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Chanel Les Exclusif (Pick 1 From Sycamore/Coramandel/Bois Des Iles/Cuir de Russie)

post #1 of 65
7/1/12 at 9:59am
Thread Starter 
Dear Friends,
That time of the month where i have to pick ONE from Chanel's Les Exclusif Range.

I found that i liked these the best (in no order)

1.Bois Des Iles
2.Cuir De Russie
3.Sycamore
4.Coromandel.

Please Do me the favor by Selecting the "One".
I do not know how to post a poll - or i would have.

Thanks a million!
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post #2 of 65
7/1/12 at 10:28am
Of course all 4 are worth having. If I should choose one I'd pick Cuir de Russie because it is a special, smooth and sensual leather-and-so-much-more-fragrance.
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post #3 of 65
7/1/12 at 10:34am
Sycomore. A masterpiece.
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post #4 of 65
7/1/12 at 10:39am
Cuir de Russie in extrait de parfum version is my no 1. Bois des Iles and Sycomore are fantastic as well though!
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post #5 of 65
7/1/12 at 10:40am
Thread Starter 
i am leaning more towards Bois Des Iles or Cuir de Russie - but its difficult to choose - esp dry down from a chanel card!
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post #6 of 65
7/1/12 at 11:10am
Cuir de Russie.
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post #7 of 65
7/1/12 at 11:11am
Bois des Iles is my personal favorite, I have the parfum.
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post #8 of 65
7/1/12 at 11:11am
SycOmore
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post #9 of 65
7/1/12 at 11:14am
You'll end up owning all 4 in the long run, but in the mean time Coromandel will yield you the most complements.

I would go:

1) Coromandel
2) Sycomore
3) Bois des Illes
4) Cuir de Russie
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post #10 of 65
7/1/12 at 11:15am
All 4 are good, but Sycomore wins this race in a walk!
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post #11 of 65
7/1/12 at 11:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by >BOOMER< View Post

All 4 are good, but Sycomore wins this race in a walk!

Agree.
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post #12 of 65
7/1/12 at 11:45am
Easily Sycomore
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post #13 of 65
7/1/12 at 11:46am
If I could have only one I would go with Cuir de Russie. But I would buy all four!
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post #14 of 65
7/1/12 at 12:00pm
Coromandel.
One of the smoothest patchouli fragrances out there with plenty of sillage and longevity. Patchouli softened by woods, soft florals and white chocolate. The most daring of the Chanel Les Exclusifs as well.
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post #15 of 65
7/1/12 at 12:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Duke Hunt View Post

You'll end up owning all 4 in the long run...

I agree with this, and would recommend all of them, in the following order:

1) Sycomore
2) Coromandel
3) Cuir de Russie
4) Bois des Iles
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post #16 of 65
7/1/12 at 12:38pm
I agree with Andy^

You might think differently about them if you've only sampled them on card so far, Instead of Bois des Iles I'd always recommend trying its spiritual follow up Egoiste instead for a guy.
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post #17 of 65
7/1/12 at 12:52pm
Sycomore, by a large margin!
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post #18 of 65
7/1/12 at 1:24pm
Thread Starter 
6 for Sycamore
5 for Cuir De Russie
2 for Coromandel
1 for Bois De Iles

From the First Impression - I preferred Cuir de Russie - Sycamore was scary, but i am beginning to love the dirty dry down
Coromandel is pretty special and Bois de Iles, is the easiest to wear in my climate! ( i live in a very humid country)

Really close call now between Cuir de Russie and Sycamore!
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post #19 of 65
7/1/12 at 1:45pm
another one of Sycomore
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post #20 of 65
7/1/12 at 1:57pm
All are wonderful. Coromandel and Sycamore are the longest lasting from my experience.

Bois De iles and CDR might be frustrating to you since they sit close to the skin.
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post #21 of 65
7/1/12 at 3:35pm
These are my favourites as well. Difficult decision... No idea. I'd probably go for Coromandel
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post #22 of 65
7/1/12 at 3:40pm
I'm a Coromandeliac.
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post #23 of 65
7/1/12 at 3:45pm
I have Sycomore and will be getting Cuir de Russie very soon so these are my priorities. Besides the ones you mention, I also like the Eau de Cologne.
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post #24 of 65
7/1/12 at 3:46pm
  • rum
  • online
  • Gender:
For me it's a no-brainer. Sycomore wins hands down. Smoky opening but a luscious woody/sea breeze dry-down that had me buying a small bottle in hours. Soon I will buy another one of these for the winter season.
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post #25 of 65
7/1/12 at 3:50pm
Since you live in Malaysia, I vote for Sycomore. It is the one I use the most in humid summers in DC, as it is fresh, natural smelling, and very persistent.

I love CdR too. I would consider buying the parfum, though (that is what I have), because it is more long lasting and richer, though less floral. Of course, it is also much more expensive.

cacio
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post #26 of 65
7/1/12 at 4:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cacio View Post

Since you live in Malaysia, I vote for Sycomore. It is the one I use the most in humid summers in DC, as it is fresh, natural smelling, and very persistent.

I love CdR too. I would consider buying the parfum, though (that is what I have), because it is more long lasting and richer, though less floral. Of course, it is also much more expensive.

cacio

How long would your bottle of CDR parfum last you if you were to use it every day ? 15 ml to me might last 2/3 weeks. Does that seem right ?

You keep saying longevity is great but you don't mention projection along with it. Does the parfum just last longer as a skin scent period ?
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post #27 of 65
7/1/12 at 4:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by LloydLlewellyn View Post

I'm a Coromandeliac.

Haha, I tried to click "Like" on this, then remembered I'm not on Facebook. : )
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post #28 of 65
7/1/12 at 4:46pm
Sycomore
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post #29 of 65
7/1/12 at 4:48pm
Coromandel, but I have only sampled Cuir de Russie
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post #30 of 65
7/1/12 at 4:51pm
coromandel
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post #31 of 65
7/1/12 at 4:53pm
Cuir de Russie, although I received more compliments on Coromandel.
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post #32 of 65
7/1/12 at 4:56pm
Coromandel may be the most surprising of the bunch. It's clearly a patchouli-prominent, but it has none of the negative/'dirty hippie' connotations that patchouli usually carries. Plus, the longevity is off the chart--WEEKS, no exaggeration. The smell even survives laundering!
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post #33 of 65
7/1/12 at 5:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by andylama View Post

Coromandel may be the most surprising of the bunch. It's clearly a patchouli-prominent, but it has none of the negative/'dirty hippie' connotations that patchouli usually carries. Plus, the longevity is off the chart--WEEKS, no exaggeration. The smell even survives laundering!

Truth.
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post #34 of 65
7/1/12 at 6:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Trauerkraut View Post

SycOmore

I agree!
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post #35 of 65
7/1/12 at 7:12pm
Cuir de Russie and Coromandel are my favorites.

Cuir de Russie. Its so smooth that i dont want to smell nothing but my arm.
Bois des Iles is so common with Egoiste to own both.
Sycomore is very earthy to me, i dont like it any way.
Coromandel is heavy and a favorite of mine.
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post #36 of 65
7/1/12 at 8:21pm
Even though I love vetiver and smokey accords and Sycomore, I suggest Coromandel. Its truly a great perfume.
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post #37 of 65
7/1/12 at 9:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Duke Hunt View Post

You'll end up owning all 4 in the long run, but in the mean time Coromandel will yield you the most complements.

I would go:

1) Coromandel
2) Sycomore
3) Bois des Illes
4) Cuir de Russie

Ditto
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post #38 of 65
7/2/12 at 12:05am
coromandel for me
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post #39 of 65
7/2/12 at 10:01am
Thread Starter 
thank you my friends - i am putting it down to Coromandel and Cuir De Russie - now need to choose
between these two -
i realize, Sycamore is just too heavy for me, even though it has the best composition out of all four as well as silage and longevity, malaysian humidity is just too insane for sycamore.
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post #40 of 65
7/2/12 at 12:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by benzganesh View Post

thank you my friends - i am putting it down to Coromandel and Cuir De Russie - now need to choose
between these two -
i realize, Sycamore is just too heavy for me, even though it has the best composition out of all four as well as silage and longevity, malaysian humidity is just too insane for sycamore.

Since it's between these two, give them each some time and full wearings and see which gives you the best result and which you prefer more.
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post #41 of 65
7/2/12 at 4:58pm
really? if anything I would have thought that Sycomore or maybe Bois would be best suited for the heat whereas Cuir will get way too heavy and Coromandel could go either way.
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post #42 of 65
7/2/12 at 5:40pm
In this order:

Cuir De Russie
Sycamore
Coromandel.
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post #43 of 65
7/3/12 at 12:54am
Sycomore, with Coromandel a close second.
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post #44 of 65
7/3/12 at 2:05am
Another one for Sycomore.
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post #45 of 65
7/3/12 at 2:53am
Bois des Iles for me, especially given you'll be wearing it in Malaysia.
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post #46 of 65
7/3/12 at 5:15am
CdR
BdI
Coromandel/Sycomore joint third.

Saying that donat take my advice I bought my 4 favourits and decants and minis of others as I couldn't make a decision!
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post #47 of 65
7/5/12 at 11:02am
Those bottles just look fantanstic all lined up next to each other Hint, hint.

- - - Updated - - -

Those bottles just look fantanstic all lined up next to each other Hint, hint.
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post #48 of 65
7/5/12 at 2:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by benzganesh View Post

thank you my friends - i am putting it down to Coromandel and Cuir De Russie - now need to choose
between these two -
i realize, Sycamore is just too heavy for me, even though it has the best composition out of all four as well as silage and longevity, malaysian humidity is just too insane for sycamore.

Coromandel is thicker feeling than Sycomore. Vetiver is a note I feel works in all weather, I feel that way about leather also.
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post #49 of 65
7/8/12 at 9:37am
I have a 75ml bottle of Cuir De Russie which cost me £100 from Selfridges in London.

I didn't have think twice about buying it.

If I find myself in London again, I will buy Sycomore ... and another bottle of CdR.
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post #50 of 65
7/11/12 at 11:12pm
If it were up to me - definitely Bois des Iles - it is amazing!
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post #51 of 65
7/12/12 at 8:49am
If you would have asked me two weeks ago, I would also have gone Sycamore, but picked up Coramadel this past weekend, and now I do not know. It would be a tough decision on these two.
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post #52 of 65
7/16/12 at 12:41pm
I hate to say it but after spending time with quite a few of the Les Esclusifs I find them leaning too much on the feminine side. Some are less feminine than others but ALL are rather sweet.

At the moment I own and love coromandel. However a little voice inside me tells me not to wear it in public. I am 5' 11 210 with mucho body hair. It just doesn't feel right. If anything it would be great on an intimate date.

There are definitely guys that can pull these off but IMO they aren't for everybody.

Again I hate to say it but I think some of you guys will agree....at least in private
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post #53 of 65
7/16/12 at 2:47pm
Coromandel
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post #54 of 65
7/16/12 at 4:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by thatmakesscents View Post

I hate to say it but after spending time with quite a few of the Les Esclusifs I find them leaning too much on the feminine side. Some are less feminine than others but ALL are rather sweet.

At the moment I own and love coromandel. However a little voice inside me tells me not to wear it in public. I am 5' 11 210 with mucho body hair. It just doesn't feel right. If anything it would be great on an intimate date.

There are definitely guys that can pull these off but IMO they aren't for everybody.

Again I hate to say it but I think some of you guys will agree....at least in private

I'm 6'2" and 205, with more body hair than I care to admit, and do not find Coromandel feminine at all.

Like any fragrance, not everyone can pull off every fragrance.
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post #55 of 65
7/16/12 at 7:32pm
Sycomore and Coromandel are in no way "feminine". Although they would smell great on a girl.
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post #56 of 65
7/17/12 at 2:06am
Tough one. I love all of them but would go for Sycomore.
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post #57 of 65
7/25/12 at 2:05pm
I just blind bought Bois des Iles after reading the description of notes on the Chanel website and not finding any samples to test on the net. I haven't received it yet, and I must say I'm a bit worried it may be too feminine for my liking without having sampled it. I'm not big on powdery scents. Can anyone comment on the powdery accords or lack there of in the Les Exclusifs BDI EDT?
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post #58 of 65
7/25/12 at 2:35pm
Cuir de Russie and Bois des Iles are my favourites of the four, but Cuir de Russie is stand out the best of the bunch. Sycomore was and remains a huge disappointment to me, weak, pointless and sour. Coromandel is beautiful but challenging though ultimately very rewarding. Cuir de Russie would be my choice.
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post #59 of 65
7/25/12 at 3:04pm
Coromandel
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post #60 of 65
7/28/12 at 6:24pm
They are all good, depending on your personal taste in notes, you make that decision. If you have money, coromandel, cuir de russie is worth having, even though I feel coromandel is a bit more for mature audience. If you love vetiver then I will suggest sycamore
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