announce one’s arrival before a word is spoken, this was an entrance.
Clive Christian is not simply fragrance. Its roots trace back to the Crown Perfumery Company of 1872, the heritage sealed with the now iconic crown that sits atop every bottle. It is maximalist in the most British way, aristocratic without apology and quietly theatrical. The new perfume, unveiled inside the newly opened boutique at 118 New Bond Street, felt entirely at home among the polished vitrines and curated archive upstairs, where rare artefacts and historic bottles reveal a house long favoured by royalty and society alike.
Guests arrived from 6pm, greeted with glasses of Louis Roederer Brut Vintage 2018, thoughtfully paired to echo the fragrance’s layered notes. There was a low hum as friends embraced, photographers captured arrivals and the ground floor filled quickly.
Our host for the evening, Sabrina Percy, held the room with ease. Drawing parallels between interiors and scent, she spoke of atmosphere, memory and the emotional architecture behind both. As she concluded, guests drifted between floors, some discovering the archive with the Clive Christian team, others slipping next door for photographs, flutes continually refreshed.
Production by Planned 2 Perfection ensured the lighting cast a warm glow against the boutique’s wooden panelling. Florals by Kuit Design were sculptural and tonal, with sprigs of mimosa dotted throughout – a nod to the flower as an emblem of International Woman’s Day – allowing the indigo bottles to remain centre stage.
Canapés from Caiger & Co, including crispy miso rice cakes and yuzu prawn toast, circulated elegantly while DJ Mercedes Benson provided a soundtrack that felt more private members club than retail launch. The evening was captured by James Mason, who documented the laughter, the toasts and the inevitable queue for the archive staircase.
Among the female founders in attendance were Eshita Kabra Davies of By Rotation, Aarti P of the South Asian Beauty Collective, Lauren Winslade of Aisle 8, Amelia Peckham of Cool Crutches, Rokeya Khanum-White of Khanum’s, Stephanie Windler of Marla Primrose, Amelia Shean of Shean Communications, sculptor Sadie Clayton and makeup artist Yasmin Salmon. Alongside, Fran Newman Young, Bianca Foley, Tabitha Willett, Onyi Moss, Sadie Clayton, Cherelle Mukoko, Saff Michaelis, Nawal Alkhalawi, Lauren Winslade, Isabella Foulger, Jade Vanriel, Chantal Piper, Arabella Golby, Alessandra Frame, Amber Le Bon, Sophie Stoneham, Lily Dazell, Alexandra Tilling, Bianca White, Leonora Smee, Antoinette Lettieri, Sarah Bedingfield Shutt and Sian Gabari, with The Wedding Edition’s Kendra Leaver Rylah and Georgie Elliott hosting.
By 8.30pm, guests spilled back onto Bond Street, new perfume in hand, Champagne finished and London’s latest olfactory obsession officially launched.
With special thanks to:
Hosts – @theweddingedition_
Partner – @clivechristianperfume
Speaker – @sabrinacpercy
Champagne – @louisroederer_
DJ – @mercedesfbenson
Production – @planned2perfection
Florist – @kuitdesign
Catering – @caigerandco
Stationery – @charlottewillmoredesign
Photographer – @jamesmasonphotography
Social – @fran_newmanyoung
READ NEXT: Inside: The Wedding Edition’s Little White Book Launch Party
