By Contributor: Shilpa Madan
“Where should one use perfume?” a young woman asked. “Wherever one wants to be kissed.” Said the inventor of the classic LBD (Little Black Dress) and the most iconic fragrance in history, Chanel No 5, i.e. Gabrielle aka ‘Coco’ Chanel. Apart from their wildly successful No 5 fragrance, Chanel has launched several fragrances including Allure, Cristalle, Chance and their line of ‘Exclusifs’. The Chance perfume aspires to appeal to younger women (as compared to the classic No 5) by being more spirited, uplifting, sparkling and delightful…urging you to take the ‘chance’.
Interestingly, Chance is the only range in the Chanel perfumes that comes in a round, circular bottle versus the more structured rectangular bottle the other Chanel fragrances are housed in.
Launched in 2007, Chanel says that anything incredible can happen with this sparkling floral fragrance, full of freshness and fantasy. The fragrance, full of joie-de-vivre, seems ready to burst out of the bottle – like a shower of happiness.
The 10 sec advert that Chanel made to showcase the fragrance says it all. It is light, airy, fresh, young and full of possibilities. Have a look,
Looking for an everyday, office appropriate scent that would help me feel refreshed in this hot and humid climate, I was recommended Chanel Eau Fraiche EDT by a colleague. Given that she is French and has impeccable taste in fragrances, I decided to give it a try.
Chanel Eau Fraiche perfume is all about sparkling freshness, light and zesty, energizing and invigorating. Immediately after application, what you smell is a super strong, wake-me-up, lemony citrusy note . The citrus top is so heavy that on the first whiff it almost feels like a unisex fragrance. It is very clean, bright and happy and makes you want to grab the moment. The volatile top notes go away quickly, but it retains its spike of freshness with a hint of spice and white florals. It is a sophisticated fragrance and smells expensive (you know what I mean?) Eventually, it settles down to the base notes of amber and musk but by then you are the only one who is aware of the fragrance of the perfume.
I would describe Chanel Chance EDT as a “for-me” fragrance in the sense that it is for you to wear and feel good about / enjoy it – and not for others to notice / or to grab their attention (unless they are super close to you, oops!). I am not in love with the excessively sweet fruity or overly gourmand fragrances that are popular these days, so this citrus-fresh-floral perfume spray suits me very well for day time for office wear and also on the weekends for a brunch or going shopping!
The Fragrantica decodes the notes in Chanel Eau Fraiche as follows,
Top notes: lemon and cedar Middle notes: pink pepper, water hyacinth and jasmine Base notes: teak wood, iris, amber, patchouli, vetiver and white musk. While I thoroughly enjoy the energizing and invigorating boost of freshness this fragrance gives, the biggest gripe is lack of longevity. I’ve been using it for a couple of weeks now and rarely do I feel that the scent lasts beyond 2-3 hours.
That said, a fragrance is a very subjective preference affected by your age, smell of the skin, body temperature etc. Given that most of the amazing ones are quite expensive, it is always a good idea to feel the perfume on yourself and experience it for some time before committing to it. Given that a lot of people like their fragrances to last longer and Chanel Chance isn’t exactly a star in that department (the ‘fresh’ top notes are very volatile and disappear quickly), there is an entire range of complimentary products available with the same fragrance, including body lotion, shower gel, body cream, moisture mist and even a hair mist, to allow you to layer the fragrance and make it last longer.
Quick tip: fragrances lose their mojo quickest when exposed to sunlight or high temperatures, to make yours retain their scent longer, keep them in the refrigerator (yes I know they look pretty on your dressing table but think of all the money you spent – not just for them to sit pretty on your vanity, right?) You can see the water droplets / condensation on the bottle in the pictures coz I always keep them in the fridge.
What Works
1) Crisp, fresh, zesty, uplifting, sparkling, invigorating
2) Floral, musky with a hint of spice later
3) Very summer appropriate, wake-me-up scent
4) Excellent day wear/ office wear scent
5) Sophisticated, craftsmanship, smells ‘expensive’
What Doesn’t
1) Opening notes are super sharp citrus – can feel a bit unisex
2) Not long lasting at all – layering can possibly make it stay longer
Price: Rs. 6500 ($90) for 100 ml
VNA Rating: 4/5
So, is it for you? Chanel Chance is for you if you enjoy a boost of sophisticated, summery freshness and are willing to pay for it. Best to try before you buy!
