The series "Les Exclusifs de Chanel" is a homage to Coco Chanel. Each fragrance in the series introduces a chapter from the life of Coco Chanel (1883 - 1971):
Be it, for example, an address (31 Rue Cambon, the location of their Haute Couture Salon opened in 1918),
be it a name (Misia, after Misia Sert, a patron of renowned artists in Paris and close friend of Coco Chanel),
be it a date (1932, the year in which Coco Chanel presented her luxurious diamond jewelry collection in her private apartment),
be it a fabric (Jersey, Coco Chanel often used cotton jersey and helped this fabric to a big breakthrough in the fashion world, since jersey was previously used almost exclusively for underwear),
be it a color (beige, this color was Coco Chanel's favorite)
or be it a building, Bel Respiro, the name of her spring residence in Garches, a community near Paris.
Coco Chanel retired there from time to time in spring to relax and be inspired.
Now Jacques Polge has tried to capture these impressions of a picturesque landscape with a lot of greenery in one fragrance.
First, Bel Respiro was released in 2007 as Eau de Toilette, which I was able to get to know a short time ago. In 2016 the fragrances from the Exclusif series were revised and the fragrances were relaunched as Eau de Parfum.
Some revisions were not to my complete satisfaction, as I could read here and there. The Edp versions often lack that certain something.
But now I don't want to talk about the well-known topic of revisions, this is getting tedious and everybody has his own opinion on the topic.
I got to know the EdT some time ago and rated it as very good. It is a fragrance that fully meets my taste. Green freshness, floral and a soft and creamy looking course.
The distinct green impression is mainly due to the use of galbanum, a fragrance that I like exceptionally well. Galbanum is obtained from so-called stick herbs, a group of umbellifers, which often produce very aromatic spices (fennel, anise, parsley, caraway, angelica), but also very poisonous plants (hemlock, giant hogweed). It is often very difficult to differentiate between them, as these plants are very similar in their external appearance.
Galbanum is used in some very famous and outstanding fragrances, such as Chanel N°19, Vol de Nuit, Miss Dior (the one from 1947 and 1992), Yatagan, to name a few examples.
The fragrance has something balsamic, spicy and an unmistakable, slightly crisp green hue.
Bel Respiro does not appear creaky at all. For the galbanum is joined by mild notes reminiscent of fresh grass, a herbaceous impression appears and a certain floweriness is perceived. I cannot define this any further. But I suspect that a trace of white flowers has been used, flowers that are best shown to advantage in spring
Later in the process a fine trace of leather is added, but it is so soft and discreet that it is never noticeable in the foreground and therefore never bothers me. Because leather meets with great rejection in most cases. Here it is used accurately and completely unobtrusive
Bel Respiro remains cheerful and friendly at every stage of its course. A gloomy and serious mood would hardly suit a spring scent either.
Now I have here the EdP, which recently came to me through a sharing. There are some differences to the EdT, even if they are only minimal.
The EdP is altogether a little quieter than the EdT and looks more lovely and flowery as I go along, while the EdT is altogether a little more harsh and grassy.
The prelude is identical for both. With the EdT the fine leather note comes out a bit more, while with the EdP it remains more subtle or is hardly noticeable at all.
The two variants also differ slightly in terms of durability. Since both fragrances are not of a loud and demanding nature, they are not record-breaking in durability either. But I don't expect that from the silent representatives either.
The EdT can be perceived by me for about 7 hours and the EdP ends after a good 6 hours with me.
My conclusion:
With Bel Respiro they have created a really beautiful spring scent, which has a consistently cheerful and pleasant effect on me. The impression of Chanel's spring residence has been well captured in a fragrance here. The impressions of a beautiful green landscape surrounding the property, some bushes are already in full bloom, the sun sends warming rays, the stay outside is just fun.
As a beautiful, uncomplicated everyday companion, I can imagine Bel Respiro very well.
And I am also of the opinion that the fragrance is equally suitable for Him and Her. However, I am also of the opinion with some other fragrances from the Exclusif series
I have not yet had the bottles in my hand, except for a mini. But they look very beautiful to me in their simple and straightforward elegance
I rate both fragrances equally well, even though the EdT is a little bit ahead of the rest because it is a little more multi-faceted.
My thanks go to Mefunx for the EdT rehearsal and to BeatriceA, who organized the sharing for the EdP so great.
And with these lines, which I hope will be pleasant for you, I wish you all a happy Easter. Even if 2020 is so different from what we are used to...
Lillibet
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