The disappearance of No 22, Gardénia, Cuir de Russie, Bois des Iles testers from Chanel boutiques over the past few months has caused some consternation among the lovers of Chanel classics. The good news is that they are back, repackaged in the 200ml bottles for the Eau de Toilette and 15ml crystal flacons for the parfum. I had a chance to test them against the older EDTs and parfums I own, and if any reformulation took place, it was very respectful of the tradition. With minor exceptions, they are fairly close to the older releases, and they are still stunning. Above all, at the moment there are no plan to discontinue the Les Exclusifs parfums. In fact, I was tempted enough to add a new full bottle of Cuir de Russie EDT to my Chanel collection. The drier and more assertive EDT complements the iris heft of the parfum.
Adding: the main difference seems to concern No 22, which now has a stronger incense facet in the Eau de Toilette (I have not had a chance to try the new version of the parfum.) In fact, I much prefer it to the bottle of EDT I got less than 3 years ago.
Photo of Ernest Beaux, the genius perfumer behind Chanel No 5, No 22, Gardénia, Cuir de Russie, Bois des Iles, Bourjois Soir de Paris.
10 Comments
flacon007: Thank you for the good news! It is very comforting to know, that the old 4 scents are still close to what one is used and adores. February 21, 2007 at 3:19am
carmencanada: I think you know these scents better than I do, but that was also my appreciation when I smelled them in the shop. I’m also sorely tempted by Cuir de Russie edt: when you did a review on it a long time ago I remember some people actually preferred it for spraying on with abandon… I can perfectly envision myself going through the whole 200 ml! February 21, 2007 at 4:02am
~vanilla girl~: Now you have my curiosity peeked! I cannot wait to get to the city to try these,especially cuir de russie.
I read the chanel article in Allure,interesting! February 21, 2007 at 7:24am
Elle: Thanks for letting us know! Huge relief!!! February 21, 2007 at 7:43am
Judith: Oh, I am so glad to hear this! Only now, I too am tempted to supplement my parfum with a bottle of EdT.:) Well, not right away. Right away, I think I am buying 31. The only question is what to get for the sample bottle. . . right now, 18 is the front-runner, but La Pausa is not too far behind (and I like Bel Respiro and the Cologne, too). Taking votes. . . . February 21, 2007 at 8:13am
Judith: Oh, I am so glad to hear this! Only now, I too am tempted to supplement my parfum with a bottle of EdT.:) Well, not right away. Right away, I think I am buying 31. The only question is what to get for the sample bottle. . . right now, 18 is the front-runner, but La Pausa is not too far behind (and I like Bel Respiro and the Cologne, too). Taking votes. . . . February 21, 2007 at 8:14am
Madelyn E: Bois Des Iles is my most precious jewel in my fragrance collection – and memory. That Chanel has left it relatively unchanged – is ,along with many of your readers, a huge relief.
I am curious to retry Cuir De Russie – in the Parfum form. I did add a EDT bottle of Bois Des Iles – years ago during a visit to Chanel’s 31 Rue Cambon boutique. I prefer to dab rather than to spray.
Is Chanel No. 22 still available in the parfum form ? February 21, 2007 at 10:41am
Donald: Last Wednesday, one of the saleswomen of the street Cambon in Paris, certified to me that the perfumes (15 ml) Cuir de Russie, Bois des Iles, Gardénia and N°22 were stopped. Only does not remain the EDT!!!
That little of reaction of your share, and on the net too, to the disappearance of those 4 great perfumes!!! The saleswoman under heard the possibility of an exit future, but all the same… Is it an error of your share ?!?! February 24, 2007 at 4:56am
BoisdeJasmin: Donald, I contacted Chanel directly and asked to verify whether the parfums are in production or not. I was told that they are in production, only in one size and that there are no plans to stop them yet. February 24, 2007 at 12:35pm
Laura: V, this is so synchronistic–I found my bottle of Cuir de Russie edt yesterday in my box of out of season/out of favor fragrances and fell in love with it again. At this point, I much prefer it to the perfume–it seems more modern, less funky, more wearable. I also found a site from which to order samples of the new Exclusifs, as well as No 22, so I’ll be able at last to try them!
BTW, I’ve got your drawing at the top of my To Do list. I don’t want to roll it up and am trying to carve out the time to wrap it for packaging. Sorry it’s taking so long. March 2, 2007 at 5:40am