I have a weakness for Chanel. I lust after the catwalk collections and regularly dream about owning the much coveted 2.55 bag. While these items remain beyond my financial reach, the glossy black packaging of the makeup line satisfies my craving for all things Chanel, allowing a little of the classic elegance and old Parisian glamour I associate with the brand to creep into my life.

Source

I’ve tried to love this perfume, so wanting to be the kind of woman that wears No. 5. Chic, elegant, refined and fully formed. But the problem is, I’m not, and it just smells wrong on me. Too mature, too worldly wise. I think I need to grow up before I’ll ever grow into this perfume.

I have dabbled in a few Chanel scents in my time though, falling in and out of love with them as the years have passed.

I wore Chance in my late teens when I was dating a much older man. The relationship was ill fated and the scent turns my stomach now, bringing memories of a misguided romance flooding back.

Coco Mademoiselle was {over}worn in my early 20s. It was the injection of glamour I needed after Izzy was born and I doused myself in it daily, even when my schedule included nothing more exciting that a walk to the swings and rhyme time at the library. My affection for this scent seemed to wane a few years ago though, and a half empty bottle now languishes on my chest of draws, dusty and unloved. Just as I’m too young for No. 5, I somehow feel too old for Mademoiselle, associating it with a time of great uncertainty in my life when I just didn’t know how to make motherhood and Mr. LA fit.

But Chanel allow for these olfactory idiosyncrasies. No. 5 has a younger sibling in the form of Premiere. You can have your Chance ‘fraiche’ or ‘tendre’ these days, and they’ve just launched No. 19 Poudre, a more modern counterpart to the original green cyphre fragrance, that quickly becomes powdery and musky on the skin. And when you’re ready to graduate from Mademoiselle there’s always the original Coco.
It was Coco that came home with me the other day. I opted for the Eau de Toilette, fearing I wasn’t quite ready for the richness of the Eau de Parfum. It lasts well on my skin, and besides, I plan on layering it with the body lotion when my funds allow for such an indulgence.

A single spritz of this intensely floral scent gives me delusions of sophistication. It is seductive, feminine and classic, without making me feel like I’m out of my depth. It makes me feel sexy, but not in an overt or vulgar way. It’s a ‘come hither’ scent that reminds me of everyday romance just as much as it does grand gestures and declarations of love. It’s hugging in the kitchen as much as it is fumbling in the bedroom, if you know what I mean. I love it.

Top Notes: Angelica, mimosa, fragipani and mandarin
Middle Notes: Cascarilla, orange flower, Bulgarian rose and jasmine
Base Notes: Labdanum, ambrette seed, opopanax, benzoin, tonka and vanilla

And with Chanel on my mind, today’s scent memory comes from Rucksana {a.k.a beautyness1319}…My scent with precious memories, is Chanel Allure.

This was the perfume, I wore on my 18th birthday, Friday 13th October 2006.

I was in my final year at 6th form. Leading up to the day, I was being teased about the fact my 18th fell on Friday the 13th!

On the morning of my birthday I awoke to find Chanel Allure, Calvin Klein Escape and a new pair of hair straighteners waiting for me on my bedside cabinet and a beautiful white and pink dress (my favourite colours) and white shoes made from the same material as the dress. I was incredibly excited, so far it was a fairytale of a birthday. I wore my dress, full face of makeup and sprayed Chanel Allure all over myself!

Once I got to college, my friends had all bought me lovely gifts and my phone was clogged with texts, it was amazing. One of my friends even bought a badge and made me wear it for the whole day. At this moment, I felt happy but very emotional. I knew that for my following birthday I wouldn’t have all my special friends to celebrate with, as we’d all be moving on to university, and one to do pilot training.

Later that afternoon, a message was sent summoning me to see the head of year. I thought I was in trouble, I had no idea what was coming. My friends, teachers, and someone very, very special to me had arranged a surprise party. There was a whole array of foods, party games and presents. I felt so incredibly special and lucky to have the most amazing friends a girl could ask for! I felt truly loved.

Later on I had a lovely meal and small party with my family. Again, I felt like a princess.

My 18th birthday was the best birthday I have had, with so many special memories. It was the beginning of a very special friendship that I will cherish forever.

Even a whiff of Chanel Allure transports me back to that day, making me wish I could relive it over and over again.

{You can read about the composition of Allure here}

Are you a fan of Chanel perfume? Do you have any scent memories associated with the brand? Can you get your nose around No. 5?

Loveaudrey xxx