Last month, I had the pleasure of trying Comète by Chanel, the latest addition to their prestigious Les Exclusifs line. This fragrance follows the release of Le Lion in 2020, another standout in the same collection. Like Le Lion, Comète is a beautiful perfume that captures the essence of Chanel’s refined elegance. However, both fragrances bear a striking resemblance to classic creations by Guerlain, leading me to ponder the direction Chanel is taking.
Chanel has a great fragrance history. Not as hallowed and old as Guerlain but for past three decades it has far outshone Guerlain. In my view, no other perfume house has come close to Chanel’s excellence in this century. This makes their recent approach of echoing Guerlain classics somewhat perplexing. Have they run out of fresh ideas? Is Roger Dove at the helm of their fragrance division, or have they perhaps shifted towards AI-driven creation?
For those unfamiliar with these recent Chanel releases, Comète is a modern interpretation of Guerlain’s L'Heure Bleue, while Le Lion mirrors the timeless Shalimar. Despite the clear inspiration, both Chanel creations stand out as masterful blends, marrying vintage Guerlain charm with Chanel’s signature sophistication.
If you can, seek out vintage bottles of L'Heure Bleue and Shalimar—they are the originals, after all. But if that proves elusive, Chanel’s offerings are worthy alternatives. Just remember: Guerlain was here first, blazing trails a century before Chanel.
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