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Is Chanel Sycomore still the same?

post #1 of 35
2/12/13 at 9:02am
Thread Starter 
Hi all!
This is my first post after lurking around here for a long time. Been wanting to get my first fragrance and I'm very interested in getting the Sycomore. I tried a 1ml sample of it and it was gorgeous! However I'm just wondering, has it been reformulated since 2008? It would suck if I bought a bottle to find that it's different from what the majority of BNers found it to be.

Thanks for the help as I can't find any info online regarding this!
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post #2 of 35
2/12/13 at 9:07am
I sampled it in summer of 2012. I don't know what bottle it came from, but I really liked it.
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post #3 of 35
2/12/13 at 9:50am
There's no information that I am aware of to think it has changed.
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post #4 of 35
2/12/13 at 10:32am
Welcome!

Vetiver and woods have not been restricted, so Sycomore should still be the same.

cacio
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post #5 of 35
2/12/13 at 11:29am
As far as I know, it is the same.
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post #6 of 35
2/12/13 at 12:14pm
I sampled it this year. Very good peanut-vetiver.
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post #7 of 35
2/13/13 at 7:13pm
YES it has been reformulated , I have a bottle from 2009 and a bottle from 2012, the strong burning leaves note is no longer there and there is much more sandalwood. The difference was quite noticeable for me. The older formulation was a 10/10 the newer one 7/10. The vetiver is much more subdued I find.
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post #8 of 35
2/13/13 at 7:57pm
I haven't noticed anything different.
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post #9 of 35
2/13/13 at 8:02pm
Reformulation? Dunno. But sampled recently from a new sample and it was still great.
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post #10 of 35
2/13/13 at 9:25pm
The lady working the Chanel counter told me it's the original formula; nothing has changed.
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post #11 of 35
2/13/13 at 10:42pm
I need a sample of this
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post #12 of 35
2/14/13 at 8:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by VintagePoison View Post

The lady working the Chanel counter told me it's the original formula; nothing has changed.

sales reps will never say a fragrance has been reformulated, its a common industry practice.
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post #13 of 35
2/14/13 at 9:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by VintagePoison View Post

The lady working the Chanel counter told me it's the original formula; nothing has changed.

SA's are told what to say, and are mushrooms, left in the cold and the dark, and fed _ _ _ _.
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post #14 of 35
2/15/13 at 3:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by pkiler View Post

SA's are told what to say, and are mushrooms, left in the cold and the dark, and fed _ _ _ _.

That deserved the Oscar for this thread!
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post #15 of 35
2/15/13 at 3:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by hednic View Post

There's no information that I am aware of to think it has changed.

Same here. What you should do is quite simple: if available at your city, go to a Chanel Boutique and test there​ the fragrance. Then, if you have your own retailer or you buy online, you will know. Thank you for the "alert", btw. And good luck!
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post #16 of 35
2/15/13 at 11:04am
Thread Starter 
Awesome! Thank you all for the great help! Still trying to feel my way around the world of fragrances just went on a sampling binge to find more!
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post #17 of 35
2/15/13 at 6:37pm
Well I have 2 bottles of Sycomore , 2009 and 2012, the vetiver in the older formulation is very pronounced, like a pile of dry leaves burning, this softens after a few hours . In the 2012 bottle, the vetiver note is there but much less pronounced, that "burnt note" is no longer there, this was the best part of Sycomore. In the 2012 bottle , the vetiver seems to be drowned in sandalwood, to the point it reminded me a bit of Santal Blush. The sillage is less too, longevity remains the same though in both versions. Also the prices have gone up, a 75 ml bottle now costs 130 instead of 110 USD.
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post #18 of 35
2/16/13 at 8:48am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by vinramani09 View Post

Well I have 2 bottles of Sycomore , 2009 and 2012, the vetiver in the older formulation is very pronounced, like a pile of dry leaves burning, this softens after a few hours . In the 2012 bottle, the vetiver note is there but much less pronounced, that "burnt note" is no longer there, this was the best part of Sycomore. In the 2012 bottle , the vetiver seems to be drowned in sandalwood, to the point it reminded me a bit of Santal Blush. The sillage is less too, longevity remains the same though in both versions. Also the prices have gone up, a 75 ml bottle now costs 130 instead of 110 USD.

Oh dear this is bad news. Normally when prices change it reflects a reformulation of sorts right? Like you, I love the burnt note of Sycomore. If that was gone or toned down too much then there's no point in me getting Sycomore anymore
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post #19 of 35
2/16/13 at 12:28pm
I was actually going to buy a bottle at the Chanel boutique in NYC for my gf on Velentine's day, but read this thread and didn't feel like gambling on which formulation I'd get. Just got her Miss Dior Parfum at the Dior boutique next door instead.
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post #20 of 35
2/16/13 at 6:47pm
Dude... Sycomore hasn't been reformulated!
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post #21 of 35
2/16/13 at 9:27pm
I'd be astonished if Sycomore had been reformulated. I bought my bottle early in 2012, and the vetiver is right there, front and center. The smokiness has always been an accent, not a feature, of this composition. To me it's vetiver, black pepper, sandalwood, and a touch of smoke.
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post #22 of 35
2/16/13 at 11:31pm
Well it is what it is, the 2009 bottle I have has an incredibly strong burnt smoky vetiver note, the bottle I got in the Summer last year, the vetiver is there but its toned down quite a bit in comparison. The very fact prices have gone up indicate reformulations have taken place, a common industry practice. Chanel is known for reformulating its fragrances quite frequently, I am not to surprised about it at all. Sycomore is still a great fragrance, but that masculine dirty burnt smoky element is no longer there.
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post #23 of 35
2/25/13 at 9:51am
Maybe it has and maybe it hasn't.

What key now is for you to try it. Head over to Marina Bay Sans Chanel boutique and try it.

If you like it, good. If not, seek out Fumidis. It's smokier.
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post #24 of 35
3/4/13 at 8:28am
I recently bought a decant of Sycomore from Surrender to Chance. I've given it 2 full wearings so far, and overall it is pretty weak compared to my decant from theperfumedcourt, that I purchase more than a year ago. I also do not get that smokey vetiver opening from my latest decant.
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post #25 of 35
3/4/13 at 9:15am
I bought my bottle in early 2012. Wore it again last week, so I have fresh impressions. It lasted all day easily, and was rich, smoky, woody, and wonderful the whole time. Completely beguiling. I have no complaints about this version, if it even is different from earlier bottles.
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post #26 of 35
3/4/13 at 9:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by onethinline View Post

I bought my bottle in early 2012. Wore it again last week, so I have fresh impressions. It lasted all day easily, and was rich, smoky, woody, and wonderful the whole time. Completely beguiling. I have no complaints about this version, if it even is different from earlier bottles.

Could you please let us know what batch is your bottle?
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post #27 of 35
3/4/13 at 10:02am
I really want this. Sycomore and coromandel.
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post #28 of 35
3/4/13 at 10:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by piscicida View Post

Hi all!
This is my first post after lurking around here for a long time. Been wanting to get my first fragrance and I'm very interested in getting the Sycomore. I tried a 1ml sample of it and it was gorgeous! However I'm just wondering, has it been reformulated since 2008? It would suck if I bought a bottle to find that it's different from what the majority of BNers found it to be.

Thanks for the help as I can't find any info online regarding this!


There's only one way to find out if it's the same as the sample you've got - if you live in Singapore you can quite easily try Sycomore (and the rest of the Les Exclusifs line) at Chanel Ion Orchard.
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post #29 of 35
3/4/13 at 11:00am
Interesting thread... got this last year, and although I loved the smell, it was so weak (on me and on my wife's skin), 4-5 hours longevity max... I was confused about all the praise this scent had received. Now it may be that we simply bought the reformulation and not the vintage... I see. Well for all of you who have the vintage, enjoy it!
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post #30 of 35
3/4/13 at 11:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by gtsb View Post

Interesting thread... got this last year, and although I loved the smell, it was so weak (on me and on my wife's skin), 4-5 hours longevity max... I was confused about all the praise this scent had received. Now it may be that we simply bought the reformulation and not the vintage... I see. Well for all of you who have the vintage, enjoy it!

Could you also please let us know the batch code of your bottle?

More batch info on this would be great and helpful on figuring out if there was really a reformulation.

Thanks
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post #31 of 35
3/4/13 at 11:19am
I also don't understand the praise. It's just vetiver with a tiny bit of sandalwood and miniscule amounts of other ingredients. I don't think it smells particularly smokey either.
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post #32 of 35
3/4/13 at 11:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by NewHaarlem View Post

Could you also please let us know the batch code of your bottle?

More batch info on this would be great and helpful on figuring out if there was really a reformulation.

Thanks

Unfortunately my bottle is in Los Angeles, and I won't be back there for another couple months... but if the interest is still there, I'll post my batch number as soon as I get access to the bottle. Sorry!
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post #33 of 35
3/4/13 at 11:49am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spoombung View Post

I also don't understand the praise. It's just vetiver with a tiny bit of sandalwood and miniscule amounts of other ingredients. I don't think it smells particularly smokey either.

That's the magic of Sycomore. Some days it won't be smokey at all. But other days it will be dark & smokey as hell...
Therefore one of the most interesting frags I've come across.
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post #34 of 35
3/4/13 at 12:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cylob View Post

That's the magic of Sycomore. Some days it won't be smokey at all. But other days it will be dark & smokey as hell...

You get that dark, smoky side every time with Lalique Encre Noire. I'm torn between the two, because as much as I adore that darkness and mystery about EN, Sycomore is so gorgeously complex and rich...
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post #35 of 35
3/5/13 at 4:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken Cosgrove View Post

You get that dark, smoky side every time with Lalique Encre Noire. I'm torn between the two, because as much as I adore that darkness and mystery about EN, Sycomore is so gorgeously complex and rich...

I own both and I prefer the diversity of Sycomore. I almost finished my 200ml bottle and will buy a fresh one right away. Encre Noir is already getting boring after the first 20ml I've used of my 100ml bottle. Don't think I'll ever finish that one.
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