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

I love the scent it is such a great spring/summer floral fragrance...but there is a draw back and maybe it's just me...but it lasts about an hour on me then I just barely get a wiff of it if I hold my wrist to my nose. I think I need EDP not EDT...but love it!!!

Absolutely beautiful, airy and feminine CREAMY gardenia fragrance with the hint of orange blossom and green notes - absolutely stunning!!! However, it lasted only about 1,5 hour. For the prices Chanel charges I would expect more lasting power.

Angelic, luxe, pure, bright, soft, uber-feminine. A beautiful burst of white floral & gardenia for Coco’s favourite camellias. Authentic gardenia scent but a bit light compared to others out there.

This smells heavenly. If I want to boost my confidence, I will wear this perfume with my blazer on and I feel empowered with this. My favorite fragrance and it hurt because it's so expensive.

This is the perfect summertime fragrance. I reach for Gardenia when I'm looking for a feminine, soft and understated fragrance. I love this perfume. Love at first whiff...

Dreamy, clean, childlike.. This is how I remember my beautiful scented erasers smelling like. The ones I could never bring myself to use in elementary school.

The1st chanel fragrance that doesn't makes me smell like an old lady...i really really love it..i have to buy it again even the price is so expensive

Oh god, this is the smell of wealthiness... sophistication, money, breed, elegance! Can't wait to put my hands on a decant !

My favourite from Chanel, this kind of smells like Ilio mixed with Do Son, powdery, floral and beautiful.

Simply divine. Unfortunately, no lasting power on my skin.

Gardenia by Beaux Ernest differs from the single gardenias of the Les Exclusifs collection and is an application of woody violets and aldehyde white flowers. N°5, N°22, I have captured some of Beaux Ernest's very personal matching habits from these two works. I don't know if he prefers this. Beaux Ernest will always show a kind of personal signature in the preparation of his perfume. For example, the use of ylang-ylang and jasmine. The 2000-year-old limited edition Gardenia is a 30ml rectangular bottle with flat white flowers and a formula similar to the Gardenia from Les Exclusifs, which is lackluster. The second time I smelled a bottle of Gardenia of unknown age, with the EDT label attached. My intuition is that it's a modified recipe from Jacques Polge. The first version of the old bottle, this Gardenia, was made around 1960 and no later than 1980, according to the seller's clues about the time of purchase. Gardenias cannot be extracted, and perfumers can use any technique to create the gardenia they imagine. This 60's (probably?) EDT is a creamy, creamy tuberose that is silky and ripe. Its structure is not so tight, and the creamy tuberose looks rich and elegant against the fresh and bright orange blossom, powdery ylang-ylang and jasmine aromas. EDT is light, flavorful vanilla and patchouli to pull back some weight and stabilize Gardenia. The other part, the involvement of synthetic raw materials... Beaux Ernest is a known pioneer in the use of synthetic raw materials, so I can be sure that Gardenia, if it is Beaux Ernest's version, with chemical aromas harmonizing nature, must be very good. The overall scent of Gardenia is linear, and the performance is not bad. I noticed a hint of green in the background. One blogger described it as "a string of bronzed pearls." So true! Compared to the original, Gardenia by Jacques Polge is a sweet and plump gardenia, gorgeous and dense. The traces of the 80s are clearly audible, and this is raucous Gardenia. I have tried three versions in total. The new formula may be reorganized with raw materials that have not yet been discovered in the Beaux Ernest era. It is completely different. The two versions of Les Exclusifs and Jacques Polge and Beaux Ernest are almost all different fragrances. Although Gardenia is not faithful to the original. I have heard that the Jacques Polge edition still bears a resemblance to Beaux Ernest's Gardenia.

Instead of the EDP from the Les Exclusifs line, my Gardénia miniature dates from the noughties. It is a refined white floral bouquet - smooth, creamy and powdery, with just the right amount of sweetness and a hint of greenery in the background. Initially created to represent the camellia - the odourless flower favoured by Coco Chanel and famously associated with the Chanel brand - gardenias were the closest substitute, despite it being impossible to extract oil directly from the flower itself. More tuberose than gardenia as a result, this is still a beautiful scent that delivers timeless elegance in typical Chanel fashion. The white floral accord that forms the crux of this scent develops from the initial spray. Clean jasmine and a hint of orange blossom are most evident at the early stages. Green notes add some dewy freshness, complementing the florals beautifully. I get a hint of violet in there too. Restrained tuberose joins the bouquet after a little while, adding a lush, powdery edge. I'm unsure if there is a gardenia note in here - it could simply be the combination of the other white floral notes rendering a gardenia-like effect. There are very few true gardenia scents that truly resemble the flower, and I am unsure if this one is aptly named. As it dries down, the white florals become increasingly powdery and a little soapy, with vanilla and coconut adding smooth creamy sweetness to the base, complementing the florals beautifully. It becomes woody and musky as it fades, drying down to become a softly sweet musky-floral skin scent. Sillage and longevity are moderate. A classic, deeply elegant feminine scent, this is easy to wear, suiting both occasions and everyday. A nice bridal choice for a spring/summer wedding. However, it is not a true "gardenia" scent, and possibly is not special enough to justify the price. Beautiful regardless. 3.5/5.

This fragrance is very pretty, but spray it on your skin and poof, it is gone! I remember that I used to love this fragrance, but a new bottle of this juice from Chanel that I have only had for 18 months is just not sticking to my skin like I remembered. It smells vaguely of musk, gardenia, coconut and tuberose, but I am getting the musk more than anything else and it just does not project on me at all. I literally have to bury my face and nostrils onto my wrists to even smell it and it only lasts about 90 minutes on my skin, it seems. I am now trying to use it up as a home scent, since it is pleasant smelling and I want to get rid of it quickly, to make room for something that actually projects and smells more like actual gardenias. This is just not it. Or maybe my nose has matured more and I have had much more exposure to different scents along the way? It is a very safe office scent and maybe even as a scent for someone working in a hospital, since you can barely smell it! Overall, a pleasant but lackluster 6.5/10 from me for Chanel's Gatdenia.

First impression: Extremely elegant fragrance. I mostly experience jasmine and Tuberose - not a true gardenia but the scent does conjure up the image of a white gardenia flower. Narcotic, milky, smooth. Just enough verdency to keep the opening lively. I have a older EdT, Flat rectangular Flacon with Beautiful gold and white color way. Batch code is ZD1- likely late 80’s/early 90’s. Bring to mind Amouage’s Portrayal woman and Honor. Honor is sweeter and much more rounded and even more creamy. The Jasmine in Portrayal Women is almost identical to the Jasmine in Gardenia. Floats off the skin but doesn’t suffocate. Can’t wait to spend more time with her. Of all the base notes Sandalwood is more present in the mids. What a gem. If you love white florals - get a bottle. I’m curious has the current EDP compares.

If you want to gift someone (possibly a lady) a perfume and want to make sure the recipient is unlikely to hate it, pick this one. It’s light, inoffensive, smells like flowers, and it is Chanel — what is not to like? In all seriousness, I bought a large bottle of this in an act of madness. It is good, but it is by no means outstanding. It feels like something Jo Malone could make for a lower price point. It’s just a fairytale version of gardenia. That’s it. Real gardenias have a much more complex scent that is often almost unpleasant; this gardenia takes the indolic notes out and leaves only the easy-on-the-nose bits. It also doesn’t on me last at all; I have been going through that large bottle rather quickly because I am always refreshing it. I will use it up, but will not repurchase.

it was a gift from a very dear friend... when i opened the gift box and saw chanel i felt so happy but when i smelled it i was shocked... I couldn't say anything to my friend coz i didn't want to disappoint her as i know that she spent time to chose me the best perfume... BUT in the beginning, you will actually find it too strong and overwhelming and even not bearable especially if you generally don't like floral & sweety perfume, BUT please, give it a little time to cool down and enjoy the watery green breeze after that comes out of it; it shortly turns to be animalic and earthy and quiet. i recommend it for spring & summer time and for those who like Gardenia or Casablanca flower or white flowers in general.. it is a genuine true scent of gardenia

Chanel's Les Exclusifs Gardenia opens with green notes, gardenia, tuberose, jasmine, coconut and a hint of orange blossom in the opening ten minutes. It has a soft, moderate sillage. It's feminine and is a white floral with a green touch. After four hours, Gardenia has developed a little bit and you have a white floral with coconut, musk, some vanilla and some patchouli/green. After five and a half hours it begins to fade a little but it's remarkably durable - it sticks to skin and lasts forever and a day. If you like a creamy, slightly green gardenia dominated white floral, this is perfect for you.

Floral, powdery, smooth....I'm testing this next to Beige and between the two, I prefer Beige, which seem lighter, more transparent, and more ethereal. Gardenia is less transparent, thicker, less ethereal, and less sparkly. Still a very high quality, smooth, natural, floral scent. A beautiful scent but just lacking that last bit of Chanel magic that Beige has. Both are too feminine for me, but glad to have them. Checking the nose, I see it's Ernest Beaux of No. 5 fame. I definitely notice some common themes in the background. Nice. Scent: 7 / Sillage: 7 / Longevity: 6

I had the pleasure of trying on this fragrance during its relaunch and even though it was a new formulation, it still held a classy and feminine tone as is a tradition in the House of Chanel. The staying power of this was superior than most modern fragrances. As the name implies, first and foremost you'd gather the scent of gardenia but then it begins to whisper a path to a secret garden as people get nearer. Overall, a lovely, non-cloying, timeless fragrance that makes a perfect gift that can be appreciated at any age.

A quick note on the lasting power - first time I tried it it probably lasted only one hour on my skin, so after seeing some reviews here confirming my suspicion I left the tester in the drawer. However, a year later I tried it again today. 12 hours later I can still smell it on my wrists.... After a year of crazy perfume buying and testing during quarantine I’ve also evolved to appreciate this scent so much better - it smells elegant and classy.

This is for the EDT: I will agree with others this feels like a scent where the perfumer tried to create the aroma of gardenia using other white florals (tuberose, jasmine) and other synthetic notes that resemble it. It feels quite musky and raw at the base. I remember the EDP smelling quite different, brighter, smoother, bubblier. I will try them again side by side and make a comparison. It feels very womanly and elegant, I quite enjoy it!

Chanel les exclusive Gardenia Classic green white floral ,it doesn't give love at first sniff, it doesn't mean it's not beautiful. I just smell its scent profiles many times before,carnal flower from fredericmalle and fuego lento from frassai have the same scent profiles, although it's not dupes.Still Gardenia created almost 100 years ago,amazing. My husband bought this for me,so l'm glad to have Gardenia in my collection

Coco naughty smell of the acacia blossom. Luminous, lively, luring! Definitely, no problems with buoyancy here. This Gardenia is less fragile, less attenuated than some other Les Exclusif beauties IMO, but being not so flawless makes her even more interesting, Lol! She is a mulatto, a half-sister of Beige. Honey, you are delicious! Long lasting exotic affair.....Certainly hot!

oh.. i do not have many words.. i bought it because i read the super good entries in this page,.. but i am totally disapointed.. it smells very soapy and not flowery at all .. it does not last at all .. and it is really expensive :S ..i am normally Chanel Fan but this one was not for me i kept wearing Chanel 22 or 5.

Got a sample to test out. Feels like a cleaner, more elegant and office safe version of Frederic Malle's Carnal Flower, which is why I prefer Gardenia over Carnal Flower for daytime wear. More jasmine than gardenia, but beautiful nonetheless. A classic. I'm happy to have the sample which is just about enough for me.

A light, green gardenia. An expensive (and infinitely better - not screechy) version of ET Gardenia, which I can’t handle due to the off putting artificial lily of the valley type note. This one, its better - but I still prefer gardenias with slightly more sweetness as the natural flower has a more nectary quality.

I would never have tried this a few years ago.. I tried it a few weeks ago at the Chanel Counter. I sprayed and immediately regretted it! until a few minutes later I could not keep my nose off the top of my hand. I bought it and I've sprayed it 3 times a day everyday since. Beautiful!!!!!!!

tried the edt on my wrist. beautiful heavy white flowers notes, mostly jasmine and Lilly of the valley to me. No coconut, no fruits, no sandalwood. Very intense and warm, almost nose eating. But still like it, good to have it in my collection, just to take a sniff from time to time

I used to have Jungle Gardenia and Hawaiian Gardenia and so when Chanel's became available, my hubby bought it for me. It is lovely. It is green and sharp - a bit too strong/sharp. I prefer the creamy smooth, warm gardenia to this one. Don't get me wrong, it is a gorgeous perfume.

I recieved a bottle of this as a gift. Beautiful gardenia with a coconut, vanilla on the drydown which is my favourite part. It's not a love for me and does not last long on skin but a beautiful fragrance for someone who enjoys delicate florals.