No. 18 (2007)
by Chanel

Don`t expect 18 to be an intense rose fragrance with a strong sillage. 18 seems to go more on the skinscent side of Les Exclusifs collection. Even if this one stays quite on skin, it`s not silly; the soft aroma is not a musky commonplace. Instead, it has a subtle rosy and fresh aroma. Never saw a quiet rose like this, with a green edge which is not sour and with a fruity aspect that doesn`t go to a sweet territory. There something slightly boozy at the background. The ambrette seed creates a lovely salty ambered area. 18 seems to stays always bright, fresh and subtle on skin, and it`s Chanel showing how to a minimalistic which is not boring or silly.

7th July, 2011.

I'm usually not into rose fragrances but No.18 makes a pleasant exception as it happens very once in a while to smell such a simple yet incredibly fascinating composition. Quality and mastery are immediately (and clearly) noticeable when smelling No.18. An iris / rose structure supported by ambrette seeds and slight fruity patterns. The combination between rose and fruits gives the whole fragrance a fermented vibe that immediately recalls of wine or sweet liquors while iris circles in the air watching from the above.. No.18, being released in 2007, is the living proof that perfumery is not dead and it deserves to become an endless classic. Bravo Chanel.

This is real perfumery in my opinion and real perfumery trascends personal taste, real perfumery doesn't leave you indifferent.

22nd June, 2011. (Last Edited: 5th August, 2011.)

Chanel N°18 smells like the color yellow!
It's like summer in a bottle.
One of the most original and unique of
the Exclusifs.
N°18 is a strange fragrance, and I fully
advise y'all, to sample before buying, as
this will not please all - far from it!

N°18 is not the strongest of juices, and
it has a reputation of having poor longe-
vity. Since it's as faint as it is, I simply
spray more times, and that way, I easily
get 6+ hours of decent longevity with
good sillage, too. It doesn't deserve its
rep.

As with most, if not all, of the frags in
this line, this one can be worn by a man,
as it is quite unisex - leaning towards the
feminine side, though.

Two thumbs up!

6th June, 2011.

Must agree with Hilaire and Off-Scenter (beautiful writing, guys!) on this one. No. 18 is simple and clearly fabulous. I love the Turn-Sanchez book which characterizes this one as "strange and spare," if memory serves. It's evocative, fresh, lovely, simple. Pungent yet not intrusive; floral but not cloying; feminine but not sweet. I think it must be great on a guy, too. Classy, soft, wonderful, different. The main notes somehow sing in a three-level melody , that becomes one unique strand, not a balanced harmony of discernible notes. Yet the compositional parts are clear. How can it be?

29th January, 2011.

It opens great. It's almost stinky with ambrette, which can be sharp. Then there's this honeymoon of about oh, two minutes where the sharpness is fading and the sweetness is coming to the fore.

And then it's over. It's a fruity sweet thing that smells very much a product of a brand for a 21st century department store.

And if it cost $60 a bottle, I guess that would be alright. But it's almost a down payment on a car, so I want more than just inoffensive and eh.

11th December, 2010.

Somehow I was expecting... more, a lot more, from a Chanel Exclusif. I mostly smell an aldehydic, tart, and daintily sweet rose note that's almost uncannily like Gres Cabaret stripped down and brushed lightly with ambrette.

If you love it, go for it, but you could do yourself a favor by sampling the aforementioned Gres fragrance first.

3rd October, 2010.