Gardénia

But far from stopping at this marvel, the duo with their overflowing creativity offered their audience N°22, Cuir de Russie, and also the lovely floral Gardénia. Gardénia draws the flowers that Gabrielle loved so much in voluptuous, sun-kissed and powerful accords that captivate us once again with their charms thanks to the beautiful Les Exclusifs collection, which brought them back to life nearly a century later.

Gardénia, or the flower imagined by Ernest Beaux for Gabrielle Chanel

The least one can say is that the house managed to establish itself among the upper spheres of perfumery from its very first foray into the field with the famous N°5 in 1921. Yet in the following years, the formidable duo of Gabrielle Chanel and Ernest Beaux went on to create other lovely marvels that also achieved great success at the time, such as the luminous Gardénia.

The Russian perfumer composed Gardénia in order to reproduce in scent form Coco Chanel’s favorite flower, the camellia. Perhaps simply because she was used to receiving armfuls of them as gifts from her great admirer, the Duke of Westminster…

However, since the camellia is a “silent” flower, Ernest Beaux brought it to life through green and honeyed accords of white flowers. Gardénia thus presents itself in its most sun-kissed and sensual form, in order to distinguish itself in particular from the perfume composition work carried out the same year by Isabey, also named Gardénia.

Ernest Beaux composed for it a gardenia in which green and fruity notes answer a floral, creamy and honeyed heart. Nothing opulent, however, only subtlety. Les Echos on the gardenia and the Gardénia signed by Chanel.

Honey, fruit and white flowers for a Gardénia perfume as luminous as Coco…

Gardénia was thus born in 1925, though it was reworked by Jacques Polge in the 1980s in order to renew its composition, bringing it up to date but also into line with current standards. Where some will see an excessive heady touch, others will see a new opportunity to enjoy this beautiful floral perfume.

Gardénia opens on green notes and damp notes that blend with the ardent sunshine of a powerful neroli flower. Then in the heart we discover fabulous armfuls of sun-kissed and opulent white flowers that unfold like a carpet of floral beauties. Between jasmine, tuberose, orange blossom and clove, this Gardénia bursts with light. Finally, the deep, woody sensuality of nervy vetiver notes and a burning sandalwood settle into the cottony branches of white musks. A trap of flowers that intoxicates with happiness…

A floral par excellence, intense and voluptuous, which lets its gardenia notes, its creamy heart and its imaginative sillage bloom freely. A perfume that carries within it the radiant light of summer, of absolute femininity. Chanel on Gardénia, Les Exclusifs.