Hi there ULGers, With the unsubstantiated but persistent rumors of the exclusif extraits being DCd I’ve started to panic. Late last week I popped into my nearest CHANEL Beauty store and got a porcelain each of Coromandel and Cuir de Russie. At the time I also swiped them. One on each forearm. Can we talk about a blissful afternoon and evening of greedily huffing at both arms…
Yes I am aware of how spendy they are and also aware that I’ll probably never have courage to open them. Already I have unopened 1932, Gardenia, Jersey and No 22 extraits. You’re right, I never smell them because of it BUT the joy I get from taking out those boxes and dreaming about wearing them is very satisfying. Honestly, my need to open another bottle of perfume is not so strong, especially as some of my REALLY important loves are just evaporating away and getting just a couple of wears a year. Some of my older Guerlain bottles like Vega, Moscou and Cuir Beluga are definitely wasting away.
Coromandel and Cuir de Russie extraits by CHANEL
If you want to see note lists etc here is the link to CHANEL USA. The extraits are 15ml and currently US$305, so $20/ml. It’s expensive but not so outrageously so compared to a lot of the schlock that’s being hustled for much more.
Coromandel
Patchouli, thick and rich and sparkling golden like it’s been scrubbed of everything earthy and 1970s. It’s still patchouli but this is classy stuff. There are other bit players that help create the whole but what really matters is the amber that has been cooled and aerated by orris. So what I smell is patchouli/orris/amber that misses a lot of the vanillic sweetness and holds just a tiny little bit feral, like microscopic underpinnings. What happens is it makes this whole, utterly perfect scent that has been blended into submission just a fraction rebellious. It’s so clever and beautiful. That single swipe in the early afternoon was still pumping soft wisps at lunch next day before I showered.
Cuir de Russie
So while I was very horsey in my youth and rode, mucked out, collected horse apples and groomed them for years. My parents sent me to riding classes every weekend and made the farm owners send me to help do all the dirty work so I’d stop wanting a horse of my own. They needn’t have worried. Once I changed schools my Saturdays were for sport.
Anyway, Cuir de Russie is funny. It smells like a brand new pair of patent leather shoes AND it smells like a tack room. It is this super weird blend of two worlds and it lures me in every time. Obviously if you love Beast Mode leathers then this safe as houses baby will bore you to tears. Here’s the thing though, sometimes I want to smell understated but still fragrant enough that I remember my perfumista-hood. Leather and lightly tropical white flowers, kind of aftershave-y. NO, that’s not right, kind of SHAVE CREAMY but subtle, low key and beautiful. The vanilla and rose don’t play big parts for me but right down the dying breaths I can tell they have been playing all along.
While I’m not currently in a position to buy these, in the near future more discretionary funds will be available and I’m hoping CHANEL holds off long enough for me to get there and at least get Coromandel and Cuir de Russie. Oh, and Bois des Iles.
So which CHANEL extrait would you throw money on the counter for?
Portia xx
Undina's Looking Glass 
Beautiful Post, Portia!
I am trying so hard to not buy any new fumes, to enjoy what I have, and even streamline my collection a bit. So even tho discontinuations make me gasp and I loved your review I’ll try my hardest not to succumb.
I have a bottle of Cuir de Russie, which I adore. I tend to save it and probably shouldn’t-mine is about eight years old, and these things are made to be used. I agree with you about the CdeR-one day I wore it and it had gone absolute barnyard on me. My grandfather kept work horses and I remember that smell-healthy animals, hay , leather, manure, and saddle soap. I love it.
If funds were unlimited? I’d buy Gardenia, Coromandel, and another bottle of CdeR.
Portia what is a porcelaine?
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Thanks Carole, Good luck with the low buy and moving on the excess.
Gardenia is bloody gorgeous too, eh?
The porcelains are little sticks they dip into the extracts. It keeps better than the paper blotters and lasts weeks. They come in a little cardboard slip box. It’s very glam.
Portia xx
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My sweet friend, open those darlings and enjoy! Never sniffed any, do you know how lucky you are? CdR I think I would adore. The Chanel I would like to have is #22. I did wear it in edt many dreams ago. Must be something in perfume.
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Hi there Morgana62,
I loved No22 for many years and still have some here. Sadly the aldehydes now attack and it’s unwearable for me.
Yes, I know how lucky I am living near so much of the good stuff and being able to travel to the rest. I’m extremely grateful for it.
Portia xx
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I have a vintish decant of CdeR edt. I find it a little harsh but your description of the extrait sounds fabulous!
I have way too much of the edt of Beige but I could find room for an extrait of it too
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Alityke,
I think you might swoon if you get some of the CdR extrait on your person. My bottle is the EdT too. So interesting that you find it a little harsh, My wear starts soapy and then goes softly leather. Our bodies, noses and brains are all wired so differently. Makes every ride unique.
Beige is so pretty.
Portia xx
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I suspect that my decant is past its best. It must be a decade old!
If CdR extrait is plush & horsey I would love it. So expensive though xxx
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Yeah, exorbitant.
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These 2 sound absolutely divine! I would also want to try the Bois des Isles extrait. I’ll see what they are selling for in France and see if @shopfranceinc can get it for me at a little bit of a discount. I have the Comete and love it, but it’s a very fleeting EDT so a stronger juice would be great.
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OOOH! Comete is fleeting on you RR? So interesting, it lasts all day for me. I’m seriously contemplating a purchase but it’s having to wait in line.
Portia xx
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I would love to get extraits for each of my favorite Chanel perfumes – Cuir de Russie, Bois des Iles, Beige and Coromandel. I’m not paying the full price for them! But if I happen to travel to Europe and come across a duty free boutique at an airport, I might buy. One at a time.
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Good thinking Undina.
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I have never been particularly interested in owning perfumes in extrait form, though a couple of Guerlain testers came my way that were that, so I can see the appeal.
The most I ever spent on any perfume was about 225 dollars on 15ml. I regretted it soon afterwards, haha, and looking back, it really should have been extrait at that price!
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WOW! That seems like a LOT for 15ml Vanessa. Did you wear every drop and love it?
Portia xx
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