No. 22 by Chanel, 1922

I remember when I was 13 (I am now 50) & received a nice amount of money for my birthday. I decided to walk to the local drug store to have myself a little spending spree! The perfume counter caught my eye & I immediately was amazed by this little white perfume refill spray container which held a perfume called, CHANEL 22! I sprayed the tester on my wrist, which I've seen my older sister do with her CHANEL 5, a fragrance I did not like! Well, I was in love! I have never smelled anything like this in my life & immediately bought the tiny white spray, which I refilled many times! If memory serves me correctly, I paid $30. This was also my very first perfume purchase! One day, some years later, I visited the drug store to buy my 22 refill only to be told they were no longer ordering this perfume! I was devestated & immediately began a search of my tiny town for another place which sold my CHANEL 22; to no avail! Well, life went on, I married, I had children but I never forgot the distinctive scent of my favorite perfume. Just recently, I searched on the Internet to see if I could possibly order a bottle, only to discover that 22 is only now sold in exclusive shops, then, I checked eBay only to discover that the price had certainly risen since I was a young woman! But, I found a lady who sells sample size bottles & decided to give it a try! This past week my tiny weeny sample of 22 arrived! I cannot describe to you the joy & nostalgia that overcame me when I uncapped that wee little bottle! I immediately placed another order! I will never again purchase or wear another perfume & if I should ever have the opportunity to be where there is a shop which sells my perfume I shall most certainly buy myself a bottle!

I love Chanel No .22 but I prefer Chanel No 5. Chanel No.22 feels just a little to much - it's like No.5 on a kick of aldehydes and incense. Quite similar to No.5 - No.5 has a clearer direction to me. It's too much for my nose .It's very perfumey and lasts quite while. I'll give it a thumbs up because I CAN appreciate it and it's beauty, personally it's not for me though. Update No 22 parfum extrait. I find the EDT differs slightly from the extrait. Still a great blast of aldehydes- what heaven - steamy hot clean searing aldehydes and white flowers- none really stand out on their own. Strong ,good tenacity and sillage especially for extrait. This really is the olfactory equivalent of the color white. White pressed linen clothes sitting in the sun . The drydown is lily ,vetiver and vanilla with just a touch of incense - more delicate and dry than the top and middle of No.22 . I find the drydown compellingly weird and twisted actually. I even detect a gaseous note in the dry down - perhaps the effect of lily and vanilla .No. 22 is graceful and untouchable. I do not see the relation to 'warmth' with No.22 . This is perfume for oneself and everyone else be damned. I do love No. 22- it's steamy hot fresh pressed linen in the sun . Dizzingly clean and abstract. Searingly hot and cool at the same time. Modern and yet classical. Okay edit April 2012- Chanel No. 22 has overtaken No.5 for me. Especially in parfum extrait. No.22 extrait is by far longer lasting than No.5 .