Ex Nihilo 2017 EDP

U ££££ Favourite

Citizen X

by Yann Vasnier

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Ex Nihilo Citizen X is an Eau de Parfum launched in 2017, created by Yann Vasnier. Citizen X opens with Mastic and Pepper, settles into a heart of Iris, and dries down to a base of Musk, Frankincense, and Amberwood. Ex Nihilo's Citizen X carries a Favourite verdict, a musk-led wear.

This one's a divisive affair. For some, it's modern luxury in a bottle - clean, sophisticated, and cool. For others, it's a generic, overpriced 'designer' wannabe, smelling like nothing more than cheap deodorant or dad cologne. Sample before you buy, as your mileage may vary wildly.
What our verdicts mean →
  • Clean
  • Modern
  • Sophisticated
  • Fresh
  • Masculine
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Citizen X Eau de Parfum bottle

Scent Profile

Composition

Timeline

Showing: Overall Blend
Topas listed
Mastic67%
Pepper33%
Heartas listed
Iris100%
Baseas listed
Musk38%
Frankincense32%
Amberwood30%

Top, heart and base are the brand's own listing, not a timing claim - the industry classifies a note by its character as much as by how fast it fades. Each curve here is modelled from that material's own volatility, so groups can overlap when a house lists long-lasting materials in its heart.

ScentArt

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Performance & Mood

Performance

Longevity
Moderate (4-6h)
Projection
Moderate
Intensity
Moderate

Mood

Mood Energising
Calming
Character Playful
Serious
Sentiment Uplifting
Brooding

When To Wear

Best Seasons

Best For:
Spring Summer Fall

Versatile across every season - no clear seasonal preference from wearers.

Best Occasions

Best For:
Office Casual Formal
Also Works:
Date

Its clean and subtle nature, combined with moderate sillage, makes it excellent for the office or casual wear. While elegant enough for formal settings, its freshness might not suit every date night, and it's too refined for vigorous sport.

Declarable allergens

We derive these from the materials behind this fragrance's notes, not from the bottle. Each one is likely, not confirmed. The list is partial - the box can name others.

Declarable under EU Annex III

  • Synthetic musk Hexamethylindanopyran from Musk

The large name is the everyday one. The small name is the INCI form on the box, so you can compare the two. Reactions differ between people. A patch-test panel is not a ranking of risk. How we derive this

About

Citizen X opens with a crisp, cool blast of white pepper and the unique, slightly balsamic mastic resin, quickly leading to a soft, clean iris heart. The drydown settles into a transparent, airy musk, subtly blended with serene frankincense and a whisper of modern amberwood, evoking a polished, fresh-out-of-the-shower elegance.

Similar

Compare & Pair

Layer

Wear two at once: the blends worth trying, how each one scores and where to spray See what layers well

Complement

Two people, two scents: what sits well beside it when you each wear your own See what pairs well

Where to buy

Prices for the United States ·

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Drawn from community reviews and editor-reviewed before publishing on . See our methodology and disclosure policy.