IMAGE: CHANEL

It would have been so easy to assume that the Les Eaux de Chanel Paris-Riviera was part of the existing line-up, since the bottle and packaging look exactly the same, but it is not. It is a new addition, and with this also makes it the fourth fragrance to join the three that were launched in 2018.

Named after destinations that are close to water and all locales that Coco Chanel has had a close affinity with, the word ‘eaux’ literally translates to ‘water’ in French. There was Paris-Biarritz, Paris-Deauville and Paris-Venise, scents created by Olivier Polge who drew inspiration from these locales and their special connection to Coco.

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This year, Paris-Riviera joins the family, a heady mix of floral and citrus scents that recreate the Mediterranean coastline’s southeast corner of France (or Côte d’Azur) in the 1920s. A strong whiff of orange peel and petit grain hits you after your first spray, before the middle notes of jasmine and neroli take over, the latter being derived from orange blossoms found in the South of France. The petals are picked from a private garden of bitter orange groves, before being brought to a cooperative in Vallauris to be processed on site, forming a fresh and powerful neroli extract that’s paired with jasmine for a unique blend of floral and citrus notes. Over time, the benzoin balm and sandalwood surface, easing down the scent for an all-round delicate yet refreshing scent that stays on from day to night.

If you previously missed out on getting the Paris-Riveria scent when it was pre-launched at Coco Flash Club, the good news is that it is now available at Chanel’s Fragrance & Beauty boutiques. The bad news? This is a limited-edition fragrance that will only be available for a year, so it’s best you get one (or two) before it disappears and not makes a return to the Les Eaux de Chanel range. Priced at SGD215, Paris-Riveria comes in a single 125 ml bottle, the warm and soothing scent the perfect addition to any fragrance lover’s collection.

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