COROMANDEL

WHAT I SMELL:  Coromandel opens with an initial sweet citrus which then turns slightly herbal with a strong presence of patchouli.  It’s not loud, but dreamy and almost minty in the beginning.  After a bit, its warmed by a light amber.  After about 30 minutes or so the incense and benzoin notes adds depth and dimension giving Coromandel more weight and volume.  Coromandel is elegant with a masculine edge.

From the Chanel website:

A voluptuous Oriental fragrance — an olfactory depiction of the lacquered Coromandel screens Mademoiselle cherished. Created by CHANEL Master Perfumer Jacques Polge in 2007, the elaborate scent unfolds in undulating detail, starting with an amber vibrato, followed by dry notes of Frankincense and Benzoin, then, soulful woody notes that add elegance and depth to the sensuous accord’s striking trail.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  This is what an oriental fragrance should smell like.  This is how I think the bygone era of “ladies who lunch” should have smelled like.  I would tend to think that in that era they wore perfumes that were very large, but they should have been wearing this.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE COROMANDEL:  woody, dimensional, understated

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT COROMANDEL:  The Non-Blonde, Kafkaesque, Another Perfume Blog

BOTTOM LINE:  I am tempted to open my wallet now to purchase myself a bottle.  I’m not quite sure if I’m there yet, but you could easily twist my arm!

• Bone Rating: 4 out of 5 possible bones
• Scent: Oriental  Woody
• Nose:  Jacques Polge
• Classification: Marketed as a woman’s fragrance, but this could easily be worn by a man
• Expense: $130 for 75ml EdT

1932

WHAT I SMELL:  1932 has a big opening of aldehydes.   It’s “bathtastic” as it smells clean and fresh.  It’s  a bouquet of flowers, dominated by jasmine, ylang-ylang and carnation that is finished off with a slight warmth. I was a bit worried that 1932 wouldn’t mellow, but after around 45 minutes it seemed to tame a bit and become less obtrusive and more pretty.

From Fragrantica:

The composition is powdery – floral with a focus on jasmine. It opens with fresh citrusy flavors that include aldehydes, bergamot and neroli. The heart is a heady floral, composed of jasmine, rose, ylang-ylang, lilac and carnation. The base is sweet, woody and resinous with notes of vetiver, orris, sandalwood, opoponax, incense, vanilla, coumarin, ambrette, musk and iralia molecule which possesses the character of iris and violet.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  Bathtastic in my mind is not a great thing.  It reminds me of how the bathroom smelled after my mother just got done taking a bubble bath which is a good smell, but not something that I would like to smell like throughout the day, nor would I want someone else to.  That’s what soap is for.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE 1932:  My new word…”bathtastic” (feel free to use this at will), heavyish, obvious

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT 1932:  Kafkaesque, The Alembicated Genie, Now Smell This

BOTTOM LINE:  I don’t believe 1932 is a bad fragrance, it just not for me.  I like feminine fragrances, but this is a bit too old-fashioned and floral for my tastes.

• Bone Rating: 3 out of 5 possible bones
• Scent: Floral Woody Musk
• Nose:  Jacques Polge
• Classification: Feminine
• Expense: $130 for 75ml EdT

A special thanks to Sal from Kafkaesque for providing me with these samples!!  If you haven’t already, please check out her wonderful blog!