CHANEL: 31 Rue Cambon + Little Black Jacket in Milan

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Hello Fabulous Fumies,

Recently I was in Paris and was lucky enough to visit one of my fashion shrines. Coco Chanel was one of the people we studied at Fashion School and I was intrigued by her rags to riches story even before then. To finally stand at the gates of her atelier and shop was extraordinary for me. A wonderful moment I will never forget.

CHANEL: 31 Rue Cambon

31RueCambon FragranticaPhoto stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Bergamot, green notes, black pepper
Heart: Ylang ylang, iris, rose
Base: Labdanum , patchouli

I love the opening of 31 Rue Cambon, it already smells like a CHANEL fragrance from the first whiff. A cool and classy, slightly flamboyant rush of everything in the notes, the labdanum from the base already in evidence giving a snuggly, fur like glamour under the bright sparkle of the citrus and pepper. For about 15-30 minutes I sit entranced and snuffling at myself, enjoying the magic that a CHANEL Exclusive can bring. The whole feeling of richness and lavish excess. GORGEOUS!!

Pretty soon the flowers drop in for a quick hello and they have a slight leather vibe before the patchouli and labdanum take centre stage, from then on in it’s all about the base with faint squeaks for attention from the other players till drydown.

Honestly, I think 31 Rue Cambon is just too sophisticated for me. It’s too refined, soft, gentle and elegant. This is my third proper wearing of it and I really want to try the parfum version. Maybe it has the oomph I need to get me going, I can tell it’s beautifully blended and structured and it’s my skin that’s eating the early parts and events. Don’t let my lack of success here put you off, on someone else I can tell it will be superb. I have about 3 more ml to use, maybe my nose will click as I get to know 31 Rue Cambon.

31RueCambon MarinaCarlsonPhoto Stolen MarinaCarlson

Further reading GrainDeMusc and MuseInWoodenShoes both take us on entertaining and interesting historical tours, worth a look.
You can buy a bottle in all CHANEL stand alone stores, they will also let you spritz for free and be extremely gracious about it.
SurrenderToChance starts at $3/ml

CHANEL: Little Black Jacket in Milan

Karl Lagerfeld got a fabulous group of people from fashion, art and big business to wear their Little Black CHANEL Jackets and he photographed them. This is a quick video of the opening night of the exhibition. FAB-U-LOUS!!

Till tomorrow, all the love in the world to and for you.
Portia xx

18 thoughts on “CHANEL: 31 Rue Cambon + Little Black Jacket in Milan”

  2. This is one of my favorite, all time, “go to” fragrances. Really rather odd if you think about it, since I am the furthest thing from elegant and sophisticated. At one end of the elegance spectrum there is Olfactoria and at the completely opposite end, there I am. Perhaps that’s why I love it so much, it makes me feel like someone I am not.
    Sorry this didn’t work on your skin and didn’t last. I get a full day of beauty from this one, which isn’t true of other Exclusifs. Bel Respire, La Pausa and 1932, I’m looking at y’all.

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    • It makes it so much more interesting Tatiana with the suspense of fragrance. Will it work, smell good, last, give decent sillage, evolve, make a scent bubble? And every try seems quite different, what a lucky girl that 31 Rue Cambon works for you.
      Is it an easy spray, go, forget; I know I smell fabulous. thing?
      Portia xx

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  3. 31RC was my first love in the Exclusifs range and I still treasure it. Thankfully on me it smells just right.
    Unfortunately as far as I know there is no extrait, but it sure would be great if there was one…

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    • BUGGER! That is a shame Birgit. and I bet it is PERFECT on you. You are exactly who I think of when I smell and then when Tatiana mentioned you I had a little smile. Now when I wear it i will think only of you,
      Portia xx

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  4. Honey.

    I freaking love this stuff. I have been wearing it pretty much non-stop since November (my birthday month, nudge nudge, wink wink, say no more …). It lasts for hours on me. The only advantage of having a thoroughly sucky, too long winter, is that I could wear this longer. I cannot imagine wearing it in any kind of heat.

    CQ
    xxxxx

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  5. Dearest Portia
    You mustn’t blame yourself one iota!
    I too have found the 31 Cambon and I might say others in the Exclusifs range to be short lived gems.
    As you can imagine, The Dandy is not a “bang-for-your-buck” longevity obsessive, but I prefer perfumes that play out over five acts rather than the 90 minute features that some of the Chanel’s have proved to be.
    There are admirable exceptions Cuir de Russie in particular.
    Yours ever
    The Perfumed Dandy

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    • Thank you TPD! Some of us have extremely scent hungry skin.
      I don’t see why we shouldn’t expect some longevity though. A perfumer who says length of frag life is unimportant is not thinking of his consumer.
      Portia xx

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  6. I have yet to try any fragrance from the exclusives….I think on an unconscious level I am a bit annoyed at Chanel when they turned my beloved no 22 (which could be bought at my local department store and was ridiculously affordable) into an exclusive, no longer locally accessible and put it in that massive bottle. So needless to say I can’t really say much about 31 Cambon! However, I CAN say that my dry skin literally EATS perfume so if Mr. Dandy is correct there would probably not be much longevity for me as well!

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  7. Sigh, Lagerfeld. Lovely. 31 RC is pretty, but not a true love for me. Unlike many of the Chanel connection clothes. 🙂

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