Allure by Chanel is a Floral fragrance for women launched in 1996 as an Eau de Toilette. The perfumer behind this iconic scent is long-time Chanel legend Jacques Polge.
It’s part of Chanel’s Allure collection. It’s still one of Chanel’s most iconic scents and has inspired flankers for both men and women. It’s widely seen as one of the brand’s top scents up to this day.
Allure’s keynotes are Lemon, Orange, Honeysuckle, Rose, Vanilla, Amber, and Sandalwood.
The inspiration behind Allure, according to Chanel:
Gabrielle Chanel preferred a simple silhouette without pretence, asserting a style that goes beyond trends. A natural elegance conveyed more in the way clothing is worn than the clothing itself. A certain concept of beauty that Mademoiselle summarised in a single word that speaks of movement, self-evidence, uniqueness: allure.
Difficult to define, impossible to resist, Allure is the fragrance of a true, radiant woman with natural elegance. A woman who stands out through her gaze, her presence, her grace, her charisma.
| Perfume Name | Allure |
| Brand | Chanel |
| Year Released | 1996 |
| Concentration | Eau de Toilette |
| Scent Family | Floral |
| Gender | women |
I was still a toddler when this scent originally came out, and only this year I decided to give it a proper try. I ordered a sample, and this is what I think of it.
What does Allure by Chanelsmell like?
Allure by Chanel smells like zesty citrus, orange in particular. It’s followed by florals like rose and honeysuckle with hints of vanilla.
Allure smells very ‘perfumy’ to me. What I mean by that is that it feels classy and rich – like top-shelf champagne. It’s not that overly sweet fruit bowl type perfumes that you smell quite a lot of these days.
In short, you’ll never feel underdressed wearing this. It’s so versatile, sophisticated, rich, casual, and modern all at the same time. To me, it’s truly the embodiment of effortless elegance.
I’ve tried Allure Eau de Parfum before, and although the EDT is very similar, it’s definitely lighter on the vanilla and wood than the EDP. Allure makes me think of the coolness in Bvlgari Jasmine Exquise with a touch of the warmness in Dior Hypnotic Poison.
| Top Notes | Lemon, Mandarin Orange, Passionfruit, Peach and Bergamot |
| Middle Notes | Honeysuckle, Jasmine, Magnolia, Freesia, Water Lily, Orange Blossom, Peony and May Rose |
| Base Notes | Vanilla, Sandalwood, Amber, Vetiver and Patchouli |
My Experience
I find the opening of this scent absolutely intoxicating! It’s citrusy – like lemon cake and gorgeous honeysuckle. This is complemented by just a hint of vanilla. I love how the vanilla adds some warmth while citrus lightens the white flowers.
As the scent dries down, the notes from the opening are still present but much more subdued as it settles closer to the skin. At first, I was skeptical of so many notes being included, but they are blended perfectly. It’s hard to identify the separate notes, but they all uniquely enhance the fragrance.
After more time, I started noticing more of the Amber and Sandalwood, which I feel really rounds out this superb fragrance. It makes me feel so grown up and classy.
Sillage & Projection
The sillage isn’t great on my skin, and I’ve heard that this scent is supposed to have incredible sillage, but then again, I do have perfume-eating skin. If I spray it on my clothes, then it lasts much longer. Overall, on my skin, I’d rate the sillage and projection as being moderate overall.
Longevity & Versatility
Allure is an incredibly versatile scent, in my opinion, and I’ve now worn it on quite a few different occasions. This scent will be a head-turner at a party, but it can also be well-behaved for office and everyday wear. It’s a scent perfect for spring and summer. In fall and winter, I think the Allure EDP would be a better fit.
It feels a little bit like a chameleon scent in that I wore it out on a date to a nice restaurant, but it also felt perfect for brunch out in jeans and a t-shirt. On my skin, I’d rate the longevity as moderate despite scent typically disappearing on my skin quite quickly.
Closing thoughts
I find Allure to be an incredibly classy scent that’s suitable for all occasions and for all ages. It’s much easier to wear than Chanel No. 5, for example. If already love other Chanel scents, this is absolutely worth a try, as it has the classic Chanel DNA.
Some people call the scent dated as it smells so different than many of the new scents being produced today. However, don’t let that put you off, and first try it out for yourself. It’s a classic for a reason, and once you learn to appreciate Allure, you’ll see it’s a charming, inoffensive, and beautiful fragrance.
For this reason, I won’t say it’s a safe blind buy unless you are already a Chanel fan. If you do love this scent, it’s definitely worthy of a full bottle.