CHANEL
CHANCE EAU SPLENDIDE
2025
PERFUMER
Olivier Polge
raspberry
rose geranium
iris
cedarwood
white musk
‘A luminous new CHANCE that dazzles with splendour. CHANCE EAU SPLENDIDE, a magnetic fragrance that releases an olfactory whirlwind, diffusing a fruity-floral fragrance trail that is captivating and elegant. For the new CHANCE EAU SPLENDIDE, Olivier Polge, CHANEL In-House Perfumer-Creator, created a radiant and magnetic composition. The bright, sparkling raspberry accord, with facets of crisp fruit, rose and violet, soars before revealing a rich and luminous floral heart of rose geranium. This geranium, with a naturally rosy scent and a subtle minty note, is grown in the CHANEL fields in Grasse. It is accompanied by a sophisticated touch of powdery iris and a mysterious cedar-white musk accord. An olfactory whirlwind leaves a fruity floral fragrance trail that is elegant and captivating. “Luck is my soul.” All her life, Gabrielle Chanel cultivated luck. In believing that anything was possible, she turned her dreams into reality. For CHANEL, luck embodies an attitude, a way of being. A statement of faith that drives you to take control of your destiny. Sparkling, surprising, mystifying: Chance is never a matter of coincidence. It arises from a timely encounter, a purposeful meeting. It arrives with a bang. It has an intoxicating effect on you, pulling you into a whirlwind. Chance is a brazen success, youthful, like a nod to fate. Chance is meant to be seized, like a joy-scented talisman. It represents perpetual movement and renewal, which is echoed by the round bottle that, like infinity, has no end. A way to bet everything on yourself, to choose yourself and to always give yourself another chance to play the game.’ – Chanel
Most reviews I’ve read so far paint a picture of Eau Splendide being a letdown and downgrade in quality. Maybe I’ve become so used to big brand perfume releases in recent years smelling cheap due to sampling multiple a week, that I don’t agree. Chance Eau Splendide is a fruity (the fruitiest) take on this DNA, but I find it to wear nicely.
The scent profile leans heavy towards the red fruits. It’s floral, but the flowers don’t seem like they are at the heart of this fragrance as prominently as the marketing had me believe. Instead, it’s a watery, playful, but still ‘Chanel’ and elegant fruity fragrance. Scent-wise perhaps more in the direction of a Dior Rouge Trafalgar, but it’s much less vibrant and it wears with the lightness of more floral fragrances (I was reminded of cherry blossom scents akin to Dior Sakura).
While not my favorite style, I think it strikes a nice balance, without going too sweet. It’s youthful, modern, but retains enough of a sophisticated touch that one would expect from a Chanel. It’s more rosé, than it is lemonade.
Is it interesting, unique, surprising or even worth paying much attention to? Honestly, not really. But it wears and smells perfectly fine, which anno 2025 seems like an absolute win for a major mass appealing launch. If this is Chanel’s way to aim for youthful and modern, it’s a lot more grounded in the previous iterations, than some of the other brands (*cough Dior *cough) have recently rolled out.