chanel

Chance Eau Tendre by Chanel

by

Chance Eau Tendre is one of the more popular takes on the Chanel Chance name. It’s already famous and a best seller, but does it actually warrant this position. I recently revisited this perfume, grabbed some samples to test out, and finally put my thoughts to the page. How does Eau Tendre smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Chance Eau Tendre Smell Like?

Notes include: jasmine, grapefruit, hyacinth, musk, quince, iris, musk, cedar, amber

Click here to try: Chance Eau Tendre

eau tendre edt review

My Full Review

Here’s how Chanel describes it: The delicate and unexpected floral-fruity fragrance creates a soft, tender whirlwind of happiness, fantasy and radiance—a chance encounter.

Eau Tendre starts off with its citrus note playing a very prominent role. The more unique quince note, leads the way supported by the more standard grapefruit. It’s bight and fresh, since you can already pick up the cedar and musk notes from the base.

I do notice with this original EDT version, the citrus notes stick around for a longer period of time than they do in the EDP.

There is also a greenish feel to the opening act. Part of the quince and maybe a stem-like aroma from some of the emergent floral. Not massive, but in the early stages, I can pick it up.

This one will shift from just being a fresh citrus fragrance to something that is floral, sweeter, and with a powdery finish. That’s going to be the case, when the hyacinth note is the strongest floral and it gets assistance in that regard from the iris.

The iris and jasmine seem to split duties between themselves. At certain points, the iris will be the second strongest floral, at others I will get a lot more jasmine.

The dry down is a powdery and musky citrus aroma. Cedar freshness still abounds, but the distinct qualities of the jasmine and iris seem to have merged into the hyacinth. So, sort of a generic powdery floral smell.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is a tad above average on the whole. The opening hour or two does produce a nice scent trail and it projects quite well off of the skin after spraying.

Now, this isn’t a heavy or ‘thick’ sort of perfume that will blanket a room, unless you just go nuts with the spraying. Nonetheless, it’s certainly not weak and will give one a decent scent bubble for much of the duration.

The longevity with Eau Tendre EDT is around 6-8 hours. Usually, I can get to seven with it as a base. However, it can occasionally fall short of that and only get to about six.

Eau Tendre is a very versatile fragrance, that can easily serve as a daily wear or signature scent for many women (and already does). It’s light and simple enough for teens to wear, but not immature, and really can work across the age spectrum.

Seasonally, this Chanel is best in the spring and summer months. It’s lightness and fresh/upbeat qualities make it a very nice wear for the warmer temperatures.

Overall Impressions of Eau Tendre

Overall, do I like Eau Tendre? Yes, the EDT version is my personal favorite from the entire Chance line. I think that it is slightly better smelling than the EDP and basically has the exact same performance level.

Eau Tendre is a very approachable and great little perfume. It’s really something that you can wear and not have to think about very much. Smell good and go. The floral notes are powdery and clean, not too much musk, and a citrus accord that isn’t exactly the same as everything else out there.

Yes, this has been around for a long while now, and has become fairly ubiquitous in its use among the public. Still, Chance Eau Tendre is a perfume that most people won’t find very much issue with and will probably enjoy. Well, except maybe the Chanel pricing.

Bleu de Chanel Parfum vs. Dior Sauvage EDP

by

In this entry of the men’s fragrance comparisons, we are going to take a closer look at two very popular fragrance names: Bleu de Chanel vs. Sauvage. Naturally, each of these fragrances has three flanker scents, two of which I am going to compare today. I selected Sauvage EDP, as I think that it is the best of the Sauvage lineup.

If you want Sauvage Parfum, there is my review, of that scent. How does Sauvage EDP compare versus Bleu de Chanel Parfum? Which has the better performance? Which smells better? Which is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape

Sauvage EDP

Notes include: nutmeg, bergamot, ambroxan, vanilla absolute, lavender, Sichuan pepper, anise

Click here to try: Sauvage by Dior Eau de Parfum Spray 100ml

Read my original review: Sauvage EDP

Bleu de Chanel Parfum

Notes include: sandalwood, cedar, lemon, lavender, mint, bergamot, tonka bean, amber, geranium

Click here to try: BLEU DE C H A N E L PARFUM, 3.4 oz./ 100 mL

Read my Review: Bleu de Chanel Parfum

Opening

Bleu de Chanel Parfum opens up with the usual BdC citrus notes: lemon, bergamot, and lime. However, in this version, the citrus isn’t as sharp and is tempered by the woody notes.

The wood notes of sandalwood and cedar, are ever present during the wear, but the opening also has a fresh mint note. A bit later, the lavender starts to emerge. It’s citrus, fresh, woody, and a bit herbal.

It’s very similar to the others in the series, just with a different weighting of the ingredients and more woodiness.

Sauvage EDP comes with the usual ambroxan note, a smoky vanilla note, and lavender. It’s warm, clean, and has a lot less of the lavender than the original Sauvage. The bergamot, up top is lighter, and then you get spicy pepper later on in the wear.

But, that Sichuan pepper will share duties with both anise and nutmeg, which allows it to come across less harsh and more balanced than EDT.

Which is better? I really enjoy both of them and how they start off, for different reasons. In the end, I think I prefer the Chanel fragrance, a bit more. I love its depth and complexity. It is refined and smells really nice, up top.

Edge: BdC Parfum 

Projection

Bleu de Chanel Parfum starts off with a pretty strong sillage, in the opening act. Then, it tempers down, by quite a bit. It’s noticeable but not super powerful from far away.

When it transitions to its more woody phase, that’s when it doesn’t leave the same scent trail or project off of the skin to the same extent.

Overall, Parfum is pretty moderate once that initial citrus blast has faded away a bit.

Sauvage EDP is a beast. For me, it is a complete powerhouse, and easily outdoes the sillage of Bleu. It definitely has a greater strength than the original Sauvage, also.

Not only that, it sustains itself at a higher level for longer before it actually moderates. The Sauvage uses heavier notes, so it’s not really too much of a surprise that it takes this category.

Edge: Sauvage EDP

Longevity

When it comes to performance, neither of these fragrances, will let you down. Both of them, will go for over 10 hours, on my skin.

Yes, Sauvage is more powerful, but the length of time worn overall is equal with Bleu. Sauvage EDP might have a slight edge here, as I can sometimes get more wear out of it, but I’m going to call this a tie.

Parfum is lighter than Sauvage EDP, but it sticks around well.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Again, these two are on about the same wavelength, in terms of when they can be worn. I’d probably avoid each, on the absolute hottest days of summer, but they are good at other times. Maybe the citrus of the Chanel gives it a slightly better use case in the warmer months.

Both of them, are best in the autumn/winter. They can be worn at the office, casually, or for a night out. No trouble with either.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

For me, this is a pretty close call. I don’t think the original Sauvage EDT, can stand up to the Bleu lineup, but the EDP has that ability. Dior took what was great about Sauvage and made it better, and also, took away the more unpleasant aspects of it.

I love the ambroxan and vanilla. The smokiness and the emergence of the more varied spice, in the EDP, as it’s no longer just about Sichuan pepper. You also get anise and nutmeg. The performance is also enhanced and is outstanding, overall.

If I had to choose between these two, I would ultimately pick Bleu de Chanel Parfum. It is refined, smooth, and the sandalwood note is utterly perfect.

Parfum is warm, deep, and dark. You get a great blend of wood, with a zesty citrus profile. It’s dry, fresh, with an herbal/mint aroma up top. Not as strong as Sauvage, but a bit better.

Bleu Parfum is a more low key fragrance to wear, overall. As such, if you want something with some boldness and that Sauvage style of fragrance, go with that. I still think it’s a really good choice.

Honestly, if I had to rank Sauvage and Bleu de Chanel fragrances, my top 3 is: 1. BdC EDP 2. BdC Parfum 3. Sauvage EDP.

So, I’d actually go with Bleu de Chanel EDP, which is similar enough to Parfum. However, you get more of the citrus notes. But, in this head to head, the winner is Parfum.

You might consider getting the Chanel and one of the attempted dupes of Dior Sauvage for cheap. That way, two bottles for not that much more than one. I don’t think any of the attempted knockoffs of Bleu de Chanel have really nailed the essence of Parfum, as of yet.

Winner: Bleu de Chanel Parfum

Bleu de Chanel EDP by Chanel

by

The original Bleu de Chanel became and remains a very popular men’s fragrance. The next release from this line, and the subject of today’s review, is Bleu de Chanel Eau de Parfum. The EDP version, is obviously going to have a higher concentration of fragrance, but what does it actually smell like? How long does it last? Is the sillage good? Is this version even worth a try?

What Does Bleu de Chanel EDP Smell Like?

Notes include: grapefruit, sandalwood, amber, vanilla, tonka bean, ginger, mint, and more

Click here to try: Bleu De Chaneⅼ Eau De Parfum Pour Homme Spray 1.7 Fl. OZ. / 50ML.

My Full Review

Bleu de Chanel EDP opens up with a sharp blast of citrus fruit, led by grapefruit, and some fresh spicy notes. Mint, ginger, and pink pepper are there. Though, I pick up mainly ginger and pink pepper, with a bit of mint.

Underneath all of this, is the warm amber. Yes, this Chanel fragrance, is a lot like its predecessor and the newer BdC Parfum release. Nonetheless, it can stand on its own as a distinct scent.

The citrus notes, dominate the composition, but are joined by the spicier notes in the beginning. Then, it will transition more into a citrus, amber, and smoky incense aroma.

It strikes me as sharp and fresh at first, then, it is warmer and smooth. Grapefruit and lemon, when blended with these other notes, can give off almost an orange-like scent at times to my nose.

As we move further along, Bleu, starts to regain some freshness. Not from the spicy notes, rather, the wood begins to emerge. Cedar with some sandalwood.

It comes across as quite clean, with the citrus sitting on top, and floating in a sea of amber. There is some sweetness from tonka bean and vanilla, in the latter stages, that got overlooked during that opening act.

I will say, for having: tonka bean, sandalwood, and vanilla this doesn’t have the level of creaminess that you might expect. It is there to an extent, as noted below, but you’d might think it’d be more so.

The final part of Bleu de Chanel EDP, is a fresh citrus and woodsy scent. Not as much amber, in my mind, but the sandalwood is nice and creamy and still paired with that clean cedar.

I did once get sent an odd bottle of Bleu EDP by mistake once, when I had ordered Allure Sport Eau Extreme. The bottle was cracked, but the smell of the scent itself was also way off. Too heavily weighted with the amber and felt screechy.

Bad batch, but it did give me an idea, about how bad this could turn out without the refined balance of this formula.

Sillage, How Long Does Bleu de Chanel EDP Last, Versatility

The projection on this one, isn’t super powerful. I’d say that the sillage starts of pretty strong, but settles, close to the wearer. Bleu isn’t a monster with its sillage and won’t really take over a room. It has a nice performance, but it is nothing insane.

It is, however, more persistent than the EDT or Parfum versions of Bleu. Parfum does feel lighter once it gets into its woody phase, despite the higher fragrance concentration.

The longevity is good, but not incredible. I can hit 8 hours, with it on my skin, but the last few are close to the skin. This EDP isn’t a powerhouse, but will do just fine, in almost any circumstance. Unless, you really needed it to go for 12+ hours or something.

While I’ve worn this in the summer, I’m not too in love with it, in the heat. I think that Bleu is at its best, in a more temperate climate. Spring or autumn, is when this one will really shine. It can be worn year round, and won’t be a mess in any climate, but it does have a sweet spot.

It gets really hot and humid, where I live. For me, it’s not a year round option. Other men will have better luck, in that department.

Bleu de Chanel is more than a casual fragrance. I think the EDP is somewhat more formal than the EDT, but manages to retain plenty of versatility. It of course works extremely well, as a dressed up perfume, but I’ve worn it with t-shirt and jeans. It didn’t seem out of place.

The whole Bleu series is a basic, ‘can do everything’ sort of cologne. I’d say ‘almost’ everything, but the versatility here is absolutely great.

Is it well liked by other people? Yes. EDP is very attractive. Sexy while being mature and women will complement it.

Overall Impressions of Bleu EDP

Do I like Bleu de Chanel Eau de Parfum? Yes, I do. I think that I can safely say, it is my favorite scent from the BdC line, or at least the one I’d choose most of the time.

It is more complex and interesting than the EDT, while retaining more of the citrus when compared to, Bleu Parfum.

I really like the citrus notes here. The opening with the spice is cool, but I prefer the dry down, when I get my amber and woody notes. Parfum goes deeper into that direction, but I enjoy this more, as I get a greater representation of the other notes too.

I’m pretty sure nowadays, that Eau de Parfum is the best seller from the line. Just about every website has it ranked higher than the other Bleu scents, when you sort them.

That’s when this one is super smooth and just beautiful to wear. It’s a fragrance, that does everything well, from its ingredients to overall performance. Bleu de Chanel EDP, is kind of a no-brainer scent, it just works. Not really one you can go wrong with. That’s why there’s so many perfumes trying to clone Bleu de Chanel.

Is it going to be everyone’s favorite? Not necessarily. Some might find this boring. To me, it’s got more depth than it may be given credit for. There’s plenty going on here, but it still maintains an unreal ability to be mass appealing.

Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme by Chanel

by

Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme is one that I came across on and off for many years, but really haven’t had any contact with for a long while. In fact, I’ve been rediscovering for myself, a lot of the Chanel men’s and women’s fragrances. I got a hold of a sample of Eau Extreme in order to finally do a proper review of this one for the site, using the latest batch. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it really worth a buy?

What does Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin orange, tonka bean, cypress, musk, sage, mint, sandalwood, pepper, cedar

Click here to try: ChaneI Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme Eau de Parfum Spray 1.7 Fl. OZ. / 50ML.

My Full Review

Before we get into my review, let’s see how Chanel describes it: Allure to the extreme. A powerful, dynamic and invigorating fragrance for the man who thrives on extreme sensations and pushes himself beyond his limits. An intense Eau de Parfum, like a rush of adrenaline.

Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme starts off with a fresh coolness and green quality that the original Allure Sport lacks. Eau Extreme doesn’t have the same mandarin or sea notes, but instead, goes with mint and sage as prominent players.

The citrus is definitely still there, just toned down. It’s a cypress, sage, mint, and peppery start up top. Musk is hanging around as well, but for me that really starts to show up more in the latter stages.

I have been going back and forth for years, whether I prefer the opening act of Sport or Eau Extreme. Having had samples of each in the past few months, Eau Extreme has taken the lead for me.

Some of that initial sage will then wear off and it’s more just about the mint and the cypress note. However, the tonka bean and musk notes also really begin to emerge and give this fresh scent an aromatic sweetness.

Eau Extreme does give you a different take from the original Sport, but during the dry down is when these fragrances really start to smell similar. Though, Eau Extreme strikes me as muskier and less of a sweet aroma with that spicy fresh kick.

The tonka bean really begins to take control of the wear, it feels sweeter and warmer. Together with the musk, it is super smooth and very appealing. Along with those two notes, I get the remnants of pepper and the wood accord, which it’s pretty tough to pick out just the cypress anymore.

The way things come together it does create a sweetish-powdery kind of aroma. Not like baby powder, but some people might not like the tonka bean note in this.

After coming back to this one during this past year, this reminds me of Luna Rossa Sport, in the dry down. Not the same, but that tonka bean is just so prominent.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, Eau Extreme starts out fairly strong on my skin, but not a complete beast. It actually will be pretty moderate throughout the wear, but an improvement on Allure Sport, especially compared to the newer batches.

Solid. Though, I still wish it was cranked up a bit more with its projection abilities.

On my skin, I get right about 8 hours each time I’ve worn it. Amazing? No, but very good. Again, a little more ‘extremeness’ would’ve been nice, but I can’t complain too much. Those last few hours are pretty light, which is probably one of the downsides here.

Seasonally, Eau Extreme can work pretty much whenever. I would prefer it in warmer weather and not the winter, but it’s not bad there. It is a ‘cold’ sort of scent, so, I’d rather go with something thicker and warmer in icy conditions.

To me, it’s best in the moderate range of temperatures from slightly chilly to a bit warm. At the far ends of the scale, it’s not as good.

Aside from that, Allure Sport Eau Extreme is very versatile. It can be worn by any age range, in a variety of situations. Sort of a jack of all trades and one that most guys could own as their only bottle of fragrance. It’s not really a formal fragrance, but not terrible there either.

The sportiness is there. Others in the category, seem to go a lot more dynamic or even skew the line between being an aquatic. Allure Sport Eau Extreme brings you a refined and energetic aromatic freshness.

It’s also got an attractive and mass appealing smell. Women like this and it does get complements. Maybe not a night club monster, though, it fits into the nightlife fine…just less ‘in your face’ about it.

Overall Impressions of Eau Extreme

Overall, do I like Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme? Yes! I’m so glad I came back to this one. The long time away from it, really made me appreciate what it is. I’ve found that I like the original Allure Homme less, Allure Sport about the same, and Eau Extreme more so.

The opening freshness gives you a nice change of pace from Sport. The mint, pepper, and cypress is great. The mandarin is less intense, but adds a brightness to the cold feeling of the composition. Then, the tonka bean, musky/woody finish is super smooth and attractive, if also being a bit fuzzy/powdery.

This is an easy to wear, all around versatile sort of scent. The sillage isn’t amazing and it’s not really what I’d term extreme, but the performance is still pretty darn good. I think complaints on this front are overblown. That 6-8 hour range of the wear, isn’t strong, but it is still pretty well detectable.

Eau Extreme is one of the better Chanel fragrances for men and very useful in any guy’s collection. Very mainstream entry from their collection and easy to wear.

Again, some people are just not going to like the tonka bean note in Eau Extreme. As such, one of the Bleu de Chanel’s might be the better starter cologne from the Chanel line.

Egoiste EDT by Chanel

by

Egoiste is a 1990 release from Chanel, that’s still going strong today. It followed and is basically a rebrand of 1987’s Bois Noir. I recently grabbed a new bottle, in order to review the modern formulation. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

What does Egoiste Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin, coriander, cinnamon, Damask rose, sandalwood, vanilla, ambrette seed

Click here to try: Chanel Egoiste

My Full Review

Egoiste is a fragrance that I’m revisiting and finally posting a full review of. I saw it online when I was making some other new purchases to test out and put a bottle of this in the bag, also.

It kicks off with a dry, bright, and spicy blast. That mandarin note is light and doesn’t grab the headlines, but it is a nice lighter element to the mix. Coriander and cinnamon are pretty massive here, making the opening act a very warm and spicy affair.

The mandarin fruitiness is bolstered by the presence of the Damask rose. Pinkish, sweet, and a touch fruity with how it comes across earlier. Balances out the weaker carnation, which really serves to add to the spice.

Now, the main star here for the entire duration of the wear, is the sandalwood note. The dry down is going to be very much about this ingredient, when the initial punch has faded. Very dry, very woody fragrance.

The coriander is the first to burn off for me, that little carnation too. This is more rosy during the second phase. A sweeter fragrance, with bits of vanilla and tobacco coming through. A warmer, honeyed sort of sweetness thanks to ambrette seed.

The woody accord is still about the sandalwood, but there is some mahogany and rosewood there in support. Sweetish rosy wood, dotted with cinnamon. Yet, it’s darker with the woody influence and that initial citrus brightness leaves entirely.

Finally, we get to the sandalwood dry down.  This is a very dry scent, especially at this point. Less sweet, a dense woodiness, some remaining: floral impressions, cinnamon, and tobacco. A slightly smoky and creamy ending.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this one offers up a strong start, but it lighter to moderate the rest of the way. I find it to be about equal to the modern Platinum Egoiste.

The first hour and a half or so is strong, then, it will become more intimate. Even when I cannot totally pick up the scent with my own nose, other people have made comments about it (positive ones). So, this one can make you a bit nose blind when it shifts more to the sandalwood part.

Egoiste still does last. Again, you can become desensitized to it and not really notice. However, I can still pick this up 7.5 hours later. Is it a monster at this point? No, it sits very close to the skin. It is there, however.

Seasonally, I’d skip this anytime that it is too warm. It’s mostly an autumn and winter wear. If it’s temperate out, Egoiste works well too. During the summer, I wouldn’t be too enthusiastic to have it on.

This one is refined and masculine. Can work as an office fragrance, but I also love wearing it out at night. It’s got a sexiness to it and receives complements from people. While Egoiste is ‘old school’, the formula still feels very modern and not completely anachronistic.

Yes, this does skew older in its demographic. Though, I personally wore this back in my early 20s at times, and it worked fine for me. Just know if you’re younger, pretty much no one your age, is going to be wearing something like Egoiste.

Overall Impressions of Egoiste

Overall, do I like Egoiste? I love it. I’m so glad that I randomly bought a new bottle for myself, to rediscover everything wonderful about this scent. It’s just so good in the winter air and has a different feel from most everything mainstream out today.

The first time that I wore it, this time around, I thought that I had stopped liking it completely. But, that went away pretty quickly and I wanted to wear this everyday for the next week straight.

Coriander and cinnamon are great. Very bold within this very dry mix. I love the way that the spices hit, while you still get some sweetness from the rose, mandarin, and vanilla notes. Really great, balanced, and signature sort of fragrance that you can wear for decades.

Egoiste is very approachable for guys who want to try an older styled fragrance, but don’t want to start with something like, Kouros. I think Egoiste, is a better smelling scent anyway, but it’s also easier to wear for most people.

It’s a pretty safe blind buy, unless you just absolutely don’t like this style of fragrance. It’s a nice change of pace in the sea of ‘blue’ scents and still very worthwhile, all these years later.