Perfume/Cologne of the Day: Chanel Bel Respiro

Bel Respiro is one of the 10 fragrances from Chanel’s recent entry into the niche perfumery market, the Les Exclusifs de Chanel collection. The name Bel Respiro, and the inspiration for the scent, comes from a country house outside Paris that Coco Chanel owned in the 1920s. Bel Respiro was created by Chanel’s in-house perfumer, Jacques Polge, and the notes are rumored to include crushed leaves, rosemary, thyme, rose, lilac, hyacinth, green tea, aromatic grasses, myrrh and leather.

The initial notes are crystalline, green, but morphing into something slightly rounder, like an herbal with light floral background.  Definitely I get a bit of coumadin in the middle,  and it slowly settles into a drydown something like soapy leather on me.  It’s restrained, well orchestrated, with nothing left to chance.  Much like the well-tailored designs of Mme. Chanel herself.

$175 for 200 ml., Les Exclusifs are only available at Chanel boutiques.