1957 by Olivier Polge for Les Exclusifs de Chanel 2018

/ cookie queen

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Val the Cookie Queen

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Hey APJ

I was in Vienna last week to see the New York based band Brass Against.   The Resistance Tour.  They were performing in a small club, maximum 350 people.  The band play covers of classic songs by Audioslave, Tool, Back Sabbath, Rage Against the Machine …….  They are political in a time where a lot of bands sit on the wall twiddling their thumbs, not wanting to upset their fan base.  Brass Against are not here for the Instagram likes.  Hardcore and absolutely brilliant; as mind-blowing as when I first saw The Clash.

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Brass Against.  Wake Up!

As luck would have it the venue was a mere ten minutes walk from the Chanel Exclusif counter.

1957 by Olivier Polge for Les Exclusifs de Chanel 2018

“In a society where speed is everything, perfumes are judged in a couple of seconds, as if at a glance.  The hastiness of these assessments upsets me: a perfume can only tell its story when it is smelled and worn.”  JEAN-CLAUDE ELLENA  

It opens with an aldehydic blast, green, quite sharp, with some rose and coriander.  It doesn’t last long until the neroli shows.  It is full of white musks.  These are the building blocks of the perfume; some tinged with orange blossom, some with cedar, some with pink pepper.  I notice different nuances each time I wear it.  Rippled with golden honey, and a touch of iris.   Deceptively simple, it is a work of genius.  We live in frenzied times, permanent-stress, hostilities, and ugly politics.  1957 is elegant, polished, and a scent of impeccable beauty.   It glows.

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White musks, Bergamot, Iris, Neroli, Cedar and Honey.

It has been interesting reading people’s comments online.  Most of them probably written after one try, and I suspect some of them without any try.   “I hate white musk.”  “This is not Coromandel.”  No kidding, perhaps you don’t know you can go and buy Coromandel?  People are so stupid.  You know what 1957 could be though?  N°5.  But we have that already.  1957 has about an 18 hour longevity, well sprayed.  Divine.

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If you are looking for cat pee and leather, patchouli and smoke, then move on.  1957 will not be for you.  But please grab a few spritzes if you have the chance.  And don’t be hasty in your assessment.

I bought the Chanel Paris-Venise in Vienna, and nearly bought the 1957 too.  But the  wonderful SA gave me a 4ml mini and a couple of atomiser samples.  Told me to take my time with it.

Does a great gig or a new Chanel Exclusif excite you as much as me?

Beautiful Bussis

CQ  

Check out the Candy Perfume Boy and Colognoisseur for more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

86 thoughts on “1957 by Olivier Polge for Les Exclusifs de Chanel 2018”

  1. Haven’t been to any gig in eons. Sh#$t, Val, now I really want to try 1957. Thanks for creating a lemming LOL.
    Sadly I have never had any luck getting samples. The few trips I make into the city and I still come home empty handed. The last time I was at a Chanel counter you would have thought that I was asking the SA for one of her vital organs when I asked for a manufacturer sample of Coramandel. After a two hour train ride home I realized she gave me Misia instead. This is my luck. I agree with you that one needs to live in a fragrance before deciding. I would be willing to live in 1957. I like pretty and not overly complicated. Plus the year 1957 is significant for me……look at me making every excuse to try this lol
    Thanks for the great review, Val, and for reminding us to savor our perfumes.

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    • Hi there Brigitte. You have to insist on samples. Firmly. I mean, it is your right as a customer to try something first, right? The SA in the store was particularly nice though, possible a little older than me, making it much easier to have a conversation than with some young one who thinks they know it all, when they actually know very little. I hope you get to try it at some point. And do not let them spray you, do it yourself. I never ever allow that. I vote Misia, although I have not tried the updated version yet. Hugs. xxxxxx

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      • Problem is now, most of them are just not as nice as they were. I cringe hearing myself say that, it is So annoying when perfume people tell you how much better it all was in the olden days. Pittsburgh huh? I have to go to Vienna or Munich if I want an Exclusif counter. Fortunately that is not too often. Although I will head there again in April. And allow my inlays to buy the 1957 for me for Easter. To get around the no buying rule I rather stupidly made myself. Lots of love, Val. xxxxx

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      • I’ll certainly give myself a good spritz of this if I see it anywhere. I’ll be in a city next month where I know they’ll have it. I live in a perfume wasteland so have to travel to try new stuff that’s not in wide distribution.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Funny thing is I was so mad for her giving me the wrong sample after all that hooplah to get it that I didn’t even try it but passed it on to my mother!
        and Val I have gone so far as to bring my own empty sample vials when they say “we don’t have any samples”…but they won’t even give me the bottles to make my own sample!!!!

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Not having access to Les Exclusifs definitely dampens my enthusiasm to try, I still haven’t sniffed most of them, tbh. If someone wants to send me a set of samples I’d be willing 😂

    Liked by 1 person

  5. The last gig I have been to was in 1980 or 1979 I think…Van Morrison in a small concert hall in Nijmegen. I have loved his music ever since. I adore many Chanels, and you give it high praise, so if a sample comes my way (only available in Amsterdam so not any time soon) I will give it some serious nose time.

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    • Hi there Hamamelis 🙂 I guess you will make it down to Amsterdam at some point for something huh? I saw someone in Nijmegen and I cannot for the life of me remember who. Hmmmmm. 1980? Oh my gosh. You have better remedy that this year, somehow huh? I saw Van Morrison at one of the very early paying Glastonbury`s. Could even have been in 79 or 80. That would make sense if he was touring. Big bussis. Val xxxxxxx

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    • I adore Van Morrison! Most played music especially while cooking, relaxing, and while walking with my dog, never tire of it. I’ve seen him perform a few times over the years. Sadly I don’t think he’d perform again in the US.

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  6. I’m with Diana: good old live bands in smaller venues are the best. Last December I went to Cologne to see Nile Rodgers and his band performing his greatest hits for Chic, Sister Sledge, Daft Punk…it was amazing!
    Chanel Exclusives are good but I still didn’t find THE one I couldn’t live without.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Hmmmmm – I like a huge gig too, but not stadium size and not festivals. I saw Foo Fighters and MUSE, both in the Vienna Stadthalle. 20,000. We had excellent seats for both. We had seats for BrassAgainst too. I refuse to stand any more. I had years of that. Too much now, and I wanna watch the band, not body slam. Hahahahahaha. George Ezra was cool too. About 4,000.
      There is no perfume that I could not live without. Honestly. But I would hate to be without my Vero`s. Really. xxxxxx

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  7. Ahhhh Vienna! How awesome is it that you can go to a gig like that and buy Chanel perfume Val! I need to figure out a way to get a sample of 1957. No Chanel Exclusifs in Basel.
    Sandra xo

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  8. I love live concert music and attend fave bands whenever they come to Denver.. I saw Bob Seger this past weekend, sadly his final tour. He was amazing and performed all his best music. I’ve been a fan forever.
    1957! It is a love for me as well (most of the Exclusifs are). I didn’t have the opportunity to sample 1957 prior to purchase online and I had no patience to wait; however, thank you for Val for making it an easy and successful decision for blind buy. Your review is spot on. 1957’s initial burst of aldehydes is such a blissful pleasure, and the orange blossom, with honey, spice, floral, musk evolve dynamically in a translucent and soft comfortable way. Agreed, one must spend time enjoying all aspects fully. I find 1957 light and airy, but with good longevity. I spray lavishly (1957 is never over the top too much). Expertly crafted by Olivier Polge!
    My only regret is not buying the large bottle!
    PS I also love Venise

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    • But Kathleen! You do not NEED the big bottle. I want it too. Hahahaha. Then I will have three big ones, a nice round number don’t you think? You are right, you can spray a ton of it, lovely. There are so few perfumes I can do that with, with my superglue skin. One of the reasons I love the Eauxs, I can spray forever ….. I most certainly was not trying to aid you in a blind buy. 😉 Still, its great that we both love it, that is very satisfying for perfunistas huh? Hugs, Val xxxxxx

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      • I was on the fence about blind buying, but generally love most Chanel fragrances. Your positive comments helped, I felt fairly certain it would be a good purchase.
        It is very enjoyable when fellow perfumistas enjoy fragrances in common; I learn so much from following all of you in this community.

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  9. I am not really a Chanel girl, but will give this a sniff when I get a chance. It’s been too long since my last live concert, I plan to rectify that this summer.

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    • Rectify the gig thing and let me know please. Sure, try it. You should. It is an excellent piece of perfumery. You will see that ben if it is not what you like to wear. Bussis Ms C. xxxxxxx

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  10. I will *definitely* sniff this next time I am anywhere near an Exclusifs counter, and give it proper consideration. It’s something I would have written off from the notes, but you’ve convinced me that it’s well worth trying.

    I never go to enough gigs, but I’ve been lucky enough to go to some fabulous ones–all time highlights were probably seeing Godspeed You! Black Emperor years back in London and more recently in Edinburgh, Jesus and Mary Chain last year, Underworld, Sigur Ros in Amsterdam…and, bizarrely, four Georgian Monks singing polyphonic choral and folk songs in an ancient church in the Suffolk countryside…

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    • I would love to have seen The Jesus and Mary Chain. Georgian Monks? Why am I not surprised? 🙂

      I was really laughing earlier to day, Crikey. You drowned in Bogue and me in white musks. Hahahahahahaha. Try it. Stranger things have happened, not many maybe but …… xxxxx

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      • not drowning but floating, floating gloriously on a sea of Bogue…

        Yeah, the monks blew my tiny mind. One of those magic evenings, you know? (That said, I have a real weakness for sung polyphonic music. Beyond goosebumps and chills. It gets right under my skin and into my bones.)

        re: ADF… best songs for training, for me: Fortress Europe and Where’s all the money gone
        J&MC are touring again, on and off… you never know!

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      • Jesus and Mary Chain were my FAVOURITE concert. Saw them in 1994 or 95 in Melbourne. Intimate setting, only an hour on stage, but worth it. The light show, the music…wow!

        Last gig was Bliss N Eso in 2014. Had a few of my most loved Aussie hip hoppers – Horrorshow, Seth Sentry. Seth’s gig was outstanding. Played just for us, got everyone involved and had loads of energy. I’d have gone just for him.

        Worst was Beastie Boys. Last show in Perth. Volume was so low that we had a conversation without shouting. They really could not be bothered being there. It was 1998. I felt crushed. They are lodged in my heart, alongside Velvet Underground and J.S Bach (organ concerto).

        As for 57, the SA put one spritz on a card. I judged it from that. The opening was pretty, but paper amplifies the white musk and it was ALL I got. I confess it disappointed me. But I am by no means a white musk fan at all. So, unless a sample comes my way, I’d rather seek out my Hermés lemming.

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        • I went to a wedding party with the Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, and a host of others in the Dominican Republic. Hmmmm. 1988. The manager or someone big, from DefJam was getting married and they all flew down from NYC. The Beasties were so drunk they just leaned against the posts all night, I don‘t remember them moving. LL Cool J randomly rapped and yeah, was an interesting party.
          There is no way you can smell this on a card. It has to have skin. I am not a white musk fan, but this really stunned me. But more importantly – what is your Hermès lemming???
          Hugs. Xxxx

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        • Oh, what a disappointment with the Beastie Boys. Still love them, though. Soz.

          I think I mentioned a while back about the *first* time I saw the Mary Chain… September 1985 at a shitty club/venue called Clouds in Preston. There’s an audio recording of it on YouTube that I found when I was trying to remember when it was. Rough–complete with hostile hecklers–raw, and alive. Slammed me right back in time.

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  11. I’m going to have to venture out to try this. It sounds really lovely. As for live shows, used to go all the time. Chicago, where I’ve lived at various times in my life, had great spots. Where I live now, not so much. I envy your hearing The Clash. My best memories are from the late 80s: Husker Du, Sonic Youth, etc.

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    • Hello there Herr R. Of course it is getting hate. Eye roll. As I said, people, in general are kind of dumb.
      It’ divine. Of course it won’t be what everyone wants to wear, but I guarantee you if you ask the vocal white musk haters what exactly white musks are, and how they work, their stares would be blank. I love the stuff the Polge is doing. Lots of love to you both. xxxxxx

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  13. Hey Val,
    I’m not convinced it is a work of genius. There’s too much out there already very like it at a far better price point. I do think they have elevated the genre and that the ingredients used smell far more expensive to a non perfumer.
    Yes, I bought the 200ml and yes it will get used. Not because it’s unbelievably amazing but because it’s not. It’s very banality makes it extra wearable in so many situations. I will spritz and go with it whenever I want fragrance but nothing too interesting or overpowering.
    Excellent review, as always. I love reading your stuff.
    Portia xx

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    • Hi my Honiest Honey! 🙂 It will be interesting to watch how it goes down, I think it is the diamond in the collection. Perfectly cut. Hahahahahaha. “Yes. I bought 200 mls …..” Really? Maybe the fact tha tis supremely wearable, makes it amazing. Time will tell. Meanwhile Chris thinks it is the most gorgeous perfume that I nearly own. Thanks for reading!! Love you. xxxxx

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  14. Hi Val love your review waiting to try this 1957 …. today we heard about Karl Lagerfeld.. did he have anything to do with the perfume line I wonder??
    The last show I went to was Donny Benet .. a euro pop Italian Australian who has been touring around European clubs last couple years and they love him! I really enjoyed myself at his show in October! Very good songs and as we Aussies say ., taking the piss.. loved it!!! Also the Whitlams a very political band .. saw them and they were wonderful as usual … love live shows 😘

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    • No. Absolutely nothing to do with their perfumes at all, as far as I know. I think you may have told me about this Donny Benet huh? I just missed his European tour. I am sure you can find someone from the inner circle to let you try the 1957, huh? Whitlams? Google time. Bussis and hugs. xxxxxxxx

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    • I reckon you might well love it. And it will prove to be a stunning classic, a jewel in the Chanel crown. I do believe I have a rough idea of how much a good gig excites you. 😉 xxxxxxx

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  16. The last gig I saw was the Tex-Mex band Calexico. I was standing right next to the stage, eyeballing the trumpeter. It was awesome; they are a great band with about 20 years worth of albums to pick a set list from. I also saw comedy duo Lano and Woodley the other night, which was also fun.

    I really want to try 1957, because it is my birth year. If i really like it, I might just splurge on myself for a birthday present. Bit I’d have to REALLY like it, at Chanel prices.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Hey Greg! Nice to see you. I don’t know the band but will take a look.
      Try 1957 and see. Ignore the crap reviews out there, hahahahaha – people don’t get it. And let me know. 1959 was my year. 💋

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  17. I’ve just received a 10ml decant of 1957 and now I have to go the FB, pity I didn’t know about it when we were in Paris last November. Love a good gig and still get to as many possible, saw the Chili Peppers on Sunday night with 50,000 of my closest friends 😆 they were the big act for Adelaide’s V8 supercar race that we have here every year. Faves over the years have been Bowie, Prince, Foo Fighters and the best ever Aussie band Midnight Oil. If you get the chance to see the Oils live do it!!!

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    • Never saw Bowie, well except when he walked onto do a song with Lou Reed in London, donkey’s years ago. Saw the Chili Peppers on their Blood Sugar Sex Magic Tour 1991, or was it 1990. Saw the Foo Fighters a couple of years ago, and will

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