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..

Gardenia is probably the "youngest" smelling member of les exclusifs, in terms of whats going in fragrances marketed to the under 30's. It is a sweet white floral with a definite fruity element, it is a wet/damp lush floral with no powder at all. This would probably be a starting point for anyone who is used to typical fruity florals and wants to explore Chanel scents. On my skin I get gardenia, soft gentle green notes, orange blossom, jasmine, tuberose and fruit, with a bit of vanilla, and tiny bit of coconut and sandalwood. I don't get any patchouli or vetiver at all. The sillage and lasting power of this fragrance is weak to say the least, i find I have to spray quite a bit on to get any effect, and 2-3 hours later its gone. Im hoping to get the parfum which I have heard is more tenacious, and maybe layer it with the eau du toilette to see if it makes a difference. I love gardenia sooo much just wish it would last longer!!

Oh my, well... This has to be my favorite perfume until now, and I've had quite a few. Yes, it is very expensive. Yes, it is soft. Yes, it is not long lasting. Yes, it is gorgeous. One cannot have everything, nothing is perfect. Chanel Gardènia is elegant, luxurious, yet soft and innocent. I smell gardenia all the way, until the base comes and the coconut gives it a creamier feeling to it. I love that tuberose has a support role in this one, because it normally is the leading role of its fragrances. In CG, tuberose just helps the gardenia to stand out and lead the way. In me it lasts a good 6 hours, with a moderate to soft sillage. It's feminine, elegant, classy, pretty, and very true to itself.

Last month, I tested Les Exclusifs de Chanel Beige, Gardenia, Jersey and No.22. I loved Gardenia so much that I bought the 15ml parfum immediately. Gardenia is not as Chanel-like as No.22. It is simple and noble. Chanel Gardenia reminds me of an elegant lady collecting her white bouquet from a local florist in a sunny spring morning. Chanel Gardenia is so modern and timeless that it is hard to believe that this fragrance was orginally created in 1925! If it has been reworked, it's a successful recomposition! A friendly reminder: the lasting power of the EDT is rather weak. The parfum is highly recommended.

This takes me back. The name speaks for itself. When you smell it, imagine your nose in a Gardenia flower. That's about it, and Chanel knows it. They rightfully named it as such, and are proud of it. My neighbor had a gardenia bush, and me and my mom would pick flowers off of it and bunch them up. This is that memory, that essence, in a fragrance. Can't help but love gardenia fragrances. Truly a shame that it's SO expensive, because this is something I'd LOVE to own. The sillage and longevity aren't the best of the best, but you really can't complain.

I've tested about 15 different gardenia perfumes and this is easily my favorite. It is a soft classy scent for when you're in the mood for a ladylike floral. The EDT has a sharper edge I don't care for. But the EDP is well-rounded and pleasing and one dab on my wrist lasts all day. It doesn't change or develop on me, but that's just fine because I love the scent. I'd highly recommend the EDP if you can afford it. I would not recommend the EDT, or at least buy a small sample first.

I live in Sydney, Australia. It can get awfully hot and humid in the summer and one of those days I love to wear Chanel Gardenia. It is somewhat overpowering, but that is what I love about it in the heat, which is rather odd because I also love light fragrances on a hot day like Ralph Lauren Blue. I have just the eau de toilette now but I really love the parfum, which I bought in a five-piece Christmas release set of miniatures. Pity it's so expensive in its full size!

As another reviewer said, I also do not smell anything remotely similar to Fracas. Fracas is thick and cloying, and heavy on the tuberose. This is a light, fresh gardenia - almost a soliflore. Sillage and longevity aren't great, but it's a wonderful perfume. It's the only Chanel I've ever liked. The price is outrageous though. Elizabeth Taylor's Gardenia is also a wonderful gardenia fume and can be found deeply discounted.

My Gran kept Chanel Gardenia for special evenings. Her most glamorous years would have been in the 1930s and 40s. I've sampled the edt and it is beautiful. I'm sure Gran said it would easily last all night. Today it hasn't even made an hour! I would pounce on a bottle if it really lasted. This is a very wearable soft gardenia along with its leaves and stems. Lovely for a bride.

It's what it says on the label: gardenia. A true, pure gardenia. I have mixed feelings about getting what smells like an essential oil from Chanel, but I guess they gave me exactly what they promised when so many who try to deliver this scent don't. It fades heavily in an hour and is gone in four. I tried it both as a dab and a spray and there was no meaningful difference.

I wish the pure parfum version of this masterpiece had an own page! I have just bought it at Harrods, and it is beyond beautiful. but this is such a delicate, honest, ethereal, exciting something, like an angel would wear! To me, it is pure light. Very feminine. The pure parfum version is VERY different from the EDT! It is much softer, rounder, creamier.

Ugh, I wish this lasted longer. I've been contemplating getting it for a while because I love the scent, but the longevity is awful. Basically gone within 75 minutes. It reminds me of a cleaner Amarige which, while it's beast mode, is at least longer lasting and fills the white floral spot in my collection. I will keep hunting for a nice gardenia scent.

This is so beautiful. This and 31 Rue Cambon are just gems of fragrances. Its the type of thing that seems deceptively simple until you realize the delicacy of the craftsmanship that went into it. Its like a simple white blouse that upon closer inspection has tiny, hand sewn stiches in intricate little designs on the fabric. Just perfect.

This is very elegant and nice -fits both for the office and leisure. Love it!! I tested it in Germany and regretted that i did not buy it at once- one year after the first try-my boyfriend bought it for my birthday in Denmark. He did not know that i wanted it --so the gift was 100 % up to my taste...

I have to agree with others that this fragrance’s flaw is that it does not last. But Chanel Gardenia just does something to you. It’s immediately calming to the body. I smell fresh bedsheets here, a just-deep-cleaned-home. I think the scent is very Natasha from SATC adjacent.

My favorite "women only" of Les Exclusifs. A beautiful, elegant and light flowery fragrance. Amazing! Bummer I can't wear this. Believe me I tried, but it just won't work. Women bless yourself with this fragrance. Any age, any season, anywhere! And be loved... 9/10