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Chaos 2008

Version from 2008
7.9 / 10 92 Ratings
A popular perfume by DKNY for women, released in 2008. The scent is spicy-woody. It was last marketed by Estēe Lauder Companies.
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Main accords

Spicy
Woody
Oriental
Resinous
Floral

Fragrance Notes

Exotic woodsExotic woods ChamomileChamomile CorianderCoriander AmberAmber LavenderLavender MuskMusk SageSage
Ratings
Scent
7.992 Ratings
Longevity
7.364 Ratings
Sillage
6.557 Ratings
Bottle
7.556 Ratings
Submitted by Tessie, last update on 08/23/2022.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to
Idole de Lubin (Eau de Parfum) by Lubin
Idole de Lubin Eau de Parfum
Stash (Eau de Parfum Elixir) by Sarah Jessica Parker
Stash Eau de Parfum Elixir
Féminité du bois by Serge Lutens
Féminité du bois
Rima XI by Carner
Rima XI

Reviews

7 in-depth fragrance descriptions
Missk

1357 Reviews
Missk
Missk
Helpful Review 2  
Spicy sandalwood
I am at a loss of understanding as to why Donna Karan discontinued many of her earlier fragrances. Thankfully she has brought them back in the form of limited releases in selected stores. I feel incredibly privileged to have the opportunity to try both Black Cashmere and Chaos before they disappear off the market for good.

Chaos, to my nose, is a clean, unique and somewhat soapy, sandalwood based fragrance. It's complex, distinctive and expensive smelling.

It's not too heavy, like some woodsy scents tend to be. You could possibly get away with wearing this in the Summer and Spring months. I find the scent to be very relaxing, non-gender specific and thoroughly enjoyable.

The hints of oriental spiciness throughout the composition does bear some similarities to Black Cashmere, just perhaps not as rich, sensual and dark. It's a beautiful fragrance, particularly one that will appeal to any lovers of intense woodsiness and understated mystery.

The 'chaos' comes from its slightly animalistic tone, which I find rather arousing on both men and women. This is not a fragrance for the faint of heart or those who consider themselves refined. A hint of carnation every now and then fools you into thinking this is pretty and feminine until the woods force you to think otherwise.

Some reviewers are saying incense, and while it is spicy and smokey in some instances, it is not entirely incense to my nose. Regardless of what people describe it as or perceive it to be, Chaos is a truly hauntingly beautiful fragrance that deserves to be around for a long time.
0 Comments
Lola82

361 Reviews
Lola82
Lola82
2  
D.K.N.Y Chaos
With the complexity of woods and spices
what would to be described as? what comes
to your mind? for me it makes me think of a warm cup of chamomile and cinnamon tea
that's what would i describe it.
Cinnamon is the base of the perfume for top middle and base notes which it's dominates also dries a bit to allow
saffron with it's velvet and spice and woods scent to drift though don't underestimate the delicate chamomile flower it may be withe but stands on it's own with it's strong herbal note.

Carnation with powdery nuances starts
the middle heart of the fragrance dries to the bottom of the notes with dry unsweetened sandalwood powdery vanilla
and musk.
i would compare chaos and issey's
Le feu d,issey the dry bread scents because they lack the oily texture that is used in most perfumes and give it a more natural aroma healthier a bit more
outdoorsy feel then most designer perfumes one of the unique pieces in my collection.
0 Comments
Sherapop

1240 Reviews
Sherapop
Sherapop
2  
Unchaotic Saffron Beauty
I may finally have found the ultimate saffron perfume! This vintage sample of Donna Karan CHAOS offers a hefty core of saffron which is buttressed by a variety of dark oriental elements to produce a gorgeous tapestry of scents. The saffron dominates from start to finish on my skin, but there is so much more going on than just that note, which swirls together with wood, incense, and herbs in an enticing and magical way.

I have been dissatisfied with some other saffron perfumes, including AP SAFRAN TROUBLANT, which strikes me as a Demeter-like culinary facsimile of saffron rice. I really do love the inviting aroma of saffron rice—but in the kitchen, not on my skin! Other compositions I've tried have been more complex but unbalanced or incoherent. Still others boast saffron as a note though it remains hidden from my nose.

CHAOS manages to avoid all of these mistakes. The only real complaint I could even begin to make would be that the perfume seems to me to be misnamed, as this composition is not at all chaotic. That's no criticism of this beautiful perfume, though, which has fairly big sillage and excellent longevity on top of everything else.

If it is true, as some have suggested, that the recent re-launch is of the original CHAOS formula, I'll definitely be adding this splendid creation to my collection!
0 Comments
Turandot

839 Reviews
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Turandot
Turandot
Top Review 25  
Feel Free to Try It
I was a bit skeptical. The fragrance pyramid does remind me quite a bit of Christmas baking. That's not really my preferred scent direction, especially not in May. But I was mistaken.

Chaos is not chaotic at all, but rather fine, yes friendly, despite its spices, and it doesn't transport me to an oriental bazaar. The clove is obviously not the baking ingredient, but rather the friendly little garden carnation that smiles at me here. The coriander also holds back with elegance, and the cinnamon only offers its warmth, not its volume. The spices are present without being loud. They are used just as they should be in the kitchen. None stands out. The base note simply rounds things off without introducing a new theme. This is very pleasant for me.

Today, I am wearing Cabochard, which does come across as rather serious and can be stubborn for some users. Chaos is indeed a contrast program, much softer and friendlier, but since there are no silly little fruits or flowers involved, I never feel like it doesn't fit together. The fragrance is mature, balanced, and puts me in a positive mood. So even lovers of more robust scents can definitely add Chaos to their wish list.
10 Comments
9Scent
Bertel

236 Reviews
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Bertel
Bertel
Very helpful Review 8  
Coriander, Clove, Saffron
(This is about the relaunch fragrance from 2008, not the original from 1996, although these two are said to be very similar if not identical)

The theme with variations is consistent here: spice! In the opening accord, the spicy, slightly sharp, somewhat peppery-silvery coriander harmonizes wonderfully with the green-sour-soft chamomile. After just a few minutes, a strong, spicy, very natural clove joins them, which remains prominent until the end, rounded off by initially subtle saffron and a light aromatic hint of cinnamon, both of which become more present later - a very harmonious, wonderfully rounded spicy ensemble, softly and gently captured in the drydown by warm musk and slightly sweet sandalwood. A great, slightly mystical combination, for me not Christmas-like but rather like one of those old traditional spice bouquets, very spicy-aromatic yet light and sensually dense, very attractive! :-)

Definitely unisex, with a slight tendency perhaps towards the masculine. My girlfriend and I both really enjoy "Chaos," with somewhat different expressions after contact with our respective skin. Judging by the fill level, a sharing of this is likely coming soon ;-)
1 Comment
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Statements

10 short views on the fragrance
15
11
Ah, "Lubin" is such a great brand...
Wait, wait...what!?
Donna Karan??
"Idole de Lubin" with even more organic cola!
Taste the feeling!
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11 Comments
11
9
The top note of this sample unfortunately has a slight sting, the rest is a fine woody-resinous and spicy scent with moderate...
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9 Comments
8 years ago
8
1
Beautiful cinnamon opening. Suddenly in the horse stable. Fresh straw bales in the bakery. 100% chaos and mess. Genius.
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1 Comment
8
Fine woods are interwoven with even finer spice threads of cinnamon, saffron & cardamom, before meeting amber & light musk. Wow!
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0 Comments
7
My goodness, Donna Karan! What a pleasantly spicy scent with a hint of cola vibe - strongly reminiscent of Idole Edp by Lubin! Clearly unisex.
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0 Comments
4
A herbal - green - powdery scent. Definitely quite special.
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0 Comments
3
1
Beautifully spicy & woodsy, a bit lighter than Black Cashmere, but very similar. Could also be called Brown Cashmere!
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1 Comment
10 years ago
2
A spicier, more animalistic "Sensuous". Too stinky for my taste.
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0 Comments
10 years ago
1
Spicy scent, but subtle enough for business. Surrounds you with an autumn-warm, yet not too overpowering fragrance veil.
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0 Comments
Version 2008: Fresh-spicy-woody; not everyday; unfortunately, the very dominant sacred incense note doesn't really excite me.
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