Les Eaux de Chanel : New Perfumes and Voyages

The next big Chanel launch is a collection of three perfumes, Les Eaux de Chanel. Like Les Exclusifs, they are inspired by places that were meaningful to Chanel. Perfumer Olivier Polge has selected three destinations, Deauville, Venice and Biarritz, and created three stories around them. All three are meant to explore fresh and effervescent notes, but they play with different characters and effects. I will share more detailed reviews as I test the perfumes carefully, and for now just a few general notes the collection.

PARIS-DEAUVILLE

Gabrielle Chanel opened her first boutique in Deauville on the Normandy coast in 1912.

“More than the actual reality of the destination, I liked the idea urbanites make of it when they dream of a
weekend away in the country. I wasn’t striving to capture the Normandy countryside as it stands today, but rather
the promise of a stroll through the tall grasses.” Olivier Polge

The fragrance is green, with the brightness of bitter orange rind, petitgrain and basil leaves. It’s accented with rose and jasmine, but the drydown has a layer of patchouli that gives it a chypre-like impression.

PARIS-VENISE

“The creation of Paris-Venise draws inspiration as much from the long journey on the Orient Express from the French capital to the Italian city, as from the destination itself,” explains perfumer Olivier Polge. “I wanted
people to smell that gateway to the Orient, which, at Chanel, is also an evocation of the baroque. It is probably the most urban Eau of the three.”

Paris-Venise also contains a generous dose of citrus, with a touch of orange flower and pink pepper. Iris and geranium contrast with the warm oriental drydown of amber, vanilla, cedarwood and tonka beans.

PARIS-BIARRITZ

The vibrancy of Biarritz attracted Chanel, and she opened her first couture house in this town on the Basque coast in 1915. Olivier Polge interprets the theme as a lily of the valley cologne.

“Paris-Biarritz is the most aquatic fragrance in Les Eaux de Chanel collection,” Olivier Polge comments. “I wanted to create a sensation on the skin as if each ingredient were soaked with water.” He plays with the notes of grapefruit, mandarin, and white musk, which set off the airy lily of the valley accord.

4.2 oz. Eau de Toilette $130. Available at Chanel boutiques and the website starting June 2018.

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31 Comments

  • Lizzy K.: I can’t wait for these! I love the lighter Chanel Exclusifs (Eau de Cologne, No. 18, 28 La Pausa) and I’m hoping these are just as good. May 14, 2018 at 7:49am Reply

    • Victoria: I do too, No 18 and 28 La Pausa are the ones I wear the most. May 15, 2018 at 3:50am Reply

  • Sandra: I know they haven’t launched yet but have you had a chance to sniff any of these? May 14, 2018 at 9:58am Reply

  • Nora Szekely: Hi Victoria and perfume lovers,
    I’m keen on testing this collection, finally something new to smell instead of Chanel tampering with the formula of existing scents 🙁
    I’m curious about all 3 as I find that despite my frustration of changing formulas, when Chanel puts effort in a creation, it charms me be it an oriental (Coco), a fruitchuli (Coco Mad extrait and body oil), leathery (Cuir de Russie) or light floral (Gardenia extrait) scent. May 14, 2018 at 9:58am Reply

    • Victoria: They definitely spend money on formula, and even when I don’t like the finished result, I appreciate the effort. May 15, 2018 at 3:52am Reply

  • Cyndi: I’m particularly interested in the lily of the valley fragrance, Paris – Biarritz. That sounds like something I would love. Can’t wait for them to come out! May 14, 2018 at 10:34am Reply

    • Victoria: A marine lily of the valley does sound interesting. May 15, 2018 at 3:55am Reply

      • Alessandra: Oh it’s an excellent one… and it is indeed a marine, slightly salty lily of the valley. My faves are Biarritz and deauville. My absolute fave is probably deauville, which is the one I did not particularly liked at the beginning then later evolved into something extraordinary June 15, 2018 at 9:58am Reply

    • Old Herbaceous: Me too! Does Chanel have any other muguet-centric fragrances? I can’t think of any. May 15, 2018 at 9:42pm Reply

      • Victoria: There are muguet notes in Cristalle, Bel Respiro and No 5 L’Eau, but nothing like Diorissimo, of course. May 17, 2018 at 6:06am Reply

        • Cybele: and nothing like Envy… but I love Cristalle and Bel Respiro May 29, 2018 at 11:40pm Reply

  • Joy: Thank you for describing these new fragrances, Victoria. I do love so many of the Chanel fragrances. I am pleased to read that they are creating. I look forward to sampling them. May 14, 2018 at 11:12am Reply

    • Victoria: Yes, what I appreciate about Chanel is that they don’t have a gazillion launches a year. I hope that this won’t change. May 15, 2018 at 3:56am Reply

  • Brenda: Hello Victoria & all others…being a lifelong perfume wearer and devotee, I have never owned a Chanel perfume. I cannot explain this – as French scents, in general, are among my favourites. The Paris – Biarritz appeals to me as I am fond of Lily of the Valley …so, perhaps this is a purchase I will make. Thank you Victoria – & I enjoy reading all of the comments. May 14, 2018 at 12:12pm Reply

    • Victoria: They have a certain style, and it doesn’t work for everyone. Let’s see, maybe you will enjoy something from this collection. May 15, 2018 at 3:57am Reply

    • Old Herbaceous: That’s the one that intrigues me, too — I love lily of the valley. I do own and like other Chanel fragrances, especially Chanel No. 22. May 15, 2018 at 9:52pm Reply

  • Trudy: I am looking forward to testing these, especially the Paris-Deauville as I have been looking for a green fragrance for a while now. Maybe this is the one! Fingers crossed. May 14, 2018 at 12:37pm Reply

    • Victoria: Bitter orange is one of my favorite notes. May 15, 2018 at 3:57am Reply

  • spe: Well, Olivier Polge and Chanel has not been a great match, in my opinion. I’m a fan of the older Chanels. Will certainly give them a sniff if I happen to see them, but unlikely to seek out. May 14, 2018 at 2:12pm Reply

    • Victoria: Let’s see what happens. May 15, 2018 at 3:57am Reply

  • Figuier: This is exciting news! I love Chanel perfumes, especially the greener and more citric ones: Cristalle (sotd), No. 18, La Pausa, Sycomore, No. 19. I also thought the No 5 L’eau was brilliant, so if these three are anything as good I’ll be v pleased. May 14, 2018 at 2:27pm Reply

    • Victoria: All of these are among my favorites too. And I also liked No 5 L’Eau. May 15, 2018 at 4:01am Reply

      • Figuier: Glad to hear it – always pleased when my preferences are corroborated by you expert taste 🙂 I’d be interested also to see how these new scents last, given those ‘base note’ lists. I actually prefer green/citric scents with a shorter lifespan to those involving heavy-handed anchoring with patchouli, musk, amber, which rarely suit me. Still, I’m sure if anyone can pull it off it’s Chanel. May 15, 2018 at 10:46am Reply

        • Victoria: I’m also curious on the longevity, but Eau de Cologne de Chanel is very long lasting, and it’s so airy and light. May 17, 2018 at 6:05am Reply

  • zephyr: Deauville is calling my name! Though I haven’t found anything Chanel yet that I love. Agree that it’s nice some new fragrances are coming out from Chanel; enough with the endless spinoffs. May 14, 2018 at 4:06pm Reply

    • Victoria: I’d be curious to hear your thoughts. May 15, 2018 at 4:01am Reply

  • SoSuSam: This is lovely news. Some of my very favorite fragrances hail from Chanel, and a few of her greener scents are ones I wear regularly: Cristalle EDT, Eau de Chanel, No 19. I’m always curious to see what they do next. I can’t wait to hear what you think of them–and to try them myself. May 15, 2018 at 6:35pm Reply

    • Victoria: Can’t wait to hear everyone’s opinions! May 17, 2018 at 6:05am Reply

  • SamC: I saw these in the Chanel shop just yesterday. Had a sniff then tried on Deauville – the green notes were very appealing. After a while there is something in it that reminds me of Gucci Rush but a bit quieter. It might make a nice change from Pour Monsieur. May 31, 2018 at 11:34pm Reply

    • Victoria: Thank you for your thoughts! June 4, 2018 at 7:23am Reply

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