Cristalle Eau Verte (2009)
by Chanel

I really like this, I grant you it's not the most original idea, citrus and white florals have been done to death, but I find this the one of the best of its kind. On me the citrus lasts, especially the Bergamot and the Neroli. I find it quite intense and I have to be sparing with it, perhaps because I have the EdT concentree. The Magnolia and perhaps Freesia parts of this scent last the longest on me, taking over when the citrus finally fades. Good sillage, excellent after a cooling shower to wash away the troubles of a hot summer's afternoon.

Chanel Cristalle Eau Verte EDT

Notes: honeysuckle accord, magnolia, lemon, bergamot, neroli, jasmine, abstract white flowers (from NowSmellThis)

On first application, Cristalle Eau Verte has a blend of citrus notes, orange, grapefruit and bergamot, spiked with a bit of pepper. After the juice dries, it seems more watery without being ozonic or aquatic. There is some vague soapyness which lends a bitter tinge, and overall the impression is clean and bright, almost like a traditional Eau de Cologne. It is indeed "fresh" in the sense that the watery quality combines with the soapyness to give a just washed effect. Most of the citrus accord (except for what now seems to be lemon) fades rather quickly as the white florals develop. The fresh soapyness is still going strong, and unfortunately is a bit too reminiscent of household products. In fact, this accord gets a bit sickening in the middle development--lemon, soap and some kind of Fresh Breeze type room spray comes to mind. The florals are really overwhelmed by this "fresh" accord, so much so that I can barely even detect a faint bouquet, let alone individual floral notes. The drydown is great, though, and seems to be the base accord from Chanel's own Bel Respiro--a lovely musk and some lingering herbal notes. Longevity is short and projection is extremely mild--CEV becomes almost a skin scent within 30 minutes. If I were to choose, I'd skip this one all together and get Bel Respiro.

For a while I was iffy on this one and not being sure about committing to a full bottle I kept going back to the store to test numerous times... Finally, this ended up being a no purchase for me. I am a huge fan of the original Cristalle, but I am not trying to be a "purist" here and I was keeping my mind (and nose) open. In general, I have a broad taste when it comes to Chanel fragrances, the only one I truly dislike is Coco Mademoiselle (not too crazy about Chance either). If in the right mix, I do like citrus fragrances, which is what Eau Verte is. Eau Verte is an attempt to launch a fresher and "easier-to-wear" version of the classic Cristalle fragrance, similar to what Chanel did with No. 5 and Eau Premiere. While I have nothing against Chanel doing this, I honestly think they should name these new fragrances differently, as this way one cannot help but compare it to the original and this is NOTHING like the original! There is nothing wrong with Eau Verte if you like intense citrusy fragrances which dry down to a very soapy finish and for the most part disappear after barely an hour. At least, that is my impression of this fragrance. To me, this does not resemble the original even closely (to my dismay, but maybe to someone else's joy), which is one of my all-time Chanel's favourites. Eau Verte, as mentioned, opens intensely citrusy. It's not bad, especially if you like citrus notes, but I find it just a bit too much, almost like I am literally peeling a piece of fruit. The citrusyness disappears relatively quickly and is replaced with a soapy drydown, which is not bad, but essentially, nothing special. To me, Eau Verte is just a non-descript fragrance, built for the young crowds of today, and could be just any other fragrance on the market and vs. a Chanel. The longevity of this fragrance is poor, I've had it disappear on me within an hour or so. Plain, plain, plain!

Cristalle eau Verte is an intensely soapy green floral that only magnifies it's presence with time. It is not as sophisticated as I would have expected from Chanel, and not as brilliant a re-working as the No 5 eau Premier. Cristalle eau Verte is not pleasant to wear - maybe it's just not for me. I'd take the original Cristalle (even with it's swampy leather drydown) over eau Verte any day because the original Cristalle has tons of personality and character, especially in the magnificent opening. Just skip it altogether and stock up on the original Cristalle or buy some vintage Chanel No 19 or Parfums de Nicolai Temps d'Une Fete instead.