Paris – Riviera

They relaunched it in 2026 with a wicker basket purse thingy that I just couldn't take my eyes off. I simply wanted that in my life. Therefore, the perfume was a blind buy, and I really crossed my fingers that it didn't have that Chanel 5 & Gabrielle aftertaste, that synthetic molecule that just rubs me wrong. Well... it does have it, but this time I can ignore it just fine. A few words about my skin chemistry. They call me candy because almost all perfumes end up smelling like candy. Salty candy (fresh ones go here), anis candy (bitters), caramel candy overdose (fruity-florals), you name it. If there's any sweet note, I turn the whole thing into candy. Even masculine perfumes turn feminine (don't ask how CdG Black ends up smelling, just that I feel like I'm missing a whip). Onto our Riviera. It opens up with zesty florals on a background of the Channel signature molecule, the one behind #5. Luckily, it goes away when the top notes dry down, talking away the zesty notes with it. The perfume turns into creamy florals of a surprising elegance and finesse. My own sweet notes mingle through, but they dance together like perfect partners, and keep going for a long time. It's very hard to smell the base notes on myself, but what remains on the pillow is a sensual, flavorful aromatic reminiscent of yellow chartreuse. With addictive notes of "is it too early to call her?" and "I could smell this all day". I disagree that it's flat or linear. On me at least, it transforms perpetually and even from one day to the next it won't smell exactly the same. Very dependent on skin chem and temperature, and even how long it's been since the bottle was used. Maybe on clothes it evolves differently but I'm not a fan of spraying anything on clothes. I suppose it would be more predictable, however one thing is for sure: it's an elegant, woman-who-has-it-all perfume.

Olivier Polge and Chanel have captured my heart with the Les Eaux de Chanel collection. Two summers ago I was captivated by Paris-Deauville. Last year I couldn't get enough of Paris-Venice. This summer it is Paris-Riviera. In my perfume collection I've noticed that neroli can be played upon in many different ways. It can be sweetened as it is here with the addition of jasmine; or it can be given a dry herbal treatment as with the addition of lavender or other herbs. One example is Theirry Wasser's beautiful La Cologne Du Parfumeur which features African Orange Flower. My understanding is that Neroli and Orange Blossom are the same flower but extracted differently to give distinctive aromatic characteristics. Here Olivier Polge has acheived a perfect balance. The neroli is somewhat sweetened by the jasmine but the characteristicly dry and somewhat bitter petitgrain-like edges of the flower are left intact. The addition of orange gives a sweet citrus effervescence to the arrangement. It is gently spiced with the addition of sandalwood. In my mind, this touch of spiced orange aromatic distantly connects it to Hermes' Elixer Des Merveilles. The whole affair is lifted and tidied up with the addition of musk. It is the same musk that I smell in the base of Paris-Venice but dosed with a slightly lighter touch. The longevity is better than I would have expected with an EDT. Paris-Riviera is so pretty! I will be purchasing the lotion as I did also with Paris-Deauville and Paris-Venice. I like all three a lot. I might have to try another one in the collection next summer if I can pull myself away from these three.

Of all the major designers, Chanel seems to be the house where you can always trust the quality of each new perfume, and this has really been the case with their Eaux collection. Although these fragrances intentionally evoke the lighter and inexpensive eaux de cologne favored by Europeans in the summertime, they are made with top ingredients and are spectacularly balanced. The increase in quality and the fancy designer name means that they are quite a bit more expensive than most summer eaux; so it's a real question as to whether or not these are worth buying in full bottle quality. I did invest in a full bottle of Paris-Deauville because it seemed so special (and I have not once regretted the investment). Paris-Riviera would also be worth such an investment: it is that good. It's a beautiful summer blend of citrus peel, white florals, and sandalwood that comes off as light, refreshing, and (surprisingly) unisex. There's also just a hint of sweetness underneath from the benzoin that does not overpower this nor make it a gourmand, but adds to the overall richness. Like Paris-Deauville, it's also surprisingly stronger than most eaux, so the price for me would really be worth it. This makes me feel like a million dollars, which is what you want from any fragrance. Highly recommended. UPDATE, 6/12/23: I did just find a great deal on a 125 ml. bottle and I purchased it. It may be harder to find such deals for the Eaux collection because Chanel just raised their prices on them, and they are not always easy to find anyway in the USA. But they are truly remarkable colognes, and smell heavenly.

WOW, it has been about a decade (!!!) since I sampled a fragrance, and from first sniff, it stunned me like this. Not since I first encountered the beloved signature fragrance of my early 20's, Guerlain Gourmand Coquin, have I fallen this hard. You see, I am so picky. I am the millennial Goldilocks of women's perfume. I like sweet but not too sweet, floral but not screechy, fruity but not juvenile, and spicy but not unisex. Add patchouli and the whole thing becomes a wild card - will I love it or revile it? And so I heard about Paris-Riviera coming out and a week ago I headed to the Chanel flagship here in NYC. The salesman sprayed my arm and immediately there was this lovely pleasant harmony of jasmine, wafting on a breeze of light citrus, ever so slightly grounded by a sheer, transparent benzoin-warmed sandalwood. Every note works well together, none truly dominate, and the whole thing is like a gentle summer day where you can lay on a picnic blanket in the park, enjoying your friends in the sunshine, but not worry about sweating. Chanel Paris-Riviera is, for lack of a better word, simply so so pretty. This weekend I'll go back for a full bottle. And will probably get a backup soon, too. Also, icelle: This smells different from Dior Addict eau de toilette, which I have sampled several times, and is very lovely, but an extremely rich tonka-dominant sweet floral. When I sampled Addict on my skin, it quickly became too sweet and cloying, even in the freezing New York winter. I think at most that Paris-Riviera could be called a VERY watered-down version of that.

i got a sample vial and didn’t use it till recently .... now i instinctively take a sniff every now and then to catch a phantom waft to no avail even when it’s not in use. the opening is a pleasant hug of citrus-orange with a slight tinge of neroli which becomes much more pronounced during its drydown. then the neroli gives way to a tinge of subtle jasmine, which i personally much prefer to a screeching note like mugler alien. after a few hours, the sandalwood and benzoin comes through and what’s left is the house’s signature: white, aldehydic and powdery yet unmistakably chanel dna. very suitable for daily wear as it’s an inoffensive freshie and can act as a layering base for other more complex scents with its rather simplistic approach. with that said, it’s a more feminine leaning scent, but can definitely be unisex as well. what actually blew me away was the LONGEVITY. this thing lasts FOREVER on me. for an edt, i was expecting ~3 hours as most perfumes of similar caliber do on my skin chemistry, but one spritz can easily go through a full day and still leave a noticeable sillage, albeit faint. seriously considering picking an actual bottle up just for how insanely long it endures despite the slightly higher price tag. if one is looking for a versatile daytime scent that performs extremely well and has that mass appeal element + some disposable cash, this would be up there in my recommendation list for sure.

I bought this today, on launch date in my city. I couldn't wait. It is stunning--a bright, fruity-grapey orange blossom on a light vanillic sandalwood base; very transparent. It will be perfect and versatile for spring and summer. For perfume-lovers who prefer stronger or more complex scents with a challenging character, it will disappoint...and I know Olivier Polge gets some flak in the fragrance community from fans especially of his immensely talented father...but to be frank I find Olivier's creations to be more "my style" even if it is considered more basic or mainstream. Riviera smells of gorgeous quality, a reflection of the simple joys of nature and life. Very unisex, vibrant, and refreshing. I am delighted. Thank you, Olivier :) Two gentle criticisms. First, I wish it wasn't colored pink. Pink is not only overdone by now...it just doesn't smell pink to me. It smells white, or perhaps faint gold. Second...the Accords pyramid is mostly correct (citrusy, white floral, balsamic and woody are accurate) except it's not "warm-spicy" at all to my nose; I would replace this description with "Fruity". I wonder if this smells similar to Dior Addict Eau de Toilette, which I've never smelled but had my eye on for a while now. If anyone would comment, I would be interested.

Did not buy it myself, I kept wanting to smell it on my friend! TLDR? Smells like being sunkissed. Blistered mandarin and sweet sandalwood. The jasmine isn't indolic, which I'm grateful for, and is perfectly balanced. It's easy to get carried away with some of the notes listed, most of them tend to go sour on sweaty skin or wind up too generic smelling. I love that it is principally sandalwood, not a buttery Le Labo-esque mess, but a sea breeze. The sandalwood feels like a binding agent for all the other notes, it coasts for the entire life cycle of the perfume on your skin. Note: it does smell significantly better on skin than clothes. Warming it up seems to counteract the aldehydic lean of the opening notes. Seems like a lot of Chanel perform as such! Admittedly, younger me would shrink when I smelled aldehydes from the nozzle, quickly turn my nose up and say "ewww, old lady!" but this is so sunny and youthful. Not powdery at all, the benzoin is lovely and sort of smoky (?) A lot of houses have an obligatory variation of the ~optimal springtime scent~ with jasmine/sandalwood as the blueprint- but this is different in that it's not weighed down with a cheap muskiness.

From the maker of so many commercial bestsellers with (literally; Flowerbomb, Jimmy Choo, La Vie Est Belle) bomb sillage and notoriety and also cult classics such as Midnight in Paris, Riviera seems to be somewhat of a departure from Olivier Polge’s usual style and I would personally wish to smell more of these type of his creations. His offerings seem to swing between loud and bombastic to watery and bland, neither of which turn me on particularly. More akin to his creation Gabrielle yet infinitely sexier and more interesting, Riviera is a sophisticated fruity floral, heavy on the citrus yet undeniably sultry with creamy sandalwood in the base. Kind of like a sexed up Jour d’Hermes meets a toned down Twilly. If I didn’t know better, I’d think this an Hermès creation. This is summer evening date perfect (and I can vouch for its seductive efficacy). Sillage is gentle as is the perfume itself, just a lovely blend of fresh meets sultrier depths. I would very likely splash on a bottle of this if it were easily accessible to me and a little more purse friendly. I’ll have to make do with the remainder of the generous sample decant I was gifted instead.

I have to get this! I was at the store trying to decide which to get. It was between this one and Venice. I ended up buying Venice. It wouldn't have been smart for me to buy both at once at the time but I must say I think I like this one better than Venise. Venise is like a light whisper on the skin. I love it but I think this one I'm going to love even more. They were nice enough to give me a couple samples so I got to test it out on my skin and while with Venice I struggle to find the scent on my wrist after a while, this one has me smelling my wrist every minute. It lasts longer and the smell is stunning. To me the smell reminds me of candied flower petals and candied citrus peels with an ever so light bitterness or herbalness. It's fresh, citrusy, floral, slightly sweet, slightly bitter, clean, crisp. Definitely worth a purchase. Edit: I did end up getting the big bottle and regretted nothing. Now 3 years later in 2024, I still think about it. Will be getting it again soon!

Oh, how I've enjoyed this scent for casual summer evenings. I purchased it hoping it would evoke a Riviera feel of sitting on an open terrace overlooking water with the late Mediterranean sun overhead. And that is what I got. I'd describe Paris-Riviera as a dry woody floral - laced with warm orange citrus. It has the best silage and longevity of Chanel's Les Eau line, especially surprising with it being a toilette. And I use the perfectly matching lotion as well as the spray for more projection. It is unisex in my opinion, and I'd love it on a man as much as I love it on myself. It's casual fresh with a touch of romance. Chanel markets this line as casual, and I've found the rounded bottles are such a nice feel in your hand for spraying. The lotion lid simply turns with a twist to open at the very top. The entire presentation feels special and well thought out. This is one Chanel that will be a staple. So thankful for Olivier Polge and his talent.

When I first sprayed this, I wasn't the biggest fan. It reminded me of something out of the 80's (I couldn't tell you why), and there was this bitter green scent that I thought was petitgrain, which I can only take in very small doses. But then it dried, and I can't stop smelling my arm. The only note that really stands out to me is the neroli, which is soft and clean. The citrus isn't prominent, but adds a brightness to balance out the florals. I can't detect the sandalwood at all. Yes, it can be a little soapy, but I like my warm weather fragrances to feel clean and fresh. But at the same time, it's classy and elegant. I can imagine wearing this to work, an outdoor wedding, but also with a t shirt and jeans on the weekend to run errands. This is definitely full bottle worthy.

Yesterday I could test Paris Riviera bij chanel. The sales assistente was kind enough to give me a sample to test it properly at home after a shower. Chanel keeps me surprising time after time. They can still make perfumes as the best. Paris Riviera is a beautiful fresh unisex citrus floral fragance. More flowers then citrus. It reminds a bit of gabrielle edp and a bit of chance tendre but different enough to justify a fb of it. Sillage as the others from this line is strong by aplying and after a 15/30 minutes skinscent with more then 12 hours longevity. I have already a fb of Paris Venice but I do prefer the Paris Riviera. And this fragance do not smell as Dior Addict edt. This is far more elegant, softer, superior, richer.

It smells like: •orange vitamins •orange blossoms •orange juice •powdered vanilla •pollen •sweet grapefruit •candied mandarin •bubblegummy jasmine •sandalwood It's cheery, gorgeous and works well for me as a summer fragrance, more so than the others. I realized that it reminds me very much of Fragonard‘s Belle d’Arles, a recent purchase of mine. I double-checked and took the cap off the Fragonard, took a quick sniff of the nozzle, and I was amazed how similar they do smell. Belle d’Arles has amber and is a tad woodier. It also doesn’t have that Chanel quality about it that makes it seem just a little vintage. If you want more juice for less money and seek a thoroughly modern scent, definitely try the Fragonard!

White and yellow florals, citrus, very classic aldehydic sparkling chanelade. Refreshing for all but the most scorching humid weather when it might be a bit cloying. Leans ever so slightly feminine. Appropriately named for the Riviera...reminds me of pastel colored French mediterranean ocean front walks along upscale restaurants and cafes before turning into a grand historic hotel where the pleasantly air conditioned lobby smells of this. Beautiful. The drydown might be even better. Will have to give it a second wear. UPDATE: yeah, the drydown is classic Chanel...floral, creamy, aldehydic sparkle and class. Still too feminine for me, but enjoying it all the same. Scent: 8.5 / Sillage: 7 / Longevity: 7

Wonderful summer fragrance of the great master Olivier Polge created in 2019. A fragrance enlivened by the marked luminosity of the tart citrus notes and the purest white flowers. Sweet and sour, the Sicilian orange enhances the Mediterranean notes of neroli. Paris-Riviera evokes the holiday, the joy of living outdoors with childish light-heartedness, in the much-loved wonderful Côte d'Azur, in the freshness of its valleys and the beauty of its coasts. Mademoiselle chose to build her summer home here surrounded by her closest loved ones, enchanted by the warmth and Mediterranean scents that we find in this wonderful creation.

Blind buy win! It is floral, but there’s a juiciness to it- like nectar; I love it! I have the entire collection of the Eaux except for Biarritz. Deauville is a gorgeous citrus, Riviera a luscious floral and Venise a soft oriental- Biarritz is a nice citrus, but Deauville is better imo, and I don’t need 2 of the same genre. I could easily wear all 3 daily- Deauville in the morning, Riviera in the afternoon and Venise at night. A beautiful and well rounded collection, varied enough for each to have their own interest but certainly a cohesive concept and just perfect for the idea of a summer vacation, even in quarantine!

Such a gem and such bad comments! But it's actually a good thing that we all have different noses and tastes. Riviera is beautiful, tasteful, elegant, radiant and surprisingly long-lasting. It's also an endless compliment-catcher. I have a lot of perfumes, but I haven't heard a compliment from strangers in years. I've come to terms with the fact that at my age it will always be like this :-). But when I put on Riviera, I immediately get comments that I smell great. Of course, it's not important, Riviera makes me very happy on its own...but it's really nice. Chanel simply NEVER disappoints. I love it.

I love Paris Riviera! it is a bright feminine scent, with character and longevity, the neroli gives it kind of a summery vibe, but I believe you can easily wear it all season, as the balsamic undertone gives it warmth and the florals are so lovely! ..it isnt like a cologne type scent like Paris Biarritz...or Deauville, it is like a perfume full way..it smells so nice! it does have something of jour absolu by Hermes..I got it at a discount with is even better! lovely perfume !UPDATE= I gave it away as typically citrusy scents get a unisex edge, and I just didn't find it feminine enough to wear it.

An explosive burst of bright citrus and bitter orange peel opens the fragrance for the first 20 minutes, before settling into a jasmine–neroli bouquet dusted with benzoin. The result is an elegant, warm, creamy white-floral composition uplifted by lingering citrus nuances. It is simple, yet refined—quintessentially Chanel—beautifully suited for warmer weather. In winter, it takes on a different character: more skin-like, more benzoin-forward, and slightly soapier. That said, it is a luxurious kind of soap—refined, neroli-infused, and unmistakably high-end. I truly enjoy it. ✨

Paris - Riviera, a genuinely worthy addition to the Les Eaux collection. In the same vein as the previous Eaux releases, Riviera isn’t an overly complicated composition – I get sunbaked orange blossom with the faintest hint of indole, profusely zesty orange peel, and utterly delectable vanillic benzoin – it is though beautiful in its simplicity. Feminine leaning but potentially unisex, longevity is good at 6-8 hours with soft sillage (much better than I get with Venise, up there with Deauville) 7.5/10 Oh, and it is AMAZING layered with Bois des Îles.