Gold in a bottle

A while back, May-Britt and I joined Arthur Stippel on his sofa. Arthur is an incredibly fun guy and the fragrance expert from Chanel. He knows everything, but literally, everything about each fragrance. He knows their stories, and he’s able to tell you in such a way that you’ll hang on his lips for hours on end. And rightfully so because he had great news. Chanel will release three Extraits from their great Exclusifs de Chanel.

Les Exclusifs de Chanel is a collection of eau de toilettes which is also called ‘haute parfumerie’. The most beautiful ingredients added together in gorgeous bottles. Three of those jewels are now available as Extraits. A smaller bottle, but with an intense fragrance. And the fragrances 1932, Beige, and Jersey have been chosen to function as showpieces. The absolute ingredients of handpicked jasmine, absolu from rose petals, absolu from 36 months long dried Iris roots. You must understand, this is gold in a bottle.

Chanel 1932 is inspired on the first jewellery collection that Gabriëlle Chanel presented in November 1932. Chanel’s perfume creator Jacques Polge thought that a perfume has as many facets as a diamond. The result: a clear smell in which mostly jasmine has the lead.

Jasmine has been combined with pear, pomelo, and a good dash of iris butter in L’Extrait, which makes the fragrance exotic but fresh. A whiff in your neck and you’ll smell of absolute luxury and sensuality.

Okay, here it is. I often change fragrances, but this is really my new favourite. The love is mutual because it’s a perfect match. Honestly. Just like Gabriëlle Chanel’s statement: “I wear beige because that colour is natural”. Beautiful. A colour that remains chic no matter what occasion, just like black and white. How it translated to a fragrance? You can smell the powdery and honey sweet of jasmine and ylang ylang, together with the anise and almonds smell of the May rose. It’s a very concentrated fragrance, but it remains fresh.

Of a fabric that was good enough for factory workers and distant city dwellers, Chanel made the material for the new elegance. Jersey. And the fondness Chanel had for Jersey, Jacques Polge has for lavender. Not feminine, not masculine, but a lot of sophistication. With its pinch of vanilla, tonka bean, and musk, it’s a very warm, creamy and soft fragrance. Just as flexible as the fabric it was inspired on. Even warmer.

Les Exclusifs de Chanel, Les Extraits, Beige, 1932, Jersey, € 187, Chanel, chanel.com