UPDATE – This is a review of the EDT. The fragrances have been reformulated and are now available in an EDP concentration. There are noticeable differences between the two formulations.
Chanel 1932 is inspired by first High Jewelry Collection. It’s a perfume inspired by jewels. And when it comes to perfumery, that’s not necessarily original. However, when it comes to jewels, I expect Chanel to interpret this better than anyone since this brand has never met an aldehyde that it didn’t like. And is there a note that says “sparkly” better than aldehydes?
1932 opens with bright rays of aldehydes, bergamot and florals. It’s like a freshly unwrapped bar of fancy soap. The heart is a powdery iris that’s soooo Chanel. There’s a spiciness from florals like carnation and lilac. And I know that I’ve already said it, but 1932 smells like fancy bath products. It becomes a soft jasmine and buttery iris that leans clean and powdery. 1932 dries down to a vintage dusting powder of violets, iris and musk…meets hairspray. I love this soft musky floral base.
I know I’m overly enthusiastic when it comes to Chanels. It’s like some sort of virus that I caught in my perfume sniffing. One day I just fell for Chanel, especially the Les Exclusifs. When 1932 came out, I was surprised by its lack of love. People seemed to dismiss it as another jasmine or compared it to many other Chanels. And the deal is, this is a Chanel. It smells like a Chanel and not like anything else. But, I don’t think it really smells like the others. On me, this is aldehydes, lots of aldehydes. It’s more of a buttery iris than a jasmine. And to my surprise, it’s “floral spicy” in a lilac way. The base is somehow both sharp and soft. It’s a Chanel that smells like Chanel and I’m not going to complain about that.
Notes listed include aldehydes,bergamot, neroli, jasmine, rose, ylang-ylang, lilac, carnation, vetiver, orris, sandalwood, opoponax, incense, vanilla, coumarin, ambrette, musk and “iralia” (Firmenich note that’s irisy/orrisy). Launched in 2013. PERFUMER – Jacques Polge
Give 1932 a try if you like aldehydic florals or classic, pretty florals. Or if you like perfumes like Chanel No. 5 Eau Premiere, Chanel 28 La Pausa, Prada Infusion d’Iris, Jo Malone London Iris & Lady Moore, Viktoria Minya Hedonist Iris and/or Narciso Rodriguez Essence Eau de Musc.
Projection and longevity are average. I have no issues with this one. It lasts all day. There’s also a parfum of this which is amazing. The notes are more saturated with the base notes being more noticeable.
1932 comes in two sizes with 2.5 oz bottle retailing for $160 at Chanel.
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – Powdery floral that’s so Chanel. I love it. I don’t expect for everyone to love it, but I do. I love these sort of pretty, pretty cosmetic florals. I keep trying to talk myself out of buying this (or the parfum) but I don’t think I can. I like it and I want to wear it more.
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*Sample obtained by me. Product pic from Chanel. Ginger Rogers from www.fanpix.net.
I’m still not exactly sure what aldehydes are and I’m not sure I get a sparkly note from them but you sure make this perfume sound romantic.
I love this perfume. It does make me feel a bit like Ginger Rogers in that pic and I need more of that feeling in my life 🙂
I was so excited when I sprayed this the first time – it immediately gave me the feeling of a spray of diamonds. Loved it. I would like to smell the parfum, it must be exquisite. BTW – if you want to try something out of this world, try the parfum version of Jersey. I don’t even like lavender in a perfume, but this one is a gem.
You aren’t helping my lemmings 😉 I’m so close to buying Jersey parfum unsniffed. I honestly can’t see Chanel messing up the parfum of it. Maybe I should put it on a holiday wishlist….
It’s been sometime since I did a side by side comparison of 1932 EDT and the parfum (otherwise I would have included it in the review). BUT it’s as good as you’d expect. The notes are slightly amplified – the iris and jasmine are turned up a notch and the base is soooo soft and pretty.
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