Despite the typical congestion along the Lekki/Victoria Island route, Nigeria’s luxury clientele successfully navigated their way to Ikoyi for the launch of Clive Christian's Absolute Collection, recognized as the zenith of the brand's offerings.
Upon arrival, guests were welcomed with soothing music, signature cocktails, and thoughtfully curated finger foods, all embodying the brand's premium essence. The event, hosted at the Centre Point Luxury Workspace, prominently featured a bottle of Absolute perfume, elegantly showcased on a table, surrounded by other iconic collections such as the Anniversary, Noble, Original, and Crown series.
Founded as Crown Perfumery in 1872, Clive Christian has earned acclaim for crafting some of the world's most opulent and costly fragrances, including bespoke creations for the British Royal Family. It is the sole perfume brand permitted to incorporate the Royal Crown in its branding.
This occasion marked the second partnership between Clive Christian and Seinde Signature, a prominent player in Nigeria’s niche perfume market. During this collaboration, Clive Christian’s Director for Europe and Africa, Tate Torongo, and his team dedicated a week in Nigeria to take bespoke orders.
“The Absolute collection is very rare,” explained Torongo. “It’s actually not available all of the time. You can only buy it in very few places, not more than 10 places in the world. The idea behind it is that it’s not the kind of perfume that you can walk into a store and leave with.”
The collection offers consumers the unique opportunity to tailor their orders to their individual preferences.
“You have the opportunity to make some bespoke choices to create a perfume that is just right for you. And then after you’ve made your choices, it takes our craftsmen about four months to make the product. So you make your choices today, and in four months, you get your perfume because this perfume is not currently sitting in a warehouse somewhere.”
Olaseinde Olusola, the founder of Seinde Signature, noted the exclusivity of the Absolute collection. “The collection caters to individuals. You can choose to personalize the bottle with your name, or even add diamonds, gold, or emeralds. It’s truly unique to you.”
The Absolute Collection lives up to its name by providing a uniquely tailored fragrance experience for each individual. The packaging is a work of art that would be highly sought after by perfume enthusiasts. Designed by Clive Christian in 1999, the bottle features a crystal stopper inspired by the British Imperial State Crown, while the clear crystal container showcases the entirety of the 100% perfume oil within.
According to Torongo, Nigerians rank as the second-largest consumers of the Clive Christian brand in the U.S., U.K., and Dubai. This insight played a significant role in the decision to introduce the Absolute Collection.
“I see that the Nigerians really love what we do. They love our products and we love them. There’s a real good synergy between what we do and Nigerians who appreciate luxury and quality products.”
“I’m very confident that we have a consumer in Nigeria, because we’ve seen it, and we’ve seen how much they gravitate to our brand in other parts of the world and also here as well. I think that Nigerians are luxury consumers,” he added.
Torongo commended Seinde Signature for its efforts in elevating niche perfumes within Nigeria's luxury market.
For Olaseinde Olusola, this collaboration represents a significant achievement for the brand this year, further solidifying its standing in Nigeria's niche perfume sector. Among the distinguished attendees at the event were fashion designer Mai Atafo and banking expert Mary Akpobome.