Reviews of Gardénia (1925)
by Chanel

I can't believe Luca Turin only rated it 1 star out of 5! So pristine, it has a transparent, water-colour like quality to it, light-hearted, child-like, classy and sooo beautiful all at once. Love it!

I have to be honest. Upon testing Chanel Gardenia, I thought it was very gardenia-like so I was more than surprised to read online after the fact that it doesn't have any gardenia in it, but rather it is meant to be "reminscent of gardenia". So much for my sniffing abilities then! Another confession I have to make is that I wore Jungle Gardenia back in the days of yore (ok- I was 13!) and I have always like the sunny, unabashedly voluptuous smell of gardenia.

Chanel Gardenia is a light, ethereal take on gardenia and is absolutely stunning. It is elegant, very pretty and the drydown is fine for an edt (lasts about 2 hours or so on me). It is not as complex as JAR's blue cheese/gardenia kooky masterpiece "Jardenia" but then again, I think the folks at Chanel's aim was to create a light, wearable sophisticated "gardenia" scent that paid tribute to Coco Chanel's signature flower and produce a commercial hit. In both cases, they have hit succeeded.

Here are the notes, per The Perfumed Court: top notes of absolutes of jasmine, gardenia, orange blossom, and tuberose, middle notes of clove, sage, pimiento, and base notes of musk, patchouli, sandalwood, and vetiver.

This IMHO is the ultimate 'white frgarnce'. I am amazed that the only listed notes are gardenia and vanilla. I don't get any of the vanilla thankfully, as for me vanilla is best left to use in custard!! What I do get is a shower of delicate floral, and feel as if I am walking in a beautiful English garden in spring. It is a pretty squeeky clean smell, and not at all sexy. Ideal for carefree days out in the countryside holding hands, sipping champagne and nibbling strawberries.

this is great. and it's true, it doesn't smell like GARDENIA. Classy.

Chanel Gardenia is exquisite. To me it doesn't smell like a gardenia at all. It smells like green tea, dry vanilla, and jasmine blossoms. My husband loves this one, and so do I. It makes me feel like I'm in a warm Savannah garden.

I have worn this fragrance since it was reintroduced in 2/2000, Saw the ad and ordered it, always two bottles ahead, love it

I have fallen deeply in love with Chanel Gardenia. It's jasmine, grass, green leaves, and a dry vanilla drydown...stunnning! Chanel fragrances always amaze me, and I am particularly drawn to the earlier fragrances. Chanel Gardenia brings to mind 1920s nostalgia and mystery...it smells delicate, yet full-bodied, and it's pretty and sweet, yet confident. It's a scent Jay Gatsby would have purchased for his beloved Daisy (or Scott would have purchased for Zelda!) It doesn't smell like gardenias at all, which is a good thing, because gardenia perfumes and I don't get along well. I truly admire and appreciate its beauty, perfect composition, and timeless appeal! And it makes me feel excited, and happy...it smells like "spring fever."

I fell in love with this instantly. I've read that there's actually not a bit of gardenia in Chanel Gardénia, but that doesn't mean a thing. This is fantastic, a wonderfully balanced fragrance, rich and clear and, like all Chanels, exceedingly elegant. For such an old scent, it's quite modern.