I was thinking about large brands’ exclusive lines and realized that it has been a while since Chanel released their last perfume in their Les Exclusifs collection (it was Le Lion, back in 2020). I was too absent recently, so I haven’t heard any news about new launches from Chanel. Have you? Meanwhile, let’s talk about our existing favorites.
Saturday Question #168:
What Is Your Favorite Les Exclusifs de Chanel?
Do you love any of them? Too many or not at all? Do you own them? Do you wear them?
My Answer
While I like many perfumes from this line, I have just two full bottles, a couple of minis and a few decants in my collection. So it makes sense to choose one of the two FBs. I think.
So, if I had to choose just one, it would be Cuir de Russie, probably the most favorite leather perfume in my collection. (And I’ll chime in if you mention my other favorites in your comments.)
How about you?
Undina's Looking Glass 
Of the ones I’ve tried, Sycomore.
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Tried it. Don’t remember what I thought. Will try again eventually.
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Jersey and Beige are my favorites, but I like them best in the pure parfum version.
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Since I like both as EdP, I’m sure I’ll like these as parfum.
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Hey Undina and crew,
There are a few bottles around here. I’m a bit of a completionist but don’t have them all.
The one that gets the most wear, by far, is BOY. Works for everything. Non intrusive. Smells luxurious and sails blissfully under the radar. Is still smellable hours after the spritz and has that quiet understatement that feels so good. I did split off half the bottle but have nearly finished the other half.
Portia x
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As I was searching through photos in the blog’s media, I saw several of your photos for the posts you previously published about your Chanel favorites. I was tempted to add them to the mosaic but decided not to do it without asking you first.
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Undina, you’re welcome to use any of the photos I’ve uploaded here. No need to ask. Go for it.
Portia xx
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My favourite is Beige, that hawthorn note melts my heart. Why I got 200ml EdT I have no idea. Rooky error?
Le Lion is my bete noire!
I need to hunt out my decant of CdR & hope it is still in good order.
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Wait… It is good to have 200 ml of perfume that you like, isn’t it? Why do you call it a mistake?
I also like Beige and enjoy wearing it (and wish I had bought a bottle of EdT).
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I will never finish it all!
If I hadn’t been a collector for over 30 years & wore only 2 or 3 different scent 200mls would be perfect. In a large collection 200mls doesn’t get enough love
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My only bottle is CdR, but it doesn’t really work for me. Ones I tried and didn’t make the same mistake of buying on the spot include Sycomore and Misia.
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I’m less familiar with the current EdP, so I’m not sure if I would like it the same as my EdT. But I tend to like most of Chanel perfumes from this line, so I’m not too worried (not that I expect to need more perfume any time soon).
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I have tried and I own few of them in the EdT version. My favorite is 28 La Pausa.
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La Pausa is beautiful, but it didn’t stay on my skin (or for my nose) long enough to justify a FB purchase.
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Same here!
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I love the line and own 4: Boy, 22, 1957 and Bois des Iles. I have to say that it’s a toss up between Boy, 22 and 1957 because they all are my fall back perfumes when I just can’t figure out what I want to wear. I wish I owned the whole line cause they really do work for me :).
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Once again, I’m amazed how you and I differ: out of your list, BdI would be my number 1 (not that I dislike the other three).
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I have La Pausa, Rue Cambon and Misia, all in the discontinued EdT version. I love them all but wear La Pausa the most, maybe because it is a 200 ml bottle. I am not aware of any Exclusif new releases.
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Rue Cambon is one of the Exclusifs that I must have tried (I think I tried them all) but have no recollection of. I’m not sure why some of them didn’t live any impression whether positive or negative.
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No. 22! I’ve been wearing it since my 20s, I always come back to it. Was lucky enough to score a 200 ml bottle of the EDT for a reasonable price several years ago so now I have a lifetime supply.
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The only version I tried was also an EdT. I like it a lot, but unlike many other Exclusifs, it stays on my skin for so long that I get tired of it.
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Hi Undina, I haven’t tried all of them. I am one of those people who is so awkward asking to try things in upscale boutiques. You would think I would have grown out of that at some point, but no! However, from what I’ve tried, 1957 was my favorite. I wrote a blog post about it, perhaps inspired by growing up so close to Neiman Marcus. I still get a small thrill the rare times I go to downtown Dallas and push through the doors with their stylish “NM” metal door handles on the glass doors. Here is a link to that post: https://thefragrantjourney.blogspot.com/2019/04/chanel-1957-when-coco-chanel-came-to.html
I also like Beige, which is sort of in the same vein.
Happy Saturday everyone!
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Loved the story! And those store handles are great! I haven’t seen such at any other NM I’ve been to.
I will revisit 1957 when I get a chance.
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Thanks! And yes, downtown Dallas store is like a tomb but they will probably keep it open until the end. IT is extremely stylish! Sad that it’s so empty.
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Do not own a single bottle, have only had small decants. I enjoy Lion and 1957 the most of the ones I have, although I expect I would like Bois des Iles – have never sniffed! (My favorite Chanel perfumes at the moment are the Eaux. Affordable and light yet still identifiably Chanel.)
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The Eaux are lovely; my 21 year-old son has requested a bottle of Paris-Edimbourg for his upcoming birthday. I’m happy to oblige!
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I like the Eaux line as well! I will be wearing 3 of them soon (once it gets warmer here).
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You are asking me for which of the children is my favorite?!? 🤔
Edging out all is 28 La Pausa EDT. I have a 200 mL backup which I need to open soon because my smaller bottle is now thunked!
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200 ml? That’s a big baby! ;)
How many sprays of La Pausa does it take for you to keep it from disappearing within an hour?
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I have to wear 8 sprays in one shot for it to last 8 hours. No complaints about that whatsoever 🤣
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I don’t own any bottles, I have tested some out by spraying in stores.
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And? You didn’t like any?
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It’s so long ago now, but I think that I liked La Pausa. I didn’t buy any because I couldn’t afford any of them.
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I was given two samples of Les Exclusifs: the eau de cologne, and Coromandel. Didn’t expect to like Coromandel at all because I thought I didn’t like patch. I was wrong, and it took me a few years but I did buy both in the 75 ml size. I blew thru the Cologne quite quickly so bought the 200 ml size, and it’s down to the last quarter of a bottle.
I did buy Le Lion, too, and it smells like a beautiful hybrid of Cuir de Russie parfum and Coromandel. Maybe I’ll wear Le Lion today-it’s only about ten degrees with a cold grey rain falling. I have to go to work but the office should be empty. I need something elegant with a backboned it also has to be beautiful. Wish I could just do some much needed housework and spend some time with the cat but deadlines are looming. Hope everyone’s weekend is calm and quiet and filled with whatever makes you happy.
Carole
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I hope your deadlines cooperated! It’s sad when you have to work when everyone around is resting.
I like Coromandel, but I never went for a bottle. But I still have something left in my decant.
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Cuir de Russie is a good one, but my favorite is Coromandel. :)
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Coromandel is good but… ;)
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I adore Bel Respiro!
I only have samples but would buy a fb. I’m in Sydney next week but don’t know if I’ll get a chance to get to the boutique place. Sigh.
I do love many in this collection. But I have no idea if Chanel had released anything new.
(Also just realised that I haven’t bought any perfume since December 2018!!)
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Please report back if you end up going to the boutique and trying something.
Nothing from 2018?! Impressive! But you still enjoy those perfumes that you have, don’t you?
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Ooh, difficult, but I would go Cuir de Russie first, followed by 31, rue Cambon, then BdI.
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Love your choices! :)
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Gosh! So many quality releases (and favourites) in this collection, dear Undina. My current favourite: 1957.
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This one keeps appearing in comments. I should retry it!
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When I first got 1957 I wasn’t sure about it, but the more I wear it, the more I like it. It grows on you.
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Well put, Ricky.
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Beautifully layered musks, dear Undina.
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It’s a fantastic range. I only own one though, that being the classic vetiver, Sycomore. The galbanum green of Bel Respiro is also one I enjoy, especially in the spring.
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Bel Raspiro, as I remember, was great in the opening, but it felt more masculine that I prefer my perfumes.
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