Reviews of Gardénia Parfum by Chanel
This is for the Gardenia from the Les Exclusifs line.
This one packs a punch. A solid punch, enough to knock over a cynic of gardenias in perfume. I wanted to hate it before trying it. Gardenia is a happy and bright floral, a shining white light with butterflies flitting about in the air and a rainbow in air and probably a prancing unicorn for good measure thrown in. This is the Disney princess in perfume form. Extremely young and girly and fresh, so incredibly fresh with notes of honeysuckle, although none are listed, I still detect it. I should be singing a song about love outside while dancing around with birds flying in the space around me like Aurora from Sleeping Beauty.
This one packs a punch. A solid punch, enough to knock over a cynic of gardenias in perfume. I wanted to hate it before trying it. Gardenia is a happy and bright floral, a shining white light with butterflies flitting about in the air and a rainbow in air and probably a prancing unicorn for good measure thrown in. This is the Disney princess in perfume form. Extremely young and girly and fresh, so incredibly fresh with notes of honeysuckle, although none are listed, I still detect it. I should be singing a song about love outside while dancing around with birds flying in the space around me like Aurora from Sleeping Beauty.
This review is for the edt concentration.
It's a fine perfume, just a little bland. It opens as a standard white floral, and stays very linear on me for the entire time I can smell it. However, it disappears FAST--like within an hour, it's gone. Nothing groundbreaking here (although perhaps it was when it was new). There are plenty of other tuberose/tropical flower scents out there.
It's a fine perfume, just a little bland. It opens as a standard white floral, and stays very linear on me for the entire time I can smell it. However, it disappears FAST--like within an hour, it's gone. Nothing groundbreaking here (although perhaps it was when it was new). There are plenty of other tuberose/tropical flower scents out there.
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I can see how the people who love this can love it. I can see how the people who hate it can hate it. I'm somewhere in the middle, but I definitely enjoy it.
So what does it smell like? The first few minutes are the best, an explosion of Chanel's trademark lemon over glorious orange blossom while a quiet but insistent tuberose paints the background. Meanwhile, soapy white musks and chypre greens fill in the cracks. It's a joyous, exuberant mixture - happiness perfectly expressed as a smell.
Given time, the lemon fades, taking a lot of the cheer with it, leaving room for hints of bleu cheese gardenia to come in and render the feeling more grey in color. Meanwhile, the sweet orange blossom and tuberose fuse together to give a Giorgio Beverly Hills effect, while the soap becomes more powerful.
In all, the chilly drydown doesn't really excite me (though the artistic expression of moody grey flowers is interesting as an intellectual concept), but I simply HAVE to give a thumbs up to anything with such perfectly engineered topnotes. Very much worth a sniff. As a side note, if you want literal gardenia, in all its gross cheesy glory, please try to sniff Jar's wonderfully twisted Jardenia.
So what does it smell like? The first few minutes are the best, an explosion of Chanel's trademark lemon over glorious orange blossom while a quiet but insistent tuberose paints the background. Meanwhile, soapy white musks and chypre greens fill in the cracks. It's a joyous, exuberant mixture - happiness perfectly expressed as a smell.
Given time, the lemon fades, taking a lot of the cheer with it, leaving room for hints of bleu cheese gardenia to come in and render the feeling more grey in color. Meanwhile, the sweet orange blossom and tuberose fuse together to give a Giorgio Beverly Hills effect, while the soap becomes more powerful.
In all, the chilly drydown doesn't really excite me (though the artistic expression of moody grey flowers is interesting as an intellectual concept), but I simply HAVE to give a thumbs up to anything with such perfectly engineered topnotes. Very much worth a sniff. As a side note, if you want literal gardenia, in all its gross cheesy glory, please try to sniff Jar's wonderfully twisted Jardenia.
I have always found the scent of the gardenia flower very akin to the tuberose, and I believe the latter has always been the center of all gardenia perfumes, since gardenia oil cannot be extracted and tuberose oil can. The one does the work of the other.
This is a soliflore to my experience - a very light and gentle tropical white floral with a mix of jasmine to support the tuberose and keep it from becoming cloying. I don't experience the vanilla.
This is quality all the way and for 90 years it's been the best gardenia on the market. Worth the investment.
First Edit: 4-24-21: The above review was actually of the quite different edt version that appeared in 2007. I have copied and pasted that review on the Gardenia edt page as of today. I am now experiencing the vintage parfum and will speak of it below.
It is quite different from the edt, which had a number of new notes added to the basic five note composition on this page (violet, jasmine, tuberose, vanilla, narcissus). This is a very fresh, very green take on gardenia, not heady or heavy. This gardenia is far from the cloying, unctuous, loud, white floral that has become associated with vulgar display. Chanel's Gardenia is a breath of fresh spring air, a gentle, warm, soft floral, that is restrained and equally wearable by man or woman. Quite a revelation to me and very praise worthy.
This is a soliflore to my experience - a very light and gentle tropical white floral with a mix of jasmine to support the tuberose and keep it from becoming cloying. I don't experience the vanilla.
This is quality all the way and for 90 years it's been the best gardenia on the market. Worth the investment.
First Edit: 4-24-21: The above review was actually of the quite different edt version that appeared in 2007. I have copied and pasted that review on the Gardenia edt page as of today. I am now experiencing the vintage parfum and will speak of it below.
It is quite different from the edt, which had a number of new notes added to the basic five note composition on this page (violet, jasmine, tuberose, vanilla, narcissus). This is a very fresh, very green take on gardenia, not heady or heavy. This gardenia is far from the cloying, unctuous, loud, white floral that has become associated with vulgar display. Chanel's Gardenia is a breath of fresh spring air, a gentle, warm, soft floral, that is restrained and equally wearable by man or woman. Quite a revelation to me and very praise worthy.
Gardenia opens thick, sugary and cloying like a thousand other generic tropical flowers fragrances, fades quickly into cheap shampoo fruity musky tones to writhe at last in a super synthetic candy-like vanilla. Embarassing fragrance, I spent the whole day of my wearing it (from a sample) wondering where that unpleasant smell came from me! Nothing like the scent of real gardenias, nor an original or interesting rendition, in my opinion.
Your Emperor is Naked First review, and I have to defend this perfume. Although the commenters on this board are relatively kind, I am sick to DEATH of the haters of this perfume. I am a girl who was raised on Joy and No.5, so I like to think my palate isn't COMPLETELY unrefined. But certain "experts" have rejected this scent out of hand, and obnoxiously I see his voice echoed in some of the comments here. "This isn't gardenia" Well no sh**, Sherlock. Gardenias are un-extractable. And anyone who read ANYTHING about the development of the scent knows it was meant to be an ode to the EXPERIENCE of the smell of Gardenia. After reading what fragrance "experts" have to say about this lovely, creamy white floral scent, I know can saftely say that Emperor Turin has no clothes. Everyone needs to put down the Guide and start smelling for themselves.Pros: creamy, light, soft white flower, evokative of gardenia without going solifloreCons: poor longevity/sillage, only EDT mass released
Pretty, but Boring I received this as a free sample with a Chanel order (thank you Chanel!) and was rather nonplussed. The gardenia is pleasant enough, but the setting is rather uninteresting. I though I would like this one more since I love the smell of gardenias. I gave it to my wife, but she didn't like it either.Pros: PrettyCons: Boring
A simple white floral-milky fragrance. Not bad per se, but there are tons of cheaper alternatives, nothing interesting. Pass.
A clean, pretty, simple smelling gardenia on me. Strong water and green notes. A very young and sweet fragrance, not the slightest bit funky or chemical. 20 min into it, it's already starting to fade. Not morph, not develop- fade.
:D I still really like it. Bet I could wear it all times of the month and in all moods and not get a screaming headache.
:D I still really like it. Bet I could wear it all times of the month and in all moods and not get a screaming headache.
Gardenia by Chanel, is certainly a lovely, well-composed white floral, however for such a high price tag I can think of many fragrances that smell just like it but for cheaper.
While pretty, refreshing, delicate and luscious, I can't say that this fragrance is purely gardenia, even though the note is certainly present. The tuberose and jasmine tend to counteract with the gardenia making the scent more of a white floral rather than a soliflore.
Apparently Coco Chanel wanted this fragrance to be created to represent the closest thing to her favourite flower, the Camellia, which unfortunately doesn't have a scent, so Gardenia was supposedly the next best thing.
It has a somewhat dewy feel, that is highlighted more in the heart where the white florals take on a more green approach. Chanel Gardenia isn't as creamy as some gardenia based fragrances I've tried, however I'm glad that it isn't as predictable.
In the drydown I get a lot of white musk and a subtle hint of orange blossom. This particular scent likes to cling to your skin and clothes for hours, lasting well into the next day.
Personally, as much as I enjoy white florals, I find them too innocent and feminine most days. I am a 'girly girl' don't get me wrong, but I tend to wear perfumes that have a little bit of a bite to them. Chanel Gardenia just feels too refined for my tastes, like a lady sipping on a chai latte with a string of pearls about her neck.
Like all the fragrances in the Les Exclusifs line, the lasting power is amazing, as is the sillage. I honestly prefer Kai for a more tropical gardenia scent and Annick Goutal's Gardenia Passion for a rich gardenia and tuberose blend, however I haven't written off Chanel's Gardenia altogether. For those white floral fanatics that seek something softer than your average powerhouse floral, look no further. If you can work your way around the expensive price tag, by all means, Chanel Gardenia is a lovely choice.
While pretty, refreshing, delicate and luscious, I can't say that this fragrance is purely gardenia, even though the note is certainly present. The tuberose and jasmine tend to counteract with the gardenia making the scent more of a white floral rather than a soliflore.
Apparently Coco Chanel wanted this fragrance to be created to represent the closest thing to her favourite flower, the Camellia, which unfortunately doesn't have a scent, so Gardenia was supposedly the next best thing.
It has a somewhat dewy feel, that is highlighted more in the heart where the white florals take on a more green approach. Chanel Gardenia isn't as creamy as some gardenia based fragrances I've tried, however I'm glad that it isn't as predictable.
In the drydown I get a lot of white musk and a subtle hint of orange blossom. This particular scent likes to cling to your skin and clothes for hours, lasting well into the next day.
Personally, as much as I enjoy white florals, I find them too innocent and feminine most days. I am a 'girly girl' don't get me wrong, but I tend to wear perfumes that have a little bit of a bite to them. Chanel Gardenia just feels too refined for my tastes, like a lady sipping on a chai latte with a string of pearls about her neck.
Like all the fragrances in the Les Exclusifs line, the lasting power is amazing, as is the sillage. I honestly prefer Kai for a more tropical gardenia scent and Annick Goutal's Gardenia Passion for a rich gardenia and tuberose blend, however I haven't written off Chanel's Gardenia altogether. For those white floral fanatics that seek something softer than your average powerhouse floral, look no further. If you can work your way around the expensive price tag, by all means, Chanel Gardenia is a lovely choice.
This extremely "white" white floral is a testament to tropical flowers.
As few gardenia perfumes smell like true gardenia, this one tends to linger in the orange blossom and jasmine realm. A glistening of tuberose is there, but the sharper neroli notes overpower it. The buttery silk associated with white flowers is very fleeting here and gives way to a more wet and watery dry down.
I personally like the hot and humid aspects of it. It definitely says hello and carries on with an upbeat, girly girl style. I like it, but I don't love it as much as I used to.
The staying power is famously short.
As few gardenia perfumes smell like true gardenia, this one tends to linger in the orange blossom and jasmine realm. A glistening of tuberose is there, but the sharper neroli notes overpower it. The buttery silk associated with white flowers is very fleeting here and gives way to a more wet and watery dry down.
I personally like the hot and humid aspects of it. It definitely says hello and carries on with an upbeat, girly girl style. I like it, but I don't love it as much as I used to.
The staying power is famously short.
Even the best sometimes fail and, here, Chanel failed. An harsh and cheap plastic/coconut white floral that would be an awful choice even as a freshener for a dog's basket. Meh...
I purchased the 15ml parfum exclusive to the flagship store when visiting Paris - it is sublime, I absolutely love it and get compliments when I wear it. Amazing. I haven't tried the EDT version.
Exquisite, elegant and a timeless fragrance that give us a break from those super fruity trendy perfumes who young people love so much these days. For me it was love at first sniff.
I love this. I have not been fortunate enough to smell an actual gardenia, but upon smelling this, that would have been my first guess. It smells totally natural and is, to me, a soliflore. The progression is very linear and I get good sillage and the lasting power is quite good on fabric at about 4 hours. I really, really like this one a lot and other than Cuir de Russie, is the only other Exclusif I want to get, having tried them all except Jersey. It's truly unique, delicate, gorgeous and has a curious vintage feel. Somewhat reminds me of Amouage Reflection woman, but if these two fragrance were gloves, Reflection would be the boxing glove of a heavy weight champion and Gardenia a lovely long silk elbow length glove with pearl buttons at the wrist to allow the perfect fit. Truly beautiful.
I waited a long time to buy this as the only option is the large $200.00 bottle. Like some other reviewers I have found that it does not seem to last and I have yet to have anyone notice or ask what I was wearing. I will enjoy it until it is gone, but my next major perfume purchase will be a fragrance with a little more complexity and substance. But, this may be the perfect fragrance for a job interview - so very light you could not possibly offend even the most sensitive nose. Just a thought.
Lovely Gardenia scent if you like the more green gardenia, not the deep buttery Gardenia, Overall it's well done, but the gorgeous scent is fleeting. For the price I would expect more.
This is a review of a vintage (ca. 1950) bottle of Gardenia in extrait form. Sadly, the top notes of the perfume have gone bad, but after about 15 seconds there is a light, sweet explosion of gardenia. However, the gardenia doesn't stick around very long, soon morphing into a powdery field of white flowers. Over the next few hours, the melange of white flowers slowly gives way to a creamy, woody base that is reminiscent of Bois des Iles or Coty's Imprevu. There seems to be just a touch of spice hidden somewhere in the basenotes that makes the drydown feel a touch masculine--peppery frankincense or spicy vetiver, perhaps. This original version seems to be a bit deeper and woodier than the current Exclusifs version, making it a touch more masculine and definitely more mysterious.
A generous sample of Gardenia was given to me by RainDropSparkle. The notes I have been able to get from the internet are jasmine, gardenia, orange blossom, tuberose,clove, sage, pimiento ,musk, patchouli, sandalwood and vetiver. This opens crisply light floral -green .Immediately bright . There IS a gardenia in this , that I detect but it's not wholly gardenia. It's more a subtle 'white flower' garden.... it's not particular loud with any floral note but nicely blended so you get that hint of fresh white flower, fresh,transparent-type gardenia in a dew-wet garden.I get on msukiness at all but a lot of vetiver as it dries down .I read elsewhere there is a hint of the classic ' Dior 'Poison' in this but i don't get it. It's character is completely different with tuberose being included in the notes which gives this perfume a boost.Perhaps it is a little closer to Marc Jacobs' essence and Nasomatto Narcotic Venus than anything else but not as loud oas those two fragrances.This is a good white floral perfume even though it's EDT - this does seem to last .Quite a polite fragrance,pleasant,not sexy but classy.
I made a special trip to the Chanel boutique in San Francisco to buy this, and was bitterly disappointed. It smelled of fly spray on me, completely synthetic and, like others, I could pick up no Gardenia flower scent at all. Tried it a few times at different times of day but ended up selling it on. Such a shame as I REALLY wanted to love it. Luckily I bought Cuir De Russie and Bois Des Illes at the same time and they more than made up for it.
I really love this one. It has such a crisp and clear, true scent of gardenia. Very elegant and fine.
I tried this once in a Sephora on Broadway in NYC, and waited 3 years to find it released only at Chanel boutiques and Bergdorf Goodman. I spent $200 on a large bottle - the only size they sold it. I LOVE the smell - perfect for the summer, not to heavy, fresh and crisp. However, it only lasts about 20 minutes. I've sprayed it at work and asked my co-workers - they coudn't smell it on me. My husband couldn't smell it on me. I wish, wish, WISH it lasted longer - because it doesn't I sadly give it a neutral. Otherwise it would be 2 enthusiastic thumbs up.
My first impression was the scent of the calyx of an unopened gardenia bud. Green and sweet. I spent too much of my childhood mauling my mother's gardenia bushes...peeling the buds were irresistible to me. The dry down is more of a general floral smell. Nice.
Chanel's Gardénia has to be the most 'creative' scent approximation of this flower, given that it bears no resemblance to it, whatsoever. In the main, this reminds me of a dilute of Poison, which quickly softens to take on a slightly cardboardy accord. It is very linear, remaining constant for the first two-thirds of its (very short) life, before settling into a sweet, unremarkable, flowery base. I regret to say that I am pretty underwhelmed by this scent, though this perhaps says more about the overall high quality of the Les Exclusifs line, of which Gardénia (to my mind) is probably the least successful. I am chastened, and somewhat surprised, to see that this is a Beaux creation, as I rate his perfumery skills extremely highly.