Les Exclusifs de Chanel 28 La Pausa

I came to 28 La Pausa late, having fallen in love with so many of Chanel's Les Exclusifs, particularly the La Pausa EDP. I thought I'd never get my nose on its original "28" EDT formula. Luckily, a reputable eBay seller listed their 200 mL bottle at a (laughably) reasonable price, not recognizing this discontinued gem could command much more than they asked. I count that as a major win! Before I dive too much into 28LP EDT, let me copy/paste what I said in my review about the LP EDP: "La Pausa is gentle, delicate, fragile. In life, tangible items with such qualities often evoke a sense of unease or anxiety—'I must be careful not to break it!' But no, La Pausa isn't like that at all. Instead, it forces you to marvel at the beauty contained within such fragility." The reason I include my write-up for the EDP? Because it's even more applicable here. The two are different scents, yes, but masterful scents, both. Many have commented on the scent's short lifespan—and I agree, to a degree—but, for me, that's part of how moving it is. If the EDP is delicate and fragile, the EDT is even more so, also more austere and spare, and all the more beautiful for it. I liken its scent to a pared-down version of Bel Respiro melded with the skeleton of 1932, then boiled down to an even leaner, wispier phantom. I'm a college professor, and my niche is in aging, dying, death. My mind is never far from end-of-life issues, and that's where it goes when I smell 28LP. The scent was named after La Pausa, Coco Chanel's vacation home on the French Riviera; "La Pausa" as the break, the pause, the rest. Rather than relaxation and restoration, though, I think of the pause, or the break, between life and death, of eternal rest. You see, 28LP is a ghost of a fragrance. It haunts. But it's not the ghost of another—it's a ghost of the self. Assume for a moment that the soul, the spirit—whatever you want to call that metaphysical representation of "self"—exists. Then this is the smell of the soul loosening itself from its mortal vessel. There's a melancholic air about 28LP, but also a sense of calm detachment, or maybe of affirmation. Like the sadness of leaving the physical realm and all the pain that accompanies it. But also the wonder of having lived at all, of you—a fragile creature in a vast, cold, uncaring universe; at best, a mere mote of dust in the grand scheme of things—having experienced the world. Love, joy, loss, and the difficult lessons of life. Yes, that's what 28LP conjures for me. Life and death. Living and dying. Sadness, but acceptance. The soul coming unshackled from its physical bonds, comforting its ailing vessel. This is the smell of that white light at the end of the tunnel.

(#9) 28 La Pausa, my heart is broken. Not the essence that this smell bad, but no one will be able to smell this Iris masterpiece. I fell in love with La Pausa, you can trace I review but I do not want to go full retail price. So I opt out looking another one in resell market, they was 1 bottle post 2 years ago. In EDT rendition, 28 La Pausa. The price was ok at USD 185. I know it mere chance, but I want to try - If she already sell, I move on. But no, she is not sold yet, after few discussion. She lands on my hand. And I am so grateful. Les Exclusifs de Chanel is the first line that make me speechless. EDT is smells almost as rich and strong as EDP. But EDT is keep the scent somewhat transparent but mystical. La Pausa 28, Is quite similar to La Pausa EDP. But, It is not as green as EDP and somewhat smell is much colder. Also, more greyish purple than her new rendition, which more like muted emerald green. Rose is also more prominent, and it the cold dew rose in morning. The Orris root, very bloom to leathery cloud of sophisticate. If La Pausa at least speak "Don't brother me" 28 La Pausa would let you instantly know, please let me have my time. My absolute interpretation of Iris. ===== Extension 1 on January 30, 2025 I want to write certain random thought. As I venture deeper. I appreciate my bottle of 28 La Pausa, as I recently sniff all the good iris glory. I found that this is closest thing to Iris Sliver Mist... (Only 28 La Pausa). 28 La Pausa have certain coldness to it like it seems inspired by "Iris Sliver Mist". I am not sure what behind the Coromandel Curtain but Christopher Sheldrake is supporting Chanel around 2005, These EDT seems to have coldness tone that present in Luten's fragrance. Even Iris Sliver Mist doesn't make by Christopher Sheldrake, But it might be a blueprint or idea. Iris Sliver Mist doesn't have woody backbone similar to 28 La Pausa which anchors stronger by quality of Vetiver and aldehydic Chanel. More powdery feel on skin. I find "La Pausa" in EDP is greener and slight smokier but not in nature of green iris, So a bliss of purple iris, contains in 28 La Pausa. It’s one of few “iris” fragrance Santa Maria "L'iris" velvet label - is another way to go...

Finally got my hands on this and I'm certainly not disappointed. It's very ethereal and natural and it smells expensive, albeit a bit fleeting, though other people can smell you more than you can.... Still, I can easily rank it in the top 5 Les Exclusifs and possibly even top 3: best being 31 Rue Cambon (EDT!).. Le Lion is quite beautiful (18 and Coromandel also)... I guess my issue is the longevity... It is what it is and while I suspect that the lack of longevity / protection is directly due to the fact that this is one of the MOST NATURAL and beautiful iris fragrances I have ever smelled, I wouldn't want it altered to "improve" performance... My assumption is that's what happened to "La Pausa" EDP which has far better performance but.... is honestly a COMPLETELY different scent... Not better or worse, please take note that this is the ONLY LES EXCLUSIF that actually had a NAME CHANGE when it was reformulated from EDT to EDP... I applaud whoever realized they couldn't keep the same name for these two VERY DIFFERENT fragrances... Again, not better or worse but.. absolutely not the same. The current EDP prominently features vetiver and, I'm not an expert but I detect a dash of vanilla as well. 28 EDT is more airy, has a HINT of animalic leather (just a tiny hint but enough to make me LOVE it) and the driest, most perfect impression of rose... I, myself, prefer the more fleeting disappearing act of THIS one (28 La Pausa) to it's successor, La Pausa EDP even though that one performs much better.... I'll just spray with abandon! If you get the opportunity to try this one I highly recommend it...!!!

Love at first sniff. Yes, I'm a lover of iris/orris; I love damp autumn leaves, rainy pavements, ink stained desks and the wonderful sense of nostalgic yet erotic yearning that orris/iris conjures up for me. This is the perfume of Catherine Deneueve's rain-soaked trench coat flung carelessly over a chair, before embarking on an illicit affair with an erudite, impossibly handsome author! I know I go against the grain by finding this a million times more seductive than any gourmand, but then again I'm not interested in blokey men or footballers. I fall in love with erudite, talented, enigmatic (yet handsome!) authors and musicians, so if that sounds like you, wear this when you're in the mood for love. But not when you feel low, because in a low mood this may make you feel a bit rainy in your soul - maybe not a bad thing when you're in creative mood mind you That's my personal take on 28 La Pausa. A more down to earth decription is - inky, earthy yet light, subtle, skin-scent sillage yet distinct, scenty and redolent of timeless elegance I dislike most of Polge's creations such as Allure, Coco M and Chance but this is excellent. A full bottle is absolutely neccessary!

28 La Pausa is a thing of utter beauty on the right skin chemistry. The opening of this is breathtaking: a gorgeous gray-toned chalky powdered iris note hangs in the air enticing you to sniff and sniff again as you evaluate its pleasing texture and softness. This hangs around for about 30 minutes before the perfume evolves into what on my skin chemistry is a semi disturbing rooty orris and vetiver drydown. It is not cold so much as acidic and slightly indolic. I can see how some reviewers likened this to a green tea note, but on my skin it is much more metallic-green-citric and lacks the roundness and duskiness that tea usually imparts to a scent. Perhaps this is my perception of what has been labeled a leather note in the pyramid above. Whatever it is, it was hard for me to appreciate this scent once this becomes the prevalent note and the powder disappeared. Given the divergent reviews, I am convinced that one's opinion and perception of 28 La Pausa is highly dependent on whether or not their skin chemistry projects this final note. For me the dry down is hard to like, but the opening is sheer heaven! Definitely try it on your skin and DON'T blind buy.