Chanel Creme Pour Le Corps (Fresh Body Cream) : Review and Experiment

If a brand promises a separate product to extend the lasting power of its perfumes, it’s either a sign of a gimmick or technical problems with its fragrances. That being said, if your skin is dry, then you might notice scents vanishing quickly, but this trouble is solved by any good drugstore moisturizer. Where does it leave Crème Pour Le Corps Les Exclusifs de Chanel, Chanel’s rich body cream designed to be layered with the fragrances from its Les Exclusifs collection? It’s not quite a dull gimmick, but it’s not an essential product either.

creme chanel

Crème Pour Le Corps is an excellent moisturizer, and if your budget has space for a $130 body cream, then by all means, try it for that reason alone. The cream absorbs instantly, but it leaves my skin soft for hours, always a plus. On the other hand, there are wonderful products available from Avène, La Roche Posay, Eucerin, and Ren, and I’m not a big fan of jar packaging; for hygienic reasons I prefer tubes or pump dispensers.

The only reason I’d possibly consider Crème Pour Le Corps would be its purported ability to make the ethereal 28 La Pausa wear like iron. I think of 28 La Pausa as an iris cologne, and I use it lavishly as such, but at times I really wish this tender blend of iris, mellow woods and musk wouldn’t vanish so fast. Which is why I decided to experiment by layering it with Crème Pour Le Corps. I’ve undertaken said experiment with my usual geeky pedantry scientific precision. I’ve applied a layer of cream on one arm and added two sprays of 28 La Pausa. My other arm received just two spritzes of La Pausa, without any cream. I waited and sniffed my arms intermittently.

On its own Crème Pour Le Corps has a floral musky aroma, and just as its English name suggests, it’s fresh. There is a citrusy note reminiscent of lime zest softened in tea and a hint of watery jasmine. If you use it all over the body without any other perfume, it’s subtle (think Jo Malone cologne-like presence). I’m not sure if it’s worth the high price tag, but the cream smells very elegant.

Layered with 28 La Pausa, the cream does a good job supporting the delicate iris notes of this notoriously fleeting perfume. The musk is subtle at first, but after a few hours, La Pausa’s iris vanishes, and musk becomes more pronounced. Compared side by side, La Pausa is more tenacious with a cream layer, but I achieve the same effect if I just reapply the perfume. The cream is more interesting with Gardénia, Beige and No 22. While Cuir de Russie requires no layering to make it last on my skin, a touch of floral musk is a good addition.

The next stage of my experiment was to compare the lasting power of 28 La Pausa + Chanel cream and 28 La Pausa + Eucerin Daily Replenishing Moisturizing Lotion. Eucerin’s lotion is one of my favorite fragrance-free moisturizers. It’s emollient, fast-absorbing and even contains a small amount of antioxidants and Vitamin E. 28 La Pausa lasts the longest with Chanel’s cream, although I suspect that it’s mostly due to the musk from the cream, but it lingers really well with Eucerin. Eucerin retails for $6.99, making my final decision even easier.

Crème Pour Le Corps Les Exclusifs de Chanel (Fresh Body Cream) retails at $130.00/94 € for a 150 g jar. Available at Chanel boutiques and counters.

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126 Comments

  • Caroline: I too am a pragmatist when it comes to body lotions/creams, and my current preference is Eucerin Daily Replenishing. That said, I’ll indulge on occasion, and I do have a no 19 body cream waiting in the wings. For scented products, some of the Bliss body butters are very pleasant and non budget-busting. LOL at your geeky pedantry! October 2, 2015 at 8:14am Reply

    • Victoria: There are some excellent scented products, of course, and I have used No 5 cream in the past. It’s actually a great option for those who like No 5 but find aldehydes too strong. But usually, I like to scent my own favorite creams, since I have more leeway this way. October 2, 2015 at 10:20am Reply

  • Sandra: I must confess- I do own Coco Noir body cream in the jar. It is delicious and perfect for this time of year. However-my favorite body moisturizer is CeraVe Renewing Sa Lotion- I have dry bumpy “chicken skin” on my arms and this is the only lotion that seems to help with that. I also enjoy layering a dry oil with my moisturizer Huile Prodigieuse from Nuxe is my favorite dry oil. I have tried Bio Oil as well-but prefer Nuxe over that 10 fold. October 2, 2015 at 8:36am Reply

    • Danaki: I too have the same problem and found Nuxe to be the better as an oil. A good solution to “chicken skin” is to exfoliate once a week as well as moisturizing daily. I found that really helpful in my case. October 2, 2015 at 8:46am Reply

      • Sandra: Thanks for the suggestion. What do you use to exfoliate? October 2, 2015 at 10:07am Reply

        • Rosie: Hi Sandra – my second comment ever on this site and it’s to rave about a life-changing product! (I realise that sounds kind of tacky…) Paula’s Choice makes a BHA body lotion which is hands-down incredible for treating that chicken skin thing (which is actually keratosis pilaris). I had a huge problem with bumpy rough skin on the backs of my thighs – a little on my arms, but the thighs and bum were much worse. I found a couple of sample packets in my dresser that I’d got with an order 2 years ago and never used. After 3 days of applying liberally each evening (2 applications’ worth from each packet), my KP had virtually disappeared. After 6 days it had disappeared entirely. Needless to say I ordered a full bottle.

          The nice thing about it is that is also has some kind of ingredient which makes your skin feel incredibly silky and matte, so as well as the long term affect on KP it also makes your skin feel instantly lovely even before getting rid of the chicken skin. The not so nice thing is the weird melon candy smell, but it fades after a minute or so.

          Paula’s Choice also has an AHA body lotion which is recommended for KP as well, but since I have blackheads I went for the BHA/salicylic acid one. October 2, 2015 at 11:20am Reply

          • Rosie: Oh just to clarify: BHA is beta hydroxy acid, the same thing as salicylic acid. It is a chemical exfoliant – which simply means an exfoliant which does its job by chemically helping dead cells lift away from the skin surface, rather than physically scrubbing them off. Alpha Hydroxy Acid also does this, but BHA has the added benefit of exfoliating inside pores as well, which helps dissolve blackheads and prevent them from re-forming. October 2, 2015 at 11:23am Reply

          • Victoria: I second Paula’s Choice lotion. I have a large tube of it, and it’s one of the best things to remove the rough skin. It works on knees, elbows and feet too, and it’s very reasonably priced. October 2, 2015 at 2:44pm Reply

        • Danaki: Thanks Rosie for those suggestions. I’ve heard good things about Paula’s Choice but yet to find out how to get them in the UK.
          I use a more ‘custom’ approach. I got a good-sized freebie from Clarins, the body exfoliator which worked really well. It is grainy but seems to have an acidic element that helps. I follow this with plenty of normal body lotion or oil.

          Stubborn areas I treat with the Clarins gentle exfoliator which is for face but a few cotton swabs seem to help.

          I also use Palmer’s Coco Butter once in a while, less that I should because I don’t like the smell – it has BHA/AHA combi which helps. October 2, 2015 at 12:03pm Reply

          • Sandra: Thanks for these suggestions Rosie and Danaki. I will check out Clarins and Paula’s Choice. I really appreciate it. Didn’t realize this skin condition was so common! October 2, 2015 at 12:37pm Reply

          • Mer: Danaki, I was intrigued and googled around, found a NL/BE webshop, and now indeed, also found they have a UK webshop, rejoice!

            http://www.paulaschoice.co.uk October 3, 2015 at 5:16am Reply

            • Victoria: I order from the NL/BE site, and they ship very quickly and include many samples. October 4, 2015 at 2:33pm Reply

              • Mer: Excellent! I didn’t know this brand at all, but I’ve been trolling makeupalley for a while now :)) October 4, 2015 at 3:30pm Reply

                • Victoria: It’s a very good brand, and her page on cosmetic ingredients is excellent. I only don’t like that some of her skincare includes lots of silicones. Now, there is nothing wrong with them, but I layer my skincare, and silicone rich products don’t layer well. October 5, 2015 at 4:47am Reply

      • Victoria: I do this too. I love DHC Body Silker. October 2, 2015 at 10:21am Reply

    • Victoria: Chanel creams are very good, and I have a sample of Coco Mademoiselle cream which I really love. It’s strong enough to be worn instead of perfume. Fresh Body Cream, on the other hand, isn’t. It’s just a good moisturizer with a light fragrance. October 2, 2015 at 10:21am Reply

    • Andy: I too love the CeraVe Renewing SA line, though I’m using the cream rather than the lotion right now. (comes in a jar rather than a pump bottle, but the stuff works, so who am I to complain?) October 2, 2015 at 8:10pm Reply

  • Marsha: Victoria: Most of us have only met you through this blog, but I doubt very seriously that you could be called a geek! : ) October 2, 2015 at 9:01am Reply

    • Victoria: I really am and has always been one. 🙂 But I think that being a geek is a very good thing. I married one too. October 2, 2015 at 10:22am Reply

      • Marsha: I married a geek myself. Geeks do rule the world, you know. I sure to miss him. October 2, 2015 at 5:53pm Reply

  • Jovan: Victoria, any suggestions for extending Diorissimo? I was at The Osmotheque last month in Versailes and was fortunate to be able to smell the ORIGINAL Diorissimo.

    I then returned to the States and purchased a bottle at Saks. I must admit it smells very close to the original, although I know it was re formulated and I would love to extend the life of the scent as it’s quite costly and won’t last long with the way I use perfume. (I recently kicked an addiction to Clive Christian!)

    Love your blog and your “scientific experimentations”
    Scentcere Regards, Jovan October 2, 2015 at 9:18am Reply

    • Victoria: I would use any good lotion with a strong scent like Curel or Eucerin. Or you can try a lily of the valley scented cream, like the one by Yves Rocher, but I’d sample first to see how they layer. Diorissimo, reformulated or not, is still a complex fragrance, and some creams might clash. October 2, 2015 at 2:30pm Reply

      • Jovan: Thank you so much, Victoria! October 2, 2015 at 3:19pm Reply

  • Karen: Maybe a gift for the woman who has everything and is impossible to find the perfect present? But your note about it extending the musk note made me think that one could scent a favorite unscented cream/lotion with a few drops of the essential oil note you want to accent, and then apply your perfume. I usually spritz some of the perfume I’m going to wear in to the lotion on my hand before applying. Avon makes a really good unscented rich body cream that is a life saver for me in winter.

    But I must say that the sample of Portrait of a Lady body cream I received was incredibly luxurious and would be a perfect way to wear the scent in a subtler manner. October 2, 2015 at 9:33am Reply

    • rainboweyes: That’s exactly what I did to my Weleda White Mallow Body Lotion – I scented it with a blob of orris butter which makes it a perfect base for my iris scents!
      My favourite (almost) unscented body lotion is the Ultra Rich Body Cream by Living Nature. It has a very subtle vanillic smell (delicate enough not to bother my vanilla-sensitive nose). I’ll try to pimp it with some orris butter too 🙂 October 2, 2015 at 12:19pm Reply

      • Victoria: Gosh, that sounds amazing! Who needs a Chanel cream. 🙂 October 2, 2015 at 2:52pm Reply

    • Rina: Karen (et al), have you tried the Aerin Evening Rose? It’s a fabulous POAL dupe that, in lotion form, is much easier on the wallet and lasts forever! Layering on the perfume makes it last evening longer. I have both, but am more careful with the POAL but can go nuts with the ER if I want. October 2, 2015 at 1:20pm Reply

      • Karen: Thanks for the suggestion Rina! I have not tried it, but will definitely check it out. My wallet is looking for some bargains! October 2, 2015 at 3:04pm Reply

    • Victoria: Yes, definitely a good gift for someone special. It’s a very good product, but if you want a $$$ cream to extend the lifespan of a $$$ perfume, then there is something wrong in that equation. 🙂

      Frederic Malle body creams are some of the best. Estee Lauder, by the way, also makes amazing cream. I had a jar of Jasmine and White Moss, and it had more sillage than some perfumes. October 2, 2015 at 2:32pm Reply

  • Daisy: I love reading your experiments! Thanks for doing them and for going over your geeky step by step. Keep it up — and you can bet I’m going to to pick up some Eucerin during my next trip to the drugstore! October 2, 2015 at 9:38am Reply

    • Victoria: Eucerin is one of the best. Aveeno makes another one of my favorite creams. It absorbs instantly, leaves my skin soft and has no scent. October 2, 2015 at 2:32pm Reply

  • limegreen: Where would we BdJ readers be without your “geekiness” (it’s a compliment!)?! Thanks for a fun and educational read.
    I choose respraying from my small decant of La Pausa and that will be it. Very annoying that an exclusif would be so short-lived.

    L’Occitane did put out a fragrance layering cream that was for the sole purpose of complementing and extending perfumes (one of their lines). It is very lightly scented, barely there, and I got it out of curiosity/desperation to try. Oh, well, there was a reason the product was on the clearance shelf! 🙂 October 2, 2015 at 9:41am Reply

    • Victoria: I also think that a geek is a compliment. And really, anyone who write a perfume blog is a geek by definition. 🙂

      28 La Pausa is one of my favorite irises, but it’s really too fleeting. Another fleeting favorite is Hermes Osmanthe Yunnan. It has everything I love, and for the 15 or 20 minutes it lasts, it’s perfection. October 2, 2015 at 2:35pm Reply

  • Hamamelis: It is a bit of a gotspe of Chanel to sell an expensive cream because their most expensive fragrances don’t last…But perfumistas have a secret weapon against these tricks…our geeky V. and we are very very happy about that. Thank you!

    The lovely Steven of Place Vendome gave me two small jars of this cream (together with an incredible amount of other samples and small decants). I will save the cream for the less tenacious Exclusives, and their beauty forgives their fleetingness. October 2, 2015 at 10:20am Reply

    • limegreen: H — so, one gathers you had a great time on your scent visits? How was Grasse? October 2, 2015 at 10:46am Reply

      • Hamamelis: Limegreen it was all fantastic, waiting for the scent diary to submit a full report ;-). Only I fell ill before, during and after and am still struggling, bloodtest show a viral infection that will take a while. Unusual for someone my age, not dangerous at all, just exhausting. I have felt too tired to comment most of the time, today is a good day! October 2, 2015 at 11:15am Reply

        • Victoria: I hope that you recover quickly! Hope that you could still enjoy your trip. October 2, 2015 at 2:43pm Reply

        • Karen: So sorry to hear that you were/are under the weather. Here’s to getting completely better – glad you had a good time despite health issues. October 2, 2015 at 3:00pm Reply

          • Cornelia Blimber: Ach Hamamelis, what a pity! The good thing is that you enjoyed your trip nevertheless and that it is not dangerous. October 2, 2015 at 4:51pm Reply

        • limegreen: Sending you lots of good thoughts and well wishes for a recovery, Hamamelis! Did it affect your ability to smell completely? Do take care, looking forward to Scent Diary to hear about it in detail! October 2, 2015 at 6:34pm Reply

        • angeldiva: Hi Hamamelis!
          Get well soon! I hope to take a similar trip next year, and need advice!
          Love,
          Angeldiva October 3, 2015 at 7:12pm Reply

    • Victoria: 🙂 My samples also came from Place Vendome when I was there to buy my Nahema, so I had a chance to play with them. The cream smells very good with some perfumes in particular, although I wouldn’t buy it solely for that reason.

      By the way, Guerlain has released a similar product. October 2, 2015 at 2:40pm Reply

  • Wendy: Thanks for this article! I’ve been wondering for the longest time about the Les Exclusives cream. I’m probably better off buying the creams for my favourite scents individually, and try the Eucerin. I do love the Chanel creams and lotions! At $130, I’d rather have the cream and lotion that’s already scented. October 2, 2015 at 10:52am Reply

    • Victoria: Yes, it’s better just to buy a lotion with a scent you like, rather than such a niche product. For instance, if Beige EDT doesn’t last on you, you might as well buy the extrait de parfum, instead of the EDT + the cream. Chanel doesn’t make specific creams for each of the Les Exclusifs, though. October 2, 2015 at 2:42pm Reply

  • Mer: I am using Eucerin for a few years now. I was using Clarins previously but gradually their products changed and weren’t that good for me. I have ultra dry skin, and now I’ve got some eccema problems that only Eucerin has been able to sort of manage.

    I remember your comment that unscented creams may interfere with scent since some have ingredients meant to cancel odors. Due to my very dry skin perfumes tend to disappear, and after reading your comment I am even more hesitant to mix them with an unscented cream. I don’t see myself spending +100 on a scented cream though :S and in any case I have trouble smelling musk, unless it’s that fabric softener type of musk that gets in your sinuses to not leave you alone ever again 😉 October 2, 2015 at 11:26am Reply

    • OperaFan: Hi Mer,
      Have you tried using pure jojoba oil on your skin as a base before applying your fragrance? Years ago, I remember AnnS (a NSTPERFUME commenter) mentioning this trick as a very effective way of fixing perfume on dry skin. October 2, 2015 at 11:46am Reply

      • Mer: Hi Operafan, I was actually gonna ask about that also, but removed it from my comment since I thought it was getting too long :)) I used to always have jojoba oil at home for my hair (it’s curly and also extremely dry) and my bf’s (which is very long so good for the old, old tips). At some point we ran out and I never got more since we started experimenting with camellia and argan… I like that I cannot perceive any scent and that jojoba doesn’t go rancid, I am gonna get another bottle : )) thanks for the tip! October 3, 2015 at 4:50am Reply

        • Victoria: Argan is one of my favorites, but it does leave an oily scent. Camellia is better in this regard. October 4, 2015 at 2:29pm Reply

          • Mer: My coarse hair likes argan, coconut, and even olive oil. Argan is too heavy for my bf’s hair, which is normal thickness and wavy-straight, camellia or jojoba is best for him. I think the porosity of the hair makes a big difference. October 4, 2015 at 3:34pm Reply

            • Victoria: My hair is too fine for most oils, but an occasional coconut oil mask gives a mirror-like shine (and no oily residue, although it does make my hair too lanky). October 5, 2015 at 4:48am Reply

    • Victoria: Clarins has changed many of their formulas, according to the Ici Planet XS SAs. I noticed it, because some of the products that used to be alcohol free now include alcohol.

      It’s true, some unscented lotions can change the smell or even tone down the fragrance, but not all are made with the odor cancelling compounds, so it’s a matter of experiment.

      Fresh Body Cream does smell like fabric softener, come to think of it. Very expensive fabric softener. October 2, 2015 at 2:47pm Reply

      • Mer: Wow, really? under the same names? the products I used to use do not even exist anymore. They seem to be now catering to other skin types, I suppose. They used to be excellent for dry skin.

        Sigh, I’m always lazy to experiment with skin products, hehe. If I didn’t have to be careful with eccema and so on I’d just use Kruidvat… not too bad sometimes! I use their sensitive baby bath gel exclusively, best wash I’ve ever used.

        Well, I do not even use fabric softener, wouldn’t ever consider expensive fabric softener 😀 October 3, 2015 at 4:55am Reply

        • rainboweyes: I have eczema issues too, that’s why I mostly use Weleda White Mallow Body Lotion I mentioned in my comment above. Normally it comes unscented but you can add a few drops of any essential oil – I already tried vanilla and sandalwood, and now also orris butter.
          Oceanwell is another brand with great products for atopic eczema. October 3, 2015 at 9:54am Reply

          • Mer: Thanks rainboweyes, my eczema issues are mostly on my eyelids and brow though 🙁 October 3, 2015 at 6:13pm Reply

        • Victoria: Yes. I don’t remember which products they were, but she just commented about the changes.

          We use the regular Chat softener. The expensive kind tend to be the organic ones, but I’m allergic to the pseudo-science that you have to buy into as well. I can’t read things like “this product is chemical-free”. October 4, 2015 at 2:32pm Reply

          • Mer: I am now using a white brand “hypoallergenic” (which is probably just watered down 😉 ) detergent and that’s it. I don’t want to risk it with my skin issues, especially with towels which touch my face, and I do actually like my towels a bit rough, but ever since we installed a water softening system, I think it wouldn’t be necessary to use softener anyway. I suppose in Brussels you also have this dreadfully hard water 🙁

            I am also extremely allergic to pseudo-science! I’m always grumbling when I read the marketing for these products ;D this is sadly invading all aspects of life. October 4, 2015 at 3:39pm Reply

            • Petunia: I usually substitute white vinegar for fabric softener. It works great and isn’t bad for you. October 4, 2015 at 11:05pm Reply

              • Mer: I have tried this, I already use vinegar for some household tasks. But I haven’t really noticed a difference. Perhaps you have to add half a bottle? hehe October 5, 2015 at 4:59am Reply

                • Victoria: I’m afraid that with our hard water in Belgium, vinegar won’t do much. We don’t own a house, otherwise, we would also invest into a water softening system. October 5, 2015 at 6:04am Reply

            • Victoria: Hypoallergenic is the biggest myth in the beauty industry. The label means nothing at all at this point. I do like one type of organic dish washing liquid, but only because of its smells (lime and basil). My husband, who washes the dishes, refuses to use it, because it doesn’t wash anything off. He, as a scientist, has even less patience with the “all-natural”, “chemical-free” marketing than I do. October 5, 2015 at 4:51am Reply

              • Mer: I figured so much… I just tried this one and it washes well enough and doesn’t have a scent. And it is dirty cheap (colruyt). I use white brands anytime I have a chance, in the last decade or so they have become excellent products, often superior to branded products, I think.

                I mostly am the one to do the dishes, I also prefer a detergent that gets the grease off 🙂 I’m craftsperson by training but also got together with the scientist type. October 5, 2015 at 5:11am Reply

                • Victoria: I’ve seen these brands around here too, and yes, they aren’t expensive and often very well-done. I don’t remember what we’re using at the moment, though. My husband is in charge of buying the cleaning products, although I exercise the veto power in regards to scents. 🙂 October 5, 2015 at 12:54pm Reply

      • Mer: And, you’ll excuse me but I have to mention, I don’t know if “Ici Planet XS” is a typo/Freudian slip, or you did it on purpose, either way, brilliant, and I’ll now refer to the compound of both these shops (I confuse tem always and have to stop and think…) as “Ici Planet XS” LOVE IT 😀 October 3, 2015 at 5:01am Reply

        • Victoria: A slip, but they’re close by, and I can’t easily differentiate them. Apart from the fact that Ici Paris sends me coupons every months. 🙂 October 4, 2015 at 2:33pm Reply

          • Mer: I used to get the odd Planet parfum promo, but then I moved and forgot to change my address 🙂 I think I only ever used one to buy a Lutens, and at the shop they were convinced it couldn’t possibly be included… I think they forgot to add Lutens to the tiny text list of excluded brands, nice discount for me!

            Now they have all the interesting testers behind locked doors and I don’t feel like visiting their store anymore… October 4, 2015 at 3:43pm Reply

            • Victoria: I don’t like the locked testers either, but there are few stores in Brussels where you can browse at peace, so I don’t mind. October 5, 2015 at 4:52am Reply

  • rickyrebarco: I love that Chanel body cream. Thanks for the reminder. I have some left that I need to use! It’s perfect with Beige and La Pausa in my opinion. I also like it very much with Chanel 1932. I swear by Sisley rose oil and Lancome Extrait for facial moisturizers but the Chanel is a great moisturizer that makes softer fragrances last longer on your skin. October 2, 2015 at 11:32am Reply

    • Victoria: Does Sisley Rose Oil smell like rose? I was curious, but at our perfumery, the tester is treated like a precious relic and haven’t had a chance to try it. It’s far too rich for my skin, but I’m still intrigued by the name. October 2, 2015 at 2:48pm Reply

      • Sandra: Chantacaille makes a nice rose oil for the face that does smell like rose. It works well but find that it makes my fine hair a bit greasy around my face.
        I have tried Sisley and I felt that it didn’t do much for my skin – October 2, 2015 at 3:05pm Reply

        • Victoria: I like Odacite facial oils, and they have one scented with rose geranium which is wonderful and not greasy at all. October 4, 2015 at 1:33pm Reply

  • OperaFan: I am also thankful for your geekiness in conducting scientific experiments such as these to keep us all from being all too eager to empty our wallets.
    There IS one Chanel scented moisturizer that I wouldn’t mind splurging on if I ever manage to put a dent in my ever-growing inventory of body moisturizers: Coco. Someday….
    🙂 October 2, 2015 at 11:51am Reply

    • Victoria: As I mentioned earlier, Chanel makes some of the best scented body products to match its perfumes. Chanel No 5 Hair Mist, for instance, is amazing. So, I completely understand your love for Chanel’s Coco cream. October 2, 2015 at 2:50pm Reply

      • Joy: I once had a bottle of Chanel no. 5 milk bath. It was gorgeous. My whole house would smell of Chanel no.5. Plus my skin after the bath would also smell of Chanel no.5. I haven’t checked to see if they still make it. October 2, 2015 at 3:12pm Reply

        • Victoria: I had Coco Mademoiselle body milk, and yes, it was the same way–whenever I used it, the whole house smelled of it. It was even better than the perfume. October 4, 2015 at 1:47pm Reply

  • silverdust: EL has also gone the “base body cream” to make their reformulated lines of their best sellers last longer. My beloved Aliage is a mere shadow of itself. The SA quickly started hyping the body creme. Seems like a money grab, pure and simple. October 2, 2015 at 12:36pm Reply

    • Victoria: I haven’t seen the EL one, but I’ll have to check it out. It does sound gimmicky to me, especially at EL, a brand that historically has been known for its sillage bombshells. October 2, 2015 at 2:53pm Reply

  • maja: I am more into geeky, organic body lotions but sometimes you have to bear with a really bad smell 🙂 The only high-end cream I have tried is Lipstick Rose by FM and, omg, it’s fantastic. I would most certainly buy it if I had 60 euros for a body lotion. 🙂 October 2, 2015 at 12:42pm Reply

    • Victoria: Which organic body lotions are you liking these days, Maja? October 2, 2015 at 2:54pm Reply

      • maja: Lavera, Weleda and Dr. Scheller. I am curious about other brands, too, but I promised myself not to purchase anything until I finish the ones I have. 🙂 October 3, 2015 at 7:10pm Reply

        • Victoria: I also try not to stock up on too products, because they don’t stay fresh. It sometimes can be hard, as I learn of new interesting brands from the comments here. October 4, 2015 at 2:49pm Reply

  • Mo: Victoria–I really appreciate this review. I treated myself to a bottle of Chanel No. 22 parfum (for me a huge splurge!) while in Chicago a few weeks ago. The S/A wanted me to sample this cream as well. I did and it certainly felt nice on my hand, but I couldn’t imagine it creating the kind of magic its price would promise. Your review strengthens my resolve to stick with my good ol’ Curel unscented lotion this winter. 🙂 Thanks! October 2, 2015 at 1:53pm Reply

    • Victoria: There wasn’t much magic for me. It’s just a very good moisturizer with a pleasant scent, but for my money, I’d rather select something else.

      Congrats on your No 22 parfum. Now that’s a real jewel. October 2, 2015 at 2:57pm Reply

    • solanace: Way to go. Here´s wishing you two will have a great time together. October 2, 2015 at 3:30pm Reply

  • Aurora: I’m so grateful to the geek in you as it is very curious to experiment for the benefit of your readers. I recall using a night cream by Eucerin last winter and very good it was, your timely post inspires me to put it back on my drugstore list. October 2, 2015 at 2:01pm Reply

    • Victoria: It was a very fun experiment, and I got curious about it, since the claims were so grand and the promises rich. 🙂 On the other hand, I got a chance to sample and compare several of my favorite unscented lotions. Eucerin came out as one of the best. October 2, 2015 at 2:59pm Reply

  • Joy: I really enjoyed your article today, Victoria. I had to chuckle as your description of your experiment brought to mind the process always used in my favorite cooking magazine, Cook’s Illustrated. It is “the scientific process”. The editor of this magazine takes the reader through all of the trial and error to develop the very best results in a recipe.
    I also agree with you that it is a much better deal to purchase a good quality skin cream, then apply perfume, rather than purchasing a very expensive skin cream to compliment a perfume. I also use Eucerin. I sometimes use Nivea, but it has its own strong fragrance. I have found that during the holiday season, most department stores package a perfume with its own scented cream. I know that Chanel would not do this for Les Exclusive, but I have seen no. 5 packaged this way.
    I have found a couple of scented lotions in the Bath and Body Works line that I liked. I have never liked any of their spray perfumes, as they are so strong, sweet, and artificial smelling. A body creme that I do like is Pres de Provence, Milk. The fragrance of this creme is delicious. I have never figured out what I could layer with it.
    I love Chanel fragrances. They are so beautifully made, that it is hard for me to get past them to commit to other fragrances by purchasing a FB. I have several Chanel FB’s.
    Thank you for such an enjoyable article. October 2, 2015 at 3:08pm Reply

    • Victoria: BBW does have good lotions, doesn’t it? They’re actually quite proud of their body care range, and justly so. Plus, there is lots of diversity in the offerings.

      As for Nivea, I love it, but I agree with you, its scent is too strong to layer with anything. Unless you think of it as a separate perfume and then play to create your own combinations.

      Very glad that you liked the article and the geeky experiment. October 4, 2015 at 1:42pm Reply

  • solanace: I think Yves Rocher olive and avoine lotions both smell neutral enough yet nice, absorb fast and leave my skin very soft. But I once had a No 5 cream that was scrumptious, so yeah, this sounds real nice for someone who has several exclusifs to play with. I´d personally spend my bucks on a scented Chanel cream, though. Probably Coco, for the yuminess factor. October 2, 2015 at 3:24pm Reply

    • Victoria: I need to try this lotion. I had their peony, mimosa and jasmine scented ones, and they were very good. They had a strong scent, but it layered well with florals. October 4, 2015 at 2:24pm Reply

  • Andy: What a great experiment–and totally with you there on wishing for La Pausa to last longer. I don’t tend to have longevity issues, but this one just seems to vanish on me! Somewhat unrelated, but your mention of Eucerin reminds me of my new favorite product discovery, it’s their cleansing oil body wash–I apply it before a shower to limbs, and after giving the oil a bit of time to sink in, it washes away without greasiness, leaving moisturized skin behind. Works like magic! October 2, 2015 at 8:25pm Reply

    • Victoria: Oh, this sounds terrific! It makes me think of one of my favorite treatments–rubbing oil into the skin with a Japanese scrubbing cloth and then taking a shower. It leaves skin silky soft. October 4, 2015 at 2:27pm Reply

  • A: There are many other things I’d splurge on for $130 rather than a jar of body cream. Even if I were a billionaire I wouldn’t buy it because the price is so overinflated. I don’t like being taken advantage of and that is how I’d feel if I bought that. October 3, 2015 at 12:09am Reply

    • Victoria: You do get a very good product, to be fair, but yes, $130 is excessive. October 4, 2015 at 2:27pm Reply

  • C.H.: Delurking to say thank you so much for this thorough evaluation of something I’ve been wondering for years now! Price aside, I actually really like it, but had very much figured I was being duped by a gimmick! (A scented product compatible with ALL their fragrances? It sounds pretty gimmicky!) Glad to know a trusted nose also finds the scent pleasing, if not the showstopper one might hope for in a scented body product at that pricepoint. Thank you! October 3, 2015 at 12:16am Reply

    • Victoria: The truth is that unless you want all of your perfumes to end up smelling the same way, it doesn’t work that well. The musky base is very strong, and in case of 28 La Pausa, it dominates!

      Thank you for visiting and for commenting. October 4, 2015 at 2:29pm Reply

  • Kaat: i use several lotions or body creams, i one lotion from Chanel nr19 what is very delicate not overwhelming and layer perfect with Chanel poudre, i one the Coco Noir creme and lotion, i like those creams, the Eucerin is useful to layer, i have and had not troubles layer then,
    Mitsouko body lotion, lingers all day long on the skin so i do not need to spray the edp, my skin is dry to very dry sometimes, so it leave it soft and gentle,
    this summer i bought in Place vendome, the Amouage Lyric body cream, its very wel scented and let me soft and with a pleasant fragrance all day long, 200ml for 110euro not cheap, but i notice it is a cream that needs a small amount to comfort the whole body, October 3, 2015 at 9:49am Reply

    • Victoria: I heard very good things about Amouage creams and lotions, but I haven’t tried them yet. I only samples their shower gels, and they weren’t that true to scent. October 4, 2015 at 2:34pm Reply

      • Kaat: wel for the creme, the fragrance is very close to the perfume, and stay for several hours, the creme is thick, but spread out very wel.i have no idea for the soap and gel, but the cream is very good, October 7, 2015 at 7:26am Reply

        • Victoria: Thank you, Kaat. I will try it. October 8, 2015 at 9:32am Reply

  • Patricia: I have the no.19 Body Cream and adore it. It’s perfect for a small touch of no.19 before bedtime. I haven’t tried the Fresh Body Cream, though. If I were ever to purchase another Chanel Body Cream, I think it would be Coco. October 3, 2015 at 2:17pm Reply

    • Victoria: I now crave No 19 Body Cream. 🙂 October 4, 2015 at 2:35pm Reply

      • Tati: Question: I have the no. 19 Lotion but don’t see no. 19 Body Cream on the Chanel website. October 5, 2015 at 12:46pm Reply

        • Victoria: Perhaps, there is no such thing as a cream. I’m not sure, I only saw the lotions at the store, but for the holidays Chanel always releases limited edition products, so maybe that’s what was being discussed earlier in the comments. October 5, 2015 at 1:55pm Reply

  • Lucretia Trollope: Tons of denatured alcohol. Tick.
    Phenoxyethanol. Tick.
    Average product with tons of marketing. Tick.
    Overpriced. Tick.

    No thanks.
    Chanel skincare is absolute rubbish. October 3, 2015 at 5:53pm Reply

    • spe: Chanel extraits are amazing. I’m going to pass on the cream as I don’t care for its smell. October 3, 2015 at 10:30pm Reply

    • Victoria: I don’t agree with you entirely, but you know, your mileage may vary and with skincare especially, so I won’t argue. Some of their products are very good. This cream is nothing extraordinary, though. Then again, if I can get a great moisturizing effect for my legs out of a $6 cream, I surely won’t spend $130. October 4, 2015 at 2:45pm Reply

  • Lucretia Trollope: Also buying skincare just because it smells good is not an intelligent decision. October 3, 2015 at 5:55pm Reply

    • Lucretia Trollope: Parabens . Tick.
      Butyls. Tick. October 3, 2015 at 5:56pm Reply

      • Lucretia Trollope: Coupled with the fact that Chanel refuses to publish a full list of ingredients on its website. Why do they wish to keep consumers ignorant? Are they trying to hide something? are they not confident about the quality of their skincare products?
        What superb, rare and unattainable ingredients they are claiming this time? None known to those versed in bio-chemistry. Mind: FDA regulates all ingredients to be listed on packaging. Otherwise Chanel would never let us know what ‘miracle’ lies concealed in their creams. The price tag only reflects the branding. That’s it.
        If anyone knows what holy and superb ingredient never before known to mankind exists in this exorbitantly priced cream, then let me know. October 3, 2015 at 6:14pm Reply

        • angeldiva: Rock On, Lucretia! October 3, 2015 at 6:59pm Reply

    • Victoria: Nobody here is talking about buying skincare only because it smells good. It’s a given that in skincare decisions other factors get more weight. But in terms of scented body creams, yes, the fragrance is a major fact. October 4, 2015 at 2:37pm Reply

  • Tiffanie: Thank you to Patricia and several others who have mentioned enjoying the Chanel body creams. I’ve been tempted to try Chanel No. 5 body cream for several months now.

    At the same time I’m a fan of Aveeno and Eucerin products. They never let me down. 🙂 October 3, 2015 at 6:19pm Reply

    • Victoria: I need to review the No 5 body cream separately, because it’s wonderful. If you like No 5, but want a lighter, less aldehydic version, the body cream will be perfect. October 4, 2015 at 2:47pm Reply

  • angeldiva: OH! How I love a side by side comparison! Maybe it’s because I worked with the man who was the brainchild behind the ,”Folger’s Taste Test.” This was a TV commercial campaign that ran for decades on Us television.
    Recently, I placed Apres L’Ondee on one arm. On the other I layered L’Heuere Bleue under Yardey -Iris.
    I could faintly smell the Apres, but the layered effect was potent, and lasted until the cows came home. I couldn’t tell the difference between the two in any other way.
    Out of all the samples I just purchased ( good-bye $39.00 US) I wouldn’t want an FB of any of them ! LOL
    Maybe the above $130. cream would have made it possible for me to even smell Chanel- Biege which was sooo faint. I guess I’m just not an Exclusif Woman !! LOL But, that’s Ok.
    I would buy a FB of Knize Ten if I had a husband who deserved it!
    Also, notable for it’s exotic, spicy, mysterious nature is Caron: Bellodgia. Thank-you, Tomate! This is a good Halloween fragrance. In fact there should be Halloween Family Of Fragrances.
    As far as perfumed creams, and layering: nothing beats my Whipped Bronze Goddess Cream, under the Eau Fraiche! I went thru half the FB of Bronze Goddess spray this summer! October 3, 2015 at 6:58pm Reply

    • Victoria: That Bronze Goddess layering combo sounds perfect!

      But I’m mostly intrigued about you working with the man who masterminded the Folger’s Taste Test. 🙂 You have the best stories, Angeldiva. October 4, 2015 at 2:48pm Reply

      • angeldiva: Indeed! His name is Bob Pritikin, and he is till alive.
        He wrote a sacrilegiously named book about his life in advertising:
        “Christ Was An Adman”
        He is a CHARACTER!
        He writes of a party he organized for the Folgers coffee family. Well, he thought it would be clever to have a girl wearing a coffee bean suit. She was completely covered except for her legs where she wore tights.
        Well… Bob kept missing the location of the coffee bean. She just was never where she was supposed to be.
        He eventually discovers that she had been taking men upstairs, and TURNING TRICKS.
        Talk about a sales job… I mean she covered in a coffee bean suit! October 4, 2015 at 11:45pm Reply

      • katherine: Great stories indeed. Love them. Thanks Angeldiva! October 6, 2015 at 10:57pm Reply

        • angeldiva: You are so welcome! All true, too! October 7, 2015 at 1:12pm Reply

    • Mer: I got a sample of Knize ten for my BF to try. I tried it first and immediately decided that it’s ME who deserves the full bottle 😀

      I would have never reached for a bottle of anything named “bronze goddess” out of my own volition, I have to thank Bois de Jasmin for this awesome discovery 🙂 I also go through it alarmingly fast. October 4, 2015 at 3:54pm Reply

  • Tati: I usually avoid scented creams, but on your recommendation I went to the Jo Malone counter this weekend to try the Mimosa & Cardamom perfume. At the same time, I put a dab of the cream on my hands: Nice! I might indulge in the next few months. October 5, 2015 at 4:14am Reply

    • Victoria: I haven’t tried the cream yet, but it sounds wonderful. Does the scent linger well? October 5, 2015 at 4:56am Reply

  • Aisha: I think I’ll stick with CeraVe and Eucerin. I need to save my money for more books. 😉

    Seriously though … I would probably consider trying this just to treat myself if I was sure I wasn’t going to fall in love with it and continue to “need” to purchase it. 🙂 October 8, 2015 at 7:52pm Reply

    • Victoria: Ah, yes, books! Always the most important part of one’s budget. 🙂 October 9, 2015 at 11:55am Reply

  • Nancy: I have always loved No. 22. Back in the 90s when you could still get the original I’d layer it with the lotion and powder and it would last hours and hours! How does the new lotion work with the exclusifs 22? Thanks December 15, 2016 at 10:34pm Reply

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