I love to try scents from luxurious houses, and among them, Clive Christian has always been my top priority.
However, when I tried the brand’s legendary cologne, Rock Rose, honestly, I was quite disappointed with its overall performance.
That’s why I wanted to try other colognes that smell as classy and refreshing as this highly expensive fragrance. Luckily, I found several affordable replacements for it, which I’ll be sharing below.
So, stay tuned if you wanna learn more about the dupes.
What Does Clive Christian Rock Rose Smell Like?
Rock Rose by Clive Christian smells energizing with the citrusy touch of bergamot and spicy black pepper in the opening. Soon, its soothing heart accords blend with amber and vetiver in the base, creating a whirl of refreshing and edgy masculinity.
In 2016, this luxurious cologne was released by the lorded house of Clive Christian. And just like other gorgeous scents from the house, this fragrance also created a hype that is still going on.
Now, let’s see the notes present here:
Top Notes: Bergamot, Neroli, and Black Pepper
Middle Notes: Clary Sage, Lavender, Violet, and Labdanum
Base Notes: Vetiver, Amber, Cacao and Patchouli
Rock Rose by Clive Christian has a unique yet crowd-pleasing composition. When I smelled this cologne for the first time, I could feel its warm, luxurious tone in the air.
After the initial spray, this cologne fills the air with a refreshing and exciting aroma of bergamot and neroli. The opening feels a bit edgy with black pepper.
I could definitely smell the powdery, airy lavender and violet in its heart. Sometimes, the core also reveals a creamy, warm, bubble-gummy tone, which I think comes from the labdanum.
The cologne gets its masculine and classy texture in the dry-down when the woody vetiver embraces the warmth of amber and patchouli.
It does have a mature, dark vibe towards the end. But I could still sense its airy freshness.
Simply put, Clive Christian’s Rock Rose is a refined, sexy, and masterclass composition, where all the accords are present in their right amount. It can be your signature scent year-round.
Its sillage is quite strong. But with the 8 to 10 hours of longevity and moderate projection, it can’t even beat the performance offered by some designer colognes.
So, I would say this fragrance offers much less value for its unimaginably high price.
What Colognes Smell Similar To Clive Christian Rock Rose?
As I’ve said, Rock Rose by Clive Christian doesn’t offer a satisfactory performance. And many couldn’t have the luxury to use such an expensive scent for daily use.
Hence, I’ll now give you some alternative options that smell quite similar to Rock Rose but offer a lot more value for money.
Here’s the list of substitutes for Clive Christian Rock Rose that I think are more worthy:
1. Heirloom By Genre Parfums
Top Notes: Bergamot, Black Pepper, and Neroli
Middle Notes: Lavender, Violet, Rock Rose, and Clary Sage
Base Notes: Cocoa, Patchouli, Amber, and Vetiver
Heirloom By Genre Parfums is the closest clone that I came across while looking for CC Rock Rose alternatives. You can get a whiff of how similarly they are made by just looking at its notes profile.
Well, the notes are exactly similar, but it felt like a lighter and watery version of Rock Rose to me. It mainly misses the quality and richness of the OG, even though the smell is quite similar.
This fragrance also smells refreshing and intriguing with the opening combo of citruses and spices.
Its core is similarly soothing, comforting, and powdery with the herbaceous hint of sage and lavender. I could also smell a bit of pure rock rose here, which was a great experience overall.
Dry-down of this cologne elicits a woody, dark nature with a vetiver and cocoa mix.
However, the warm, woody tone is not as well-defined as what you get from the original, but the resemblance is definitely there.
Overall, Heirloom smells gorgeous, inoffensive, and refreshing throughout its life. And it offers 4-6 hours of longevity with decent projection.
So, I would say at a ten times lower price range, this is a good alternative.
When To Wear
This cologne can be your everyday scent for the whole year. However, I see it as a casual or go-to gym cologne for the summer or spring days.
Why Should You Buy
- 70% similarity to CC Rock Rose.
- Refreshing and linear scent.
- Suitable for daily use.
- Unbelievably lower price.
- Warm and mature dry-down.
2. Bad Boy Carolina Herrera
Top Notes: White Pepper, Bergamot, and Pink Pepper
Middle Notes: Sage and Cedarwood
Base Notes: Tonka Bean and Cacao
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option that retains the elegant feel of CC Rock Rose, go for Bad Boy by Carolina Herrera.
This cologne was designed combinedly by Quentin Bisch and Louise Turner. Its composition is quite unique, but I definitely get the OG vibe in Bad Boy.
The opening aroma is quite similar and extremely refreshing from citrusy bergamot and white pepper. Gradually, the scent develops into a green, powdery core with the rich, seductive essence of sage and cedar.
Finally, the spicy tonka and cacao indulge a warm, smoky aura in the base. I find its dry-down a bit darker and more appealing than CC Rock Rose.
And you’ll feel this soothing, masculine aroma hovering around you for a long time. The sillage and projection of this cologne are also incredible, considering the bucks you need to spend for this.
Furthermore, if you find the Bad Boy lineup interesting, you can also try Bad Boy Extreme and more colognes similar to it.
When To Wear
The gourmand tone of Bad Boy by Carolina Herrera is perfect for warming you up during any nighttime event in fall or winter.
Why Should You Buy
- Affordable alternative to Rock Rose.
- Spicy, chocolatey aroma.
- Seductive and luxurious.
- Great performance.
- Versatile and mass-appealing.
3. Legend Spirit Montblanc
Top Notes: Grapefruit, Bergamot, and Pink Pepper
Middle Notes: Water Notes, Lavender, and Cardamom
Base Notes: White Musk, White Woods, Cashmere Wood, and Oakmoss
Legend Spirit by Montblanc is my next recommendation when it comes to affordable dupes. In 2016, Montblanc launched this cologne with the gorgeous artwork of Olivier Cresp.
Its top mainly reminds me of CC Rock Rose, which feels refreshing and dewy with a harmonious fusion of bergamot with some spices.
However, I find this replica more watery and upbeat than the original.
In the middle, I get a subtle creamy, bubble-gummy nuance, but it is much lighter and aquatic.
Ultimately, the base reveals an earthy, musky aroma with lots of woodsy accords that will enchant you for around 7 hours.
In a nutshell, this best smelling Montblanc cologne is super refreshing and definitely a budget-friendly substitute for Rock Rose. Even though its performance is not that great, my husband loves to wear this scent on his gym days.
When To Wear
Legend Spirit is the perfect choice for casual to daily wear in summer or spring.
Why Should You Buy
- Decent and crowd-pleasing.
- Masculine base.
- Clean and light summer scent.
- Affordable.
- Gets compliments.
4. Boy Eau de Parfum Chanel
Top Notes: Lavender, Grapefruit, and Lemon
Middle Notes: Geranium, Orange Blossom, and Rose
Base Notes: White Musk, Heliotrope, Sandalwood, Vanilla, Moss, and Coumarin
At a much more reasonable price, I think Boy Eau de Parfum will be the perfect pick if you wanna experience sophistication and quality in your daily scent.
This masterpiece by Chanel was composed by Olivier Polge. And he knows how to please the crowd while maintaining a posh, elegant tone throughout the formulation.
Its opening smells extravagant, with an amazing bonding of powdery lavender and juicy citruses. I felt a smooth toe at the top, which gets enhanced with some florals in the middle.
The settling aroma of Boy Eau de Parfum has all the things to get obsessed with. It is rich, creamy, masculine, and extremely alluring with the smoky touch of coumarin.
Additionally, the fragrance is incredibly long-lasting. My husband got around 10-12 hours of longevity from this cologne.
When To Wear
To leave everyone stunned with your luxurious aura, wear Boy Eau de Parfum on any daytime outings throughout the year.
Why Should You Buy
- Adaptable aroma.
- Niche-quality.
- Enormous projection.
- Ladies love it.
- Attractive and classy scent.
5. Luna Rossa Ocean Prada
Top Notes: Bergamot, Pink Pepper, and Artemisia
Middle Notes: Lavender, Iris, Sage, Suede, and Saffron
Base Notes: Musk, Haitian Vetiver, Patchouli and Caramel
Luna Rossa Ocean EDT by Prada is another designer cologne that I think smells very close to CC Rock Rose. This formulation by Anne Flipo and Carlos Benaim has a powdery, aromatic tone throughout its life.
When you first spray it, you’ll feel the zesty bergamot with a hint of spicy greenness.
Slowly, the comforting, powdery lavender and iris merge with the soft, hazy smell of sage. Meanwhile, saffron and suede add a fuzzy edge to the core.
After a few hours, the aroma smells gourmand and somewhat bubble-gummy. One thing that makes this fragrance stand out is its musky, woody dry-down.
Trust me, it smells so addictive and soothing that you won’t be able to think of anything else while sniffing it.
Furthermore, a lot of dupes of this cologne are readily available in the market. So, to save some money, you can surely try other colognes similar to Luna Rossa Ocean.
When To Wear
Except for harsh winter days, you can wear Luna Rossa Ocean in all weather and occasion settings.
Why Should You Buy
- Cheaper than CC Rock Rose.
- Lasts around 6 hours.
- Good sillage.
- Versatile scent.
- Rich and masculine base.
6. Golden Green Xerjoff
Top Notes: Cardamom, Juniper Berries, Pink Pepper, and Nutmeg
Middle Notes: Vetiver, Cedar, Leather, Labdanum, and Incense
Base Notes: Coffee, Cypriol Oil or Nagarmotha, Ambergris, and Musk
Golden Green by Xerjoff will be my best suggestion as a luxurious and premium CC Rock Rose alternative for the whole year.
This may not be the ultimate dupe, but this is the only one in this list that can match up to the quality and craftsmanship of Clive Christian. Plus, it is sexier and warmer than the OG.
The sensual cologne reveals its addictive nature right from the start, which is filled with spicy and invigorating accords. Among them, I could notice cardamom and juniper berries the most.
Moments after, the fresh, woody smell of vetiver and cedar merges with some leathery notes. With time, it will become more addictive to your skin.
Finally, the fragrance settles, leaving behind a dark, musky scent trail. This cologne is so intense and long-lasting that I could sniff its rich aroma on my husband’s clothes even after days of applying.
When To Wear
You should wear a rich aroma like Golden Green only on special nighttime events.
Why Should You Buy
- Refined and classy scent.
- Gives off a regal vibe.
- Irresistible.
- Natural coffee and cardamom notes.
- Unbeatable performance.
7. Contemporary Clive Christian
Top Notes: Blackberry, Violet, Geranium, and Black Pepper
Middle Notes: Nutmeg and Cedar
Base Notes: Moss and Malt
If you’re not a fan of Rock Rose but love to collect Clive Christian fragrances, try Contemporary. At a similar price range, this royal scent is fresher and fruitier than the original.
The cologne starts brightly with a heavy dose of juicy, tangy blackberry. The subtle tone of spicy pepper gives an edgy touch to the powdery violet.
Nutmeg and cedar in the core create a woody, spicy aura, and I think it is the most addictive part of this scent.
Towards the dry-down, the fragrance attains a warm, boozy character from oak moss and malt. However, I could still sense a fresh, airy aroma in the background.
Overall, I think Contemporary is a classy, powdery cologne that smells refreshing all the way through. And it offers better performance than Rock Rose.
But I don’t think it is worthy enough. So, buy this replica only if you don’t have a limited budget.
When To Wear
Contemporary has an adaptable aroma that you can wear at any event throughout the year.
Why Should You Buy
- More pleasing and refreshing.
- Unisex.
- Better longevity.
- Luxurious bottle design.
- High-quality and well-crafted scent.
Wrap Up
People wear Clive Christian’s Rock Rose as an expression of nobility and poshness.
But don’t be upset if you can’t afford this luxurious cologne. Because the fragrances that I’ve listed above will give you a similar aura at a 5 to ten times lower price.
So, check them out, and I’m sure you’ll get the one you’re looking for.
And if you have more queries, write them in the comment section.