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Browsing by tag: les exclusifs

Chanel 31 Rue Cambon, some final thoughts on the Les Exclusifs, and a little poll

Posted by Robin on 12 March 2007 77 Comments

Chanel 31 rue Cambon fragrance, Les ExclusifsCoco Chanel apartment at 31 Rue Cambon

Coco Chanel lived at the Ritz for most of her life, but she kept an apartment above her boutique at 31 Rue Cambon “as a place to house her own clothes and host dinner parties” (via travelandleisure):

The décor is ornate and baroque with the artefacts ranging from lacquered Coromandel screens with Chinese paintings to elaborate life size models of deer ranged in front of the fire place. The mirrors have elaborate oversize frames while the chandeliers replicate the double “C” symbol used as a brand logo in most products including bags and belts. Everything in the rooms reflects the concept of duality in her products with nearly each antique or display piece having a twin beside it. (via thehindu)

31 Rue Cambon, the apartment’s namesake fragrance from the recent Les Exclusifs collection, is likewise ornate…

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Les Exclusifs de Chanel: 28 La Pausa fragrance review

Posted by Robin on 20 February 2007 35 Comments

Chanel 28 La Pausa perfumeChanel 28 La Pausa perfumeChanel 28 La Pausa perfume

28 La Pausa, like yesterday’s subject, Bel Respiro, is one of the new niche fragrances from Chanel’s Les Exclusifs de Chanel. It was also named for one of Coco Chanel’s houses, in this case, an estate on the French Riviera outside Roquebrune Cap Martin:

Chanel spent her vacations at La Pausa, surrounded by friends including the Duke of Westminster, Salvador Dali and Jean Cocteau, in an atmosphere of happy relaxation and refinement. “Irises grew in the garden and the iris is also a very round, calm and soft fragrance,” [perfumer Christopher] Sheldrake says. (via theaustralian)

I have not seen a list of notes anywhere, but it doesn’t matter: 28 La Pausa is all about iris, and if you love iris as I do, it is a must-try…

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Les Exclusifs de Chanel: Bel Respiro fragrance review

Posted by Robin on 19 February 2007 51 Comments

Chanel Bel Respiro perfumeChanel Bel Respiro perfumeChanel Bel Respiro perfume

Bel Respiro is one of the 10 fragrances from Chanel’s recent entry into the niche perfumery market, the Les Exclusifs de Chanel collection. The name Bel Respiro, and the inspiration for the scent, comes from a country house outside Paris that Coco Chanel owned in the 1920s. Bel Respiro was created by Chanel’s in-house perfumer, Jacques Polge, and the notes are rumored to include crushed leaves, rosemary, thyme, rose, lilac, hyacinth, green tea, aromatic grasses, myrrh and leather.

The frenzy over the Les Exclusifs reached a fever pitch in the weeks before they launched — among perfumistas, anyway. I’m guessing the rest of the world is only just barely aware of their existence. At any rate, by the time my samples arrived, I was reluctant to try them at all. How could they possibly live up to the hype? When curiosity finally got the better of me, Bel Respiro was the first thing I reached for. A fragrance “intended to evoke stems, leaves and springtime” (Women’s Wear Daily, 12/22/06) seemed bound to please.

As it turns out, Bel Respiro was a good place to start…

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News flash: Luca Turin likes the new Chanels

Posted by Robin on 3 February 2007 4 Comments

Actually, it's already old news for anyone who reads the fragrance forums, but in case you missed it, Luca Turin's latest article in NZZ Folio basically says: save your pennies, you're going to need all six of the new Les Exclusifs de Chanel perfumes...

In my opinion, these six permanently change the landscape of perfumery by proving that there is, after all, a modern Grand Manner.

and if that isn't enough,

Every one of these is as good as it gets...

Thanks to Erin for the link!

Les Exclusifs de Chanel, The Thymes Azur, Azzaro Now ~ new fragrances

Posted by Robin on 22 December 2006 29 Comments

Coco Chanel

Chanel will follow Hermès (Hermessences) and Giorgio Armani (Armani Prive) into niche perfume territory next year with the introduction of Les Exclusifs de Chanel in February. The line will include ten fragrances, each in a 200 ml spray for $175. Four are from the existing range (Chanel no. 22, Bois des Iles, Gardenia and Cuir de Russie). The six new fragrances, all from Chanel house perfumer Jacques Polge, are:

Coromandel ~ “named for the Chinese lacquered screens Gabrielle Chanel collected, is a spirited oriental with amber and dry notes”…

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