Antaeus 1981 Eau de Toilette

Antaeus (Eau de Toilette) by Chanel
Bottle Design Jacques Helleu
Ranked 78 in Men's Perfume
8.1 / 10 1385 Ratings
A popular perfume by Chanel for men, released in 1981. The scent is spicy-woody. Projection and longevity are above-average. It is still in production.
Pronunciation

Main accords

Spicy
Woody
Animal
Leathery
Earthy

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes Top Notes
Clary sageClary sage BergamotBergamot CorianderCoriander MyrrhMyrrh LemonLemon LimeLime
Heart Notes Heart Notes
ThymeThyme BasilBasil JasmineJasmine RoseRose
Base Notes Base Notes
CastoreumCastoreum PatchouliPatchouli LabdanumLabdanum OakmossOakmoss

Perfumers

Videos
Ratings
Scent
8.11385 Ratings
Longevity
8.61059 Ratings
Sillage
8.11041 Ratings
Bottle
7.81041 Ratings
Value for money
7.8425 Ratings
Submitted by DonVanVliet, last update on 02/15/2025.
Interesting Facts
In Greek mythology, Antaeus was an almost invincible half-giant, the son of Poseidon and Gaia.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to
Antaeus (Lotion Après Rasage) by Chanel
Antaeus Lotion Après Rasage
Antaeus Sport Cologne by Chanel
Antaeus Sport Cologne
Pour Homme (Eau de Toilette) by Van Cleef & Arpels
Pour Homme Eau de Toilette
Kouros (Eau de Toilette) by Yves Saint Laurent
Kouros Eau de Toilette
Apex (Eau de Parfum) by Roja Parfums
Apex Eau de Parfum
Victory by Boadicea the Victorious
Victory

Reviews

50 in-depth fragrance descriptions
jtd

484 Reviews
jtd
jtd
Very helpful Review 10  
first fragrance
Chanel Antaeus was the first perfume of my own. I don’t remember who gave it to me, but I didn’t choose it myself. Looking back, my touchstones in perfume were Patou Joy, Lanvin Arpege, Dior Eau Sauvage and Paco Rabanne pour Homme. The first two my mother had, and introduced me to classical perfumery. I would sniff them out of the bottle and relish them. I was, maybe, 8 years old. 9? I knew nothing about perfume, but somehow they got me thinking. They got me to see beyond the expected and the routine in the same way that Frank Zappa’s music eventually broadened my teenage sense of what rock could be. The Dior and the Paco Rabanne were ambient scents. Men wore them in the 1960s-1970s of my youth and I remember smelling them. Eau Sauvage seemed like a lemon drop to me. It was tart but brisk like snow water. Paco Rabanne was ubiquitous and the scent of it today still brings back the 70s

I was fortunate to have such a superior group of fragrances to learn from. Pre-internet, pre-blog I had a limited set of guides: desire, inquisitiveness, well-made perfumes. On reflection, these are still my guides.

My start with perfume was solitary and reflective. Perfume taught me to appreciate states of beauty and contemplation. I lacked a vocabulary and a perfume guru, and, even at a young age, I wasn’t very narrative-driven. Perfume has never been about story per se. Perfume was my subject. The rest of my life, education and experience taught me how to know my subject. I didn’t hide my fascination with perfume, but I didn’t share it either. I guess it’s no surprise that I write anonymously. But with Antaeus, I went public.

I loved Antaeus. It was unlike anything I knew. Also, I’d never smelled it on anyone else, so it suited my solo perfume trip. It was visceral, and demanding and each time I put it on, it stopped me in my tracks. I first wore it in snowy weather, and it highlighted the cold woods of New England winter. Arpege and Joy were nothing like Antaeus, but they had prepared me. Unlike smelling Eau Sauvage in passing or lingering over a bottle of Joy, wearing Antaeus was a deliberate and public act. (I wasn’t modest in my dosing.) If the first period of my perfume fascination was reflective, act 2 was expansive.

[Sidebar: I think my questioning of marketing started early as well, with Antaeus as my primer. I already knew the myth of Herakles and Antaeus before Chanel. I thought the notion of associating a perfume with a character who symbolized cheating and the mundane and was odd until I realized that marketing wanted nothing more than a superficial image (hottie in a toga) and a link to the lofty/cultural (pretension). My thoughts on marketing, like marketing itself, may have evolved, but they haven’t really changed.]

The 80s had so much to offer: power fragrances and volume, self-absorption without introspection . I took Antaeus to college where I met and fell for Kouros and Coco. I know, very au courant, very bisexual chic. But thank god I kept my classical roots and embraced old-lady perfumes, in this case, Chanel 5 and Worth Je Reviens.

The end the formative years.

http://www.scenthurdle.com
1 Comment
7.5
Longevity
8
Scent
Apicius

224 Reviews
Apicius
Apicius
Top Review 6  
The Grey Governess
Antaeus is a great fragrance beyond question. But I am quite shocked when I apply it. I do not know any other perfume that gives off such an aura of rigour and strictness.

I feel that Antaeus is space-consuming and sophisticated. Always in a bad mood, it is driven by the need to spoil any feeling of Laissez-faire or even the slightest smile. At any time it demands moderation and temperance, and strict fulfilment of one's duties – like a governess in a high-necked, mouse grey outfit.

Its depth of francincense transforms whoever wears it into an inhabitant of fathomless urban canyons. With its tristesse, it suits Keanu Reeves in the movie “Matrix” or any other version of the Brave New World. A great perfume that unfortunately sends out strong negative energies.
0 Comments
6
Pricing
6
Bottle
8
Sillage
8
Longevity
7
Scent
Kurai

388 Reviews
Kurai
Kurai
Helpful Review 10  
The myth
Antaeus current formula - 2021

A fascinating fragrance. Rough and unpolished, yet not totally savage. Herbal at first with myrrh and coriander very present. The coriander and a faint floral (rose?) nuance give it just that bit of cleanliness to the overall ‘skank’.

With a base of mainly patchouli and oakmoss, the scent hints towards leather. Raw leather, I guess, but not so much a bear pelt or beaver sack. Where "Kouros" is a savage wolf, Antaeus is more of a fox. Clever and more graceful in its appearance. So much for the animalic aspects.

There's a 'classic vibe' all along, eighties obviously, although projection levels are set to what is nowadays socially acceptable - except maybe in the office or other confined spaces. Also, there is no vanilla, tonka or balsam sweetness to this. To me, all of these qualities are big plusses.

All in all, a scent that truely takes you back to the eighties and feel like that mythical Greek giant for a moment. There are cheaper alternatives with more or less the same effect, but Antaeus has the Chanel label and quality.

1 Comment
10
Bottle
7.5
Sillage
10
Longevity
10
Scent
MasterLi

375 Reviews
MasterLi
MasterLi
Very helpful Review 6  
Very Masculine scent...
This is probably the best Chanel masculine, and one of the best masculines ever made. It's warm, woody, deep, rich, dark, smokey, animalic and sensual all at the same time!

Blends really well with the skin to give off an incredible manly, musky, testosterone-filled vibe. I wouldn't call it dirty. It's incredibly well refined and very classy. A dangerous fragrance. This may be the fragrance for the big, strong, man with the muscles... but he's wearing a tux.
0 Comments
9
Bottle
10
Sillage
10
Longevity
10
Scent
Oleo

46 Reviews
Oleo
Oleo
Very helpful Review 6  
The Imprint of a Gentleman
The truth is that I don't know what the original smelled like, nor do I care: It probably couldn't be worn now in public without being declared an olfactory terrorist (times change and society, in general - and fortunately - stinks much less than before, so "beast" projection doesn't proceed anymore).

What I know is the current formulation, and I have to say that it's a true masterpiece.

This fragrance stands out for its class and elegance, as well as its undeniable artistic character.

- To achieve this, what it does is combine that exquisite sophistication with a high manly contrast, something primal and instinctive; That's the artistic legacy that has traveled through time since the original formula.

The result is this legendary creation of Chanel, a benchmark of Jacques Polge's genius (and Demachy) at a time when maximum expressiveness was expected in fragrances.

More Info:

- Easily +10h. Longevity.
- Great projection & Heavy Sillage.
- Mood: For a classy and confident gentleman.
- Scenario & Occasions: Autumn and winter nights, dressed-up. Perfect for formal events and special occasions, especially at night.

So to conclude, remember this idea: Antaeus is the male reincarnation of "Chanel No. 5".
0 Comments
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Statements

25 short views on the fragrance
PedroCabralPedroCabral 2 years ago
8
Bottle
9
Sillage
9
Longevity
8.5
Scent
Very well formulated, a classic that is not tiring. It has the balance that Kouros (they are animalic) do not have, much more elegant.
0 Comments
StaticStatic 4 years ago
10
Bottle
8
Sillage
10
Longevity
8
Scent
This is a gentleman’s scent. You never go wrong with this one.
Masculin at the top!!
0 Comments
BertolucciKBertolucciK 4 years ago
7
Bottle
8
Sillage
8
Longevity
8.5
Scent
Antaeus is, indubitably, a powerhouse of the 80s. The opening is a strong fresh and animalic scent. After a while, it becomes more gentle
0 Comments
KokganKokgan 3 years ago
6
Bottle
9
Sillage
9
Longevity
10
Scent
My favorite perfume. Absolutely beautiful and masculine scent. 10 out of 10
0 Comments
TheBloffTheBloff 3 years ago
8
Bottle
7
Sillage
8
Longevity
6
Scent
Extremely masculine 80's nightclub sweat in a bottle.
0 Comments
ElysiumElysium 5 years ago
8
Bottle
5
Sillage
6
Longevity
10
Scent
Leathery and animalic accord evokes and recalls the cult perfumes of the 20th century that exuded masculinity and more robust characters.
0 Comments
Charilaos77Charilaos77 2 years ago
8
Sillage
9
Longevity
9
Scent
Vintage Antaeus. One of the most spectacular leathery chypres ever created. Sweaty 80s night hunter. Song: Horace Silver - Filthy mcNasty.
0 Comments
IrruzzarbossIrruzzarboss 4 months ago
10
Bottle
9
Sillage
10
Longevity
10
Scent
Despite of the price this is a masterpiece of Chanel. This is for the evening / autumn, winter suitable. You wanna be a boss, be Antaeus.
0 Comments
HolscentbarHolscentbar 9 months ago
8.5
Scent
definitely not as a vintage version, but my 2023 has all the beauty and soul of real perfumery
0 Comments
BamBamNYCBamBamNYC 1 year ago
9
Sillage
8
Longevity
8.5
Scent
Old-school masculine fragrance that smells one-of-a-kind, assertive but not obnoxious. A Chanel-esque abstract interpretation of masculinity
0 Comments
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