Reviews of 1957 by Chanel
If 1957 by Chanel were a mood, it would be a flash of mental clarity. It has the ergonomic purity of museum buildings built by architects dreaming of an android future, but none of their sterility. It just feels like noise falling away.
I hesitate to say that any white musk material smells expensive, because those materials are generally quite cheap, but this particular combination smells like it went to school in Switzerland and has a twelve-step Korean skincare regimen. The musk – or more likely musks plural – smell thick and silky, like the air pumped through the vents of a five star hotel. After spending much time with 1957 over the past year, I think what’s remarkable is not so much its smoothness but the absence of things that don’t belong, like a scratchy aromachemical or an annoying lactone. When the lily is enough, you stop gilding. And that is what you pay Chanel prices for.
The scent is built on an impressively layered sub-structure of aldehydes, which, on paper at least, should put this firmly in the No. 22 or No. 5 camp. But while I understand that the perception of texture, like soapiness, powderiness, or fizz, is deeply subjective, I am never not a little confused by the fact that for a perfume so stuffed with aldehydes and white musks, 1957 doesn’t smell – to my nose at least – particularly like soap, powder, or champagne.
Instead, to me at least, it smells like musk blown through a Waterford glass of artisanal lemonade, one made with slightly flat mineral water and a dollop of aged, brown-ish honey that has crystallised slightly at the bottom. This suffuses the musk with a blush of dried saliva, it clean, architectural angularity parting its lips here and there to reveal something shockingly human, even a little (dare I say) dank. This is, I realise, the only way I can truly love a white musk. Give me the ‘posh hotel pillow’ expansiveness of a good white musk, yes, but if you really want me locked in, give me a hint of freshly-licked skin too.
I hesitate to say that any white musk material smells expensive, because those materials are generally quite cheap, but this particular combination smells like it went to school in Switzerland and has a twelve-step Korean skincare regimen. The musk – or more likely musks plural – smell thick and silky, like the air pumped through the vents of a five star hotel. After spending much time with 1957 over the past year, I think what’s remarkable is not so much its smoothness but the absence of things that don’t belong, like a scratchy aromachemical or an annoying lactone. When the lily is enough, you stop gilding. And that is what you pay Chanel prices for.
The scent is built on an impressively layered sub-structure of aldehydes, which, on paper at least, should put this firmly in the No. 22 or No. 5 camp. But while I understand that the perception of texture, like soapiness, powderiness, or fizz, is deeply subjective, I am never not a little confused by the fact that for a perfume so stuffed with aldehydes and white musks, 1957 doesn’t smell – to my nose at least – particularly like soap, powder, or champagne.
Instead, to me at least, it smells like musk blown through a Waterford glass of artisanal lemonade, one made with slightly flat mineral water and a dollop of aged, brown-ish honey that has crystallised slightly at the bottom. This suffuses the musk with a blush of dried saliva, it clean, architectural angularity parting its lips here and there to reveal something shockingly human, even a little (dare I say) dank. This is, I realise, the only way I can truly love a white musk. Give me the ‘posh hotel pillow’ expansiveness of a good white musk, yes, but if you really want me locked in, give me a hint of freshly-licked skin too.
White musk, very white, clean, actually very clean. It's truly beautiful in its simplicity. Simplicity that shouldn't be confused with banality, because the scent is anything but banal. So what does it smell like? The opening is sparkling and crystalline with bergamot, aldehydes, a touch of honey and talcum powder, all wrapped in white musk, then settles on the scent of luxurious soap, of freshly washed and bleached sheets. While it's true that the dominant scent is that of soapy white musks and aldehydes, it's also true that these clean notes are masterfully accompanied and supported by truly sublime, delicate powdery and floral notes that smell good and pure without being synthetic; and this is precisely the most important aspect of 1957... despite the genre, the scent never feels chemically overdone, but always delivers a very pleasant and "natural" scent. It's 101% Chanel, from the olfactory notes to the finish. The scent isn't overpowering or overpowering; it's just strong enough to be noticeable and leave a pleasant bubble of scent on the wearer, but it doesn't overwhelm anyone's nostrils more than necessary. I find it unisex, slightly feminine, but I'll wear it without a problem. More suited to warmer seasons, I feel it's not strong enough for cold temperatures, but there's nothing stopping it from being worn year-round. I really like Chanel's exclusive line.
EDIT 10/27/2025
After prolonged use, although the climate isn't the best for this type of perfume, I can report that towards the end of the drydown, powdery, slightly sweet notes emerge, very pleasant but definitely not food-like. The scent, however, remains rather dry and never sugary. Beautiful and pleasant, truly!
EDIT 10/27/2025
After prolonged use, although the climate isn't the best for this type of perfume, I can report that towards the end of the drydown, powdery, slightly sweet notes emerge, very pleasant but definitely not food-like. The scent, however, remains rather dry and never sugary. Beautiful and pleasant, truly!
ADVERTISEMENT
A beautiful floral soap scent. I can’t resist smelling my wrists. So, I decided I needed another beautiful musk in my life. This one is a cleaner less romantic musk and tester sessions of this kept haunting me. As a result of finding a partially used big bottle at a great price from someone selling off their collection, this baby is now mine
On me, this starts with big, billowy Chanel aldehydes combined with heavy talcum powder and white soap. Under all that, I can smell a bit of citrus and dusty clove. Any flowers in there are only making it smell more "Chanel" but aren't very literal.
This feels like what you'd get if you took Caron's Poivre (powdery, dusty, old fashioned clove) and made it a Chanel with subtle tweaking of the aldehydes and floral additions. This is a combination of two of my favorite pefume tropes, so I'm definitely a fan. That being said, this falls into the same trap as some of the other classic Carons, where the overwhelming powder makes it hard to smell much else, unless you wear only the smallest drop or a huge splash.
As such, I'm waiting to see if Chanel makes a parfum version of 1957, which I assume (based on the other parfum versions of their Exclusifs that they've released) would amplify the base and add in extra iris and jasmine, at which point I think 1957 would go from great to practically perfect. But as is, in this EDP version, it's still an enthusiastic thumbs up!
This feels like what you'd get if you took Caron's Poivre (powdery, dusty, old fashioned clove) and made it a Chanel with subtle tweaking of the aldehydes and floral additions. This is a combination of two of my favorite pefume tropes, so I'm definitely a fan. That being said, this falls into the same trap as some of the other classic Carons, where the overwhelming powder makes it hard to smell much else, unless you wear only the smallest drop or a huge splash.
As such, I'm waiting to see if Chanel makes a parfum version of 1957, which I assume (based on the other parfum versions of their Exclusifs that they've released) would amplify the base and add in extra iris and jasmine, at which point I think 1957 would go from great to practically perfect. But as is, in this EDP version, it's still an enthusiastic thumbs up!
1957 begins on my skin as crystalline and cool, a few scant clouds drifting in an otherwise blue sky. I am dazzled by the sheer orange blossom that breezes into the aldehydic opening, smelling innocent and proper. This is the smell of lucidity, quietude, floating on clouds of silver, glinting musks. The softest pillows for your weary head, a powdered blanket and a nuzzle of honeyed kisses. There's contentment and longing all at once.
The orris root keeps the temperature mild, like early autumn, before the chill sets in. It feels clean, swaddled, and pacified, and its intimacy makes it a personal scent. I often wear fragrances for myself, alone, so that work out quite well. It's one to turn to when nothing else will do. Since I put a moratorium on adding to my fragrance buying list, this 4ml mini graciously gifted to me will do for now. Just a little is enough, so I'm sure it will go a long way.
The orris root keeps the temperature mild, like early autumn, before the chill sets in. It feels clean, swaddled, and pacified, and its intimacy makes it a personal scent. I often wear fragrances for myself, alone, so that work out quite well. It's one to turn to when nothing else will do. Since I put a moratorium on adding to my fragrance buying list, this 4ml mini graciously gifted to me will do for now. Just a little is enough, so I'm sure it will go a long way.
If you want to smell impeccably clean, fresh, and put together in a way only Chanel can achieve, 1957 is for you.
It smells glistening and multifaceted - like there are weightless layers of bright, bubbly, effervescent white musks dancing on your skin, champagne-like.
I see this actually wearing well in summer, in addition to spring. The aldehydes lend the musk a cool, refreshing aspect.
Beautiful and expensive-smelling, and an instant mood-lifter.
I never thought of myself as a lover of musk fragrances, but I suppose I am since I own quite a few of them. I don't seek them out - they seem to find me.
It smells glistening and multifaceted - like there are weightless layers of bright, bubbly, effervescent white musks dancing on your skin, champagne-like.
I see this actually wearing well in summer, in addition to spring. The aldehydes lend the musk a cool, refreshing aspect.
Beautiful and expensive-smelling, and an instant mood-lifter.
I never thought of myself as a lover of musk fragrances, but I suppose I am since I own quite a few of them. I don't seek them out - they seem to find me.
What a delight to wear! A joyful scent that is clean, fresh, airy, and at first sniff -- light. But this is not light. It has some heft and a hauteur that declares itself to be a Chanel. This is a complicated study on musk, several layers of it. Each layer carrying with it notes of bergamot, iris, orange blossom, honey -- eventually resting on a skin scent base of cedarwood and musk. Well-constructed, casually elegant, with a distinctive enviable presence. Imminently wearable and yes, can be unisex.
Bravo! Expect more good things to come from Olivier Polge of Chanel!
Bravo! Expect more good things to come from Olivier Polge of Chanel!
This beautiful scent is like a airy breeze that just caresses your senses with it's multi faceted complex scent accords. It shimmers on your skin showing notes of white musk, bergamot, iris, neroli, cedar and regal powdery touches sweetened by honey.
When you first spray the scent upon your skin you are greeted with fresh sparkling aldehydes closely followed by orange blossom. These aldehydes do weave in and out of the scent during the course of it's evolution. But the star of the show is the musks which blend beautifully with all the other subtle notes.
The projection is within arms length and it does have decent sillage and a distinct presence over it's long life of over several hours.
I'm quite impressed , it's a clean refreshing complex light breezy scent that tantalizes your senses with it's beautiful aromas. Big thumbs up!
When you first spray the scent upon your skin you are greeted with fresh sparkling aldehydes closely followed by orange blossom. These aldehydes do weave in and out of the scent during the course of it's evolution. But the star of the show is the musks which blend beautifully with all the other subtle notes.
The projection is within arms length and it does have decent sillage and a distinct presence over it's long life of over several hours.
I'm quite impressed , it's a clean refreshing complex light breezy scent that tantalizes your senses with it's beautiful aromas. Big thumbs up!
Clean. Clear. Nearly dainty white musk. "Perfume-y". Fresh (an overused term, I know). Skewed, modified iris note. I would guess this as something other than a Chanel creation, upon initial sampling. Diptyque, perhaps? The bergamot smells like the bark, or stem, or branches of said plant. Then, more leafy stuff. Flowers here, without being stuffy or flower-shop intense are fine. Dewy-green, actually.
There is a lot of pale greenery here. Unisex stuff, for awhile. This seems to be a cross between an organic green garden, aromatic-oxygenated thing, and a neo-chemical fragrance. To me, and only me, this seems WAY more modern than "1957". It seems way more air-freshener, than perfume, perhaps fragrance spray, in a good way. I enjoy it, no doubt.
There is a cactus juice thing, in the background. Green honey. Green wood. Some thing here almost makes me cringe in a frightened, cannot-admit-I-love-this-thing mindset. I would not buy a full bottle of this (too expensive for what it is) - I DO state, it smells really good, in an oddball way.
There is a lot of pale greenery here. Unisex stuff, for awhile. This seems to be a cross between an organic green garden, aromatic-oxygenated thing, and a neo-chemical fragrance. To me, and only me, this seems WAY more modern than "1957". It seems way more air-freshener, than perfume, perhaps fragrance spray, in a good way. I enjoy it, no doubt.
There is a cactus juice thing, in the background. Green honey. Green wood. Some thing here almost makes me cringe in a frightened, cannot-admit-I-love-this-thing mindset. I would not buy a full bottle of this (too expensive for what it is) - I DO state, it smells really good, in an oddball way.
There are few scents that I consider ethereal and 1957 is certainly one (the other I could think of is L'eau de Hiver by Frederic Malle which is texturally close but more powdery).
1957 is complex and alluring, with dichotomous notions of both warmth and coolness. There are times when I put it on and forget about it only to find myself taken aback by the bubble of it's beautiful presence.
It a scent that others will smell it more than you would when you put it on. It bellows a tad louder for the first 5 hours then settles into skin and hangs on for a couple more hours.
Beautiful creation which I am glad I finally decided to get a full bottle of!
1957 is complex and alluring, with dichotomous notions of both warmth and coolness. There are times when I put it on and forget about it only to find myself taken aback by the bubble of it's beautiful presence.
It a scent that others will smell it more than you would when you put it on. It bellows a tad louder for the first 5 hours then settles into skin and hangs on for a couple more hours.
Beautiful creation which I am glad I finally decided to get a full bottle of!