Lacquer Screens and Creamy Woods

From everything I have been reading, there is no one who is not enthralled with Chanel’s Coromandel perfume. It seems everyone is captivated by the creamy patchouli and white chocolate of this classic composition. Not being a fan of Chanel perfumes, I did not venture into the Exclusifs after my brief sniffing of them in store.

(photo via pddperfumedodia)

Yet some days call for a lay-it-on-the-line kind of perfume with edges: the crispness of Chanel satisfies with its incredibly demanding character. I can just picture Chanel herself loving this scent though she died so long before it was created.

(photo via melroseantiques)

Again, I do not share Chanel’s love of Asian lacquer screens but there is a lot of charm in them in an old-world kind of sense and the perfume attempts to create the same artistic mood as those screens give their admirers.

The scent itself has been described as a ironed button-down white shirt: totally modern and perfect as a foundation for accessories. The opening is fresh and bright, which is a signature Chanel facet, and quickly develops into a woody masterpiece. The sillage is so very subtle: the class lies it the lack of ostentation.

The patchouli and woods give way to a mulled vanilla and cream. And though the lasting power is not spectacular, I am quite happy to wear this perfume anytime of day or night and for any occasion. If Coromandel is an accessory, it surely must be the black leather bag: worn everywhere anytime, showing its quality without drawing too much attention.