Chanel

Chanel Gabrielle vs. Chance EDP

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Chanel has a ton of best selling fragrances under its banner from the more mass market to the high end and niche. Two particular perfumes in the more well-known side of their lineup are Chance and the more recent Gabrielle release.

These scents often get compared to one another, as they can be the final two choices for those looking to get into Chanel perfumes. In this post, I want to compare and contrast Chance and Gabrielle eau de parfums, and declare an ultimate winner for the better buy between them.

Tale of the Tape: Chanel Chance vs. Gabrielle EDP

Gabrielle

Notes include: jasmine, ylang-ylang, orange blossom, tuberose, musk, citrus, pear

Click here to try: Chanel Gabrielle For Women Eau De Parfume Spray 3.4 Ounces

Read my review: Gabrielle EDP

Chanel Chance Eau de Parfum

Notes include: jasmine, iris, pink pepper, white musk, vanilla, patchouli

Click here to try: Chance EDP from Chanel

Read my review: Chance EDP

Opening

Chance EDP opens up with a blended mix of its notes. It’s slightly fruity but has added pink pepper, musk, vanilla, and jasmine. Pink pepper and jasmine are the strongest two notes, initially. Eventually, iris will join the jasmine note, but the floral notes do tend to fade as we progress.

When the iris comes in, that’s when the vanilla will be at its peak, giving this a slightly powdery and creamy scent.

With Gabrielle, it features a sparkling pear and citrus mix with floral notes of ylang-ylang and orange flower. The first time I tested this out, it was a confusing mess. After that, it became more favorable to my nose.

I think the fruity top and the initial floral notes are the worst part of Gabrielle. I like when the jasmine and tuberose come in later on.

Just based on the opening acts of each, I prefer that of Chance over Gabrielle. Gabrielle improves as it dries down, but that opening is just okay to me.

Edge: Chance

Projection

Chance EDP has a strong sillage and a nice ability to project off of the skin. It’s not a complete bomb, but I think that it makes it safely into the strong camp. from 4-7 feet it’s going to be noticeable for a majority of the wear.

Gabrielle EDP has a much more moderate sillage, in comparison. By no means a weak perfume, it just can’t hit the same level as its counterpart.

Edge: Chance

Longevity

Neither of these fragrances gives a bad performance. Chance eau de parfum will last for 8-10 hours, on my skin. Very good and not that far off from being an elite long lasting scent.

Gabrielle, on the other hand, will last for 7-7.5 hours. Solid and it will be useful for plenty of occasions. Though, it doesn’t hit the same level of performance as the other Chanel.

This is a clear win for Chance.

Edge: Chance

Versatility

Seasonally, these are fairly equal. Springtime is best for Gabrielle, but Chance also works well then also. I’d say Chance is the better of the two in the wintertime, giving it a bit of an edge.

Both are great daily wear options. Mostly for casual and semi-formal occasions. That being said, Chance EDP can venture into more formal situations, when compared to Gabrielle EDP.

Neither is particularly sexy or a nightlife wear. Just attractive fragrance which can cover a lot of bases. Though, Chance has a very marginal edge.

Edge: Chance

Overall Scent

I do like both of these fragrances and each has plenty of features that recommend wearing them. For Gabrielle, once its opening phase has past and the floral notes emerge, you get quite a captivating experience.

The jasmine and tuberose coming in and joining the ylang-ylang and orange blossom is the highlight of the scent. I have mixed feelings about the opening pear, citrus, and pink pepper. To me, that’s the weakest aspect.

It’s got a clean floral/musky profile and solid performance all around. Gabrielle eau de parfum is not a bad perfume at all.

However, it gets compared to the rest of the Chanel line, and its weaknesses are more apparent. Heck, Gabrielle Essence is better than the original. Chance EDP is also the greater perfume.

Jasmine and pink pepper overlap between these scents, but Chance really sets itself apart with the vanilla note. Then, iris comes in. Then, patchouli and musk. There’s way more development and depth with this Chanel than Gabrielle.

Add to that, the performance is better overall, and it feels a bit more versatile, and it becomes a decided win for Chance Eau de Parfum. I don’t think it’s miles better than Gabrielle, but the difference is noticeable.

Winner: Chanel Chance

Best Les Eaux de Chanel Fragrances

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Chanel released its line of perfumes under the Les Eaux de Chanel banner starting a few years ago. There are currently five fragrances with the designation and I grabbed samples of them a few months ago.

Since then, I’ve tested out these scents, and wanted to create a post ranking them. The following is my current standings and I’ll update this page if I change my mind or any new releases are brought to market in the future.

What are the Top Les Eaux de Chanel Perfumes?

The Best

Paris-Venise by Chanel– Paris-Venise is my pick for the best of this Chanel line. My number two pick was a close challenger, but I think Venise pretty easily surpasses the other options.

Venise features notes of neroli, vanilla, and tonka bean. It kicks off with a great citrus accord, ylang-ylang, and a powdery mix of iris and violet. It’s fresh, unique, and a dynamic summertime wear.

The citrus, iris, and ylang-ylang (plus other floral notes) are most prominent in the opening act. Then, as it settles, you get the softer sweet and creamy notes coming through. With enough of the iris/violet combination to make it interesting. Paris-Venise is a very beautiful fragrance.

Lime and Basil Wonder

Paris-Deauville by Chanel– Deauville secured the number two spot without much trouble. After testing each of these perfumes, I kept coming back to this gem, time and time again.

Lime, lemon, and mandarin orange start things off here. But, it’s not a purely citrus fragrance, as there is also a prominent basil note and an overall green aroma in Paris-Deauville. The main notes are lime, basil, and patchouli.

That’s the trio for most of the wear. There is a floral aspect to this with a bit of rose and jasmine, but they really aren’t that major in the mix.

I get about 7 hours of wear on my skin. Deauville is a pretty simple scent, that’ll be a spring and summer wear, but it’s a really great use of lime. Read my full review

Green Gin Forest

Paris – Édimbourg– Paris–Édimbourg is the next in line and the top Eaux des Chanel for men. The others on the list, outside of Biarritz maybe, are pretty darn feminine.

This one is also the most unique. With this we go green and really fresh with notes of juniper and cypress, producing a gin-like aroma. It’s bright and woodsy, with the vetiver playing a larger role in the latter stages.

Vanilla adds a light creamy and sweet touch to the fragrance and helps to keep it more in the unisex camp. If you don’t want to go with a citrus or citrus/floral wear from this line for the summer, check out this, because it could be your number one pick. Paris-Edimbourg Review

Zesty Neroli

Paris-Riviera by Chanel– Riviera could easily be in the third spot, but I ultimately decided that I liked the unique aspect of Edimbourg more.

Paris-Riviera is a citrus floral perfume, with top notes of orange, neroli, and petitgrain. I recognize that Chanel orange note immediately and the neroli reminds me of the various Tom Ford summertime perfumes.

Riviera is quite zesty and uplifting in the early stages with a slight fresh spiciness to it. As it wears on, this Chanel will become more about the floral notes. Jasmine will eventually overtake the neroli, but it is a pretty even split.

The tail end becomes muskier with a late kick from the sandalwood note to add a further dryness to the mix. While I like Biarritz listed below, Riviera is better and lasts longer, so it’ll get the number four spot.

Hyper-Citrus Aquatic

Paris-Biarritz– Paris-Biarritz starts off with a powerful blast of cold citrus notes. Here it is going to be grapefruit and mandarin orange, according to Chanel. However, there is also very clearly a lemon note in here and it’s actually the strongest at the beginning.

Underneath that, what I think may throw some folks off, is the aquatic note in here. There is an oceanic aroma, not super strong, but it’s there and gives this a different feel. Lily of the valley and vetiver are present in the dry down.

I’m giving this one the bottom spot, even if it’s not a bad fragrance. Actually, I like it quite a bit. However, there are better options on this list that have a similar style and other Chanel fragrance that are also close to this.

Paris-Biarritz does have that awesome ice cold citrus and aquatic aroma that I like. Ultimately, the performance isn’t good enough and it doesn’t do anything better than the others on the list. Really, the 3 to 5 spots could be up for grabs, but this is how I’ve landed after using each for a while.

Paris-Deauville by Chanel

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The Les Eaux de Chanel line is a more recent endeavor for the brand. The name’s of each fragrance starts with Paris and ends with another destination in France. I have gotten ahold of samples of each of the released scents so far and will be posting up my full reviews of them. Today, I am going to cover one of my favorites of the bunch, Paris-Deauville. How does it smell? How long does it last? Is it worth a buy?

What does Paris-Deauville Smell Like?

Notes include: lime, mandarin orange, lemon, basil, petitgrain, jasmine, patchouli, and rose

Click here to try: Paris-Deauville from Chanel

My Full Review

Here’s how Chanel describes it: Inspired by the country landscape along the Normandy coast, PARIS-DEAUVILLE Eau de Toilette is a lively, aromatic scent with a radiant freshness—the fragrance of the open air.

Paris-Deauville opens up with a delicious burst of its citrus notes. The main ones are going to be lime and mandarin orange. There is also so lemon. The orange note is very familiar, since it’s the same orange from Coco Mademoiselle.

Basil adds a great fresh spiciness to the blend. The citrus and green aroma is very attractive and bright for the summer months.

It all sits on top of a generally green and slightly floral mix in the base. It’s all very fresh and bright. Quite unisex.

Basil and lime are the main attractions for most of the wear. The other citrus notes play a supporting part. As it dries down, you do get a bit of jasmine and rose, but not much. Patchouli is the third strongest and really works well with the other two.

However, Deauville doesn’t develop all that much as a fragrance. You’ll get most of what you’re going to get early on in the wear. The good news, is that it is a very nice perfume and enjoyable.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here ranges from light to the upper edge of moderate, in the early stages. The boldness of the citrus and basil notes can pack a bit of a punch initially. However, that will calm down and Paris-Deauville becomes more of a classic summertime wear.

The performance here is overall solid for this type of scent. A lot of citrus based perfumes like this can disappear in a few hours. This Chanel will hang around on my skin for up to 7 hours. Usually, it’ll hit six without issue, and that last hour is up for grabs.

Seasonally, mainly going to be the summer. But, late spring will be plenty doable for many of us. It’s not overly formal, but when it’s warmer you could wear Deauville casually to semi-formal. It’s more of a daytime fragrance than a nightlife powerhouse.

Very unisex, maybe leaning a bit more feminine. I really had no problems wearing this one, as a man.

Overall Impressions of Paris-Deauville

Do I like this scent? Yes, to me, it is the second best of the Les Eaux de Chanel lineup. Probably the best, as a unisex fragrance. Paris-Venise is more feminine, but I think better as a whole.

I love a good use of lime in a perfume. There have been some, but they usually have poor performance. Chanel has solved this, with its use of strong basil and patchouli. Paris-Deauville does have a slight Coco Mademoiselle quality to it with the mandarin and patchouli, also.

It’s not too complicated of a fragrance. Though, I find it really enjoyable and one with a rather unique profile. The citrus and greenish aroma. Very fresh, cold, with enough of a floral contingent but not anything that overwhelms the composition.

Sure, it will have a limited use case for most folks, being only the spring and summer. Though, within that timeframe, one could get plenty of enjoyment out wearing Deauville.

I like this fragrance. It’s definitely a Chanel that you should at least try and one that I think will have plenty of appeal for most folks.

No.5 L’eau EDT by Chanel

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Chanel No.5 is the most well-known fragrance on the planet. As such, its Chanel’s bread and butter and really helped to build the company into what it is today, and it offers multiple versions/flankers to try to maximize sales.

No.5 L’eau was brought out in 2016, as a lighter and somewhat more wearable for a general audience option, versus the higher concentrate and more expensive original. How does it smell? Perform? Is it worth a try?

Please continue below for my full take and give your own score of L’eau in the comments.

What does No.5 L’eau Smell Like?

Notes include: lemon, mandarin orange, orange, aldehydes, rose, jasmine, ylang-ylang, musk, cedar

Click here to try: No. 5 L’Eau by Chanel Eau de Toilette Spray 200ml

My Full Review

The opening of L’eau really gives you those familiar Chanel aldehydes. The usual cool, fresh, and memorable aroma is where you’re going to be most reminded of the parfum version of the No.5 namesake.

However, what really separates No.5 L’eau is the citrus notes that are strong and present throughout. At first, I get a heavier weighting towards the lemon note. Then, as things progress, the mandarin orange and more generic orange note take on a larger role.

As the citrus shifts, the floral notes emerge for a while, but never take on a dominant role within the composition. I actually get more of the ylang-ylang than jasmine and there’s a very light rose for a short while.

What the floral notes do, is to combine with the freshness of the cedar and musk to create its more soapy like qualities. Add to that, No.5 L’eau does have a somewhat powdery aroma for a period with how the notes come together…a light orris root is in here, apparently.

I like it once that tug of war is settled and I get a fresh citrus and soapy fragrance. No.5 L’eau comes across as more of a balanced scent at this point and is an enjoyable wear. Not the most complex perfume, but there is some depth here, while being a lighter warm weather perfume.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, No.5 L’eau is a light to moderate scent. That’s what it’s designed to be, so don’t expect an absolute bomb. That being said, for this style of perfume, the performance isn’t too bad at all on my skin.

I can get detect wearing it for pretty much the entire wear, without having to press my nose right up against where I sprayed. On a t-shirt, I can get a whiff of L’eau from 4-6 feet away, at its peak. Again, not crazy projection, and it’s more airy than heavy.

The longevity is okay for most purposes. 5-6 hours is about what I get. My skin is pretty good at not completely eating up fragrances, so your experience may vary for the worse or maybe the better. Nonetheless, it’d be nice if it could go a full workday at this price point.

Seasonally, spring and summer. It’s actually a great option for the hottest weather because it can hold up and thrive under those conditions.

No.5 L’eau is much more of a daytime sort of wear versus a seductive nighttime scent. Though, within those confines is a very versatile fragrance that’s safe to wear for almost any occasion.

Also, this can be an appealing No. 5 perfume for the younger crowd, who may not yet appreciate or enjoy wearing the original formula.

Overall Impressions of No.5 L’eau

Do I like this scent? I like it well enough, but it doesn’t strike me as amazing. I still prefer the EDP and Parfum versions of Chanel No.5 versus L’eau. The rating score below, is going to be dinged due to the performance, but the aroma itself is fairly nice.

I like the opening blend of citrus and the aldehydes. Also, the final dry down when things are fully settled smells good. There is a period where the citrus, cedar, musk, and aldehydes can feel too sharp. Like, it’s a mix of powder and soapy aromas, and that’s my least favorite part.

The floral notes are light here and give you the usual Chanel jasmine and ylang-ylang affair. Pretty standard issue, like found in Gabrielle and others from this designer.

Is it actually worth getting a bottle? I wouldn’t say that No.5 L’eau is a must have for most folks. Probably, No.5 fans who want a better summertime option or those who just want a lighter more youthful version.

For anyone else, it’s worth trying, but not necessarily one that you want to blind buy. Mainly, due to the fact you’d probably want to see how well it performs on your skin. The scent itself? Pretty safe and will appeal to a wide swath of the population, just give it a test beforehand.

Chance Eau Fraiche by Chanel

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Chance Eau Fraiche is one of the flanker releases by Chanel, after the massive success of its Chance perfume. Eau Fraiche has come to be able to stand alone in its own right, as it has been out for over a decade and hasn’t been discontinued by the designer yet.

That’s pretty good for a reinterpretation of an original fragrance. I had yet to give this one a proper review on the site, and so, I bought a sample to jog my memory and see if it’s still worthwhile.

What does Chance Eau Fraiche Smell Like?

Notes include: citron, jasmine, teak wood, hyacinth, cedar, vetiver, patchouli, and more

Click here to try: Chance Eau Fraiche Eau de Toilette Spray for Women, 3.4 Fluid Ounce

My Full Review

Chance Eau Fraiche opens up with its citron note coming out in full effect. It is joined by the hyacinth note, which is out in its full powdery peak, during the opening act. The powdery quality of this Chanel is what really separates it from other citrus/woody perfume, like Light Blue, in my mind. 

The opening citrus is tart, with the powder of the floral note, and the heightened freshness of a cedar and teakwood combination. What’s great about this opening, is that it doesn’t come across as screeching and unbearable, as it is calmed by the floral notes.

After this beginning, the hyacinth gets weaker and mostly replaced by the jasmine. Also, pink pepper, musk, and some more herbal notes emerge into the periphery.

Compared to the other Chance scents, this one is more focused on that juicy citrus and the floral notes are more just apart of the overall picture, instead of the main highlight.

Very clean, juicy, with a bit of a sporty edge to it. I end up getting the woods, musk, vetiver, and the remaining citron coming through in the final stage of the wear. It has some depth, but this one isn’t crazy complex. 

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is pretty light to moderate. It’s never super strong on my skin, but it is always more than a skin scent for a majority of the wear, at least for me. This is an eau fraiche style EDT, so, you really shouldn’t expect a beast coming in. 

That being said, Eau Fraiche does have the ability to project itself just fine. No major complaints from me about it.

 

The longevity, is somewhere in the 7-8 hour range for me. Keep in mind, during that last hour or so, it is coming through as a skin scent. Before that, I can still pick it up well enough, and it’ll stick to the 3-4 foot range from where I sprayed it.

Seasonally, this is a spring and summer wear. But, within that Chance Eau Fraiche is very versatile and wearable. More of a daytime fragrance. Not really a nightlife, formal, or particularly sexy perfume…but it’s attractive.

Eau Fraiche can also be worn by pretty much all ages. It does have a sweetness to it, but it isn’t a candy-like teenager scent, though it is entirely appropriate for that age range or older. 

Overall Impressions of Chance Eau Fraiche

Overall, do I like this fragrance? I really do enjoy Eau Fraiche. Though, I’d say it’s my third pick from the Chance line.

I love the citron and hyacinth combination. The Chanel jasmine note is absolutely classic and I like the teakwood and cedar blend, instead of a straight up cedar bomb. This one isn’t too complicated, but very appealing, and super easy to wear for a good chunk of the year.

Chance Eau Fraiche isn’t the most powerful scent on the market, but it’s solid enough for me. Plus, I get a nice amount of time to spend with it. If you like the original Chance, this one should appeal to you, and give you something to wear for the summer months. 

Chance Eau Fraiche is in the same style of fragrance as Light Blue or Versense by Versace. However, I prefer this to either of those scents. But, if you’re familiar with this kind of perfume and it fits your style, it’s pretty hard to go wrong with Eau Fraiche.