Une Fleur de Chanel (1998)
by Chanel

Une Fleur is a limited-edition green floral launched in 1998. An interesting story behind this one...Karl Lagerfield commissioned nose Jacques Polge to create a perfume based on the camellia flower (Coco Chanel's favorite). "Based on.." because the camellia flower has no smell! As a result, Une Fleur is an abstract creation, taking visual cues from the flower (which looks pretty enough) and previous attempts at its 'scent' to come up with a familiar yet unique take on this 'ghost flower'.

The opening is a sweet, radiant citrus burst immediately followed by a blooming jasmine heart. This is jasmine stripped off its indolic tones and presented with its sweet, rich floral aroma upfront. An engineering act is performed in the heart notes...a rose note is twirled with the star jasmine to give it brightness and, I think, is also responsible for stripping away any unneeded arse notes. While this jasmine-rose act is going on, a green stem-like note (is it galbanum?) helicopters over and brushes this floral dance with a verdant greenness.

Une Fleur packs a punch for the first couple of hours before settling into a woody-green base. The jasmine and rose are good quality and if you are a fan of green florals but want one presented as an easy-to-wear potion, this may be right up your alley. Does it feature earth shattering originality and ingredients? No. But for Chanel completionists who want to smell what Coco Chanels favorite ghost flower smelled like, Une Fleur could be irresistible.

Rating: 7.5/10.0

Despite the name 'Une Fleur', this fragrance is a bouquet of flowers. I get quite a bit of Gardenia, and in many ways this fragrance is a derivative of Chanel's own Gardenia, but I also get a number of other white florals as well in the mix. My skill at identifying single floral notes from a bouquet is limited, but I believe I sense ylang, jasmine, and lilac along with the gardenia. This was a limited edition from nearly 10 years ago, but bottles are around. Worth getting for Chanel fans.

This fragrance is very different for the house of Chanel. By the name, I excpected to sample a soliflore ~ which was not the case. Actually, this juice is light and green in composition...notes beautifully blended, not sweet at all. The name Une Fleur is fitting because it is mild...unlike many other florals out there that sort of 'throw the whole garden into the mix'! When sampling this scent, it was as though I was sniffing a single nameless bloom ~ soft & demure. The scent itself is reminiscent of Anais Anais. If you don't typically choose florals this one might please you!