CHANEL
sycomore EDP

2016

PERFUMER
Christopher Sheldrake
Jacques Polge

pink pepper
spicy notes
aldehydes
juniper
violet
cypress
tobacco
vetiver
sandalwood

Am I starting to like Sycomore? It’s one of the first Chanel’s I ever tried and I came back to it once or twice, but it’s the one that I never understood the love for (whereas Coromandel for example grew on me sooner). Sycomore will likely never be one of my absolute favorites, but this time… I’m beginning to see it in a different light.

The opening minutes are not my jam. Rooty, but almost nutty and earthy, and at the same time vibrant green. Throughout I get a cardboard-like wood, like clean woods, such as cedarwood, underneath. It keeps it somewhat light and in tradition with what I’ve come to expect from the Chanel Les Exclusifs collection.

Here’s what’s new for me. I find Sycomore surprisingly refreshing. Which is very different from how I would’ve described Sycomore when I tried it some years ago. I think I find more of the juniper and clean woody vibe now than just the green and earthiness.

Moreover, when smelling my skin up close, I smell something akin to raw, fresh carrots, despite no carrot seed or iris being listed in the notes. The more I smell it however, the more I smell carrot (and I’ll die on that hill). I looked it up and there’s one other review among hundreds on Fragrantica that mentions carrot juice, so… I feel validated?

Fresh carrots, some green, a bit of earthiness. The texture is like soft spices, a minute tingling, but nothing sharp or harsh. Classy enough for a Chanel. Call me intrigued and maybe even impressed with Sycomore, although that’s probably due to it catching me off-guard.