Try it! Olivier Polge reportedly worked with Christopher Sheldrake on Chanels sole other ambered, oriental Exclusif, the stunning now-vintage EDT version of Coromandel. Mustve been the birch leather! Smoky amber, incense & vanilla. Are those synthetic ingredients obvious or are they simply not noticeable. Comments that harass, abuse, disparage, and/or defame another person or entity, including any other authors who post to this Site or any of their comments. ), However, Le Lions later hours are consistently centered on a blurry, golden bouquet of Shalimar with the addition of lots of labdanum. Instead, its is a highly modulated touch that adds a cool, aerated feel to the smoky black leather. The labdanum here, however, goes beyond that toffee in its first hour: it is a dark, chewier, grittier, more leathery, and masculine sort of aroma with unexpected undertones of burnt toffee, dark raw tobacco, and musky leather. My goal is to get to know all 50 fragrances you mentioned there. It is also imbued, on me at least, with an aroma that strongly mimics incense, thereby making the leather even sexier. Purchase date:03/04/2022 The most reductivist, simplistic nutshell summary of Le Lion would call it a floral leather amber oriental with strong, endless, powerful echoes of vintage Shalimar, both in its original pre-1980/1982 birch tar formulations and its post-1982/1984 sandalwood versions. I just wanted to let you know that this comment meant the world to me and that Ive thought about it often in the days since you left it. But there is no denying that Chanel has never done a hardcore labdanum or anything that ever remotely evoked Guerlains Shalimar until now. But its beautiful. This perfume represents a new turn of events for Chanel with its soft touch of Patchouli that underlines, yet without overpowering, the other fresh floral tones. The Eau de Parfum comes in a spray for easy application. I also bought a bottle just after my second test , BTW As for SHL O Hira. First is the sandalwood which, in conjunction with the vanilla, adds a soft creamy undertone to the notes. Verified purchaser. I have made the Statements without any prior payment or promise of payment, or any other benefit having been made to me and without any expectation by me of any payment or benefit in return. The effect is to move the leather away from the cooler, slightly ashy and/or tarry Cuir de Russie stylings of old to something that is much more oriental and warm, especially in conjunction to the unlisted spices, the patchouli, and the incense-like notes. #fashion+.header__secondary .header__column:nth-child(3) .header__category:nth-child(2) p{border:0!important;clip:rect(1px,1px,1px,1px)!important;-webkit-clip-path:inset(50%)!important;clip-path:inset(50%)!important;height:1px!important;margin:-1px!important;overflow:hidden!important;padding:0!important;position:absolute!important;width:1px!important;white-space:nowrap!important}@media screen and (min-width:60.0625rem){#fashion+.header__secondary .header__column:nth-child(3) .header__category:nth-child(2){margin-top:1rem;padding-top:5px!important;padding-bottom:.5625rem}}@media screen and (max-width:60.0625rem){#fashion+.header__secondary .header__column:nth-child(3) .header__category:nth-child(2) .header__category__links{position:relative!important;padding-top:.5rem;margin-top:.5rem}#fashion+.header__secondary .header__column:nth-child(3) .header__category:nth-child(2) .header__category__links::before{content:'';width:70px;height:1px;display:block;background:#ececec;position:absolute;top:1px;left:5.0666666667vw}#fashion+.header__secondary .header__column:nth-child(3) .header__category:nth-child(2){padding-top:0}}, EXCLUSIVELY IN BOUTIQUES AND AUTHORIZED RETAILERS, Click & Collect available for select pieces. Occupy The Mind / The Six Buddha Project / by J.D Doria 2016 / Photography Shaw Gadi Raz. Source: J.D. shades available, ROUGE ALLURE VELVET LE LION DE CHANEL and 13 answers. Generally speaking, the early minutes of Le Lion have the labdanum quietly stirring in the base, smelling both of dark toffee and gritty, slightly musky leatheriness. Surprisingly however, the cumulative end result skews closer to Shalimar layered with Coromandel on my skin rather than to Shalimar in solo form. Yes, its something from the vintage Coromandel and hint of Shalimar. To put it another way, my scent comparisons are to the overall broad, ballpark gist of these other perfumes and not to their exact, precise individual note ratios or quantities when examined up close. xo. ), By the time Le Lion progresses to an actual drydown, it smells primarily of vanilla-infused labdanum toffee accompanied by a quiet, slightly muffled, spicy, patchouli-ish woodiness. THE BASIC BALLPARK & MOST FREQUENT VERSION: In many, many wearings, Le Lion opens on my skin with vintage, pre-1980/82 birch tar-filled Shalimar with a hefty slug of bergamot vanilla poured on top and other fragrances layered in-between. To be crystal clear, I am not saying that Le Lion is a dupe for any of these fragrances in solo form.
So with the citrus there is some freshness along with the amber and vanilla which bring a certain sweetness to the fragrance. The sillage, which is also dependent on the size of my scent application, is either, very large at a minimum or practically room-filling during the first 4 hours. By clicking I agree, you confirm that you also agree to the Chanel Legal Statement. this with my Chanel favorites, Purchase date:01/10/2021 To put it another way, if you like big scents, youll get your moneys worth in that regard with Le Lion. Source: Twitter. (Santal replaced birch tar in Shalimar from the 1980s to now, so the Shalimar parallels continue even if you exclude the birch tar. Second, Le Lion is not like pure or solo Shalimar either, due to the integral, central role of the labdanum with all its multifaceted nuances. I have never smelled Mitzah but your description of it is so enchanting. For example, the amount of jasmine in Coromandel could never approach the significantly higher, heftier amounts in Le Lion (or Shalimar). "To reply to your question, no, our concentration has never changed. (By the way, the 2-spray version occasionally, though infrequently, has subtle nuances resembling benzoin and powdery tonka on my skin as well.). we need to access your image to provide you with the virtual try on experience, which you can agree to by clicking below. Unique at each wearing. A warm, carnal and refined scent. But I dont know how intentional that was. (Its even weirder considering what I was told by a Dior insider around 2014: That Mitzah is, or was, one of the companys most popular fragrances.). It instantly called to my mind Coromandels central incense trio, albeit in much lesser and different ratios, strength, and intensity here. Source: Fragrantica. But thats just the central focus; so much else is happening in a subtle way or in the background way. An emblem of strength and wisdom, the lion is continually reinvented in the creations of the House. With just 2 sprays, I get about 14-15 hours. Ref. Enjoy complimentary shipping with every order. We do not store nor share this information, and your image is deleted automatically when you close the virtual try-on page. As a side note, I prefer the old EDT versions because the bouquets took longer to turn blurry, there was better note delineation for longer and, in the specific case of Coromandel EDT, I think the percentages of certain ingredients like the sweet myrrh, myrrh, tonka, and patchouli were different (and larger) than in the EDP version. Please be aware that ingredient lists may change or vary from time to time. With 3-4 sprays, this phase actually begins around the 11th or 12th hour. Sophisticated understatement are the words that come to mind when describing this new fragrance.
Verified purchaser. Content that is fraudulent, deceptive, misleading, unlawful and/or promotes unlawful activities. Purchase date:01/28/2021 Awesome review as always! Theyre nor obvious.
Le Lions addictive, alluring character marries: the beautiful bergamot-vanilla, jasmine, benzoin, incense, and birch leather of vintage Shalimar (and also its later sandalwood substitution for the birch tar) with echoes of two other fragrances. The Coromandel similarities dont end there, however. Gentle Oil Hair and Body A bold and extraordinary fragrance for Chanel. Gabrielle Chanel was born on August 19, 1883, under the sign of Leo. 141180, SUBLIMAGE LES GRAINS DE VANILLE Another thing that I want to be clear about: All of the fragrances that are evoked on my skin and to my nose are different in the degree and strength of their accords and of the individual notes shared in common. It is as chic as the rest of its family. In a way, Le Lion has become its own thing, because it copies such a degree of other influences that it grows beyond the sum of its part and turns into something practically new. However, when everything is taken as a whole and when a handful of anomalous fragrance versions (usually from the psycho skin on my right arm) are excluded, then whats left is one roughly ballpark or generalized version. ROUGE ALLURE VELVET LE LION DE CHANEL It was a literal case of the dog ate my homework. When I mentioned that at the time, many of you told me that you had been eagerly awaiting my thoughts on what has become a huge fragrance hit. Will keep We call it the scent of 2021!!! We suggest that you visit your nearest Chanel counter, where a skilled Beauty Advisor will be happy to assist you with your sample request. The rest of Le Lion final hours, big to huge sillage, and fantastic to 24+ hours of longevity are the same as above so, to avoid turning this article into an encyclopedia, Id like to move onto broader and conclusory thoughts on the perfume. SHL 777s O Hira, original parfum formulation and bottle. We value your input and invite you to rate and review the products you have purchased. Definitely recommended. Art by J. D. Doria via jd-doria.com (Direct link to home page website embedded within. - Number of user that found this review helpful: - Number of user that found this review not helpful: - Number of users that found this review helpful: - Number of users that found this review not helpful: Browse 13 questions 144350. I further warrant and represent that I am not an employee of Chanel, I am not a paid spokesperson for Chanel, I am not reviewing free products I have received from Chanel, nor do I otherwise have a material connection with Chanel.I agree that the Statements made by me may be used in whole or in part and may be shortened and/or otherwise modified as necessary to meet the requirements of copy or layout, provided that the general message is not changed. Verified purchaser. Generally speaking, and depending on how many sprays I apply, Le Lions longevity is either fantastic or monster. (Angelique is very pretty.). Here, in Le Lion, there is a strong, big amount of gloriously spicy, dry-sweet, slightly woody patchouli. There is no doubt that Chanel has entered the oriental field by either paying homage to or flat-out borrowing large chunks of some of the most famous and popular orientals around. Im not getting much Shalimar however; the earl grey and vanilla arent quite as big on me. Ive not smelled vintage Shalimar, Mitzah, or Coromandel, so I cant compare, but they must be glorious. Its all very weird.
While we could talk about Extrait de Parfum, we preferred the mention Eau de Parfum Haute Concentration (High Concentration). I havent had a chance to try vintage Dior Mitzah, but the description and reviews gave me the feeling that I would like that one a lot. However, Le Lion is very much like a vintage Shalimar that has been enhanced by the very particular aromas of labdanum amber as well as by varying degrees of other famous oriental fragrances signature bouquets or accords. As I am not familiar with vintage Shalimar or Coloromandel or Mitzah, Le Lion smells quite unique to me and I am never bored wearing it. The entire bouquet has a textural softness and plushness from the sandalwood. In the majority of my tests/wearings, the Shalimar bouquet retreats during Le Lions heart stage and the other fragrances take turns dominating for several hours at a time. Luminous Matte Lip Colour Set It evokes for me what is now vintage Ambre Sultan and, on occasion, also Ambra Aurea. The labdanum/incense combination is very prominent on me, which I couldnt be happier about. Gabrielle Chanels astrological sign became a recurring motif in her world and served as inspiration for her workadorning CHANEL suit buttons, handbag clasps and jewelry. Thank you for the lovely, kind words on my site. . Im a Chanel girl 4 life. ), Lyubov Popova, Space Force Construction, 1921. Then, there are the subtle nuances, some of which are the result of different notes combining together: tobacco, benzoin-like crme brule, and an a gingerbread-like spiciness, all dancing around like happy, cheering elves. In terms of aroma, its not the overly clean, soapy, waxy aldehydes of yore. Thank you for all that you do. Le Lion De Chance Le Exclusifs is a gender-neutral fragrance. Base: Madagascar vanilla, patchouli, sandalwood, musk. The jasmines appeal is magnified ten-fold by its fusion with the sparkling, fragrant bergamot and vanilla cream the exact sort of bergamot-vanilla accord that youd find in Shalimar and in many Guerlain fragrances. O Hira is one of our most concentrated perfume. No amount of similarities, echoes, or arguable (Shalimar) copying changes the fact that, on my skin and in my opinion, Le Lion is: glorious to wear, utterly addictive and intoxicating, either sophisticatedly chic or cozy cuddly depending on stage, and an utter jackpot for people who, like me, love all the fragrances mentioned here. In the hours that follow, Le Lion veers back and forth constantly between Shalimar, Mitzah, Coromandel, or some duo combination thereof. If Shalimar and Coromandel had a child, that would definitely be Le Lion. Majestic, indomitable and wild, the lion became a personal emblem, serving as the inspiration for this powerful fragrance. This was a gift for my husbandHe loves it.. Purchase date:05/11/2021 Verified purchaser. We certainly suggest the Le Lion de Chanel for fragrance lovers who admire the scent notes of rich amber accord, bold notes of bergamot, lemon, patchouli and sandalwood. I, too, have completely avoided Chanel for even longer than you have but after I saw one particular review of this I simply had to get my nose on it. Initially, a small part of me was slightly annoyed by what I perceived as plagiarism, especially of Shalimar, but the vast majority of me doesnt care. The same timing variability applies also to the labdanum. The leather note is indeed similar to Cuir de Russie probably my favorite from Les Exclusifs. Welcome to the blog! They must be there for the fragrance to last as long as it does, but there is no overt chemical twang, nothing to give me a headache, nothing noticeable. Verified purchaser. Its concentrated at 25%.". Id intended to cover Le Lion back in January or February 2021 before Apollo my German Shepherd and then just a tiny pup ate pages upon pages of my review draft. I ask the brand about the change in concentration and this is what I've learned: Le Lion De Chanel feels like I am wearing a warm hug wrapped in a fragrance. If Le Lion werent such a well-done, harmonious, and purely joyous, intoxicating delight, and addictive scent to wear, I would be irritated by either the degree of parallels or by the wholesale attempt to capitalize on almost a century of Shalimar popularity, love, and sales. Amber is my favourite note and I still come back to this guide frequently. The time it takes for the labdanum to become a central note, however, varies from one wearing to the next on me. (Direct website link embedded within.). In a handful of tests or wearings, however, Le Lions drydown mimicked the fantastic old versions of Ambra Aurea, O Hira extrait, or Ambre Sultan, albeit always with the addition of spicy patchouli. https://kafkaesqueblog.com/2020/09/18/areej-le-dore-cuir-de-russie/. It is now my favorite daily perfume. Also, instead of smelling like Chanel soap, this subtle pinch of crisp, cool aldehydic cleanness or light is infused with a delicate, muffled nuance of greenness that sometimes smells like vetiver, sometimes like a drier sort of greenness. Receive two complimentary samples with every fragrance, makeup and skincare purchase on chanel.com. Lets turn now to sillage and longevity. For example, does that make Le Lion a lesser fragrance? No. Jasmine joins the party after 20 minutes. 25 minutes in, the notes overlap and start to fuse together, gradually and incrementally growing out-of-focus in the style common to all the Exclusif EDP versions that Ive tried thus far. Oh dear!
Btw, Bengale Rouge is one of my top favourites from Papillon. Verified purchaser. Before we start, I want to apologize to regular readers for the delay in this review. In a number of my tests when I applied 3 to 4 sprays from a bottle, the drydown is a mix of labdanum, vanilla, and what smells like small slugs of tonka and benzoin. In my opinion, its aromas extend beyond the typical sort of amber that one encounters in perfumery: a mixed accord where the labdanum is diluted by loads of vanilla, tonka, and/or benzoin. For me, this would be exclusively a cold weather fragrance and since were (finally) headed into warmer months I dont plan on purchasing soon. So, this next section is just for those who like me to be extra, extra verbose, not just regularly verbose. But roughly 90 minutes into the fragrances development, the labdanum rises from the base and turns the overall bouquet into something that is like Shalimar enhanced by the musky, leathery, smoky, spicy, dark labdanum that is so central to Mitzah. At some point, with enough different body parts, Frankenstein turns his Monster into something entirely separate. Taking matters further, Le Lions entire addictive bouquet is then set upon a rich base of musky, leathery labdanum absolute that strongly calls to mind Diors fantastic Mitzah (minus its rose note.) That said, Le Lion is always easy to detect on my skin, whether Im applying 2 sprays or more, during the first 10 hours. There is also something in the dry down that reminds me of Sycamore. I have worn Le Lion at least 20 times in the last 18 months, and it changes on me in terms of its specific olfactory nuances from one wearing to another and depending on how much scent I apply. It means a lot. It is also more of a Shalimar redux without much else. In short, if you love Shalimar, ambered floral leathers, or the fragrances mentioned here and if you also have not already tried Le Lion, I strongly recommend that you do so. Please sign in to your account to continue. Together, the jasmine and bergamot-vanilla slather the incense-patchouli-flecked leather heart with lissome sensuality. As noted above, in most of my tests with a 2-spray application size, the labdanum is initially far less important in the opening hour than the bergamot-vanilla, birch tar leather, jasmine, patchouli, and different sorts of smokiness. Thank you for the review, it was a joy to read it. When the labdanum is mixed with vanilla, as it is here in Le Lion, it tends to smell, to my nose at least, like dark, sticky toffee. xoxo. (All fields are mandatory for submission. Scent is good but very strong. I promised to get back to it and try to reconstitute the destroyed analysis (almost 14 pages work of written text!). Purchase date:06/18/2022 Unfortunately I stopped writing soon thereafter because of serious parental health issues (that are ongoing). I know you smell fantastic when you wear it. On my skin, Coromandel has patchouli in the way that Mitzah has labdanum: The materials are dominant forces. In other words: (Shalimar + Labdanum) + additional enhancements resembling the key parts of other famous or popular oriental ambers. Ref. Verified purchaser, My Wife loved this as part of her Birthday gift. It various particularly in the prominence of individual notes during the first hour. The bright citrusy-jasmine-bergamot-aldehydes feel like such a distinctive Chanel signature immediately identifiable. Purchase date:10/05/2021 Verified purchaser. It depends somewhat on how much fragrance I spray. When Ive felt too overwhelmed to write, its comments like yours that give me the oomph to stick with things. At other times, however, there is nothing mimicking benzoin and I reminded most of all of the smoky, resinous, spicy, ambered darkness of SHL 777s O Hira in its original pure parfum formulation (not the current EDP version). Then there are growing waves of labdanum toffee, patchouli chocolate, spiced patchouli woodiness, and incense-like smokiness; together, they engulf the bergamot, temporarily weakening it. I further agree that the Statements made by me may be modified and/or altered by Chanel to remove any store names and/or person information or other sensitive information about myself or others.Chanel expects all of its users to be respectful of other people. Luminous Matte Lip Colour Le Lion lasts so long on me that the times varies but, with 2 sprays, this part (which is not the drydown stage on me) often takes place from middle of the 8th hour to the 11th hour.