Extraits, extraits: read all about CHANEL’s most intense fragrances to date, and their ‘Grand Parfumeur’ experience
PHOTO: JO FAIRLEY
Who knew? We didn’t. (And, um, it’s our job.) But rather quietly, without a great fanfare, CHANEL have been releasing extrait formulations of some of their most famed and beloved fragrances. And they want to introduce you to them… WORDS: JO FAIRLEY
This most famous of CHANEL’s fragrance collection is the foundation stone of a collection of extraits that now spans 11 precious scents
A couple of weeks ago, we had a close encounter of the CHANEL kind with some sensational extraits in their boutique in Harrods Salon de Parfums – a space which just underwent a gorgeous makeover.
CHANEL’s Les Extraits collection now transforms some of the house’s most iconic scents into a more concentrated, more intimate fragrance ritual. These are CHANEL’s most intense scents yet, and we explored them via what they’re calling their ‘Grand Parfumeur Experience’, in our case hosted by CHANEL’s so-knowledgeable National Events and Activations Manager, Danielle Ing.
The range offers glorious reinterpretations of some of the most beloved Les Exclusifs de CHANEL in extrait form, with an emphasis on the fullest possible expression of each composition. Rather than simply being more powerful and long-lasting, the scents are constructed (by Olivier Polge, who’s clearly been super-busy) to feel more textured and more enveloping on skin, offering an exceptional sillage that not only develops differently on each wearer, but lasts… well, we could still smell all of these on skin next day. (Confession: we didn’t shower, so as to put them through their paces.)
The best-known in the range (goes without saying) is N°5; an extrait version of this has been around for some time, and it is priced slightly higher than the rest of the line-up. But the collection of intense fragrances now includes mysteriously woody Sycomore, Gardénia, N°22, Beige, 1932, 1957, Coromandel, Cuir de Russie and Bois des Îles, among others. We fully anticipate further extraits to join the collection, in time.
Each CHANEL Extrait comes with its own pair of scissors, for snipping the black cord which seals the bottle
The presentation is every bit as luxurious as the juice inside, frankly. Each bottle is sealed by hand, and – so adorable! – CHANEL include baby scissors to cut the threads, making an absolute ceremony of opening the bottle for the first time, snipping a black corded thread that was hand-tied for the wearer in the Paris atelier in a time-honoured tradition of perfume packaging that is too rarely seen today.
With the option of the Emerald Case box (pictured) – shaped like the cap of the fragrance bottle, which in turn takes its inspiration from the Place Vendôme in Paris, which Gabrielle Chanel overlooked, from her room in Paris’s Ritz hotel – this is a real collector’s objet. (We defy anyone to throw that box away, by the way.)
Inside, you’ll also find a glass applicator for applying the fragrance more precisely to pulse points. And for those who like to spritz their scent on the go, the Extrait-to-Wear format offers a faceted glass case plus three refills – very handbag-friendly.
The Salon de Parfums setting is the most leisurely place to try the fragrances on your own skin, where you can be guided through the range by one of their fragrance experts. To book the ‘Grand Parfumeur Experience’, visit the Harrods Beauty Services page (below), and book a Les Exclusifs appointment, or call Harrods Beauty Concierge and ask for the Salon de Parfums, requesting a Les Extraits session specifically. (Or you could just rock up to the Sixth Floor, and try them at your own pace.)
Such luxury, of course, does not come cheap. But this is parfumerie at its most haute – and if you already love one of the Les Exclusifs, you might want to start a specific ‘Extraits’ piggy bank, now.
Les Extraits de Chanel/£335 for 30ml extrait de parfum (normal case); £390 for the emerald cut case
N°5, as explained, has a different price: £365 (normal case); £420 (emerald case)
Also available here at chanel.com
Harrods Beauty Concierge – book here
Harrods Beauty Concierge/020-7893 8892
As ever, CHANEL draw on symbols – here, Coco Chanel’s favourite lion. emblematic of her star sign, Leo
For our ‘Grand Parfumeur’ experience, we were lucky enough to be guided through the extraits by CHANEL National Events and Activations Manager Danielle Ing
A portrait of Gabrielle Chanel, hanging in the CHANEL boutique in the Salon de Parfums. PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION: @jofairley