Cristalle Eau de Parfum (1993)
by Chanel

A tart opening which I liked. But too soon a sweet but cloying thickness with undertones of sickly-sweet decay, which I think is the Jasmine. Ponderous and inelegant. However, if it's to your taste, it lasts and lasts. Two arm scrubs and a shower needed to dislodge it!

2nd October, 2011.

Cristalle opens with crispy and sparkling fresh citruses and green notes turning to a stale drydown. A weird effect created to give some depth to what could have been a generic Eau De Cologne. Nice but in my opinion this "day after" effect is a bit too emphasized giving the whole scent an "aged perfume" feeling instead of an intriguing allure.

It worths a try, anyway.

12nd April, 2011.

Sharp.Loud.Annoying.
I couldn't stand it enough to pick apart any notes

8th April, 2011.

Cristalle EdP does indeed smell like cut grass, and while I enjoy that, there's an "off" note sort of like bread or something that turns me away.

I think it might be the vetiver, which is odd, because I love vetiver.

8th February, 2011.

Other reviewers here have used words that describe this very well; pungent, bitter, brutal, harsh; & l agree with all of them. ln my notebook l've written; "nasty, sharp, green, woody, rather like No. 19 but with more cedar, urgh." Maybe it's an overdose of vetiver &/or oakmoss, ( l didn't get any of the top notes described here, it went straight to the base ) or it's a skin chemistry thing, but on this occasion l couldn't wait for the drydown, l had to go & scrub it off ( not an easy task ) before anyone thought l actually wanted to smell like this!

13rd September, 2010. (Last Edited: 2nd March, 2011.)

For Cristalle EDP I had two samples – one “official” sample from an E-tailer, and one from a well-known Internet supplier of niche, vintage, and classic samples and decants. I have no doubt that the “official” sample is tainted and undependable – that trashy smell could not possibly be Chanel, so I won’t consider it in this review: I have used the sample from the (sometimes maligned) invaluable supplier of niche, vintage, and classic samples.

I was looking forward to Cristalle because it is a chypre – my favorite category. The opening is a bit disappointing in that I found it composed of an uninspired citrus that contained way too much green for my tastes. It’s unusual that I complain about a Chanel citrus opening… I usually admire their elegant use of citruses in their fragrances. The whole opening presentation lacks sparkle… but more than that, it is too dense and ponderous, especial because of the green note. The situation improves as the florals gain ascendancy – specifically the jasmine and muguet. The florals work well in conjunction with the fruit notes (melon and peach to my nose): This heart accord is a much nicer presentation than the opening, but still, the signature “Chanel” is missing, and the presentation comes to me as uninspired. My final disappointment is the drydown: It’s woody and mossy without too much sweetness; it’s pleasant and ostensibly “Chanel,” but it’s just not “Chanel” enough and it just doesn’t give me enough of that chypre aura that I love so much. In all, I find the Christalle EDP disappointing… I have a strong feeling that I would like the EDT better than the EDP.

16th July, 2010.