Chant d'Extase

I found this perfume a few years ago, aimlessly roaming around in a Duty Free. I’ve always enjoyed smelling different fragrances but I didn’t think I was going to leave with a bottle that day! Until I found Chant d’Extase, that is. I was instantly drawn to the bottle and art on the packaging, but it was the scent itself that really captivated me. It’s aquatic, but not fresh...instead, it reminds me of swimming in the depths. It starts off bright but then lures you in. It’s sweet, but not in a very cloying or candied way...instead, as someone else already mentioned, the caramel dances with the other notes so it’s undetectable on its own. When the musk comes out to play, it envelops you...that’s my favorite part! It’s like an aphrodisiac. I wouldn’t classify this as a super “girly” scent despite having some sweetness to it, because there is a hint of masculinity in there too (as someone else previously mentioned). I can’t put my foot on why or how that vibe comes about, but it does, and it’s amazing. To me, this perfume is incredibly well-rounded because it’s a whole experience: from the sparkling opening to the mysterious, luscious drydown. Personified, Chant d’Extase is a siren in the water, beckoning you with her song. When she touches your skin, she takes you with her to a beautiful paradise. On me, this fragrance REALLY blooms in the warmer months - it gets humid here in the summers and Cd’E stays with me for the majority of the day. Not only is the longevity great, but so is the sillage imo because all day long I feel like I’m in my own little bubble, catching whiffs constantly (which I personally love, especially since it’s hard to come by these days...isn’t it?). And I must add, this perfume is a serious confidence booster! Not only has this been the most complimented fragrance in my collection, but it also makes me feel like I can carpe that diem. 10/10 Summertime Elixir ;)

In my hometown, we have a festival on Halloween that takes place right near the beach. Caramel popcorn and treats, fruit-flavored candies, salt air, sand and a whole slew of inviting, natural scents permeate the air, combining summer with autumn. It's a deeply magical experience, one I look back on with great happiness. This is exactly what Chant D'Extase is like. Raspberry, caramel and ocean water, with a hint of tangy spiciness from the ginger and pink pepper. This most unique perfume I've ever tried. It's the perfect middle point between airy, marine aquatic, and sweet, fruity gourmand, with some gentle floral notes just underneath. I've never smelled anything like this in perfumery, and it's so creative and magical. It truly fits the ethereal, fairy tale, almost Victorian mermaid art on the box, and the stunning, jewel-like, ocean-hued bottle. (Is this the most beautiful perfume bottle of all time? I don't know, but it's up there.) I feel like I've stumbled upon some mythical treasure. On my skin, it creates a sensuous, intimate scent bubble. And to my pleasant surprise, it LASTS! I sprayed one morning at 9 AM. 12 hours later, I could still detect it on my wrists, albeit with the softest of sillage. It's wishful thinking on my part, but Francis Kurkdijan should reformulate this, or at least create a new version for his own perfume house. If this were given the sillage and power of his other main scents, this would dethrone Baccarat Rouge as the perfumery darling.

Wow, instant love on a blind buy, I'm getting a fresh-but-comforting wave of salty notes mixed with light musk, swirls of lush caramel, and occasional notes of bright raspberry, tangy ginger and crisp lemon to accentuate. Picked this up after falling in love with Olympea Intense and looking for similar marine/salty type pretty scents for summer as I'm *SO* not a flowery-flowery girl and love me some spices and light gourmand yumminess in a fragrance instead; this is definitely similar to Olympea Intense but more playful and less....., well, "intense" :D .... can't comment on it's similarly or otherwise to OG Olympea as I have not tried that one! If I feel like a salt-encrusted, sexy, powerful warrior woman wearing Olympea Intense then with Chant D'Extase, the vibes I'm getting are pretty and playful "girly" mermaid, splashing and giggling with her sisters in the shallows. Since there's mermaids on the packaging I reckon it fits well :) What I'm not getting at all from Chant De L'Extase and I had been expecting, given the trademark elements of the Extase line, is rose: but I'm sure it's in there. I reckon this is a fabulous and fairly "safe" in all companies marine-fruity-floral for summertime daywear that would suit a variety of women and age ranges; it's definitely younger leaning than the majority of my personal "faves".

Why, why, why? Why did I wait so long to buy this? Because of the mixed reviews here I wasn't sure to blind buy. And that was so wrong! :) I love Chant, it instantly climbed up in my current top 5, and I can't stop wearing it. It's such an interesting scent, and it's hard to describe. It's very non-linear and morphs a lot during wear. It starts off very fruity, I immediately smell the raspberry. After a little while, I start smelling the sea notes (these aren't as strong as e.g. in Olympea). In the drydown, the caramel comes up, and I can still smell a bit of salt and raspberry. The jasmine is noticeable throughout the whole duration and it's beautiful. The composition is super interesting and unique. And even though it's very unique, I can hardly imagine anyone not liking it. Very blind buy worthy in my opinion. Francis is a genius. I love it and I've done something I normally don't do - I bought myself a backup cause it's a limited edition and I'm terrified of the thought of running out of it.

I am SO glad I didn't listen to a lot of others reviewing this perfume. This is absolutely amazing. Now I want to hurry up and buy a back-up bottle since it is discontinued. What I smell is a slightly sweet light floral and ever so slightly salty ocean air with a waft of caramel in the background. Envision this....you are wearing a light, slightly sweet floral scent, sitting on the sandy beach, feet in the warm sand, on a gorgeous sunny but a little brisk summer day and the scent of caramel popcorn making it's way over in the breeze from a vendor on the pier. I LOVE this. It definitely draws a complete picture to me. Just beautiful....it transports me to that scene / memory. Update: 5/3/2022: I did buy a back-up bottle. I love to wear this on sunny yet cooler spring days. It is so beautiful!!! Update #2 5/23/2022: Guess what?? I bought another back-up bottle! Yep, I love it that much. :)