It was Christmas Eve, and oh how I joyfully opened my presents. One present in particular was very joybringing - a new bottle of Égoïste from my girlfriend. A bit later I sneaked into the bedroom to open the box, and smell the precious liquid inside. It was a glory glory moment, as I peeled off the plastic wrapping and opened the cardboard box, for I knew what was awaiting inside. The Égoïste bottle, as beautiful as ever, with the usual feel and weight in my hand, giving me the impression of being reunited with an old friend.
But now the plot thickens...
I gave it the usual spray in the cap, as I always do, to be able to smell it when not wearing it. Something was wrong, something was very wrong... I put it away as olfactory fatigue or perhaps my senses had been overwhelmed by dinner and wine. I went on with the Christmas schedule, visiting family and having Christmas lunches. But my longing to wear Égoïste finally overcame me this morning, and I took it out of the box and sprayed away after the shower.
Emptiness... Like a faded old photograph, all that remained were recognisable, and yet strange figures. It felt as if the soul had been siphoned out of the bottle, leaving what remained weak and disfigured.
The initial blast of the vintage and the similar, but somewhat harsher blast of my 2010 bottle, had but completely vanished. Now, almost an hour later, I am left with a similar heart/base stretched thin and weak, like Bilbo Baggins' life and soul from wearing the One Ring.
Oh, how I hope that my senses have been playing a trick on me. That the change in diet at Christmas and the emotional aspect of it, has somehow temporarily changed my sense of smell, and that when I arrive home after my Christmas tour, I can spray again and be comforted by Chanel Égoïste, like I once was.
If I find that my senses have not been tricking me, and that another reformulation has in fact taken place, I will dearly treasure my full vintage bottle, and the 1/4 full 2010 bottle I have left.
But now the plot thickens...
I gave it the usual spray in the cap, as I always do, to be able to smell it when not wearing it. Something was wrong, something was very wrong... I put it away as olfactory fatigue or perhaps my senses had been overwhelmed by dinner and wine. I went on with the Christmas schedule, visiting family and having Christmas lunches. But my longing to wear Égoïste finally overcame me this morning, and I took it out of the box and sprayed away after the shower.
Emptiness... Like a faded old photograph, all that remained were recognisable, and yet strange figures. It felt as if the soul had been siphoned out of the bottle, leaving what remained weak and disfigured.
The initial blast of the vintage and the similar, but somewhat harsher blast of my 2010 bottle, had but completely vanished. Now, almost an hour later, I am left with a similar heart/base stretched thin and weak, like Bilbo Baggins' life and soul from wearing the One Ring.
Oh, how I hope that my senses have been playing a trick on me. That the change in diet at Christmas and the emotional aspect of it, has somehow temporarily changed my sense of smell, and that when I arrive home after my Christmas tour, I can spray again and be comforted by Chanel Égoïste, like I once was.
If I find that my senses have not been tricking me, and that another reformulation has in fact taken place, I will dearly treasure my full vintage bottle, and the 1/4 full 2010 bottle I have left.
Just the thought that it could have been reformulated again, caused me to panic 
It didn't resemble sandalwood; it didn't resemble rose or any woody notes for that matter. It just smelt of some synthetic ingredients and to be honest I can't think of anything similar to describe it!! I was obviously concerned but I challenged the retarded sales assistants, who clearly had no idea what I was after. They even tried to sell me the Platinum version...
