Coco Eau de Parfum: Busy Bee Hell of a Fragrance

Coco Eau de Parfum by Chanel
Amber Spicy
Jacques Polge

We go back in time to 1984 in order to explore the beauty and class of Coco Eau de Parfum by Chanel. The nickname of Gabrielle Chanel Coco, meaning “darling”, goes back to her past when she was cabaret singing. This is where the daring and provocative side of Coco EDP comes to light. Coco is an elegant timeless classic, and it does go hand in hand with the Chanel philosophy but there is an oriental sensual twist to that.

Coco has the typical busy structure as many other perfumes born in the 80’s. Louds of loud flowers, we have rose, orange blossom, y-lang y-lang, jasmine and mimosa. Many amber female fragrances from that time also contained peach, Coco included. This its where the sweet creaminess comes from.

There are amber, sandalwood, tonka, vanilla and labdanum in the base. We cannot forget about civet which is the byproduct of anal glands of civet cats. The civet smell is an animalic, dirty ambery aroma which emphases and warms up the scent of flowers. Using civet is banned now for obvious ethical reasons and is produced in a lab.

To give you a better idea of how civet smells, would be trying Shalimar by Guerlain. Here the civet note comes off even more tenaciously. Coco has that musky dirtiness to an extend but that is largely beat by spices used in the concoction like coriander, cloves and opoponax. It is a busy bee hell of a fragrance but somehow it all works astonishingly well together.

The experience of wearing Coco is pretty amazing even in 2024. If you are a very modern light-hearted chick, I recommend at least getting a sample of Coco to make sure you are not missing out.

Chanel No 5 Eau Premiere (2015): Shiny and New

Chanel No 5 Eau Premiere (2015) by Chanel
Floral Aldehyde
Jacques Polge

Although Chanel No 5 is a classic, it has become unwearable and too vintage for many people these days. Chanel No 5 Eau Premiere is a successful contemporary version of the original.

It is still a beastly fragrance but the aldehydes and florals are significantly airier and happier. The scent is overall simplified. There are yellow florals and neroli added to the mixture which create a beautiful creamy sunny effect. And because it is a scent of today, there is a smooth vanilla and sandalwood in the dry-down, so typical for this era of fragrances.

The modern aldehydes are lovely, but it is the base that got me. You are left with a sweet, fluffy and cozy cloud that lasts eternally. It is a gorgeous feminine Chanel No 5 variation.

Perfume Empties in 2023: 28 bottles

I cannot believe I have used up 28 perfume bottles in 2023. Yay! Okay, okay, minis, travel sizes, but full sizes too. I have to show mostly summer feminine scents but some heavy stuff also. You can look forward to Vetiver D’Hiver by Armani Prive, Delina La Rosee by PDM, Figues & Agrumes by Maison Lancome and much more.

It is a great feeling to not only display the fragrances but actually use them and enjoy them. In other words, to spice up your daily routine with a bit of aroma. There is something magical about a fragrance … and to see me tenaciously going through them brings me joy. I created this video for you to enjoy as well.

Paris Riviera: An Instant Mood-Lifter, Chill, Good Vibes

Paris Riviera by Chanel
Floral Fruity
Olivier Polge

Citrus – floral – sandalwood. Paris Riviera is an office-friendly scent you can bath in. No matter how much you spray, you can still sit behind your desk in an open space and no one turns head. It would be hard to find somebody who dislikes it.

A grown-up sophisticated freshie for spring and summer. Unisex. It has a Mediterranean vacation touch but it is neither tropical nor too holidayish.

You come to the office, it is a beautiful day and you are wearing your light dress and sandals. Yes, you have to work again but somehow you feel positive and good in your skin. You are nice to your co-workers and they feel your optimism and energy. It is addictive. The office atmosphere lightens up. Suddenly everybody feels good in your presence. We all have to work but it doesn’t matter because life actually is beautiful. Courtesy of Paris Riviera.

Coromandel: A Whiff of Oriental Flavours

Coromandel Eau de Parfum by Chanel
Amber Woody
Jacques Polge

Amber – kitchen spices – sweet warmth. Not my style. The smell is much more bitter on the paper which I actually prefer. My skin eats bitter oranges and citruses, unfortunately. On paper, it stays ambery, punchy and strong.

It is an oriental woody scent for fall and winter, but don’t be scared of the word “oriental” in this case. It is still French perfumery hence it is European oriental rather than truly Middle-eastern. If you are into spicy warm amber, Coromandel is a nice quality blend which is going to take you through the day. Test it on your skin first to see how it performs, and whether the notes come through in the way and intensity you want them or not.

Personally, I would not wear Coromandel but I would not mind smelling it on my husband. With that being said, I would not mind, I would not be head over heels about it. That is that.

Gardénia: White Florals Narcotic Wedding

Gardénia by Chanel
Floral
Ernest Beaux

Tuberose and gardenia are challenging notes for me. In this Chanel fragrance, they are combined and create a perfume heart. Gardénia has a reputation for being a perfect wedding scent for young brides thus I was excited to put it on my skin and let it develop.

Also, I have recently been to the Bulgarian Black Sea coast where gardenia flowers were part of the tropical garden. Their scent was beautiful, floral and green, somewhat gentle and classy.

Let’s get to the actual perfume. I put Gardénia by Chanel on my skin and was attacked by the typical smell of creamy waxy white florals yet it manages to be a pure airy blend with no hard edges. Florence by Tocca is screechy in comparison to Chanel Gardénia. I also see the wedding association. A traditional English wedding in particular.

However, what stands out about this fragrance is its dreamy dry-down. Coconut – vanilla – musk – sandalwood – vetiver – patchouli. All my favourite notes – you cannot beat it.

All in all, if you like the scent of tuberose and gardenia, this composition is going to make you dance. It is gorgeous if you are into these extremely narcotic white florals.

Although it is a gardenia-centric fragrance I can tolerate and actually wear, it is not a profile I would be reaching for. It would sit safe and sound in my perfume cabinet not getting any love at all. What a waste.

Paris – Venise: Assertive Chance Eau Tendre

Paris – Venise by Chanel
Amber
Olivier Polge

Le Eaux De Chanel is a private line of the house of Chanel containing Eau de Toilettes inspired by Gabrielle Chanel’s frequent travels, including to a region in Normandy or South of France’s luxurious seaside. And this fragrance is inspired by nothing else but Venise, Italy.

Parise – Venise has the typical elegant expensive-smelling Chanel DNA, in other words, you can clearly say that it is a Chanel perfume. The opening is stunning, citrusy slightly spicy yet still gentle. Later on, iris and violet come into its element, hence the aroma becomes powdery and musky. You must love violet to like it. Then the fragrance is sweetened by vanilla, and warmth is added by tonka.

It is somewhat like Chance Eau Tendre with pants. There is more depth and drive to it though. It stays close to your skin and lasting power is okay. However, is it worth the price? In my opinion, no, it is not! You can find scents on the market that are more original and at a reasonable price.

N°19 Poudré: A Magical Classy Stunner

N°19 Poudré by Chanel
Floral Woody Musk
Jacques Polge

Chanel N°19 Poudré was launched in 2011 and I believe it is still relevant today.

One of my favourite fragrances for spring and summer is Infusion d’Iris by Prada and I am confident that N°19 Poudré is a more refined and feminine version of that. It has a citrusy top with galbanum and neroli. Galbanum is an intense bitter green perfume ingredient and works great in N°19 Poudré. Soft powdery iris quickly comes into play. The dry-down is set with vetiver and musk.

Jacques Polge somehow managed to accent femininity with a lot of masculine notes. It wears beautifully, refreshes and has a presence around you. The perfume is effortlessly elegant with unique charms.

Chance Eau Vive: Fruitier Merrier Chanel Chance

Chance Eau Vive by Chanel
Floral Woody Musk
Olivier Polge

The first reaction that I had when I put on Chanel Chance Eau Vive is a yummy refreshment. The fragrance feels like you washed your hair with a lush fruity shampoo and showered with a lush fruity shower gel.

It is summery and young yet has a presence and class. The blood orange splash in the opening is especially beautiful. When the scent settles, jasmine comes through and the perfume is somewhat soft and musky. It feels like soft just-washed skin. The base is grounded with some earthy notes, I get mainly vetiver.

Overall, it is a stunning sunshine combo, nicely blended, a solid frag. I find it more likeable and feminine than the original Chance; and personally, I prefer it because I think it is more wearable. However, is it something you desperately need to own? No, unfortunately, it lacks a character the original Chance brought to the table in 2005 but it is a great seller anyway.

N°5 L’Eau: Combines Tradition and Innovation

N°5 L’Eau by Chanel
Floral Aldehyde
Olivier Polge

N°5 L’Eau is a flanker of the iconic Chanel N°5 that Marylin Monroe wore to bed. L’Eau represents a way of bringing the original N°5 to a younger crowd.

There are still aldehydes but the scent is accompanied by a lot of citrus notes like lemon, neroli, mandarin orange, orange, bergamot and lime. One would expect a burst of citrus – sharp, fresh, in your face but it is not like that. It is a beautiful delicate craft combined with traditional florals like ylang-ylang, jasmine and rose. It is all balanced with white musk and orris root.

L’Eau is an elegance in a bottle yet young and carefree. Also, works great as a bedtime scent.