Hi Posse, Normally a highlight, last years first visit to Guerlain Champs Elysees was a real bummer. It has not dimmed my love for the brand though. Nor has it impacted my love for this rarely talked about on the scentbloggosphere fragrance. Also, as the Northern Hemisphere heads into Spring I thought it a perfect time to chat about a fragrance that seems quintessentially spring-like to me.
Champs Elysees EdP by Guerlain
Jacques Guerlain and Jean-Paul Guerlain
Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Black currant, melon, almond, violet, peach, anise
Heart: Peony, mimosa, lilac, hibiscus, lily-of-the-valley, rose, almond blossom
Base: Sandalwood, benzoin, vanilla, cedar, almond tree
As you can see my bottle is not the current one. I bought it very early on this decade, along with an EdT and an extrait. It doesn’t look like I’ve used very much till I turn the beautiful Art Deco styled bottle upside down.
Just so we are all on the same page. Heres the current mini Bee Bottle spritzer. The individual bottle styles were becoming burdensome to the LVMH owned Guerlain. This is quite a nice bottle and now your set will all match when you start rebuying.
So, how does Champs Elysees smell? Fresh and dewy, with a cool melon/violet opening given a little zing by the blackcurrant. It’s vibrant and friendly, adding a jolly lightness to my demeanour. It doesn’t take long for this early joie de vivre to burn off. The heart is warmer and richer with lilac/violet, rose, almond and sandalwood creating the main focus. Champs Elysees heart is lovely. Reminiscent of clean kitchens, warm hugs and cashmere shawls on a cool spring afternoon.
Base is a soft focus lightly wooded vanilla. There’s still a whisper of the flowers but nothing definite. A bouquet nearby that is adding a lilt to the air.
Originally aimed at the younger market I think Guerlain missed its mark. Champs Elysees is a perfect Spring, or Spring reminiscent, fragrance for any age. Leaning towards the traditional idea of femininity but it smells excellent on a man as well. You’d never pick it as a feminine once it crosses the gender divide.
Surrender To Chance has samples from $2.79/ml
Were you ever a Champs-Élysées wearer?
Portia xx
Portia also writes for Australian Perfume Junkies
Howdy, dear!! Nice review! I remember enjoying it a lot when it debuted; it did seem the embodiment of spring to me. Think I even had the cutest little mini at one point. But as time wore on, it fell off my radar. But now it begs another sniff. Of course, good luck finding it, since here in the U.S. it’s been pulled out of the major doors (Neiman Marcus, Saks, Nordstrom, etc.).
Hey Ann,
That’s a complete bummer that they’ve taken Champs Elysees off the stands. I* wonder if they’re hiding in drawers? There’s a whole bunch of Guerlain that never makes it to the shelves here in Oz that you must ask for.
Portia xx
Hi! Sorry to be unclear — I meant that they had pulled the whole, entire Guerlain line out of the stores they’d previously been in! Walked into Neiman’s a year or two ago and the whole bay was gone, replaced with some new line. Maybe you can get stuff online, but no more brick-and-mortar Guerlain sniffing at U.S. department stores that I know of (there are a few Guerlain boutiques around though, such as in Vegas, Canada, etc., but none near me), alas!!
OH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Just heartbreaking!! 🙁
Never tried Champs Elysees. Now it’s going into the decant cart, while I keep a lookout for the next ETC sale.
How full is your cart already Eldarwen22? I sometimes do this too.
Portia xx
Champs Elysees edp in the deco bottle was my very first Guerlain. I remember marching into our local Marshall Fields department store and making the purchase with one of my first “real” paychecks, I was so proud to have this bottle.
WOW Verbenaluvvr,
What a lovely first Guerlain. I bet you felt like the most glamorous girl in the world.
Portia xx
I’ve never tried it, but may put it on the list. Your post reminded me I have one of those spring flankers to Paris and now I want to pull it out this weekend and put it in rotation.
Hey there Cara,
Oh yes, talking of violet roses! Those spring Paris flankers are lovely. So fresh and uplifting.
Enjoy,
Portia xx
I have worn and loved Champs Elysees since the late 90s, and have gone through a EDP bottle and an extrait. I currently have an almost full art deco bottle which I love. Champs Elysees has always been in my top 10 fragrance list, I’ve always wondered why it hasn’t received more love and recognition from the fragrance community. I love all the notes from top to dry down, and the soft, powdery, floral perfume brings me so much joy. I agree with Portia and happy that you also enjoy it. It’s not spring here in Colorado, we had a blizzard yesterday, but I’m going to wear it anyways today.
YAY Kathleen,
It makes me so happy to read that you’re a regular Champs Elysees wearer. I hope it hoit the spot for you today and made you feel springy even in the depth of arctic cold.
Portia xx
Hmm. Just did a bit more checking and I guess the re-issue was ’95. so not very early ’90s, but only mid to late 90s. Memory, and not just for scent, is such a tricky thing, and mine seems to be melting a bit.
Thanks for the input! I’ll see if I can find some around here, and if not I’ll get a sample of the new stuff.
I wore it back in the day, (very early ’90s), but I stopped wearing it for some reason, and I don’t recall why exactly. I’ve been halfheartedly trying to find a vintage of it, but I’m loathe to part with money when the perfume does not leave a definite “I used to love that” memory with me. Does anyone here have experience with the newer versions as compared to the older? I’ve not smelled it since, well, the early-mid ’90s. I suspect it’s changed a bit, as have all the old classics that have survived. I might consider going new if I could snag me a bee bottle! 😉 Maybe I just need to get a sample of the new and see what I think. 🙂
Karen,
I think the new is almost exactly the same. Not much different, maybe a bit fresher?
Portia xx
I’ve just had a look for my Champ Elysee it’s a Bee Bottle. Now I’ve found it I will wear it today. XX
Woo Hoo! I love to be inspiration Matty, Enjoy smelling glorious.
Portia xx
I have a mini of this although i don’t know that I’ve given it a real chance. Must pull it out!
I’ll be interested to read what you think MMKinPA.
Portia xx
Never wore Champ Elysees but your review has made me want to try it 🙂
Hey Brigitte,
It’s so pretty. Like triple pretty.
Portia xx
I really like Champs-Elysées (have the same bottle) but find it a bit challenging to wear a full day. It has a strong plastic note to me, like the plastic our local library covers books in – it’s what made me buy my bottle!
Wow Hester,
That’s such a fabulously particular scent memory. Love it.
Portia xx