28 La Pausa (2007)
by Chanel

Anyone into iris-based compositions should, sooner or later, stop here as 28 La Pause seats just next to Roucel's Iris Silver Mist. A woody-rooty concoction based on the complex smell of iris-roots and laying on a woody/vetiver drydown. Subtle yet magnificent, slightly powdery, mannered. Simply Terrific.

25th January, 2012.

The one word to describe 28 La Pausa is simply "lovely". It is delicate but luxurious. Modern yet classical. Wearing this will make you FEEL lovely.

This is the lightest, brightest, Iris that I have encountered. I think that this is because there is Lilac in this composition, which imparts a cut crystal "ting" which elevates the Iris from the earth to the heavens....of course I could be wrong. But not about the loveliness. That is not negotiable.

7th September, 2011. (Last Edited: 25th September, 2011.)

A beautiful graceful iris in the Chanel style with clear wood at the base. Unfortunately it lasts about an hour, and that's it. 28's longevity is absolutely terrible, even for an EDT, that it ultimately detracts from the experience of wearing it.

It pains me to give a neutral rating to the best iris (to my nose at least, having sampled Iris Silver Mist, Apres lOndee, Iris 39 and a few notable others) I have smelled, though the experience isn't good enough to warrant parting with the money.

3rd September, 2011.

I've recently been fascinated by iris scents; most notably Iris Nobile by Acqua di Parma and Iris 39 by Le Labo. My mother had received a bunch of flowers after a performance (she's an actress), and for days the room in which she'd placed the beautifully arranged iris and lily bouquet, smelt divine.

Chanel's 28 La Pausa is close to that scent, but not close enough.

28 La Pausa opens rather fresh. The prominent iris note is green and natural. I do believe that the iris note in this fragrance is the actual essential oil, rather than a synthetic take on iris.

Citrus notes compliment the iris towards the heart, however when settled, 28 La Pausa transforms into a smooth, soapy scent. The soapiness, although feminine and pretty, resembles other iris-based scents on the market, most notably, Acqua di Parma's Iris Nobile EDT.

The woodsy drydown only furthers my comparison to the above fragrance. I do believe vetiver may be a missing note in 28 La Pausa. It has this wonderful bitter and earthy quality that really compliments the iris.

There is a great sense of simplistic subtlety to be found in this scent. It doesn't scream, "look at me!" or anything overtly sexy, however it succeeds in being soft and inoffensive. The scent lasted well on my skin, so I won't agree with the other reviewers who experienced poor lasting strength. The scent is delightfully refreshing and clean smelling. I'd most likely wear 28 La Pausa during Spring, when the weather is particularly beautiful and the world is lively.

27th August, 2011.

This is a beautiful Chanel iris! It is not powdery, not too rooty, but instead, just soft and austere iris. There is a slight woodiness or nuttiness to this, then a wonderful vetiver/iris drydown. This EDT lasts a good 6 hours on me, albeit close wearing for the last half.

This would make a great everyday fragrance for iris lovers. It reminds me somewhat of FM Iris Poudre, but with less powder and certainly less aldehydes. It is easy, it is classic and it is beautiful. Spray away, as this will never be overpowering. Class and simplicity in a bottle if iris is your note.

Thumbs way up!

30th June, 2011.

I just received the final three of the "Les Exculsifs" I sent for - 28 La Pausa, 31 Rue Cambon and Sycomore.

So..... 28 La Pausa, this scent confuses me. I do not register ANY iris. Not one whiff of bread, truffle or any other smell I associate with iris. Could I be anosmic to iris? Maybe.

What I do get is a good whiff of vetiver, but it doesn't last long. In 10 minutes ALL scent was gone from my skin. Now, to be fair, the sample was EDT so I don't know if that is the reason for the lack of longevity or not.

Anyway, I give it a neutral rating because I don't like a willow-the-wisp fragrance - even a beautiful Chanel willow-the-wisp.

11th June, 2011. (Last Edited: 12nd June, 2011.)