Hi there Perfume Posse. One of the brands that seems to give perfumistas and regular people the excitements is CHANEL. From the controversial Coco herself, through the Lagerfeld years and all along the Wertheimers have kept the business going, coddled it, breathed new life into it when necessary and created an empire that is now into its third generation. Gabrielle Essence by Chanel  is the latest offering, a new addition to the 2017 released Gabrielle line.

Gabrielle Essence by Chanel 2019

Olivier Polge

Parfumo gives these featured accords:
Top: Citruses, Red fruits
Heart: Tuberose, Jasmine, Ylang-ylang, Tunisian orange blossom
Base: Sandalwood, Vanilla, White musk

Recently I was in the city and chatting with my mate who works as an SA for CHANEL in one of our national department stores, Myer. The newest creation from the nose of Olivier Polge had just been released in Australia and he was adamant I should try it. I’m sure some of you adore the original Gabrielle but it just lay flat and dead on my skin with no excitement or joy of any kind. This I explained to my buddy but he’d have none of it. “PLEASE, just try it. I know you will like it much better than the original.” How could I refuse such a heartfelt entreaty so I grabbed the bottle and did four big spritzes onto my forearm. It was the end of my day ion town and I thought I could spend the 40 minute train trip home cursing him and mocking this new horror put forth to inveigle the gullible masses of men who buy perfume for their wives/daughters/mistresses and colleagues at Christmas. As I kissed him goodbye he handed me a couple of carded samples to continue trying if I liked it (fat chance) or give away.

Yeah, I know you knew it. BAZINGA! A white floral that opens with an aldehydic fruity sparkle. Gabrielle Essence is so much more beautiful than its wan, lacklustre mother. It’s nothing new, doesn’t add anything to the annals of fragrance history or push any boundaries BUT it is absolutely lovely. It has the same created feel of CHANEL No 5; that utterly unreal, space age flowers feeling, as if they’re made from fibreglass.

Given a lightly tropical vibe through a sheer swirl of ylang and vanilla, there are moments in the heart and on the brink of dry down where Gabrielle Essence could be one of the Guerlain Aqua Allegorias. Not in the notes list but the peachy lactones of Mitsouko seem to be running along behind the modern, sand blasted white flowers and adding a gravitas that the leading notes miss utterly. There are even hints of J’Adore‘s brilliant heart hiding tucked away inside as well.

So here I am. Fragrantly smacked across the knuckles for prejudging. I know at least half a dozen of my mates who would be swooning with delight to get this baby as a gift and some that may even buy it for themselves.

I gave a sample to my girlfriend Anna-Maria and it lasted less than 20 minutes on her. Nice opening and then nothing. YMMV, test before buying.

Will I buy it. No. It would never get a spritz and sit unloved in its box till I gave it away. Will my samples get used? Well, one has gone already……..

So, what have you decided you’d hate and been proven wrong about?

Portia xx

Portia also writes for Australian Perfume Junkies