Les Exclusifs de Chanel Eau de Cologne

I approached Chanel's Eau de Cologne for the first time in much the same frame of mind as many others here: eau de Cologne is eau de Cologne, so Chanel's version can't be that exceptional, surely. I tested it one summer's day a while ago; I thought it rather nice; I made a mental note to try it again sometime. I sampled many other eaux de Cologne, and even nearly bought a few. But the Chanel kept calling, quietly but persistently, and I realised that without me even knowing, it had made a profound impression on my olfactory memory. Earlier this year I was lucky enough to be given a sample of it from a Chanel counter, and so I was able to revisit it at my leisure. Having managed to get my hands on such a rarity as a Chanel sample, somewhat paradoxically I knew after only one day's wearing that a full bottle was in my near future. Chanel's Cologne is truly wonderful stuff. As one would expect, Chanel's Eau de Cologne opens with citrus. It's a bright, tangy cloud of fruit, with no single variety dominating – it's an elegantly revolving waltz of lime, lemon, bergamot and orange, and the overall effect is tart but not too tart, sweet but not too sweet. After these initial notes have begun to settle there are still elements of the other fruits' juice and zest remaining, but to me the heart of the fragrance is all about the orange, and not just néroli and petitgrain: there is the actual greenness of the leaves, the bitterness of the peel, the succulence of the flesh and the sweetness of the juice, still moving in complete harmony. As Cologne dries down to its base, a beautiful, orange-tinged musk starts to soar above the composition, rich and lush, definitely fresh, noticeably starchy. It's as if somebody has sprayed a shirt with sweet orange water and then steam-ironed it. However, laundry-clean the shirt is not: the blend of sophisticated musks and subtle spices suggests it has been gently worn even if it is still perfectly presentable. The delectable drydown persists unusually well especially for this genre, and in fact this fragrance's longevity and sillage are far better than one would expect. Whenever I wear Cologne it is always still noticeable the next morning, and the bright musk persists even after showering. So returning to the question of what makes Chanel's particular Eau de Cologne so special, I think it's a combination of two things. Firstly there is synergy: this juice is made from top-quality ingredients, but even so it is considerably greater than the sum of its parts – such a beautiful harmony is created that it starts to resonate from within and take on a life of its own. Secondly there is exquisite balance: Cologne inhabits the Goldilocks zone between refreshingly sharp and mouth-wateringly sweet, and between the crisply fresh and the comfortingly human; and remarkably it manages this from beginning to end. This fragrance moves me, it delights me, it makes me happier than just a smell ought to be able to. It is cologne perfection, a stunningly gorgeous and original example of this seemingly exhausted genre.

Chanel's take on the classic "Eau de Cologne" smell rivals Creed Pure White Cologne, what I previously believed to be the best on the market. Whereas Pure White Cologne is very bright, Chanel Eau de Cologne is not excessively bright at the opening, but more balanced, arguably. Some might reasonably see this as a downside---after all, the EDC scents aren't long-lasting, so shouldn't they be as top-heavy as possible? I'd argue that there's some value in enjoying an EDC scent like Chanel's that is mild and reserved throughout its rather limited lifespan. It consists of a bergamot-dominated citrus mix at the top, with a very slight use of tonka to sweeten it at the bottom. There's hardly any neroli soapiness here despite it being a listed note--I mainly get the bergamusk mix. Unsurprisingly an ill performer, Eau de Cologne does not project for very long and is more or less a skin scent within an hour of wearing, but this is almost to be expected. Even the Atelier "Pure Perfume" colognes certainly do not last as much as their high concentration might lead one to believe. Now Creed's is one of expensive EDCs out there, at $745 for 250ml in its large Royal Exclusives atomizer size (and this price is soon to increase to over $1,000 for 250ml), or (at the Creed Boutique only) $250 for 30ml. Unsurprisingly, many like myself opt for a split of the Creed, but to Chanel's credit, theirs is priced more reasonably at the standard Les Exclusifs pricing of $160 for 75ml or 200ml for $280, and one might actually consider the larger size given that the juice is a lot weaker than, say, Coromandel or Cuir de Russie, and that's the downside: Chanel has still created a weak EDC and priced it in the same class as excellent-performing scents, so one might still find it difficult to stomach the purchase. After all, Dior has a very agreeable Dior Homme Eau De Cologne out there, and there are endless other options like 4711, Guerlain Imperial, etc. that similarly do the job. I'd suggest at least trying this in case it becomes an instant favorite, and maybe you'll see fit to splurge for it. It's an excellent scent but I'd need to give it more wearings before I determine if it's bottle-worthy. 8 out of 10

Chanel EDC is probably the only Eau de Cologne I have so far smelled which has made me genuinely excited about this staid and ancient genre of fragrance. Here I find all the enjoyment is to be found in the exquisite balance, the perfect poise and careful attention to detail. It would be rather supererogatory to describe in detail what it smells like as it smells like every genre-obeying EDC that came before or after it, but I have to remark that the neroli/petitgrain here is really quite breathtaking and of superior quality to most I've smelled elsewhere. After the short citrusy burst in the opening, Chanel EDC turns rather into a fresh-musky white floral, indeed something of a neroli soliflore, but it's just so cooling and easy breathing. To my mind it conjures the image of a great white moth, or perhaps just something large and white in general, and possesses a wonderfully cool-breezy quality that reminds me of stepping out into the night-time air after an otherwise hot day. The musks in the drydown are superbly well-judged, buttressing the neroli as best they can without compromising the overall effect. Here I find the musk much more pleasant than in Cologne du Parfumeur (Guerlain) which is probably the nearest relative to Chanel EDC. Likewise, I prefer the neroli here than in Cologne Indelibile, though I struggle to find the exact words to express why. Chanel EDC just smells so "right", as though every element is put perfectly and meticulously into place, as if every cologne was trying to work its way towards becoming this brilliantly gentle white behemoth. If a seamless white shirt was made from petals, it would smell something like this. Of course it's also a little ghostlike, as all colognes are, fleeting in performance (on me lasting about an hour or two) and rather muted in personality. But there's no greater respite from the chaos of the modern world than something simple, and here simplicity is sublimated into a true work of art. Unexpectedly, I find myself admitting that the huge asking price of this EDC is probably actually worth it - one is paying for the peerless skill of assembly in this case.

Right after spritzing, Chanel Eau de Cologne reminds me a lot of 7 Up or Sprite. It's all bubbly, effervescent lemon/lime, but rather than traditional clean, soap bubbles, these are more reminiscent of those found in carbonated drinks. Aldehydes? At any rate, it's really yummy and divine. As it begins to dry down, the "sparkle" subsides a bit revealing a slight creaminess, which gives the impression of putting a scoop of ice cream into the soda. The smell is also reminiscent of ice tea. A lemon flavored, green tea. It's a bit like Bel Respiro + citrus at this point, as Bel Respiro is very green tea like to me. The peaceful and happy images Eau de Cologne conjures in my mind is part of it's greatness. It takes me to smooth, seashore cliffs with the vast, "greenish" blue ocean as my only view. The entire day I'll be laying there basking in the golden sunshine, worshipping every single ray. As the sun sets in the horizon, the ocean turns into warm, yellow gold. I close my eyes, and all that's audible is the ocean waves hitting the rocks below, the cooling breeze and a choir of seagulls in the distance. All of my previous aches and pains is now nothing but a distant memory. When the rainy clouds once more threaten, Eau de Cologne will have the sun come out again, forcing the despair to leave, and when the weather is too hot and anything else would be nauseating, it picks me right up and leaves me feeling refreshed and cheerful. Summed up: Eau de Cologne Reminds me of Allure Homme Sport and Cologne Blache, although I must say, I HIGHLY preffer Les Exclusifs Eau de Cologne. By far the best summer option by the house of Chanel. A joyous and versatile, unisex cologne for all to wear any time, any place throughout the summer! Lemon/lime soda, ice tea and soft, sweet rays of sun. Not a terribly complex one, but the perfect all-rounder for me. Lasting power is absolutely decent for this type of scent, usually staying somewhere between 8-10 hours on me. It's sillage is fittingly intimate, it radiates mildly within an arms lenght. A flawless, lazy summer vacation in a bottle!

I have wondered, for a very long time, whether conscientious people are born that way or become it over time and how closely does conscientiousness tie into true intelligence. I have met countless self-proclaimed/assumed geniuses but the vast majority of them have been rude, self-serving, filthy, and all around oblivious to everything except the few things they're good at...it has always made me wonder. I also find conscientiousness incredibly attractive - the ability to recognize the needs of someone else across many situations, without being explicitly informed, is quite attractive and, I wholeheartedly believe, truly intelligent. That's just my take on it...Anyways, it is another warm day and I am being compelled to wear something I wouldn't have ever owned if it weren't for a dear friend sharing her collection - Chanel Les Exclusifs Eau De Cologne! This is probably the best Eau de Cologne I have tried - and it better be at this price point! One advantage this has over the other, cheaper EdC fumes is that it actually lasts 8+ hours on my skin without applying heavily to start! To open, this fume produces an absolutely gorgeous citric accord mixed with a very powerful and woody petitgrain note. The citruses are a bit on the sweet side and it does take time for the sugar to burn off, but once it does the fume transitions (slightly) to a slightly peppery neroli and petitgrain backed by by very soft and clean white musk. This is essentially the rest of the rude - the fume subtly shifts between the green floral aspects of neroli and petitgrain and the soft warmth of the white musk. Simple yet perfect for spring and summer outings...and it never hurts to inform people you are wearing Chanel! I hope all of you have a beautiful day and think about someone else for a bit - you might even enjoy it! Day 40 - Conscientiousness Listening to: Radiohead - Videotape

Last year I went down in a rabbit-hole trying to find the perfect eau de cologne. I had a sample of Eau de Cologne for over two years and compared it to other edcs extensively. Eau de Cologne opens with the best, photorealistic bright lemon, to then evolve with neroli and petit grain making their appearance, giving the lemon a floral twist. It is bright, uplifting and elegant, unmistakably Chanel (you don’t end up smelling like a fruit salat or a lemonade, just to be clear). The most unexpected and interesting part is the drydown, where you still have a faint trace of the lemon of the opening, the soapyness of neroli and everything is warmed-up by savoury, slightly dusty tonka bean. For me is the best eau de cologne ever made! Nothing beats the initial fizz of the lemon. Where I live we get approximately two weeks a year of torrid heat and then the rest of the summer is around 25 degrees. I wear edc primarily in late spring and summer, when I crave fizzy, bright, elegant perfumes to go with white shirts and jeans. On me longevity is not bad at all, and three to four spritzes easily last from 7 am to 4 pm, and in the evening, when I get in the shower, I am still able to smell it faintly. Of course, I ended up buying a fill bottle (last year, when I still costed 195€ and not 260€ like now). It is not a classic edc in the sense that is not that simple and is more like a perfume on its own. If you are looking for an elegant, effortless please do consider this!

I got the 200 ml bottle from a second hand site for half the price, new in box with the cellofan wrap still intact. At first testings I was shocked to discover how quickly the scent vanished, 15 minutes in and I could barely pick it up. Imagine my disappointment. All I could think of was that at least I didn't pay full price and I was contemplating the idea of letting it go and sell it off. But I decided to at least try it for a couple of days and here I am now, falling in love with it. It is a gorgeously crisp scent, so well made, so luxuriously fresh and addictive. It's Pour Monsieur's more elegant and sophisticated older brother. And this is coming from someone who loves Pour Monsieur, the Edt. Eau de Cologne has but a fraction of Pour Monsieur's strength but towers over it in sheer quality and craftsmanship. Take a long hot shower with a non-perfumed shower oil, then moisturize your body with an equally non-scented body lotion. Apply your skincare routine on your face and neck and you are ready for Eau de Cologne. I use about about 10 sprays altogether, on the solar plexus, chest, neck and arms, and then I put on my favourite bathrobe and I chill. And this is where the magic hits. It has become my favorite thing to do before I start my day. Eau de Cologne makes me feel like I am on another place, in another time. But it also makes me love each second of the here and now. A wonderful paradox.

When I first sprayed this I felt a bit of a let down, it was the typical classic citrus cologne smell and I already have several because I am quite fond of that scent. It isn't that I didn't like it, I just felt like I already owned it but with a different label. Then it dried down. And I realized that no, I do not already own this. This is what I already own...but perfected. Eau de Cologne is truly classic citrus cologne perfection. It isn't groundbreaking, or "different" or particularly original or anything so don't expect something earth shattering...you will think you have already smelled it a thousand times. But just give it a half hour and you will realize that this is not the standard citrus cologne. This is classic cologne harmonized to perfection. I really thought I would roll my eyes and say this is just yet another same old "cologne". I am surprised to feel the way I do about it. This will undoubtedly be my summer go to scent when the temperatures are sweltering and nothing else will work. Eau de Cologne will ALWAYS work. It is seamless and harmless and polite. I might even say dignified. I can not explain why Eau de Cologne is different from other classic citrus colognes but I will try to explain it this way...there is lemon sorbet, lemon ice cream and lemon gelato. All can be nice, delicious and refreshing and somewhat similar but only one can be the best. This is the gelato.

I'm rewriting my review for this one, because I currently came across a raw material that made me realize that I had gotten things wrong in the past. That is neroli extract, notoriously expensive, very rarely actually used in perfumery and that is actually the reason I had previous conflated neroli with orange blossom and other similar smell white floral accords, like the soapy substitutes nowadays marketed under the historic 4711 name. So Chanel Eau de Cologne is probably the closest neroli fragrance that you can possibly acquire, testing the top note again and again, and neroli is indeed a top note as it is extremely volatile, I am amazed by now amazingly neroli is portrayed in this scent. Essentially this is a dance of assorted notes around that neroli note, bergamot, a tiny amount of lemon petitgrain and some lemon oil. The musks underneath smell extremely luxurious and radiant, but also translucent enough to not obscure the star of the show. This is essentially the Eau de Cologne you may have gotten, in terms of purity and quality, perhaps 80 years ago, essentially the most refreshing blend of high end material but also placed over an base that allows from that initial splash to be maintained for a few hours rather than a few minutes. Comparing this to the current version of 4711 is essentially sacrilege, undoubtedly the best historic EdC money can buy.

Chanel Eau de Cologne is a simple but beautifully formed classic citrus cologne. Following a traditional structure, it is nothing groundbreaking, but it is one of the best colognes I've ever tried. Radiantly fresh throughout with aromatic green and woody nuances, it is rejuvenating and uplifting as well as utterly chic. EDC opens with bright, zesty citrus notes. I get both lemon and orange in particular. The neroli emerges soon afterwards, a perfect development from the citrus opening. It smells very natural, like green-tinged orange blossom. There is a green undertone to this scent, initially dewy, but increasingly woody thanks to the petitgrain. As it dries down, clean musk softens the citric sharpness, and a nice tonka bean note adds soft spice. Sillage is moderate and longevity is pretty weak. This is in keeping with its cologne status. It is perfectly unisex too, unsurprisingly. A top-notch classic citrus cologne, EDC is perfectly crisp and refreshing. EDC delivers relaxed elegance for hot weather, but look elsewhere for longevity (Matière Première Néroli Oranger or Tom Ford Neroli Portofino). Simple but perfectly formed. 4.5/5.

Chanel's Eau de Cologne is my favorite of it's genre. Reviewing the scent pyramid, I'm surprised that I don't see two notes listed: aldehydes and iris. To my nose, the opening is an amazingly fizzy lemon and aldehyde combination and I agree with the opinion below that likened this to the smell of Sprite. As the scent wears,the fizziness fades and the heart reveals a crisp bergamot and very green petit grain note. After 2 hours or so, I am left with an exquisite base note of warm, fatty musk and iris that smells luxurious and lipstick-like. At this stage there is almost no projection beyond 3 or 4 inches from the skin and all the citrus has burned off. This base note is actually the best part to me, though the entire composition is lovely. I could live in this basenote, this is what I had hoped 28 La Pausa would smell like at the base rather than the irritating leathery vetiver. This base lasts on my skin for approximately 4 hours after it appears giving the whole scent an impressive 6 hours for an Eau. Full bottle worthy for my sensibilities.

Absolutely gorgeous citrus neroli with a barely detectable creamy base. In the same category of 4711 Neroli Portofino family with a flawless building of notes. As expected performance is bad, but here it's atrocious at Les Exclusifs price range. This is an EDC and should ideally be splashed on or sprayed often but one can only do that if you are a wealthy individual. The quality of the materials is excellent. As far as EDC's in the 4711 universe, this is at the top. If you can afford to apply it often, it really doesn't get any better than this, in designer or niche. My favorite 4711 EDC. I've compared this with the following in the 4711 universe that I own, have owned, or have tested. 1.TF Neroli Portofino (all varieties and concentrations) 2. Bond Eau de New York 3. Floraïku First Dream of The Year 4. Santa Maria Novella Aqua Delia 5. Matiere Premiere Cologne Cedrat 6. Murdock Avalon 7. Gucci 1921 8. Histories De Parfums 1.6 9. Guerlain Cologne Impérial 10. 4711 11. Gucci Fiori di Neroli Scent 99/100 Performance 15/100

When Chanel put their mind to revisiting something as familiar and classical as eau de cologne you know they will be aiming for best in class and in short this is truly beautiful, absolute perfection. I'd put it a league ahead of the crowded field and even their own citrus chypre Pour Monsieur EdT. Opening with an aromatic cloud of bergamot and neroli, followed up by just lovely lemon citruses. So spot on, and polished, it stops you in your tracks. A scent you instantly want to live inside. Classical perfection. But you know the score. These sparkling citruses are short-lived, this is a cologne and it vanishes completely in under two hours, leaving the faintest whisper of a Pour Monsieur –like skin scent of cardamom, tonka bean and muskiness. Being sold under Les Exclusifs range, perfection comes at a price and you have to ask is the difference worth it for something so beautiful but so fleeting.

I'm dying to own this. IMO it has perfected what so many of the other fragrances that smell a lot like it have tried to do, but left me wanting. It's so high spirited and positive. It has the energy of a summer morning in a place where you can glimpse a bit of green, but not feel isolated from others. It conjures for me the same sensation as endorphins after a jog, when you're winding down a bit but still feel that fresh uplifted feeling. A big thing for me that this achieves too, where others fail, is that it is never too sour, even in the first instant. It's very smooth and doesn't need to mask a synthetic chemical smell. I came here to read reviews in a lame effort to find some encouragement about the lasting power and dollar value. Can't say I'm finding that lol... but I don't know if I can resist this one. I just hope I don't feel like a fool everytime this one reaches the 2 hour mark.

I have just started my fourth bottle and very disappointed that I feel this has been slightly reformulated, the zingy , sparkling lemon citrus notes that I loved seemed to have been watered down or even removed. It was the top notes that excited me if only for those first five minutes. The dry down is similar but seems to be veering in the Les Eaux range even more, overall it feels more generic and has lost that magic that made it the best in show. Let’s hope that it’s a duff batch but feel this is how it is now. When you are so familiar with something for years , you can immediately pick up if there is a difference. Shame as this is or was a truly exceptional fragrance despite the price.

Stunning citruses/lemon heavy fragrance! Stupidly expensive for what it is and how it performs! Chanel shouldn’t get away with selling such weak perfume for so much money.... From my collection, it’s practically similar to Guerlain’s Eau de Cologne Imperiale. And I thought that Eau de Cologne Imperiale is overpriced... I love the juice, it’s a very photorealistic zesty lemon and bergamot with petit grain and neroli blossoms, but it’s nothing new and it performs like this type of perfumes do. Very poorly! But if you have the budget, it’s a gorgeous summer freshie! Light, airy, green, citrusy, fresh and breezy. Simple and effortless but elegant and put together.

This is a great fragrance. It is almost identical to Creeds Virgin Island Water but not as sweet and also does not last as long. The lime note is so crisp and so good but as the name cologne would suggest the fragrance doesn’t last or project at all. This is extremely overpriced and should be sold for the same price as their men’s fragrances-around $130. For that price this would be a solid buy unless you do value longevity and projection, in which case $130 would still be too expensive. Seriously though, this is creed virgin island water only weaker and more expensive.

Possibly the best eau the cologne in the market today. Clean, well-blended, balanced, impeccably classy and unisex. The lemon top note is to die for. And the accompanying notes in the middle gives it some green-ness and extra zing and complexity in the manner of say Guerlain. This dries down to that distinctively expensive Chanel musk (see 1957). As with most colognes, this does not last long. A safe buy, in my opinion. And the way to go is the 200ml bottle. Spritz yourself liberally with it during the hot summer months. And enjoy!

best eau de cologone ever! seriously if u want a non-offensive fragrance that u can wear without any worry but at the same time not too fleeting, with some depth, and not to mention this is class all the way, just get this. forget other fragrances just get this one in 200mls and start spraying away. the 200mls edt is the cheapest in les exclusifs line right now and its very worth it. a bottle of this will last u a very long time forget perfume review. this is a psa lol. sadly, a very overlooked gem in the les exclusifs line.

Smells very similar to Neroli Portofino in the opening, however as the drydown progresses I notice it is a bit softer and more feminine than NP is. No doubt the neroli in this is very noticeable but it's what makes it smell so fresh and clean. Both are terrific for hot days so I think prospective buyers should test them both and see which they prefer. The Chanel as expensive as it is, is probably slightly better value than the Tom Ford. Make sure you have an atomiser with you as it lasts about 2-3 hours.