A Wren Says

Gabrielle Chanel Essence Eau de Parfum Spray

$160 for 3.4 oz Key notes: Ylang ylang, jasmine, orange blossom, and tuberose

When I looked up what white florals smell like, The Perfume Society described them as “romantic,” “feminine, pretty, … sophisticated and elegant.” This describes Chanel’s Gabrielle Essence to a T. Spraying it on to skin, I smelled pretty and delicate, in a soft 1800s novel heroine kind of way. I am still trying to train my nose, but it also came across as a bit powdery.  

I found the fragrance faded very quickly on my forearms, to sit very close to the skin. Then that lasted for some time. But though I sprayed the fragrance on in the morning, it remained stronger on my chest and clothing in to the afternoon. It was not a fragrance cloud, but something those close to me could smell. I think personally with my drier skin, I might need to be very moisturized for this stay on. Maybe investing in the body cream or lotion would get the scent to last longer on my skin. But then again, this wasn’t my favorite scent, so I am okay with it fading.

For what it was designed to smell like, intensely feminine, I think they nailed that part. But they also wanted it to smell like a “woman who follows her own path,” and I don’t agree that it does. The blend of white florals was too basic to seem like the person wearing it ever intended to try things outside of the norm. But then again, maybe “her own path” is the same as everyone else’s.

That said, if you want to wear Chanel and adore white florals, give this one a try. But if you want something intensely feminine and bold, this is probably not what you are looking for.