Inspired by Oscar Wilde and reinterpreted by Domingo Zapata, an Eau de Parfum from the Addictive Arts collection built on jasmine, gourmand notes and smoky accords
The literary inspiration behind Strange Heavens Out Of The Blue by Clive Christian: Oscar Wilde and duality in perfumery
With Strange Heavens Out Of The Blue, Clive Christian develops a fragrance structured around the idea of duality. The reference is Oscar Wilde and his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray.
The novel’s central conflict — aesthetic beauty versus moral corruption — becomes the conceptual base of the composition. The perfume translates this tension into olfactory contrast: sweetness set against smoke, florals balanced by roasted and bitter notes. The literary source provides the thematic direction, not a literal narrative.
Bottle design and artistic intervention by Domingo Zapata
The bottle is reinterpreted by Domingo Zapata, a Spanish-born artist known for a visual language that combines pop references and expressive gestures. Active between Europe and the United States, Zapata often employs recurring symbols, including the panda, which appears on this flacon.
The panda motif introduces a visual element associated with irony and contrast. Its presence offsets the darker literary framework of the fragrance. The collaboration positions the object at the intersection of niche perfumery and contemporary art.
Olfactory composition: coffee, jasmine, cocoa and smoke
The fragrance opens with coffee, star anise and pink pepper. Coffee provides depth and a roasted character. Star anise adds aromatic sharpness, while pink pepper contributes lift.
The heart features jasmine absolute and orange blossom structured around the proprietary Addictive Fusion accord. This phase introduces floral density and warmth without losing intensity.
The base combines cocoa absolute, vanilla and caramel with a smoky accord. The sweetness is controlled by dry, smoky facets that prevent excess. The composition remains balanced between gourmand warmth and darker undertones.
Clive Christian: Addictive Arts collection and positioning
Strange Heavens Out Of The Blue belongs to the Addictive Arts line, the most concept-oriented segment of the Clive Christian portfolio. The collection focuses on intense compositions inspired by literature and artistic explorations of desire and excess.
The fragrance is available as an Eau de Parfum, 50 ml, priced at €565. It is positioned within the high-end niche segment, consistent with the brand’s heritage, which traces back to the Crown Perfumery Company founded in 1872.
