N°18 Eau de Parfum

First thing to note is that this EdP release has nothing to do with the original Les Exclusifs EdT. Aside from the name and having orris playing starring role, they are two completely different perfumes. So, if you want to know what I think of the LE original, head over there. I personally think this is one of Chanel's most underrated perfumes. There are a couple good reasons for it consistently flying quite low on the radar. Firstly, it's probably the most abstract Chanel currently in the house's lineup. Like a bizarre piece of modern art, it's supposed to work on your senses in a way that art of the typical form does not. No. 18 seems to be a perfume you "see" rather than smell. I'll get more into this shortly. The second reason is that it isn't exactly an easy perfume to wear. That challenging combination of ambrette seed plus juicy fruit salad accord is a bit unwieldly to the nose. Let's start there. When you first spray No. 18 EdP it is entirely about that ambrette seed. Jacques Polge does not hold back on this material at all. Deeply animalic and musky, it sort of clashes with itself while also pushing itself upon you in addition to a very overripe and watery pear, grape, and melon type accord. Sort of filling in the gaps between these clashing titans is a rooty and floral orris; on the one hand I'm getting a definite rooty and starchy orris and on the other a soft, powdery purple floral. Despite the inherent dissonance of all of these notes, they actually mesh very well, but, again, in an abstract way. I don't like that I'm saying this but the only way I can describe what I'm smelling is...: purple. If I had synesthesia, I believe purple would be strobing across my brain like a disco ball at a Prince concert. These accords shimmer like light bouncing off of a crystal. Hopefully you, dear reader, have smelled those famed Chanel aldehydes before, and you will understand what I mean when I say shimmer and sparkle; it's that same effect that you get in say No. 5, but it's not those same aldehydes. This is a different type of radiance. The sort of fruity and musky notes continue past the first dry down. The muskiness is likely the orris that I'm catching, but there has to be a new material at play for that darned fruit salad accord because it very much seems the original notes and the ambrette have passed. But, once that ambrette dries down, swelling up in its place like the sun on the horizon casting brilliant colors, we get rose. I'm hesitant to call this a red rose; it seems gentler than that. Perhaps white or pink. Again, if I were to pretend I have synesthesia, it's like the purple has split its wavelength into soft pink-red and blue wavelengths. They are less radiant, luminous or shimmering than the purple at the opening, but this pinkish-reddish-blueish dance of wavelengths is far more saturated than the opening - like you're looking at a painting initially done in watercolor paints and the paints gradually shift to oil paints. More saturated and deep though this phase is, don't mistake it for heaviness: this is still as weightless as light. There is a beautiful texture to it that comes across less like powder and more like the softest silk: saturated and dense, but still sensuously soft. Once these oil paint-like wavelengths of light begin to dry down again, once you finally feel like your brain can't take any more... relax, and feel the soft and pale cedarwoods (maybe?) come through to soothe the senses. The woods retain that lightness of being, but they have no interest in pushing your senses into overdrive. It's a welcome end. This perfume is a trip. A complete mind-f*&$. I have no idea what this smells like to someone who is smelling it on me. I wish I had the chance to ask someone whose nose I trust. But, I suppose that doesn't matter. I love it, and I dearly hope that despite the difficulty the mass perfume-buying public seems to have with it Chanel never stops making it. EDIT: Shortly after reapplication and leaving the house, I ran into a neighbor. After greetings and a hug she asked me, "you smell good, have you been cooking?" Lol. That's not at all what I was expecting, but I guess that's one more piece needed to unravel the No. 18 EdP puzzle.

Ambrette, in fact, every single aspect of the musk mallow, with rose and iris, is the quick description of this scent. No. 18 EdP (the EdT is a much quirkier and very different scent altogether) is elegantly simple and utterly luxurious to my nose. Yes, there are similarities to Egoïste, and I tend to wear this scent as an Egoïste alternative in warmer conditions, but the two fragrances are distinctly different in their use of ambrette. In the men's products, the ambrette takes a back seat to some of the other elements at times; here it is the focus of the fragrance with the other elements accentuating its wonderful musky beauty. As I noted before, the whole musk mallow flower, from which the ambrette is derived, is on display here. I get a green, almost watery note in the opening along with the barest hint of oily citrus zest (perhaps from the otherwise undetectable fruit notes cited in the pyramid) which transitions to a matcha note before the iris and rose begin the Egoïste impersonation in the middle phase. Ambrette, now musky, anchors the base along with the familiar Chanel faux sandalwood. It is all so smoothly blended and subtle. I love it. As with all of Les Exclusifs de Chanel, the price is high and those who feel high cost should equal major performance may be disappointed by this fragrance's 6-ish hour longevity and moderate projection. I can overlook these issues easily given the beauty of the ingredients on display here. I find this fragrance wholly unisex, although it is marketed to women (I'm a guy) and I have worn this scent to the office many times--even getting an occasional compliment when I've done so. You need to know ambrette if you are really into fragrances, and sampling No. 18 EdP is a great way to get to experience this splendid perfume component. Once you sample this scent, you may find, as I did, that a bottle is something you just need to have. Highly recommended.

Okay, so I adored the EDT and I regret having never purchased a bottle. It was perfect from first spray, light and airy. It exuded class and represented a side of Chanel that had never really been shown through perfume or clothing. I’m actually not sure where it came from, it was rather left-field. But, most importantly, it just worked. It was Chanel, there was no question. The EDP didn’t have me from first try, or even second or third. That first spray and first sniff are something not quite as refined. However, one fourth try, past the first 5 minutes, it’s beginning to make a little more sense. As an EDP, one would expect the composition to be a little different. This is entirely different. It has a different mood, a different appeal and a different inspiration. It’s bizarre that the same scent, more or less, can be so far from what originated it. What was once ethereal, is now dense and present. Powdery effortlessness becomes a task, an effort. You have to choose the right weather, the right outfit, even the right emotion and mood of an event. While it goes without saying that you’d never wear this to a funeral, for example, there was a versatility that seems to be now lost: its very unusual to me. I think I love it, or at least respect it... but I think it has a very different appeal. This would be great for first dates, second dates until you up the ante for those ever entertaining third dates. Good for meeting the parents, great for Spring picnics. Maybe not signature worthy ... for me. The Ambrette is glorious. As always. It’s sweet musky presence brings a smile to my face. The powdery iris is very Chanel, has a bit of a No 19 EDP vibe going on, I appreciate it. It’s very hard to describe. It has a bit of a chalk feeling in the back ground, but that’s not really unpleasant. All over, I’d give it a 6/10 but that’s only because I love the original so much.

My sample of No.18 is from c.2016, and while it is labelled as an EDP, it is fairly light and fleeting. It is also a strange and beautiful scent, and needs time to be appreciated. No. 18 opens with fruity-resinous accord, initially more tart than sweet, with warm, ambery undertones. The ambrette note takes centre stage, giving a musky, earthy quality to the opening, while managing to stay light and airy. It becomes softly sweet as it develops, with a subtle hint of spice. Powdery iris creeps in as it develops, replacing the ambrette as the dominant note. The prominent iris note is part of the DNA of many classic Chanel scents, and here it is no different. Earthy, soft and root-like, the iris is characteristically high-quality and addictive. I am a lover of iris, so I enjoy its inclusion in many of Chanel's fragrances, the classics as well as Les Exclusifs. There is a hint of violet, which complements the iris, as well as a rich rose note, both a common fixture in Chanel scents. The drydown is musky, with sweet amber accords giving body. There are some lovely, soft, restrained sandalwood notes that add depth, complementing what's left of the florals at the drydown stage. Sandalwood is often horrible in newer fragrances, but in typical Chanel fashion, its addition here only improves an already great scent. No. 18 is a beautiful musky-iris scent, unusual yet with familiar facets. It is divisive by nature, but it is one of my favouites of the Les Exclusifs line. The floral heart is nothing unusual, even within the house of Chanel, but here it is exquisite, the highlight of No. 18 for me. Sometimes, the simple, obvious route works best. Elegantly feminine and beautifully crafted, this classic-yet-modern scent is a winner. I only wish it lasted longer. I would love to try the nineties original for comparison. 4/5.

After knowing and loving the Les Exclusifs line for many years, I finally came seriously in contact with No. 18. Maybe is because I am more mature, more refined, but when I first smelled the entire line almost ten years ago, no. 18 didn’t catch my eyes. Now I rediscovered it and is delightful. On opening it smells very carroty and seedy. On me the opening is not sparkling but rather cozy and fuzzy, giving a decisive garden-like sensation that I like very much. I can detect iris and ambrette, rooty, chewy and opaque. Then, after half an hour, the musk emerges: it is persistent and slightly dirty, opaque, dense, chewy and rendered more floral by the iris. If I have to compare no. 18 to La Pausa, to me the iris of La Pausa is greener, colder, more floral and more aloof. The iris in no. 18 in turn is warmer, more rooty, more mellow, more approachable and musky. No. 18 acts like a decoy; it plays the role of an elevated skin scent to then reveal depth, complexity, warmth, and a slightly dirty facet. Very good, very interesting, very wearable. As much as I love the Les Exclusifs line sometimes it tends to be too slightly unapproachable. No. 18 is no such thing. It is warm, it is interesting, it is mellow, it is high quality. Like a lady who is elegant and impeccably dress, but is also warm, kind, and likes to play with her children in the garden. On a final note, I don’t personally get the “glittering gemstone” proposed in the press release. To me it conjures the image of a fragrant garden, full of vegetables and sun: warm, irrevocably alive and far more interesting.

No 18 is one of very few that has been through an all-rounded enhancement in the EDP reconstruction. Compared to the former EDT in Les Exclusifs, No 18 EDP and Bois des Iles EDP are surely improved, and Sycomore EDP is acknowledgedly ruined, while any of Coromandel, 31 Rue Cambon (sort of, yes), Cuir de Russie and No 22 is hard and remained subjective to tell which version is better. One that has tested the No 18 EDT might have found it was disappointing due to lack of a clear structure and a over-obscure texture that cannot support the whole tones. Indeed, the EDT is rather pale and improperly hazy which is, however, no longer a concern in the EDP that is completed finally. Besides, if someone concerns, the longevity is doubled or even tripled which is not correctly showed in the statistic distribution on this webpage. No 18, along with vintage Egoiste (or even short-lived Bois Noir , they are the same) are sorts of deductions of the vintage Bois des Iles (also appeared as Woods of Islands on the box) from which No 18 takes the base and, in contrast, Egoiste takes almost all but aldehydes note. It is noteworthy that No 18 EDP is pronounced enough to show the connection with Zegna Florentine Iris —the specific iris-violet-musk combo. That said, it does not apply to the EDT concentration. Ratings: 7.5/10 (EDP); 6.5 (EDT)

This perfume is truly unlike anything else I've ever smelt. Even looking at the "reminds me of" section, there's only faint similarities to the ones I've tried. Egoiste? Sure, kind of. Private Collection? Not really at all. Neroli Portifino Forte? Not at all. It's bizarre how comforting this is, how complex it can be without being too complicated or over the top. Personally, I find this to be the perfect scent to spray on before going to bed. and I can always smell it when I wake up. It's perfect for every season... In the heat it blossoms and becomes an aura that surrounds you, in the cold weather it exudes spiciness. Oddly, I also agree with Khalidbloom. It can have a medical feel to it, and that's not a bad thing. When you inhale really deep, it's kind of like that high pressure spray dentists use. That sounds unpleasant, but I've always kind of liked how that tastes/smells. Clean, warm, fabulous. It's clearly a Chanel, but also very dissimilar to most of the ones available. Truly unique, and extremely underrated.

I purchased this one having loved the EdT and enjoyed my two or three samples of this concentration and haven't yet been disappointed. Being a lover of abnormal musk fragrances (like Narciso and the like) this one ticked all of the immediate boxes. There is nothing about this I cannot enjoy and, unlike the EdT, it has a strong longevity to back it up. There's a soft spiciness to it that just pushes this beyond comfortability and into the realm of fun. I think this will please the people who don't enjoy Chanel fragrances (there's a warmth here) and those that do (the powderiness is there, but not so much so that it overwhelms). It really works well for all weather conditions, too. It's a curveball fragrance for the Les Exclusifs and can be enjoyed by those who like Beige, La Pausa, 1957 or N°19. Or any of Chanel's, frankly. Just beautiful

What can I say about Chanel No. 18 that hasn’t been said before? A wonderfully strange, addictive scent. Out of step with every other fragrance in the current market. Soft vegetal ambrette and soft iris, rounded out by a vague fruitiness (apricot?), all lifted, made clear and transparent, with aldehydes. The equivalent of an exceedingly reserved and gentle person with a quietly warm center. A stark contrast to the ambrette in Zoologist’s Musk Deer. I’m not really sure who this was made for. I guess it’s for me, since I love it so much. I wear it for myself more than for any event or occasion. I often layer it with ambrette seed CO2 oil (at a 10% dilution, though still costly). I find it really opens up the fragrance, makes it lean woody, and gives it body and longevity. Still very close to the skin; ambrette doesn’t really project.

One of Chanel’s most daring and stylistically unusual perfumes, No. 18 executes perfectly what I would call ‘The Vegetarian Musk’. Containing all the crash and drama, but lacking the animal roar, instead favouring something far more savoury and root-y. A strange, bare fragrance showcasing ambrette far beyond the standard. Kneaded together with the mulch at the bottom of the jar of high-grade rose oil, and the dry, carrot-like fluffiness of orris, it battles perfectly the balance between lift and trapping. There’s not much room to move within the perfume, it sticks to the air around you without any space between the notes. It is at once unsettling, yet unusually comforting and cosy. It feels both austere and intimate, whilst simultaneously being one of Jacques Polge’s most quietly radical compositions.

Chanel no. 18 (1997) - jewel-like clarity - #jacquespolge ‘s perfume might be too light to some. Not worth a full bottle to others. But, they judge this perfume too early - for you see, this is his favorite creation. First, the rarity of ingredients are incomparable - Musk Mallow and Iris. Second, I understand there is a chanel-like floral dna backbone, but the perfume is a technical marvel as it balances not to make it overtly musky or floral. Facets of a diamond masterfully cut. What does it smell like? Woods, mushroomy, heady roses, fruit, and human-skin.

The indescribable It's a tangy floral fragrance with a subtle powdery quality. The fruitiness reminds me of applesauce and pears with spicy, moist herbs. I feel like whisky has been added :) With a woody accent. This is an exclusive that is off the beaten track. There's something indescribable about it. At the beginning, it envelops you in a soft cloud and melts into the natural fragrance, and at the end, there's a warm, delicately woody base, so it stays on your skin for a long, long time. Unisex 100% It's very elegant and modern at the same time.

I find No 18 in the edp beautiful. It seems a bit toned down compared to the edt. The quirky eau-de-vie opening note of the edt seems to have been softened and shortened and while that note does not last as long as in the edt, the ambrette note kicks in sooner and lasts longer. As a result the edp feels a bit more conventional, less “artistic.” At the same time, for me it’s a bit easier to wear and I am loving it.

What a stunning beauty this is! I love its warm and delightful honey/beeswax note most of all, seamlessly paired with delicate florals and balsamic notes. The Ambrettolide used in this composition is of fascinating quality. The whole thing just flies so easily... I strongly associate it with hot, cloudless high summer. Very rich, opulent and multifaceted. Brilliant!

the ambrette here is the key player and all other notes are merely supporters to bring the ambrette note up. im wearing a sample now but i can tell after few wearings that this is severly underrated. in my book, its a 10/10

I love it, a real gem in the Chanel’s Private line, it has this égoïste and Bois des Îles vibe. Try it ;)

The smell of doctor's tools, hospital, clinic, pharmacy. Wonderfull

N°18 Eau de Parfum Chanel () No°18 EDP is my last purchase of Les Exclusif collection, musky by Ambrette seed, this is the fragrance I don’t know how to feel the most. Actually, this smells good. The natural musk unlike 1957 which you know, chemically produced with 8 difference 8 white musks. If there is the word I can explain this smell like bubbley champagne, with cold solitude musk. Sort of untouchable. In the same time, clam and graceful. The way fruity note come across my skin, smells like sweet fermented white grape with a hint of bubble gum fruity smell, I notice this often in a lot of fragrance using this certain nose. I believe, sweet fermented white grape scent is the way fruity note react with Aldehyde, the is also chamomile like scent, from floral note. For people who wants to smell Iris, this is barely show up. Sort-of, I think. The more like density increaser to make a fragrance full body. But..my only concern is I don’t know when to wear this.. it is fairy light and with leave only trace of warmth skin in 1 hour. It really do very silent. This smell ideal like winter turns spring. Reconnection with Joy. Man, this is the hard fragrance to score. I might grown on me, or maybe not.. Score : 8/10 (5/10 consider performance) Longevity : 3 hours Projection : low-skinscent Classfication : Unisex Summary : Another daily scent from the line..(?) 🤔 ===== Extension 1 : January 15, 2024. No.18 do have what I would call Chanel’s signature musk but litely it compelling with other 2 musk offering from the brand, 1957 and Jersey. No.18 is the sparkliest, almost show off yet throw back time. It feel almost like modern Misia in my personal interpretation. If a girl want to feel chic, sort of central of party No.18 should be the perfect selection as iris show up litely make a little mild makeup accord. Not as strong as Misia but musk certric. Olfactive wise, No.18 are one of most unique offering in the perfumery world yet so useable. Bathing in No.18 would be intrigue experience. I feel mild green/floral undertone are somewhat borrowed by Jersey foo. But this is more chic and transparent . Not as dense Jersey which will cover u like the thick dense cloud of perfection. ===== Extension 2 : June 12, 2024 I am in Ambrette affairs lately. After I sniff musk pallas by Jovoy. I kinda know, what can Ambrette bring to musk fragrance. Then my liking is shift.. from White Industrial musk to Ambrette musk. The naturalistic woody, warm, soft musk feeling than naturally hug and linger. I feel slight more comfortable wearing Ambrette musk than white musk know. Still, I appreciate both profile. No.18, bring quality of ambrette musk to sour/sweet white grape in it, a tiny drop of cat pee, and that soft gentle ray like experience. It is, yeah, wonderful Ambrette musk experience fragrance, on powdery blanket, make from soft iris and woody note. Ambrette, I believe, naturally hollow apart feeling of musk. This rely on perfumer on rendition he decided to bring. Olivier Polge, in this re-rendition. Sparkling aldehyde, Sweet Grape, Soft ray like floral, soft powdery blanket. I think, as of I realize true behind ambrette. This is the most beautiful, Ambrette musk experience. Top tier les exclusif. Oh, and I would say this is not in anyway, anyhow redundant with 1957 as the both go different way. But it musk, on far end of each spectrum... Spectral musk, very sweet fruity inverting aura, more like ambient than fragrance ostentatious, Feel like, midnight musk & amber but made natural.

A kind Fragrantica friend send me a decant of this interesting perfume. When I got my package I just got out of the shower and used all unscented products so I had a good palette to apply the perfume. When I first sprayed this I got the smell of children's chewable vitamins to be honest and I thought, I'm not going to like this perfume. But thankfully that smell goes away and is replaced by tart fruits. Pomegranate, cranberry and unripe apricots and extremely sour granny smith apples all in a orchard of moist dark earth, grass, violets and rain. The rain is pouring down in sheets, exposing the roots of the grass and up turning the earth turning it into mud. Newly bloomed irises struggle against the rain to keep their beauty. The rain and musky earth comingle with the tart fruits and irises to create a very green and unsweetened floral. It has that new clean smell of nature or a very hot shower that almost stings the nose and makes the eyes water. Very interesting. A non perfume, perfume. Clean, tart, herbal, musky, and muddy. It has an expensive spa like smell. One that offers a lot of mud masks, and seaweed wraps. This isn't something I would buy but I'm glad to have smelled it. Unisex. For spa lovers in my opinion. Dries down to a soft vegetal musky iris/violet powder. This is an excellent bedtime perfume. Again, think relaxing spa smell. A more feminine version of 1957. Would be a great husband and wife set. 1957 for him (my brother in law wears it a lot,) and no 18 for her.

As a fan of the original No. 18 EDT, I was a bit nervous about trying the new EDP because I was afraid that it would smell too different. And as it turns out, yes, it smells noticeably different. No. 18 was created to "conjure the image of precious gems", which I feel the EDT did an excellent job doing. The EDT is crisp and sparkling and the ambrette is dominant throughout the entire wear. The strong ambrette presence gives the EDT a cold and bitter quality (in the best way!). On the other hand, the EDP has stronger floral notes, mostly rose. To me, the EDP smells like they took the EDT and added more of the Chanel signature floral aldehydes, which removed the EDT's cold, bitter, and crystalline quality. The EDP smells like a rosy, warm and fuzzy version of its predecessor. Don't get me wrong, No. 18 EDP is lovely in its own right and I do like it, but it smells like an entirely different fragrance from the EDT. The EDT was cold and sparkling and the EDP is warm and fuzzy/blurry. If you like the EDT I wouldn't say that you'd automatically like the EDP. The overall feeling is much different.

floral = Yes musky = Yes (in a smooth, creamy way) fruity = Yes amber = Not Sure sweet = A little bit powdery = Yes I hope I don't seem crazy but this perfume has a warm feel. Just like being hugged for 10 seconds when sprayed on. It's a good perfume but I don't see myself buying it for a second time, even though it comes with warm hugs!

I like it very much, it's yummy and elegant, perfectly unisex. But I'm really desappointed with the longevity and sillage. After one hour it's almost gone. I'm glad that I only got a 2 ml sample. Shame on you, Chanel! if you make perfumes so good, and charge so much, at least you could make it last 4 hours.

It's mainly ambrette for the first 30 minutes then it settles into an earthy, woody iris with a touch of some sweet floral. An elegant business woman/man type of fragrance and definately more unisex than a female fragrance. Not very Chanelesque but nice in quiet way.

This is clean and intriguing. I kinda liked it. It is unisex but more feminine leaning. I can’t describe it well enough, i hope you can go and smell for your own good.

I get a fruity resin. I guess that is the ambrette. Very pretty and well blended. Distinct from any perfume I've smelled. I'm not sure what to make of it.

Tried tonight from a sample and I find it very medicinal, and in a way conforting but nothing to write home about, it's a little boring. Not a fbw.

I tried this again the other day having never been drawn to it, in fact I must've paid No.18 so little attention as to not remember it at all, To me it's reasonably straight forward, and the vague note groupings on here are perfect, it's a fruity, woody, mildly floral perfume and that's being kind, nothing photorealistic or really displaying that Chanel class or chicness. Don't get me wrong it's not cheap smelling but if you want candied fruit of unknown origin, seeped into overtly woody basenotes then Serge Lutens has a few which would serve you much better in my humble opinion and I would never normally discourage anyone from choosing Chanel (or a Polge) because they do something other brands can't but not in the case of No.18 the more I sniff it the less and less I like it.

This is the only fragrance from the entire Chanel exclusif line that I dislike. You have to REALLY enjoy Ambrette because it’s so overpowering and aggressive in this that it makes my stomach turn a little bit to smell it. It’s certainly bold so I’ll give it that— but it’s bold in the opposite direction that I personally enjoy unfortunately. I will say this is very high quality, just not my taste. I imagine that one day I’ll eat my words and love it if I can find a way to enjoy the heavy ambrette opening.

Signature... Most beloved. #18 takes the cake although I would add #22, 1932 and Coco Mademoiselle extrait in my holy grail category. But if I had to choose one, just one perfume to wear for the rest of my life - if I had no option to ever wear anything else but that one - it would simply be #18. I could never ever fire of it, I could never ever even think of replacing it. I also never smelled anything in my life that comes even slightly close to #18. Now here is the thing about Chanel perfumes that I find so fun: You get a sample of their fragrance, but then You get a bottle - the scent can vary depending on when it was produced or whether there is change in its strength for example EdP vs EdT. Sometimes these Chanel perfumes have differences!! I own 3 bottles of Chanel Les Eaux Paris-Paris (I absolutely adore the mouth watering pepper-rose combo) and out of the 3 one smells a bit different. It smells a little more tart on the rose. The other 2 smell more smooth-peppery. When I reach for Paris-Paris I tend to grab the 2 with less tartness of the rose. But it is so much fun how bottles of seemingly the same fragrance can vary. When it comes to #18 I got a manufacturer's sample and loved it. I liked how someone described it as "dry the way white wine goes". #18 is sparkling, sparkly. When I first smelled #18 I got the feel of "doctor's office, doctor's tools, the way a clinic smells" but I knew that's not what it was about. I knew it had to be way more unique. Soon after a berry-liscious (oh so different than today's "berry" smelling fragrances - synthetic and generic, yuck) heart emerged. It is simultaneously woody, berry, sparkling, dry and very very fizzy. It reminds me of fruit wine coolers although I don't drink anymore. Or better yet a flavored sparkling water, or seltzer water. Club soda, sparkling water is my drink of choice all day every day. #18 does not smell like all the other fruit or berry melange fragrances. It smells like the literal impression of fruit flavored (red berry) seltzer water. Never too sweet and oh so far from being cloying. #18 is so effervescent, also aromatic and before mentioned by me - woody. It's perfection. I ordered a bottle (and a backup) and it smells somewhat different from my sample. Smells even better - to me!! It's a little more sweet although very delicately sweet like a bubbly, effervescent drink would smell. Only later it finally donned on me - my bottle ordered from the Chanel website is a newer EdP - that's right only then I realized my sample was of the EdT version, the older formulation. This fragrance just blends perfectly with my skin and hair. What a true pleasure it is to wear this. You see I love #22 but it is more of a go-out type a fragrance. Coco Mademoiselle extrait - would maybe overwhelm in a scorching sun. #18 "quenches the thirst" in the sun or becomes a perfect companion to the chilly air. It is my most prized perfume possession. It is my absolute perfection, my holy grain. Oh and the very first time "doctor's tools" impression has never come back. Even if that impression stayed - I would still consider it my most loved perfume. I absolutely love and cannot live without it. Oh I forgot to add that the fragrance is based on musk mallow!! Is that what makes it so effervescent? Because if You think this will be anything like let's say Clair de Musc by Serge Lutens or just about any other musk fragrance - this is so much different. It's not some beast mode like Coco by Chanel but it is very long lasting. It's so not linear it's crazy. I love it. I wanna frolic in a field of musk mallow flowers!!

With No. 18 EDP, Jacques Polge elevates and expands ambrette through highlighting its fruity facets, mostly that of Williams pear; vegetal hues; nutty, animalic undertones. The seeds of ambrette seed (Abelmoschus moschatus), resembling tiny nautilus shells with grooves, release an oil when crushed that smells incredible among naturals, and is also quite expensive in both oil and absolute form due to low yield and the many pitfalls to its cultivation. Jean-Claude Ellena has a great section on ambrette in his Atlas of Perfumed Botany. I highly recommend seeking it out if you want to dive deeper into natural botanical materials used in perfumery. So, here's the question: is there a lot of real ambrette in No.18. I am inclined to believe that there's probably more of it here than in most commercial perfumes claiming its appearance that are in the market, at least that is what my own nose tells me. I trust my nose nowadays—at least most of the time. The top notes most feel like the skin and flesh of pears, with perhaps a bit of cassis and a handful of red fruits. At one point, it has the aroma of Belle de Brillet, a liqueur flavored with Williams pear in a Brillet cognac. Then highlights of rose enter the scene, dewy, glistening, allowing the ambrette to bloom further. This eventually yields to that baby's head tenderness that ambrette imparts, especially when it is combined with none other than orris (Chanel, after all) and this is pièce de résistance of No. 18, when these two coalesce into a your-skin-but-better creamy muskiness. A gorgeous wear and one of the truest ambrette fragrances I've experienced in the market; dare I say, a reference ambrette. It's one from the Les Exclusifs collection that is deserving of more acclaim.

With great curiosity I've been visiting - during the last two weeks - the local Chanel shop as well as a large commercial cosmetics chain - that ironically now stocks 'Les Exclusifs' as well. I went on several occasions, to be fully sure how dramatic, or better, how disastrous this EDT becomes EDP farce is. 'Sycomore' has been annihilated into a generica thing, '31 Rue de Cambon' lost exactly that magic what made it so special, the same goes for '28 La Pausa' - but here we are with 'No. 18'. Together with the above mentioned, my favourite of the line and it being such a peculiar perfume for Chanel and their 'Les Exclusifs', utterly unique and futuristic, showing what an outstanding perfumer Jaques Polge was. With the new EDP version in fact everything seems fine. Did this happen by mistake ? Did the new perfumer forget to do something with it ? I remember when 'Boy' came out, it were the 'No.18' bottles that often were hidden in the Chanel counter's comported display systems, apparently to free space for the new creation - and sales assistants indirectly approving 'No. 18's unpopularity. In any way, relieved at least this one is still as marvellous as ever ! p.s. any psychoanalysts-les-exclusifs-fans amongst the community here - the Polge father - son - same trade - reformulation situation might trigger an interesting review...

A simple, yet elegant fragrance. Inarguably a daytime scent, with its luminous floral notes. No. 18 is a perfect balance of fruits and flowers. Ambrette tends to produce a soapy, clean, white musk-like aroma. I find that this note contributes significantly to No. 18. While iris is listed, it doesn't have a deep presence here. Not like Chanel La Pausa. The "woody notes" are also quite subtle; however, this is likely due to adding tones or balance. Overall, Chanel No. 18 is a very pretty floral, fitting for warmer weather or daywear. Could this be your wedding day fragrance? I think it certainly has the potential.

When I’m thirsty for a reminder of my childhood vacations to South France, I indulge in this EDP. Its syrupy centre will always remind me of Carrefour concentrate to be mixed with water, and my habit as a child of pouring far too much into a tiny glass: I always thought that there was no limit to a good thing back then. This precious window is surrounded by Chanel hallmarks: aldehydes, musk and that unshakeable, unexplainable and unique Chanelification! An extremely enjoyable chapter of Les Exclusifs and one that I treasure.

I love this as a man's fragrance. It sits well in the space shared by Diptyque's L'Autre (which is like a fraternal twin) and Geo. F. Trumper's Sandalwood Cologne (which is more like a second cousin once removed). The note profiles of these fragrances don't suggest much of a relationship, but I think that's more a reflection of the marketing language conventions than any experiential aspects. If you like any of these three, the others might be interesting for you to try—alone or in combinations.

If you've smelt Egoiste before, this is strangely reminiscent of it. The rose in Egoiste is replaced by a more generic floral/fruity note that blends with the woody notes in a sparklingly smooth manner. No 18 has a very different, distinct opening, with bitter (but alluring) ambrette seeds being the highlight, but after about 20 minutes the bitterness fades away and No becomes a more fruity, more floral, less spicy version of Egoiste (Egoiste is more woody and with a clear cinnamon note).

If Jersey is an abstract Tresor, this one is an abstract Egoiste. Not a fan of the ambrette seeds opening though (too simplistic I feel) and the whole "imprint" of the perfume can't rival that of "Egoiste" (the old one, not today's version of course). I like it enough, it develops gracefully and it has something slightly addictive (an underlying strength). UPDATE: Much like "Antaeus" , current "Egoiste" batch is a favourite. Actually, I bought one. So, forget my comment above.

The Chanel EDT Oddball. First glance seems almost futuristic. Ginger Ale and Grappa opening. Then an abstract artist's notion. Ambrette streaks across the Universe to meet a singular note of a Floral Essence Rose perfection. Then a snap back to a notion of something Icy and soul-less. Pure and Austere. Very soon a fade into a memory. Beautiful and very nearly Transcendent. A humongous bottle of this in EDT I am search of. So I may jump right in.

Am I the only one who smells a nasty skanky smell at first- like bo and rotten fruit? It’s really off putting and I nearly scrubbed it. I decided to wait and it was worth it. I finally got the ambrette musk and iris. Really interesting middle and drydown. I am thinking of buying it but that opening is really working against itself. Also, it doesn’t last long at all. In fact, there are better Chanel Exclusifs out there. I might save my money.

Elegant, innocent, has the chanel vibe but more modern. A strong musky woody iris predominates, adorned by timid vage fruity florals. Simple, beautiful. As it dries, wiffs of clean musk is what it is.The smell of clean skin. Could be the scent of the skin of an ethereal, fleeting grey-blue fairy, in the woods...7/10 (would be higher if it was less expensive)

Compared to the previous 18 EDT, it became woodier, muskier, and manly, and less metallic to me. and I think it has a cuminic nuance, whereas EDT has a strong carrot seed. I always wonder who would wear 18 EDT, but you could wear EDP more easily than EDT. Sometimes I miss the metallic and sour green and muguet nuance of EDT though.

Yes, this smells musky, but also very familiar. I actually like it. Even though I'm usually not a fan of iris scents, this dries down to a lovely, slightly sweet musk.

یک عطر کاملا مشکی و زنبقی که هر چه بیشتر ازش می گذره ماهیت مشک بشتر نمایان می شه. اما من چون کلا طرفدار زنبق نیستم، خیلی برام عطر خوشایندی نبوده

I find current formulation extremely weak - what are they doing? I sprayed 10 times on clothes and nothing left. It is a deception.

I’ve got recently this one. Really similar to Diptyque Do Son.