Last Updated on May 9, 2025 by Giorgia Guazzarotti

clinique aromatics elixir body smoother review

Do you love Clinique Aromatics Elixir so much you can’t get enough of it? Or, instead, you think the warm, floral chypre concoction is lovely but too strong for you? Either way, check out Clinique Aromatics Elixir Body Smoother. This lightweight body cream is infused with this classic scent – but it’s much easier to wear. But does it moisturise skin or should it get it only for the fragrance factor? Let’s find out:

Key Ingredients In Clinique Aromatics Elixir Body Smoother: What Makes It Work?

COCONUT OIL

Clinique Aromatics Elixir Body Smoother has a fairly basic formula: a high dollop of fragrance, a creamy coconut base, and your usual mix of thickeners, preservatives, & co. Coconut oil is what gives it its moisturising properties. This oil is high in saturated fats, like lauric, myristic and palmitic that give it its moisturising properties.

Studies show it’s as good as mineral oil (what dermatologists consider the gold standard) at moisturizing skin. Just a few drops leave even the driest of skin soft and smooth for hours. The catch? Coconut oil can be comedogenic. If you have acne-prone skin, don’t use it.

On this note, the cream also uses Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, a derivative of Coconut Oil. The difference? It gives you all its moisturising properties without any of the side effects.

Related: Can You Use Coconut Oil As Sunscreen?

The Rest Of The Formula & Ingredients

NOTE: The colours indicate the effectiveness of an ingredient. It is ILLEGAL to put toxic and harmful ingredients in skincare products.

  • Green: It’s effective, proven to work, and helps the product do the best possible job for your skin.
  • Yellow: There’s not much proof it works (at least, yet).
  • Red: What is this doing here?!
  • Water (Aqua Purificata) Purified: The metal ions in the water have removed so as not to spoil the formula. It’s also a solvent and a hydrator.
  • Tea-Stearate: An emulsifier that keeps the oily and watery parts of a formula from separating.
  • Aromatics Perfume (Parfum): It makes the cream smell amazing. Unfortunately, it can also irritate sensitive skin, especially at these high concentrations.
  • Cetyl Alcohol: A fatty alcohol that moisturises skin.
  • Tocopheryl Acetate: A form of Vitamin E, it has powerful antioxidant properties.
  • Ppg-26 Oleate: An emollient that makes your skin feel soft.
  • Peg-100 Stearate: Another emollient with emulsifying properties (it holds the texture together).
  • Sorbitan Stearate: It helps to thicken and stabilise formulas.
  • Glyceryl Stearate: Another emollient with emulsifying properties.
  • Cetyl Acetate: An emollient that makes skin softer and smoother.
  • Polysorbate 80: Another emulsifier that helps keep the formula intact.
  • Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol: An emollient that makes skin softer and smoother.
  • Dimethicone: A silicone that creates a protective barrier on the skin that keeps it moisturised for longer. It also smoothens out skin’s texture.
  • Stearic Acid: Another emollient that enhances both the textures of your skin and of the product.
  • Tea-Carbomer: It improves the texture and stability of a formula.
  • Trisodium Edta: It softens the water and prevents any impurities in it from spoiling the formula.
  • Phenoxyethanol: A non-irritating preservative that prevents bacteria contimanination.
  • Methylparaben: A preservative that prevents bacteria and fungi from growing into your lotion.
  • Ethylparaben: Another preservative that inhibits the growth of bacteria and fungi.
  • Propylparaben: You’ve probably guessed it by the name at this point, it’s another preservative.
  • Butylparaben: Yup, another paraben that prevents bacteria and fungi from growing in your products and giving you an infection.
  • Fd&C Yellow No. 5 (Ci 19140): A yellow dye that gives the product its colour.
  • D&C Yellow No. 10 (Ci 47005): Another yellow dye that helps give the product its colour.
  • Fd&C Red No. 4 (Ci 14700): Another red dye that affects the colour of the lotion.

Texture

Lightweight without being runny. It sinks into the skin immediately without leaving a greasy residue behind. Perfect for when you’re in a rush post-shower and don’t want to stand around flapping your arms like a bird waiting for your lotion to dry. It gives you just the right amount of hydration without that sticky film some body creams leave behind. You can get dressed right after applying – no fuss, no clingy fabrics sticking to your legs.

Fragrance

All the rich and earthy woody notes that make Aromatic Elixir so challenging to wear for many women are still there. Vetiver, patchouli, and oakmoss intertwine with rose and ylang ylang to create a sophisticated blend that envelops your skin for hours. But in the lotion, they are all tamed. The other difference? There is a touch of soapiness in it too. Not enough to scream old lady, but it may put some women off. P.S. Fragrance is very high on the ingredient list. If you have sensitive skin, don’t risk it.

How To Use It

Every morning, after you get out of the shower. While your skin’s still warm and a bit damp. Just slap it on and go. No waiting around, no faff. Pretty straightforward, right?

Packaging

Clinique Aromatics Elixir Body Smoother comes in a light yellow tube that’s both sleek and practical.
Nothing fancy, but it looks nice in the bathroom and does what it’s supposed to. Easy to throw in a bag, easy to use, and thankfully not one of those annoying caps that pops off if you breathe near it.


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Performance & Personal Opinion

Despite its coconut oil base, Clinique Aromatics Elixir Body Smoother has a lightweight texture that normal and oily skin will love. It glides smoothly on the skin, leaving it softer and suppler. How long does that last depends on your skin type. If your skin needs to replenish only the little bit of moisture it lost during showering, you’re in luck. Its moisturising effects will last you all day. Drier than the Sahara skin? That’s what I have and I have to reapply the cream after 5 hours or so. But hey, at least it keeps my skin smelling amazing.

clinique elixir body smoother

What I Like About Clinique Aromatics Elixir Body Smoother

  • Lightweight, fast-absorbing texture
  • Makes skin softer and smoother
  • Smells divine

What I Like About Clinique Aromatics Elixir Body Smoother

  • Not moisturising enough for most skin types
  • Fragrance can irritate sensitive skin

Who Should Use This?

This lotion is better for normal and oily skin type that only need an extra touch of hydration after a shower. Fans of Clinique Aromatics Fragrance will love it too. It compliments it really nicely.

Does Clinique Aromatics Elixir Body Smoother Live Up To Its Claims?

CLAIM TRUE?
Perfectly captures the Aromatics Elixir fragrance in a skin silkening lotion.  True.
Provides immediate hydration without leaving a greasy residue to moisturise and relieve dryness. Mostly true. But it’s NOT moisturising enough to relieve dryness.
Smoothes body skin. True, but any moisturiser can make skin smoother.

Price & Availability

$52 at Clinique, Nordstrom, and Ulta

Do You Need It?

Only if you want a matching body lotion for Clinique Aromatics Elixir and your skin isn’t sensitive. Otherwise, this lotion contains more fragrance than moisturising goodies – not a good combination for skin!

Ingredients

Water (Aqua Purificata) Purified, Tea-Stearate, Aromatics Perfume (Parfum), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Peg-4, Coconut (Cocos Nucifera) Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ppg-26 Oleate, Peg-100 Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Acetate, Polysorbate 80, Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol, Dimethicone, Stearic Acid, Tea-Carbomer, Trisodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Fd&C Yellow No. 5 (Ci 19140), D&C Yellow No. 10 (Ci 47005), Fd&C Red No. 4 (Ci 14700) <ILN10004>