Chanel | The Scented Hound

March 2, 2015
by The Scented Hound 61 Comments

New Release: Les Exclusifs de Chanel Misia

WHAT I SMELL: Misia opens with a powdery light and airy violet that quickly is accentuated by a lovely rounded almost plastic candy coated rose. Candied doesn’t mean that the perfume is overly sweet. In fact, it’s like a dusting of light powder that has been sifted onto the semi-sweet flowers. The fragrance has a sense of fragility about it, but there’s an underlying iris rootiness wrapped in the most subtle of leather that helps Misia to keep itself grounded in confidence. After 10 minutes, the fragrance begins to grow and the leather comes forward but in a way that ensures that it never takes the spotlight away from the pretty powdered florals. After 25 minutes, a slightly sour tonka comes in giving the perfume a greater amount of dimension. There’s a definite vintage makeup and lipstick quality to Misia, but at the same time, Misia has a dynamic that propels it into the present day. In the end, Misia becomes a pretty powder puff of violet and iris…but not overly pretty, you can’t accuse Misia of being too girly-girl.

From the Chanel website:

Named for the art patron Misia Sert, Gabrielle Chanels confidante. Evoking the air of a theater backstage, this exquisite scent features a feminine blend of May Rose and Violet, intertwined with a hint of leather. A truly inspired and distinctive creation.

Ziegfeld Model - Non-Risque - Dancers by Alfred Cheney Johnston

Ziegfeld Girls

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Backstage dressing rooms at the Ziegfeld Follies, full of powder, makeup and unbridled femininity.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE MISIA: daring, unique, confident

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT MISIA: CaFleureBon, Bois de Jasmin

BOTTOM LINE: Misia is a temptress that keeps calling back to me with her siren song. I really like her, but am not sure if I love her, but there’s something so unique and special about her that I can’t stop thinking about her. Misia betwixts me!

Bone Rating: 4 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Oriental Floral
Nose: Olivier Polge
Classification: Feminine
Expense: $160 for 2.5 oz. Eau de Toilette

The Scented Hound has two 2 ml samples of Misia to give away to two lucky readers (U.S only please). To enter the draw, let me know what your favorite Chanel perfume is or why you want to get to know Misia. The draw ends on Thursday March 5 at 6pm EST. Winners will be chosen via random.org. and will be announced on Friday, March 6. Good luck!

February 23, 2015
by The Scented Hound 11 Comments

Chanel Coco Noir

WHAT I SMELL: Coco Noir opens with a brown sugared and sweetened grapefruit and bergamot. It’s light and happy, pretty and rather bouncy as the notes crackle with the brown sugar. The sugar note starts to reveal a lovely floral dominated by jasmine that starts to grow and expand. There’s something almost a bit masculine about the fragrance as the patchouli provides a woody note that keeps the florals from becoming too feminine. But as soon as I say that, the perfume continues to grow and expand and it becomes rather creamy, like it would make for a beautiful and enriching hand creme. Finally, Coco Noir finds it feminine self and the perfume radiates warm florals which are beefed up by a pulsating sandalwood. The perfume almost has a heartbeat that pulses and projects off the skin in a rhythmic manner. In the end, Coco Noir provides a powdery finish to a radiant floral that is warmed from below.

From the Chanel website:

Magnetic and uncompromising, COCO NOIR reveals a black that is intimate, seductive and intensely brilliant. Striking top notes of Grapefruit and Bergamot accentuate the floral accord, with Rose and Jasmine, while Indonesian Patchouli and Sandalwood notes add warmth.

Passion via romance novel art!

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: pulsating passion

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE COCO NOIR: tempting, self-assured, confident

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT COCO NOIR: Bois de Jasmin, Kafkaesque, Undina’s Looking Glass

BOTTOM LINE: With “noir” in the name, I was expecting Coco Noir to be a heavy oriental full of deep and dark mystery. Instead, I found a fragrance that is rather big, bold and full of passion. Coco Noir takes no prisoners and although being rather feminine, there’s enough beef here to make me think that a man could get by with wearing this with ease as well.

Bone Rating: 4 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Woody Floral
Nose: Jacques Polge and Christopher Sheldrake
Classification: Feminine, but could work for a man
Expense: Review based on the Eau de Parfum version. $98 for 3.4 oz. Eau de Parfum.

January 19, 2015
by The Scented Hound 15 Comments

Vintage Chanel No. 19 Parfum

WHAT I SMELL: Chanel No. 19 opens with a brilliant rush of green, with hints of civet. It’s breathtakingly beautiful, vibrant while topped with sparkling powder. Soon enough a woodiness blends into a mossy dryness as the perfume pulsates off the skin. This is refined sexuality in a bottle with radiant but muted florals on top of a vetiver and oakmoss base and what seems to be a bit of dusty leather. As pretty as Chanel No. 19 is I do find that there’s a darkness that lurks at the base of the perfume that provides a serious and in-charge aura of control. As beautiful as this is, Chanel No. 19 is to me, a refined feminine butch perfume.

From the Chanel website:

Gabrielle Chanel’s signature scent, named for her August 19th birthdate. A rich blend of floral and green notes, followed by May Rose and Iris from Florence. The finale: a hint of Chypre with a subtle, woody Vetiver note. In parfum form, the most powerful, long-lasting concentration of fragrance.

Top notes: galbanum, neroli, bergamot
Heart notes: jasmine, rose, lily of the valley, iris
Base notes: vetiver, sandalwood, leather, musk

Jackie Onassis & Lee Radziwelll circa 1970

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: The antithesis of the late 60s early 70s hippie.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE CHANEL NO. 19: dusty, sophisticated, intoxicating

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT CHANEL NO. 19: Perfume Shrine, Bois de Jasmin, Yesterday’s Perfume

BOTTOM LINE: Sometimes conveying a perfume in words is next to impossible. Chanel No. 19 is one of those perfumes for me as it defies my interpretation. I will say however that the picture of Jackie and Lee is perfect for this perfume as I can see both of them lounging in their NY apartments talking, smoking and cocktailing it up wearing this timeless classic.

Bone Rating: 5 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Floral Chypre
Nose: Henri Robert
Classification: Feminine – but easily worn by a man.
Expense: Varies. Review based on vintage the parfum extrait version.