Gardénia

I was quite anti-white-flowers... until I met this one. We had gardenia bushes in the garden, which would smell strongly every time it rained, and I used to HATE it. like really really, shut-the-windows HATE it because it was just so heavy. I felt like somebody had chained weights on my heart every time I smelled it. So obviously when I first saw the name I went "NOPE!". Until one day my friend who I see about once a year smelled AMAZING. Like, I can't even talk to you properly until I know what you're wearing-AMAZING. and hey, I know my perfumes. I don't frequently come across ones that I don't know, but I didn't recognize this one, and when I asked, I was STUNNED that it was "Gardenia". I was in such disbelief I remember trailing off mid-conversation. So off to the chanel boutique I went. trot trot trot.. and I picked it up, (still in disbelief!) smelled it... and I have never taken out my credit card faster. I still don't understand why I love it so much. Jasmine, ylang ylang, gardenia, any of your usual "white flowers".. they really shouldn't interest me, but this one finds the loopholes in my rock-hard-brain and demands my love. It just smells so CLEAN, ELEGANT, and EXPENSIVE. like a pristine, fully-tailored-just-to-suit-you, pure white shirt of the most luxurious cotton. The kind that everyone wants in their wardrobe but never actually manages to find... luxurious and classy. who wouldn't want to smell like that?! I'm actually quite annoyed about this "find", because now I have to go smell everything I "thought" I didn't like, just in case I do!!! definitely worth a sniff (and a purchase)!

Strawberries and cream! This is surprisingly gourmand on my skin, soft and ethereal, sweet. On me the fruit note is strawberry and the coconut combines with the vanilla to create a creamy chocolate note. Evokes strawberries dipped in white chocolate, served with a glass of Brut Rosé champagne. The gardenia does indeed remind me of Tuvache Jungle Gardenia in tone, but not at all in projection. Jungle Gardenia can be smelled from a satellite orbiting the earth. Chanel Gardenia EDT lasts about three hours on my skin, and then becomes an elusive skin scent. But lovely, so lovely. A bright white light, quickly becoming faint; never sharp, nor screechy, and not predominately a white floral on me. Although the florals are very much present, and very much white, the vanilla and coconut give the gardenia a creamy gourmand feel, while the orange blossom and jasmine are sweet and feminine, not animalic; clean but not soapy. If you are going to get this, you might as well go for the 200 ml bottle, since you may need to reapply. I find that I need four sprays applied every four hours if I want others to enjoy this as much as I. I get little to no musk, just a little soft creamy sandalwood and a mere hint of patchouli. Not woody or spicy at all, very pure and crystalline on drydown, all vanilla and coconut. And no aldehydes! Kind of young and innocent, not at all Rubenesque or earthy, but with a definite sparkle. I honestly wish I didn't love it so much. Now I will be on another quest, this time for the parfum, and of course the vintage. I hear there was EDP once long ago, and what can I say? I must try it.

*** gentle note *** I know Chanel fragrance might be the messiest place to put your entry but this page, i believe is for original Gardenia until late Gardenia EDT in 2016, after 2016 Fragantica open another page for Gardenia 2016 for Gardenia EDP You may relocate your review there so you can track more easy For formulation of each version of EDT, only gods may know God bless, *********************** Gardenia EDT (35 ml. Limited Edition, 90’s, usd 65) Friend of mine are kind to share late edp rendition for me (les exclusif) I got this as I haven’t had this in my collection. I think I found my little treasure here. The EDP, smell very flat. It is still beautiful but it more jasmine to my nose. The whole rendition burry heavily under Vanilla, it is smoother but.. it lacks.. lacks something, animalic / indolic I am not sure. It is non descriptive flower to my nose, cleans and soapy. The EDT, other hands smell difference, I notice the almost sweet pollen like tone, Osmanthus(?) / Angelica(?). What actually it. Is very clean, off white. It’s not indolic to my nose but it smell like real flower to me. Really don’t wanna say this. But Gardenia (edp) means nothing compare to old edt rendition. Only spring, only spring day time. ************** Update 1 on March 1st, 2024 Sorry blasting Gardenia but I think I kinda know now what is “Gardenia” interpretation in parfum. It is creamy white floral feel. Yeah, that’s all.

I tried this in the EDT and fell in love--it was a creamy, green white floral that smelled luminous, feminine, and modern without being sharp. Unfortunately the EDT only lasted on my skin for about an hour, so I bought the parfum concentration on ebay. The parfum is some seriously precious, expensive stuff. I felt like I was opening a box full of liquid gold. I put it on, and it was like gardenias glowing on the surface of my skin. (It's probably one of the only white florals I can wear--most of them get too indolic or smell like buttered popcorn with my skin chemistry, but Chanel Gardenia works very well). When I smelled the parfum concentration, I imagined soft white flowers floating on the surface of a green lake. It reminds me of Chanel Cristalle eau Verte, only all voluptuous and past puberty. It lasts a lot longer than the Gardenia EDT, although projection is close to the body. That's okay it doesn't fill the room though-- it's like Chanel Gardenia is just sitting on my skin whispering me secrets like a funny gal pal. EDIT: I tried it on again today, and I'm going to have to sell this one. It faded off and was completely gone within two hours, which doesn't justify the price tag. Don't know why it lasted on my skin one day and disappeared the next. Skin moisture maybe?

This is absolutely beautiful. I have 35ml edt (flat bottle with white cap). Don't know it's age but it's very strong and lasts long. It was used when I bought it, nearly full. I have never smelled edp. I don't think Fracas smells similar. They are totally different. Madonna's Truth or Dare smells similar than Fracas. Though I didn't like ToD and gave it away. It was so strong and nauseating like bubblegum or something. Anyway, who does not like this? It's fresh, not too much vanilla, like many Chanel does. I don't think it annoys many people. It has only little dislikes, and rating is high: 4.08. Edit: I noticed that those who like edt Gardenia, like many other same fragrances than I do (for example Diorissimo, La Chasse aux Papillons and L'Heure Bleue). Those who like edp, like different fragrances. That makes me think, would I even love edp as much as I love this. Edp doesn't have so many notes; it lacks tuberose, jasmine, vetiver, sandalwood.. all notes that I love. Maybe it smells more vanilla, I don't know..