Cristalle Eau de Parfum (2023)

Cristalle does the earthy, green, dewy gorgeousness of hyacinths perfectly. Perhaps it's because I'm now slightly jaded & nauseated by all the popular, cloyingly sweet gourmands, but I find the exuberant austerity exquisite. The rain is one of my favorite things in the world & there is a gorgeous, luminous & cooling dampness that I cannot get enough of in Cristalle. I am instantly transported to soggy, raw Washington State, visiting my sister by the ocean, when I wear this, or to cool, humid Florida during a downpour while on a winter trip to Epcot with my son. It doesn't surprise me that this was one of the last fragrances developed by Chanel, as it's the kind of fragrance one gravitates towards after trying (& becoming sickened by) everything else. Shimmering, complex, and sophisticated, it's aptly named & perfect for someone serious & completely uninterested in drama, games & frivolities. I adore the EDT & was afraid I'd be disappointed by the EDP after reading all the absurd reviews arguing that they bear little resemblance to one another. I'm so glad I did not listen, as the EDP is absolutely luscious. It is merely a richer version of the beautiful EDT, albeit admittedly (if not necessarily) missing a smidge of the luminously transparent citrus shimmer & sharper galbanum, yet more than making up for it with longevity. Layering the two is my idea of heaven. If I could only choose five fragrances for the rest of my life, this would absolutely be one of them. LOVE, LOVE. LOVE Cristalle to the moon & back.

I remember I did not like very much the EdT I smelled back in the 1990s, but I was just a teenager back then and I was more attracted by other kind of scents (although I also used to wear YSL Opium... not very teenager appropriate... lol...). This new EdP I really like it. I love the initial green blast and then, the fragrance gets softer, a bit sweeter, but green nonetheless. It smells really transparent and crystalline, fresh, but substantial, and so elegant and sophisticated. As many Chanel creations, it is a timeless fragrance, perfect anytime, anywhere, for anybody. It has indeed something similar to No. 19 (the greenness, the iris), but they are not the same fragrance. No. 19 is greener, dryer, in my opinion, more "professional", kind of cold and aloof, while Cristalle has a more approachable character (I love both, of course). I would really like to try also the Eau Vert version, because I love green, elegant fragrances.

I had never smelled the original Cristalle or eau vert: only the current EDTs. Melon is a no-go for me, and I’m not crazy about honeysuckle. So, of course, I blind bought this at a premium. I freakin’ love it! It’s not really chypre. It’s chypre-adjacent. It’s modern, not overly sweet, but not really dry either. It’s like a goldilocks for me. And not just another citrus freshy. There’s a super vague ashtray note (in a great way) in the base, but you wouldn’t detect it if you weren’t trying. Only you would notice it. This is one of my new favorite perfumes. Perfect for mild to hot weather, fresh but not a freshie. Complex but not esoteric. Performs well. Def an EDP and not EDT, so a little heavier. I love it. I don’t know why, but I would say this is a woman’s perfume. 35+ (or someone younger with a personality of a chypre.)

I had to purchase a bottle as I have been wearing Cristalle since 2001 and it is one of my favourite Chanel fragrances. The opening is more fresh and lighter than the original, I didn't get any oakmoss from the initial spray. Then when it settles on the skin after a few minutes - less than 5 mins, it smells like the original but a bit lighter. There is no oakmoss listed in the notes for the new version of the edp, however, I can smell it in the drydown and it seems to be more "modern" version of Cristalle. I am very happy to have the new version in this bottle in my collection. At least Cristalle has not disappeared all together, I am happy that I can still wear it even though it is a bit different from the original - I think this will be easier to wear in the Summer months, Overall, I still love Cristalle.

Pre 2023 EDP A sparkling long lasting, primarily, white floral. The opening, for me, is a bit strident so I spritz it on at least a half hour before going out. The dry down is a fresh, light but complex mix of floral notes that lasts for about eight hours. At the start of the dry down the projection is moderate and gradually diminishes to a close to the skin scent. On clothing it lasts much longer. This is a scent for when you want to feel luminous. It suggests a strong, sophisticated women who isn’t afraid to be beautifully feminine.