Gardénia by Chanel is a Floral fragrance for women originally launched in 1925. The nose behind this fragrance is the great perfumer Ernest Beaux. Gardenia was relaunched in the 1980s, with the reformulation being very similar to the original. Although it’s said that when it came out in the 1980s, those that knew it from earlier decades claimed that it was nothing like the original.
Gardénia is part of Chanel’s collection: Les Exclusifs de Chanel. This Floral fragrance has the following keynotes: Orange blossom, Jasmine, Tuberose, Coconut, Vanilla, and Musk.
A note from Chanel:
The inspiration for the scent: The white camellia, a flower whose perfect shape makes one forget its lack of fragrance. It was the emblem of Coco Chanel, appearing here and there in her creations; on the brim of a hat, a buttonhole or a piece of jewellery. In 1925, she created a fragrance in its image and called it Gardénia. Gardénia is a fresh and sensual nectar with accents of jasmine and orange blossom. A floral and luxuriant trail.
| Perfume Name | Gardénia |
| Brand | Chanel |
| Year Released | 1925 |
| Concentration | Eau de Toilette |
| Scent Family | Floral |
| Gender | women |
I was recently visiting a friend for a few days, and she owns a bottle of Gardénia. She knows how much I love perfume, so she had me try it a few times.
What does Gardénia by Chanel smell like?
Gardénia smells fresh and floral. The floral notes are complimented by green notes and orange blossom.
I’d describe the scent as dainty and pretty. It makes you think of an elegant woman wearing a crisp white blouse and a string of pearls. Gardénia is aromatic, green, and at the same time, a classic white floral.
It has a lot in common with fragrances like Jungle Gardenia by Tuvache. However, I think this is much better and less aromatic than Jungle Gardenia and certainly more youthful and more of a gourmand-gardenia.
| Top Notes | Orange Blossom and Green Notes |
| Middle Notes | Gardenia, Tuberose, Jasmine and Fruity Notes |
| Base Notes | Coconut, Vanilla, Musk, Sandalwood, Vetiver and Patchouli |
My Experience
I first picked up the white floral accord that forms the basis of this fragrance from the initial spray. The orange blossom and jasmine were most noticeable during the early stages. I really liked the green notes that started coming through. It gave the scent a little bit of overall freshness.
After some time, I could pick up more of the tuberose. This note gives the scent a bit more of a lush and powdery edge. I liked the opening, but it didn’t blow me away. I think I find the dry-down a bit more interesting. Although it should be noted that it’s not a very complex scent, at least in my opinion.
As the scent dried down, the white florals turned more powdery and even a little soapy. The coconut and vanilla notes gave it a smooth and creamy sweetness. This I liked a lot because coconut is usually much more prominent in scents, and here really only complimented the florals.
As the scent faded, it became a bit more woody and musky, drying down to a musky-floral scent on my skin. The sillage, projection, and longevity were all moderate on my skin.
Sillage & Projection
The sillage was moderate on my skin, so someone could smell it within arm’s length. It definitely didn’t fill the room when I wore it. It’s a more intimate scent. I found the projection to be moderate as well– close to the body.
Longevity & Versatility
It’s the absolute perfect scent to wear during the day in the spring and summer months. It’s a bit too light for colder weather. It could be a nice bridal scent for someone getting married in the spring or summer. It’s the type of nice, crisp scent you can wear to the office, brunch, or networking events.
It’s not sexy or sultry, so I’d opt for something else in the evening. The longevity was rather disappointing, especially for a scent at this price point. It only lasted about 3 hours.
Closing thoughts
It’s a nice scent to try, but I don’t know if I would go out of my way to get my hands on a sample. I feel a lot of this scent’s allure is that it was created by such a great perfumer and that it’s Chanel. But if you like floral fragrances and especially white florals, this is what you want.
So this would make a great gift for someone as it’s something that’s easy to like as it’s light, inoffensive, and smells like flowers. And it’s Chanel, of course. I doubt I would ever buy it for myself as it is pretty expensive, and the longevity is pretty disappointing. That doesn’t really make it worth the money for me.