These Lesser-Known Chanel Fragrances Are Fashion-Girl Favourites

Ask anyone who knows me, and they'll confirm that I very much plan my life around scent. And no, I’m not just talking about a penchant for lighting candles. I surround myself with great fragrances. I like all of my skincare to be scented (to the horror of other beauty editors), I have fresh flowers stationed on my desk at all times, I buy special fabric softener in a bid to amplify my daily scent, and I rely on perfumes throughout the day to keep me going. It sounds dramatic, I know, but scent and fragrance are without a doubt one of the most important things for my general well-being.

It goes without saying, therefore, that perfume is one of my favourite things in life. I own an obscene number of fragrances, each one evoking a different emotion and feeling. I reach for fragrance in the same way that I imagine other people select their outfits in the morning and ask myself similar questions: What is the weather like? How am I feeling? What is important to me today? While some might tell me my perfume collection is excessive, to me, it's almost essential. Having said that, a couple of months back, I decided it was time to give my perfume wardrobe a clear-out and part ways with the fragrances that were either gone or no longer serving me. I found the process cathartic and surprisingly easy except when it came to one particular category: Chanel. 

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(Image credit: @_JESSICASKYE)

As a beauty editor who specialises in things that smell great, I can say with confidence that Chanel fragrances are without a doubt the most special, beautiful, and unique around. Chanel perfumes are, to put it plainly, works of art. And it's likely we all have a memory of one of Chanel's classic scents—perhaps Coco Mademoiselle was the scent that defined your early 20s, maybe Chance was your go-to holiday perfume, or it could even be that one whiff of No5 takes you straight back to your childhood. There's no arguing Chanel fragrances are iconic.

If you're the sort of person who likes your perfumes to smell unique, you'd be forgiven for thinking Chanel was not the fragrance brand for you. After all, Chanel perfumes are amongst the best-selling across the globe. But what if I told you there's a whole bunch of Chanel fragrances that probably are for you, and you've likely seen them all over Instagram?

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(Image credit: @THEINDIAEDIT)

If there's one thing you should know about beauty and fashion insiders, it's that they don't like smelling like everyone else. It's a silly thing to have to admit, but when you work in the industry, you become precious and possessive over your fragrance choice—you want to feel as though it was created especially for you. It's of no surprise, therefore, that Chanel's lesser-known fragrance collections are fashion-girl favourites. In fact, I can barely scroll through my Instagram feed without seeing a chic bottle of Chanel on someone's shelf.

The fashion set's go-to, it seems, is Les Eaux de Chanel—a collection of six fragrances inspired by destinations beloved by Gabrielle Chanel herself. They're seasonal, fresh, and almost impossibly easy to wear. Besides that, though, they possess that certain je ne sais quoi that all Chanel fragrances possess. They have a richness to them that you won't find elsewhere, are long-lasting, have people asking after your perfume all day long and, importantly, look great on the shelf.

They're like escapism in a bottle, and I challenge you to pick up any Les Eaux de Chanel bottle and not fall head over heels straight away. Oh, and unlike Chanel's other more niche fragrance lines, they're eau de toilettes, meaning that if you don't like the typical headiness of perfumes, you'll be pleased. They make for the perfect lightweight spritz (just with the iconic longevity of Chanel). 

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(Image credit: @THEINDIAEDIT)

If you do want something a little stronger and more powerful, though, the Les Exclusifs de Chanel fragrance collection proves another hit amongst the fashion-and-beauty pack. More intense fragrances that are blended with true craftsmanship, the price point on Les Excluxifs scents is noticeably higher, which naturally means you don't come across them quite so often on strangers on the street or at dinner parties. If you make a Les Eaux de Chanel or Les Exclusifs de Chanel perfume your signature scent, I feel safe in saying you're very unlikely to run into anyone else wearing the same fragrance as you. And in my opinion, that's what sets a nice fragrance apart from a great fragrance.

Shop Les Eaux de Chanel Fragrances

 Shop Les Exclusifs de Chanel Fragrances

Next up, everyone deserves at least one Chanel fragrance—these are the five best.

Freelance Beauty Editor

Shannon Lawlor is a renowned beauty journalist and has contributed to Who What Wear’s beauty content since 2020. As a leading beauty editor, expert and brand consultant, she has over eight years of experience working for some of the industry’s most esteemed titles, including Who What Wear (of course), Glamour UK, Stylist, Refinery29 and Fabulous.

Having also worked behind the scenes with some of the industry’s biggest brands and retailers, Shannon has a unique insight into what people really want from their beauty routines. Understanding that beauty lovers seek honest, open and responsible advice, she has it made her mission to demystify the intimidating world of beauty, taking a no-frills approach to the most relatable topics.

While Shannon is the first to admit she doesn’t hold the answer to every beauty question out there, she is dedicated to sharing her expert insights in a bid to help. As a self-proclaimed lazy girl, Shannon has an affinity for easy-to-use, foolproof beauty products and has made it her mission to scope out the best of the best.

When she’s not working, Shannon is likely soaking in the bath or giving no-holds-barred beauty reviews on Instagram from her bathroom floor.