Cristalle Chanel 1993 Eau de Parfum

7.9 / 10 370 Ratings

A popular perfume by Chanel for women, released in 1993. The scent is green-fresh. It is still in production.

Main accords

Green

Fresh

Floral

Citrus

Chypre

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Lemon

Lily of the valley

Bergamot

Mandarin orange Peach

Peach

Heart Notes

Hyacinth

Brazilian rosewood Jasmine

Jasmine

Iris

Base Notes

Oakmoss

Vetiver

Perfumer

Jacques Polge

Ratings

Scent

7.9370 Ratings

Longevity

7.7290 Ratings

Sillage

6.9286 Ratings

Bottle

7.4278 Ratings

Value for money

7.077 Ratings

Submitted by DonVanVliet, last update on 07/30/2025.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to

Cristalle / Cristal (Eau de Toilette) by Chanel

Cristalle Eau de Toilette

L de Lubin Eau de Toilette

Quartz

Private Collection Jasmine White Moss Eau de Parfum

Diorella Eau de Toilette

XXI: Art Deco - Vanilla Orchid

Reviews

20 in-depth fragrance descriptions

05/01/2012

7.5
Bottle 7.5
Sillage 10
Longevity 7
Scent

Sherapop
1239 Reviews

Sherapop

Helpful Review 6

Through a Glass Darkly

CRISTALLE edp bears nearly no resemblance to the descriptions offered by reviewers of CRISTALLE edt, which is apparently an entirely different perfume.

Far from being clear and crystalline, I find CRISTALLE edp very dark and heavy, similar in some ways to Estee Lauder KNOWING. In fact, upon initial application, I was sure that there was civet in this composition. I know that I'm not alone, as one reviewer reported that her s.o. told her that she smelled like "urine cakes". Clearly she was wearing the edp! I do definitely get, as advertised, a big soil note, similar to something like peat.

The galbanum is very notable in CRISTALLE edp, which makes it super longlasting and viscous. My sample is dark amber, rather than limpid, and although jasmine plays an important role, I would categorize this as a classic chypre with lots of brown grassiness. The sillage is not on a par with oakmoss monsters such as EAU DU SOIR, but I wouldn't want to suffocate in an oakmoss-galbanum amalgam, so that's fine with me.

I have several good chypres and so won't be adding CRISTALLE edp to my collection, but I am curious to test the edt.

01/19/2012

7.5
Sillage 5
Longevity 6
Scent

Missk
1357 Reviews

Missk

Helpful Review 3

Grassy Lemonade

Different, is a good word to start with when it comes to describing Cristalle by Chanel.

Although Cristalle is often referred to as a 70's scent, it is surprisingly modern for its time.

The fragrance opens with crisp and refreshing lemon supported by a blend of dry and unsweetened florals. The scent is quite green and fresh, somewhat similar to Chanel No.19, however it is not as sharp and chemical.

It took me a while to like this fragrance seeing that the opening itself was rather overpowering and sour, however the drydown and the sudden presence of the floral notes softened the scent and gave it an undeniable feminine quality which was quite lovely.

My perception on this scent is that it's rather soapy yet fresh and revitalising. I found myself detecting a note hidden somewhere in the drydown which smelt rather like a smouldering cigarette. I must add that I rather like the smell of cigarettes, particularly on the opposite sex.

Honestly this isn't a fragrance that you're likely to find me wearing. Chanel's classy and sophisticated scents don't seem to do me justice, however on the right people these types of scents really have the ability to shine.

While this crisp, watery, herbaceous and lemony-fresh scent doesn't suit me, I'm almost certain that it will suit lovers of these kinds of fragrances.

06/18/2021

6
Pricing 6
Bottle 8
Sillage 6
Longevity 8
Scent

Kurai
388 Reviews

Kurai

Helpful Review 3

Sober

In general, the 'green' fragrances leave a colder impression. Not ice-cream cold, but 'leave me alone' distant cold. My kind of cold. I can't say that Cristalle is in the ultra-green end of the spectrum, but it does hold a certain chill factor. I would score it a medium. Although my tolerance for greens is set to industrial freezer levels, so not sure if that helps anyone.

Together with the citrusy, minimally powdery opening notes, the grassy greens emerge immediately. They last until the end, backed by soft moss and vetiver. A vetiver that has the typical Chanel vibrance, that I like to describe as 'glassy'. After an hour or two the vibrance is tuned down a few clicks to modest levels, while the scent really does not change much. No funny twists like fruits or animals popping up. Little development. No frills. Despite the evident vetiver-moss backbone, Cristalle remains in a mild airy state that slowly fades instead of landing onto solid ground.

Cristalle does not tell a thrilling story with dramatic twists or cliffhangers. It kind of reads the news bulletin. Sober, functional and business-formal. Does not seduce, does not offend. After the sillage has settled down, I guess it would be a good office scent. Personally, I enjoy Cristalle's cold airy character the most in outdoor settings, especially in spring/summer. Mainly because of the sillage at the start.

01/07/2013

9
Scent

Samo71
4 Reviews

Samo71

4

its my best when i am feeling dawn

cristalle is one of my best perfumes i am using it since i was 16 and the best thing that the Fragrance is continuously throughout the day, all over the body and clothing, the shower gel is wonderful,It's wonderful fragrances .

12/12/2020

1
Bottle 5
Sillage 10
Longevity 10
Scent

Interdit
58 Reviews

Interdit

5

Sophisticated lady

Some days, nothing can compare to Cristalle. The spell is capable to cast is so powerful that one's hands feel like gravitating towards its container.
If I could, on those days I would bathe in it.

Cristalle is utter sophistication. Enchanting, distinctive without being loud, precious in the way only great creations - of all sort - can ever be. On me, the melon/oakmoss combo dance, enraptured with each other. It's a dance of passion, the water and fire each shaping first a separate, then a common impression in the air.

My mind thus keeps twirling around one, then the other, then the both, in a waltz of notes that makes me dizzy. I want to really dance, swirl around to release more of them, then drown in them.

Few hours into the spell, jasmine and peach add to the ball, juicy and crisp enough to not obscure the previous duo. At last, ylang ylang and vetiver make their appearance; one dance and they leave, only to return some time later for a goodbye take.
It's then that the oakmoss truly give its best and my mind goes:

"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light."

Poetry. Cristalle is my most beloved perfume poem.

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