Review – Chanel – Paris – Deauville

Reviews – Chanel – Paris – Deauville – Herbal Fresh Patchouli 8.5/10.

Chanel debuted their Les Eaux de Chanel line in 2018. The initial line of three perfumes, including Paris – Biarritz, Paris – Venise, and Paris – Deauville, has now expanded to six. These six fragrant interpretations tell the story of Gabrielle Chanel’s journeys and experiences in various locations significant to her career. Mostly, they are light, easy-to-wear classical cologne-style scents done in the elegant manner synonymous with the famed French house. However, Venise might be the only exception with its heavier powdery vanillic-benzoin finish. The subject of today’s review, Deauville, is my favourite from the collection.

Deauville is a delightful seaside resort on the coast of Normandy in northwestern France. Gabrielle Chanel opened her second store (she previously had a store in Paris devoted to hats) in the fashionable tourist centre – her first foray into clothing. It was also a popular vacation spot for her and Boy Capel during their nearly decade-long affair. The windswept beaches and promenades proved inspiring and gave rise to a new sporty fashion style. Indeed, Gabrielle Chanel was somewhat influential in bringing the Breton nautical-style shirt into the mainstream. Therefore the importance of Deauville in the Chanel story cannot be overstated, and the fragrance inspired by the location is suitably fresh and green.

Deauville perfectly captures the feeling of being in the great outdoors. The opening melange of citruses comprising lime, orange, bergamot, and lemon feels like downing a glass of refreshing juice on a warm day. It isn’t fizzy, but it’s undoubtedly rejuvenating. The lime and orange are the most prominent on my skin. Surely, both contribute to the light hint of sweetness I experience wearing Deauville. But it’s the basil and petitgrain that give the perfume much-needed character. Herbal and woody, these two notes perfectly mimic the idyllic Deauville countryside.

Everything in the middle phases of Deauville adds to the clean character of the perfume. The jasmine is well-behaved, bright, and uplifting, and the rose is dewy and cooling. Indeed, the florals have an almost glassy transparency, so you may still enjoy Deauville, even if you’re not a fan of rose or jasmine. Chanel lists “green notes” in the middle phases. They are noticeably strong, conjuring images of crushed green leaves and grassy meadows. At least on my skin, the prominent basil and aromatic, green facets stand out more than any floral component.

As this modern chypre (no oakmoss here) draws to its final stages, a pleasantly wearable patchouli comes to the fore. Again, this might be a fragrance worth checking out, even if you’re not a huge fan of patchouli. There’s nothing edgy or earthy about it. Instead, the patchouli adds a slightly sweet woody backbone to the preceding herbal green notes.

I highly recommend this whole line. I was fond of the fizzy rose of Paris – Paris from last year and 2021’s Paris – Édimbourg, which showcased crisp juniper and aromatic lavender accords. Simply put, you can’t go wrong with any of these. The price point is also a positive, relatively speaking, and each comes with a range of ancillary body products that can be layered to help improve the longevity of each fragrance.

With Deauville, Polge successfully captures the fresh ambiance of the French countryside in perfume form. One spritz is like breathing in the clean, highly purified air of a place far away from the daily stress of the hustle and bustle of city life—great work indeed and a great escape.

Do you have a favourite from this line? Which scent do you use as your mood lifter and escape from the stresses of everyday life?

Quick Notes:

Launch Year: 2018.

Perfumer: Olivier Polge.

Top Notes: Basil, lime, Sicilian orange, bergamot, petitgrain, lemon.

Mid Notes: Green notes, hedione, jasmine, rose.

Base Notes: Patchouli.

Longevity: 5-6 hours.

Projection: 2 hours, low.

Season: Summer.

Price: 50ml, $150AUD. 125ml, $215AUD.

Alternatives: Chanel Chance, EDT, Jo Malone, Lime, Basil & Mandarin. But, the perfume Deauville most closely reminds me of is Cristalle EDP. Indeed, it feels like a stripped-down version of this Chanel classic. If you’re a fan of that one, Deauville should be to your liking.

Note: All photos are my own.