Shelley Kyle is one of those brands that I like for their over-the-top feminine florals. I mean, they even sell these frou-frou powder puffs and body powders that really invoke Old Hollywood glamour. Most of the Shelley Kyle fragrances lean traditionally feminine, except for this one. McClendon is a refreshing unisex citrus fragrance named after her son.
McClendon opens with a really sharp citrus. Really sharp citrus notes is that they remind me of dish washing detergent. I realize that this isn’t the case for everyone! And when I say “dish washing detergent”, I actually like this. It’s bubbly, effervescent and very, very bright. As it wears, it become an aromatic lime zest. In the background, there’s a fruity-ammonia black currant. The rest of McClendon is an aromatic citrus. It’s sharp citrus perfectly balanced by green herbaceous notes. The base smells like rubbing a fresh basil leaf between your fingers with a bit of “white moss”.
McClendon is one of those “boring” fragrances that I see myself wearing a lot in the summer. Being that I’m out in the summer, on mass transit and in general, assaulted by awful smells, I’m drawn to these aggressively clean and fresh scents for summer wear. It’s like a more aromatic version of Mugler Cologne and a more citrus version of Jean Naté.
Notes listed include grapefruit, bergamot, key lime, black currant, cut grass, mandarin leaf and fresh basil.
Give McClendon a try if you like sharp citrus fragrances. Or perfumes like Penhaligon’s Extract of Limes, Jo Malone London Lime Basil & Mandarin, Mugler Cologne, Annick Goutal Eau de Monsieur and/or Gandini 1896 Lime & Basil. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. This brand has an aesthetic along the lines of Jo Malone London and Annick Goutal, so if you like those, this a brand that should be on your radar. This fragrance in particular, is one to try if you like refreshing aromatic citrus perfumes or need a “safe” perfume for warmer weather.
Being a citrus fragrance, projection and longevity are below average. It wears more like an EDT. However, I’m surprised by how long that basil lingers around.
McClendon EDP comes in a few sizes with the 2 oz retailing for $72 at Shelley Kyle. And there are so many bath/body products in this scent too.
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – Sharp aromatic citrus. So many Perfume People dismiss these sort of fragrances, but as boring as it may sound, these are the sort of fragrances that I wear most of the year. You wait on a crowded 99° subway platform for a delayed train and tell me if you ever want to smell costus again…
This is another brand that I KNOW you’ve mentioned before and that I wanted to try but forgot about. I love how unabashedly glamorous and retro it is. Sometimes you want sleek, modern things and sometimes you want to feel like a silver screen goddess with a wonderful vanity.
Totally! I really love their frou-frou look. AND how they carry so many bath and body items that are so “old school”. They make me want to walk around in a silk dressing robe in the sort of boudoir that has a fluffy rug and mirrored furniture.