CLEAN fragrances are a lot like Jo Malone - the brand doesn't come with much fanfare and it's probably not something you'll read about often in a magazine. They are quietly popular, with a loyal fanbase that speak of it excitedly if the topic comes up. It's one of those things that people in the know just know about.

I first tried CLEAN a few years back and found myself liking the honest, soap-based smell of it. It is sincere. There is no pretension, no complex story. CLEAN is about smelling clean, and everything from the simple packaging down to the actual notes of the fragrance embodies that.

The brand released a couple of new scents recently called Skin and Rain. Rain is supposed to capture the essence of a rain shower, with notes of melon and dainty florals in the aqua fragrance. CLEAN Skin (P1,650 for 30ml), which I have here, sets out to express the smell of clean, warm skin. Is it successful?