Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Toilette

I am very late to the CM party. I most definitely have smelled this on many women, as signatures, mostly ranging in ages from 35ish to about 50ish but never ever knew what I was smelling. Though I always loved it when I smelled it. I never sampled CM because I thought I hated it, because I got it mixed up with Chanel Allure, a long ago purchase of mine which I forced myself to wear and really began to hate. Years passed and I sort of forgot about Allure. And when Coco Mademoiselle was mentioned I immediately conflated it with Allure and told myself “I know what it smells like and I hate it”. Well, finally in this last year I remembered what I actually had was Allure all those years ago (we are talking about 25 years ago), and sought to correct my stupidity and smell finally both Coco and Coco Mademoiselle. In both EDP and EDT formats, Well,I disliked Coco. But that’s a review for another time. But CM? Fell in love instantly! I felt sad though that I now wanted to own and wear this lovely creation when soooo many others were already walking around wearing it. No matter. I needed to have it. I really loved both the EDP and the EDT but ended up with just the EDT for now. As the weather is warming I found the EDT to wear better on my warm skin. It’s lighter and airier. That’s not to say it has no sillage or longevity, because it does for me. I leave a nice light trail, and I get 8-10 hours easily on my skin and multiple days on my clothing. I get strong grapefruit and rose on the opening and then mostly rose and patch throughout the dry down. Ending with a soft white musk. I can get some of the other notes coming in and out periodically, but sadly no vanilla. However it could be so well blended that I just can’t pick it out , because there is definitely a creaminess to this scent and it could be the vanilla. It is definitely not astringent as one would think with bergamot and grapefruit as the top notes. But it’s definitely got a freshness to it, just not a bite if it makes sense. I purchased the CM body lotion to layer with this as I couldn’t seem to find any of my skin creams that wouldn’t conflict. My go-to is always Nivea cream, it blends with everything so well usually but I couldn’t get it to work here. The body lotion is heavenly on its own though so it’s a win! I can’t make this my signature because it’s too many signatures of too many women, but in my head, it sorta is 😉

The EDP of this was my first perfume I bought for myself when I was able to overcome homelessness and got my first steady job. As I grew and became less femme leaning, I tired of the EDP (which is also incredibly powerful in sillage and projection) as I sometimes became sensitive to its strength and moved on. For a couple years I just wore Elizabeth Arden’s Green Tea and called it a day. Once bought a bottle of Bleu de Chanel EDT. Then a little over a year ago, I started becoming more interested in fragrances. Fast forward to now, I have a collection that amounts to over 50 bottles. A nice mix of gendered perfumes, with some vintage and newer releases. I turned my nose up to the idea of purchasing the EDP again (despite loving Chanel), as I thought it had become all too common and I remember it becoming overbearing to me. Well I couldn’t help my curiosity as I hadn’t smelled the EDT concentration. Bought a bottle of the 1.7 oz refillable spray in a white and gold accented container, and I don’t regret it! It starts off with that all that citrus, and as it dries down I get the florals and fruit. Once it gets past that, I get that identifiable Coco Mademoiselle scent. It, personally, smells like a nice blend of every note from all of the stages. Albeit it isn’t as intense as the EDP, this current formulation of the EDT is still quite strong! I prefer some other Chanel fragrances over this, which is probably because I was raised by strong women who wore no 5, no 19, Allure, and Cristalle. But I still love this. I have many memories tied to this. I’ve finally come to respect and appreciate a balance for both femininity and masculinity, and don’t fear rocking a “woman’s” scent now. I don’t have my sh!t together, but when I wear this I feel both beautiful and put together. So now that I’ve revisited this and made friends again, I think I’ll always have this around.

Chanel is always a safe and classy perfume option. Today I tried it and my nose thinks it's slightly similar to Miss Dior EDT 2013 edition, way more citrus with a 'harsh' orangie opening that lasts a lot and for sure something like more mature let's say. I am saying this not to compare it with patchouli perfumes or call it generic as I am a gourmandise perfume lover. It's bold, it has a strong character, you can easily recognize an orange sharpness, nicely blended floral notes with grapefruit, hidden rose and vetiver, then a lot of patchouli and finally a powdery/creamy base to hold on your skin. It ends up with this sweetness when Coco Mademoiselle EDP starts with this. I find CM EDT more mature as I said. It looks simplier and it supposed to be softer for an EDT but it's not. It looks also similar to Miss Dior Cherie 2011-discontinued due to it's notes, but no. Sharp citrus/a bit animalic/powdery. You know what? I like it but I am not dying for it. What is LOVE is the amount that only one spray of it covers and the color of the perfume should and it is 'spicy' pink! Excellent sillage and lasting power for an EDT but what makes me sad is that Chanel and Coco Mademoiselle line follows the trends and competes the trend of patchouli/rose 'classy' combination lovers, making it's perfumes crowd pleasers than statements.

I'll just write right off the bat that I agree with aforementioned statements this is a happy celebratory worthy perfume. Yes! I'd forgotten by slob that I have her in my collection stored away. I used to spray her, yes I'll use this pronounce for the coffee sipping morning glory time now that I found her, deliberately on to my neckline and dabbed off on cashmere scarfs and trenches that I wore without a worry in the world.. I was queen of paved city streets, autumn boots black as night and there's a crisp tone in her that suits colder weather. Crisp not in a green way, although it could be and remember this is written from memory purely but oh what a memory, crisp as in a theme that slices through the top notes all the way down to the very compelling comforting self-assured base. If any perfume wraps you in comfort, glory and adventurous mindset it's her, and I wouldn't hesitate to use for dating Mr Right. For a more cashual forgettable rendez-vous I'd steer away, as the musk is prominent enough to dabble a hole in your memory that does not sit well, if you know what I mean. Reserved for pleasurable, memorable moments only. Basta. Which could easily be your entire life, if you dared look back in competitious frenzy. I could write a book sized memoir based on the memories from wearing Coco Mademoiselle edt Chanel.

I completely adore this scent so much so it is my signature. Whenever I wear it, women in particular ask what I'm wearing and comment on how lovely it smells. Some of them are disappointed when I tell them it is Coco Mademoiselle as they say it does not smell as good on them as on me. I must confess I am not a big fan of the top notes. There is something in it initially that hits the wrong chord in my nose, something too musky and "poohy" smelling. I've noticed it in other perfumes and men's colognes and am yet to identify it. It's more than likely because I am menopausal and my sense of smell has changed/heightened. Still I'd be interested to know which particular scent it is - the hunt continues. That stage does not last long thank goodness, and the vanilla settles on my skin so warmly, all day. I'm still sniffing my wrists in the evening and just loving it. I've read quite a few reviews about how "common" this perfume is. I believe it is a stayer and will be around as a classic firm favourite for decades to come. Chanel Coco Mademoiselle, long may we enjoy her journey <3 EDIT: On reviewing, I suspect it is actually one of the middle notes I don't like, possibly Tahitian Vetiver? I'd be interested to know if others have experienced this too. So annoying because I usually love vetiver and other musky aromas.