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"  Photo: Courtesy of Clive Christian Luxury fragrance maestro Clive Christian (you may know him as the creator of the \u00FCber-expensive perfume, No. 1, which retails for $865) just released a brand-new collection, V, named after his eldest daughter, Victoria Christian. The V line includes two scents\u2014one for men and one for women\u2014and each will set you back $405 for a 50ml bottle. V is jam-packed with notes ranging from neroli and bergamot to honey and lavender. ELLE.com chatted with Victoria about how she became involved in the family business (she&amp;#039;s the only one of her siblings who works with her father) and just what is it about these bottles that make them so pricey. ELLE: You grew up in this fragrance business: how important are perfumes to you? Victoria Christian: When I was younger, my father traveled a lot, and when he returned, he always brought me back a souvenir perfume. So for years, I built a collection from all around the world. It was something that my father and I have always shared. Because of this, I developed a personal passion for the fragrance world. ELLE: How did you get involved with the business? VC: I actually studied ballet and performing arts in London and performed in musical theater productions at the West End for five years after finishing school. At that point, my father decided to take the reins of one of the oldest British perfume houses, which had been out of business for some time, and create a new level of luxury perfumes. Without a second thought, I ended my theater career to join the company to be close to the world of perfumes\u2014what I would call my first love. Actually, I was quite nervous because I had to interview all on my own. The job wasn&amp;#039;t just handed to me. But I guess I must have impressed them because here I am. ELLE: How did the decision to name the V collection after you come about? VC: Having V named after me is quite an honor, isn&amp;#039;t it? I can hardly believe it myself! V Perfumes are the second release from the Private Collection. The first release is named C after Clive. My father revealed to me at the beginning of this year that he would name these two new perfumes\u2014that we&amp;#039;ve been refining and smelling for many months\u2014V as a tribute to me. I think it&amp;#039;s because I am his eldest daughter and the only one who joined the company. I have always shared my father&amp;#039;s passion for perfume, and it is truly an honor and privilege to be a part of the brand&amp;#039;s legacy. ELLE: What makes V so special? VC: One of my favorite things about V for women is the scent of orange blossom, one of the fragrance&amp;#039;s heart notes. It&amp;#039;s a very clean, bright, determined, and distinct note. In the Victorian language of flowers, it was the symbol of first true love and indeed the flower that Albert gave to the young Victoria at the moment [they became engaged to be married]. It is so happy, so joyful\u2013I just love it. It&amp;#039;s a truly romantic fragrance. It&amp;#039;s something you want to be wearing the moment when you meet your soul mate\u2014and that could be any day couldn&amp;#039;t it?! I think that&amp;#039;s why I love it so much\u2013it&amp;#039;s enchanting, for the hopeless romantic I suppose. ELLE: So what makes a Clive Christian fragrance so expensive? VC: They are pure perfumes that are highly concentrated with a multitude of ingredients. Our now-devoted clientele took a while to &amp;quot;get to know&amp;quot; and understand how to use pure perfume, how to wear it, and how to appreciate it. You should not spray it into the air, but directly onto the skin so as not to waste any of the precious juice. Do not to rub it when it&amp;#039;s in place, just to patiently let the drop unravel and reveal itself on your individual canvas. That is why it is more costly than other fragrances. ELLE: What should we be paying attention to when selecting a fragrance? VC: The most vital thing to do when choosing any perfume or combining perfumes, especially a Clive Christian, is to try a drop on your skin and keep smelling. You&amp;#039;ll know at once whether you love it or not. This reaction is not in our control, it is a soul reaction. Then, wait to see if the longevity is there. ELLE: Finally, what is the most important quality of a perfume? VC: The concentration of fragrance is very important. A perfume is much higher in concentration versus an eau de toilette, and therefore it sits closer to the skin and unravels slower. My father always said that your perfume should simply be an extension of your handshake.  Photo: Courtesy of Clive Christian "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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