CHANEL
Coromandel parfum

2019

PERFUMER
Jacques Polge

bitter orange
citrus notes
neroli

patchouli
YLANG-YLANG
orris
jasmine
rose

benzoin
amber
frankincense
musk
vanilla
white chocolate
woody notes

The more time goes by, the more I appreciate the Chanel Les Exclusifs line. Many people have talked to me about Coromandel and as much as I appreciated it (it was the first Les Exclusifs that I liked), I never felt that it was 100% my thing. Until I smelled the parfum/extrait.

I’d worn this in the Chanel boutique twice before, each time smelling my hand constantly in the hours after. No matter how many other fragrance I’d tried that day, Coromandel Parfum stood out. The only reason I never bought it, is that I do not like these dabber bottles (and the price doesn’t help either). However, when smelling it for the third time and loving it again, I had to pick it up. I’m at a point in my ‘collecting’ that I can and will always shuffle fragrances to get the Holy Grails and this was one of them.

The Parfum is sweeter and less earthy than it’s EDT/EDP counterparts. More of that custardy vanilla and amped up ylang-ylang. It starts a bit sparkling, spicy and foresty, but before long it becomes very sweet. The citrus notes in the opening are classy, but subdued, it dives into the base rather quickly.

Not shying away from its main component patchouli of course, that’s still front and center, but I feel it’s more spicy and sweet here, less damp and earthy for sure.

I still don’t get the illustrious ‘white chocolate’ which may or may not be listed for this version, but there’s a ton of vanilla and sweet resins here that has an addictive quality to it. The quality of the ingredients and performance are top notch and as much as I dislike the dabbers, the parfum concentration wears beautifully soft and rounded.

As of today, 31 Rue Cambon is definitely still my favorite Chanel and I think that won’t change, but Coromandel Parfum is the runner-up and it’s likely the best patchouli that I’ve smelled.