
When it comes to perfumes, women find it a lot easier to swim into the ocean of variety and pick whatever piques their interest. For men, the choosing is quite a bit of a struggle.
Breaking convention is not as easy because it comes at the cost of elegance and society is not nearly as accepting of men breaking stereotypes as women. Fashion and beauty means following trends rather than outshining them in most cases.
However, there is a fine line which can be toed; where men will find that they are tapping into something wholly unconventional and unique while at the same type exhibiting the aura of a product that is inherently familiar and somewhat conservative.
Today we are going to talk about the Bleu de Chanel and how it manages to successfully toe that line between individuality and conformity.
The aquatic has blended more into this hybrid than is considered prudent which means Chanel is willing to take risks. Now, they may not always pay off but at the very least you’re vying for something greater than the generic.
The base is naturally woody, with base notes comprised primarily of grapefruit and peppermint. The sweetness is pleasant yet restrained; they didn’t go overboard with it. The undertones of amber further add a surreal quality to the mixture.
In the background of the scent, you will still be able to detect that faint aroma of the smoky citrus flavor. However, those particular notes are not that readily apparent, elegantly camouflaged, adding to the flavor without drawing attention.
One the best things about the cologne is how long it lasts. Twelve hours after a mild spray you can still smell it quite strongly on your body.
Versatile
It will serve you well, on any kind of occasion, formal or informal; work meetings, black-tie events, late night parties or a date. The scent is not so jarring that it becomes offensive, yet not so feeble either that it fails to impress. It manages to strike the perfect balance between the two worlds which makes it suitable for the gentlemen with very particular palates.
Classy
Like we said before, it’s very moderate in its approach. Elegance is a perfect balance of pizzazz and restraint and Blue de Chanel manages to adhere to that guideline perfectly. The outcome is a perfume that is fiercely classy.
Notes
There are undercurrents of notes such as grapefruit and pink pepper complimenting the major mint, citrus and mossy notes. The end result is something that reminds us heavily of a mid-summers eve, bursting with floral scents.
The floral flavor is mainly due to the patchouli, labdanum and the rich jasmine which gives it an incredibly natural feel.
There is an altogether foreign element present which can be attributed to the dry cedar, the gentle vetiver and the warmer sandalwood base which combine together beautifully to create an exotic flavor that is irresistible.
It’s not a stretch to imagine that combining so many notes is more than likely to end up a disaster, but Bleu de Chanel manages to pull it off with remarkable panache.
Eau De Parfum vs. Eau De Toilette
The Bleu de Chanel Eau De Parfum version exudes more of the oriental scent with the woodiness being slightly more pronounced. It is obviously more concentrated than the Bleu de Chanel Eau De Toilette. Once sprayed, it will last longer.
The Bleu de Chanel Eau De Toilette on the other hand feels fresher and doesn’t stick out as much; which makes it unobjectionable to wear at any occasion. This is suitable for the majority of men as it won’t make them stick out like a sore thumb. However, if you wish that the scent was stronger or more lasting, opt for the Bleu de Chanel Eau De Parfum. Yes, it is slightly more expensive but even a single spray will keep you smelling good for hours.
In contrast, the Chanel Platinum Egoiste had an overpowering smell that was sweet but sometimes so over the top that it became overwhelming. With Blue de Chanel, you won’t experience the same problem. While the smell lasts for more or less the same time, it remains consistent in density.
Chanel in retrospect
The perfume outlet of Chanel carries on the prestige of what we have come to expect from the notorious fashion house. Their products exude elegance, grace and beauty with occasional miss hits that they always manage to bounce back from.
The Parfumerie was founded by Pierre Werth in 1924. Throughout its history, there have been three major perfumers in Chanel dedicated to the task of crafting the perfumes; Ernest Beaux, followed by Henri Robert and ultimately our very own Jacques Polge.
Chanel has always been known to stay in the safe territory over the ages, releasing tried and tested products that wowed customers but in limited horizons. There wasn’t a lot of risk taking as they always stuck to the formulas that had delivered in the past and tweaked them a bit here and there.
With Bleu de Chanel, it seems they are finally ready to explore uncharted waters and wade out of their comfort zone.
Now, a lot of people feel that it does nothing to make them smell better. Well, the truth is, that every person is different. Some people’s skin soaks up the fragrance a lot quicker than others. It depends a lot on your body chemistry, your natural body scent and how it clashes with the scent of the fragrance.
Another point to consider is personal hygiene. A lot of people expect the perfume to just make them smell better by covering up every other bodily odor emanating from their skin. It doesn’t work like that. How about you take a bath first.
The Hype for Bleu was extravagant to say the least, with notorious names like Martin Scorsese at the helm of this flagship. As expected, this led to some monumental expectations by the masses. Suffice it to say, the perfume does fall short of that but who can blame them.
This isn’t the work Jean-Baptiste Grenouille from “Perfume: The story of a murderer”. That didn’t turn out so well, did it?