WHAT I SMELL: Comête has a putty like cherry blossom opening that moves quickly to the powder with a dusting of lightly sweetened iris surrounded by a quiet heliotrope. It’s soft, gentle and rather unassuming. After a couple of minutes, it becomes incredibly unassuming because it feels as if it is about to disappear from your skin. But soon enough, the heliotrope begins to blossom in a muted manner. And soon after, the iris begins to layer itself over the heliotrope and in combination creates for a very soft and comforting wear that’s slightly sweetened. In the end, a hazy musk makes its appearance to lead Comête to its floral cotton ball of a finish.
From the Chanel website:
Ever superstitious, Gabrielle Chanel let the stars guide her to the world of high jewelry, which she revolutionized in 1932 with her unique and now legendary BIJOUX DE DIAMANTS collection. The COMÈTE necklace was at the heart of the constellation. Its shooting star, nestled softly in the neck, symbolizes the intimate, sensorial connection that links a person to their jewelry—as well as their fragrance. Luminous and sensual, the new COMÈTE Eau de Parfum was composed by CHANEL In-House Perfumer Creator Olivier Polge and leaves a trail reminiscent of stardust in its wake.
A fresh cherry blossom accord is caressed by notes of iris and heliotrope. An intense floral scent with a powdery, musky signature.
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: A purple floral halo crown.
THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE COMÊTE: soft, serene, subdued
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT COMÊTE: The Black Narcissus
BOTTOM LINE: Long story short, I bought a bottle of Comête at 12:30 am at the Singapore airport where the Chanel representative was sweet enough to open up the locked store to let me experience this new release…so of course I had to have it. That said, I want to love Comête, but instead I just rather like it. Where as my other Exclusifs (1957, Boy, Chanel 22, etc.) make for perfume cravings, Comête has not yet achieved that status. But like the others, Comête has an easy to wear clean feeling that makes it rather enchanting, even though it may be a bit fleeting as its staying power is a bit challenged.
- Bone Rating: 3.5 out of possible 5 bones
- Scent: Floral
- Nose: Olivier Polge
- Classification: Leans feminine
- Expense: Starting at $325 for 2.5 oz. eau de parfum
WHAT I SMELL: PARIS-RIVIERA opens with a soft creamy petitgrain that is quickly met with a sweet, vibrant and juicy neroli. It’s fresh, energetic and a bit bubble-gummish as it feels a bit chewy. But overall it’s incredibly sunny. A sandalwood makes it way in to reveal a bit of pencil shaving along with the lightest of jasmine, which helps it migrate away from the orange a bit. After a short time, a gauze of musk layers over the composition and it feels as if the perfume is contained in a muslin wrap designed to keep the flies off of the fruit that sits within a basket. As the perfume continues to develop, it begins to sweeten which is welcomed as it makes the perfume just that more joyous. And in a bit, a warmed woody base adds just the perfect resting place for this floral dream. PARIS-RIVIERA is a delightfully pretty perfume.
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: A summer picnic under the orange trees.
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Audrey Hepburn in “Funny Face” 1957.
The Scented Hound 