N°22 Eau de Parfum

On a trip to a Chanel boutique earlier this week, I decided to try No. 22. I have been on a bit of a floral aldehydic kick and this stuff was just what the doctor ordered. No. 22 opens with an explosion of aldehydes. Lilly of the valley adds a slight green note and a little bit of neroli hints at what is coming in the heart. But make no mistake, what dominates this opening are the sparkling aldehydes and they do not disappear until the late stages of the dry down. Heart notes are like a remix of the famous Chanel No. 5, with the animalic, indolic jasmine dialed down and the tuberose and yalang brought forward. Indeed, this fragrance was released a year after No. 5 as a more subtle, lighter take on the original. In the time before flankers, what we have here is a flanker packaged as an entirely new scent. At 99 years old, this fragrance manages to smell rather more contemporary than the centenerian original. I'm a guy and the florals here ease right up to the limits of what works for me. But with the aldehydes lending an airyness to the fragrance, the florals stay closer to feminine-unisex on my skin without tiping over into the heady sweetness that causes so many folks to read floral compositions as 'perfumy' or even 'girly.' No. 22 stays cool, smooth and dry even as the florals assert themselves. The base brings things back from the bright floral heights to the grounding of vetiver. There is a nutty, rooty tone to the vetiver here and combined with the last gasps of the aldehydes, this base is transcendent and just a bit soapy. It is also rather masculine. Late in the dry down, the aldehydes and vetiver fade away leaving a powdery vanilla. This fabulous powder lingers with faint projection for hours in hot weather. Lovely, luxurious, high quality ingredients dominate No. 22 throughout and they are all beautifully blended. This fragrance is No. 5's lovely, poised, jazzy younger sister. Charming and special, but forever in her famous older sister's shadow, she deserves a better fate because considered on her own merits, she is spectacular. To sum up, No. 22 is a wonderful aldehyde driven floral with the cool, silky androgynous sexiness of the 1920s flappers for whom it was composed. As such, in today's world, this gender-bending little minx of a scent has to be called unisex--at least for guys who are comfortable wearing floral scents. While No. 22 doesn't demand attention or compell responses like most of the other Les Exclusifs de Chanel, it definitely rewards folks who give its subtle charms time to grow on them. This fragrance offers: (i) great longevity and moderate projection; (ii) the lovely, luxurious presentation of Les Exclusifs; and (iii) for those who care about such things, the surprising ability at attract compliments when worn by a man. Three times on the hot summer evening on which I gave No. 22 it's second wearing, women asked what the amazing scent I was wearing happened to be. Two of the three told me it smelled 'incredible' on me. The third said "isn't that a woman's perfume?". " Not tonight; not on me," I responded. Recommended.

No. 22, EDP, 0401 (May - 2016 batch) #1 My version seems to be EDP before transitioning into Les Exclusifs line. At first sniff, this is very strong Aldehyde, it burns my nose. Yes, this is definitely vintage CHANEL-estique in the most way possible. I remember this kind of smell even I smell this many years ago. But this is much more soft, warm and gentle. It is soapy, in the kind of laundry way but it's still remains aspect of white floral strongly. It is quite easy to wear and understand, welcoming. I do understand now why this classify as Femme. But this is actually unisex, with strong femme floral quality. So It really depends on where you looks at, the soap or the floral. Being my first Chanel perfume from the upper line. I don't regret at all and I do enjoy the scent really much. Clean luxury soap but in the floral kinda of way. Very mild smokiness, so this is very wearable for me after all. As develop further, it become more like white floral powder. Very mild and gentle. Dry down to mildly sweet vanilla. Truly Devine. God, I love this. 9/10 - thank you. ===== Pre blind-buy record No. 22 seems to be the most mysterious scent to me, not in term of how it smell. But how it is presented in the Market. Here's why it make me wondering. - it is one of original scent release by Chanel, 1 year later than famous No.5 in original line. - It is re-release in late 10's in few concentration, in many line (EDT, EDP & Les Exclusifs EDP), it seems very experimental consider this scent release since 1922. It should be release in certain market already - and release the flankers instead. - It contains "Soapy" in most review, I personally like Soapy fragrance - so it is in my must try list. - Some find this quiet Unisex, while someone weight this Heavy on Feminine. - Some says this the Chanel-estique in the most way possible. - Some says this very Celesstial, White-cold. -my 1st from this line, and the oldest formulation in my collection (now oldest is Paco Pour Homme, 1976) I do not know how will the result turn out. I familiar with few note (being Jasmine, Rose, Vetiver, Lily of the Valley, Neroli and Vanilla). I fear Tuberose and Ylang-Ylang, this might be a total miss for me. I wish Vetiver is only ingredients to save me, for a bit of masculine feel. (I am gay but act/communicate in boy style, I do not wear heavily femme fragrance as it can be questionable in my workplace and I personally love blind-buy). My most closes guess now, is smell of Prada Infusion de Mimosa / Infusion de Orange Blossom. USD 88 for 140 ml. / 200 ml. bottles, for the record from my trusted local reseller. Please y'all, Wish me luck... on this one. It speaks to me and also fears me the same time. I will relocate my note to the correct page when I got actual bottle on my hands...

I'm beginning to think I've gone over the edge!! I've been obsessed with Chanel lately, looking for and acquiring several partially used vintages such as Allure EDT and No. 19 EDT, along with almost all of the 4 ml Les Exclusifs mini EDPs. This is on top of several I already owned in various vintages and concentrations.. Along the way I discovered a great love for Coromandel, and was able to purchase an almost full, authentic 1932. Since my state income tax refund arrived, I pulled the trigger and purchased a 2.5 oz No. 22 directly from Chanel, almost impulsively. I decided to generously apply my mini version just to be sure, and "YES!!!" I said, to no one in particular. No. 22 was my wedding scent - first marriage, 30 years ago - and at the time, it came in the white cannister and included various additional products. I had the white cannister, the dusting powder with the powder puff (a luxury I truly miss in perfumery in general), and the body lotion. It wasn't until afterwards that I discovered that it was considered to be Chanel's bridal perfume. I smelt fantastic! This was in 1991, when the big powerhouses reigned supreme. I felt very chic, subdued, and sophisticated in my gorgeous fragrance that was the antithesis of all that was mega popular at the time. Why am I sharing this long and likely boring story? Well, partially to highlight just how personal and evocative fragrance can be, and also to say I have no regrets about purchasing my new bottle. I'm completely prepared for the now unfortunate longevity issues with Chanel, but I don't care. I plan on spraying this on as often and as indulgently as I can. Because it brings me joy. And due to the passage of time, this doesn't smell any different than it did on the day of my wedding - aldehydes galore, stunning ylang ylang, beautiful, heady white florals, and that incomparable Chanel iris. Next on my list is a FB of Coromandel. That one will be on my husband - no. 2 - ; )! I have plenty of samples available to spray on whenever the urge hits me! Thanks for your indulgence if you read through this walk down memory lane.

Effortlessly chic, unmistakably Chanel N°22 opens on the skin with a burst of glorious, sparkling aldehydes carrying the signature of Chanel. While the opening of N°22 is dominated by aldehydes, here they bring forward neroli and a delicate touch of lily-of-the-valley. Within minutes the aldehylic opening softens as rose, a green and slightly indolic tuberose, and ylang-ylang rise to the surface. As the fragrance continues to evolve, and in entering the dry-down the aldehydes are still present, however by now the fragrance has grown noticeably sweeter in stark contrast to its ‘clean’ opening. I assume the sweetness here largely flows from the addition of vanilla, and how this plays against those florals at the heart of the fragrance. N°22 was released in 1922 created by the esteemed Ernest Beaux just a year after creating the highly acclaimed N°5 now synonymous with the brand. In fact, N°22 takes the best of N°5 and reimagines it for a modern audience. It’s lighter, fresher, sweeter and entirely more feminine. To me N°22 is a timeless classic. It’s a fragrance that will always be relevant. When I smell N°22 I think white linen, sunny days and elegant sophistication. Simply, it’s a fragrance that makes me happy. As for occasions N°22 would suit casual to formal and anything in between. It’s like that perfectly versatile garmet that can you can dress-up or down. Just pick it up and spray it on! N°22’s performance is fantastic. The fragrance lasts all day on my skin, with a heavy to moderate sillage. IG: Nathan__Jamesj

Earlier, I wrote my review based on a sample I got and I am rewriting my review as I bought a full bottle (75ml) of this masterpiece and kicking myself on why I didn't get the (200ml) which was in front of me and it isn't easy to find! The soapiest perfume I've ever smelled. It also smells very clean, comforting, gentle, feminine, friendly (as some Chanel tend to have a "stuck up" feel into it) but this one smells like you're a warm and inviting gentle person. For context, I have the aldehydes Queen Chanel no 5 Eau de Parfum, and it's flankers L'Eau and Premiere and in love with all of them especially L'Eau. But Chanel no 22 is another level of aldehyde and the gentlest and creamiest of the bunch. If you like aldehydes with a floral but creamy/buttery feel then 22 will serve you right. I think that's the effect of the Ylang-ylang and Tuberose. It lasts on me the whole day (on clothes) and I get whiffs of it as I move throughout the day which is really uplifting. I even still smell it the next day on my clothes. It is versatile in my opinion and can be used for day or night and any season. Also office friendly and I don't think it can offend anyone really. It can layer well with fresh citrusy perfumes if you needed an extra lift to make it a bit more young or for extra hot days. I'm getting the 200ml once my 75ml is finished.