Light, airy and oh so summery, the LES EAUX DE CHANEL fragrance collection is everything and more. If you’re looking for the perfect fragrance for our glorious summer months, one that will take you from day to night, this brand new launch from CHANEL is it.

Master perfumer Olivier Polge created an olfactory adventure like no other when he created the three LES EAUX DE CHANEL fragrances, each inspired by one of Gabrielle Chanel’s favourite Paris destinations: Deauville, Venise and Biarritz. All three fragrances are wonderfully fresh and have the intoxicating notes of Sicilian and Calabrian citrus that are reminiscent of warm summer holidays.

The simplicity of the LES EAUX DE CHANEL bottle represents not only the incredible lightness of the fragrances, but also how sophisticated the are. The attention to detail is incredible; the cap of the bottle is made with a thermostat and the white double C engraved on the top is done by a single syringe injection. Something else to note about the bottle design is the pump, it diffuses micro droplets of fragrance onto the skin incredibly softly and does so for a longer time than many other fragrances.

Let’s have a look at the three different fragrances:

Paris – Deauville: Deauville is where it all began for Gabrielle Chanel. It was here in 1913, with the help of Boy Capel, a business man and polo player that Gabrielle launched her first collection in her shop. Olivier Polge wanted to capture the essence of walking through the tall grass of this harbour town and so the first notes that grab hold of your senses are orange rind, petit grain and basil leaf. Rose and Jasmine notes follow smoothly after, finished off by Patchouli.

Paris – Venise: This was the city that brought Gabrielle Chanel back to life after the tragic death of her love, Boy Chapel. The incredible parties and the lifestyle of the aristocrats in Venice inspired Gabrielle and reignited her love for style and fashion. Described as the most urban of the three Eaus, Paris – Venise is oriental and cozy with white citrus and subdued neroli initial notes. Red berry and Grasse geranium give a tangy floral scent while final notes of ceder and amber give a wonderful warm sensation.

Paris – Biarritz: Two years after launching her first clothing collection in Deauville, Gabrielle Chanel opened up a store in Villa de Larraide, Biarritz which was frequented by high society due to it being right next to the casino, beach and high end hotels. The store did so well that it captured the attention of Queen Victoria Eugenia of Spain who became a loyal customer. Olivier Polge wanted to emulate the rolling waves of the coastal town by creating “a sensation on the skin as if each ingredient were soaked with water”. The notes he chose do exactly that. Top notes of grapefruit and mandarin, middle notes of lily-of-the -valley and base notes of white musk all work together to give the revitalising effect of a dip in the ocean.

I’m utterly obsessed with Paris – Venise; not only is the scent absolutely intoxicating, but the story of Gabrielle’s passion and creative spark being reignited really resonates with me. The fragrance itself transitions wonderfully from day to night and wears incredibly well, especially when layered with the shower gel, an absolute indulgence.

With Christmas around the corner, this would make an incredible gift for someone special, or even a well deserved “Dear me, Love me” gift. Which one of the three LES EAUX DE CHANEL fragrances strikes a chord with you?

LES EAUX DE CHANEL retails for R2070 (125ml) and is available from CHANEL counters country wide.