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gran99 – :
I can’t be sure what they were going for, but it probably wasn’t a cigar that has been put out in a bowl of tomato soup next to some flowers.
dadamusic – :
28 La Pausa EDT was PEACE in a bottle. A masterpiece. I dont know about the EDP but I’m not interested in going there Sorry. This was one that needed to stay exactly the same. People say it doesnt last but it lasts for 24 hrs on my skin (I shower every day so I can’t test if it goes longer) but it IS ghostly. I’ll think it’s gone, but then when I’m not looking for it, it will show itself. It is the most beautiful fragrance in my collection. This is going to sound weird.. but if you’ve ever been on a train in europe traveling alone, and thinking about someone you love but that is gone, that is the feeling this one gives. Deep love and loss. Happiness and peace. All of the best things in life. Not to get all emotional/deep here on fragrantica or anything… Top two in my collection. I stocked up before the switch to EDP- It’s one I can’t do without. x
suffering666 – :
Tested from a 2ml sample: this would be entirely full bottle worthy were it not for its hopeless longevity. It last 20 minutes, tops.
The iris top note is quite green and astringent on me, but it settles within minutes to a gorgeous creamy, powdery-sweet orris root. It’s a warm and comfortable note, perfect for mid-winter. Sillage is minimal, its a skin scent but that just adds to the feeling of this being warm, gentle and intimate. It’s a beautiful fragrance, but from start to finish its about 20 minutes, and that’s with 2 squirts per wrist. It’s like a beautiful ghost that just flutters by.
Fageaddigoled – :
28 La Pausa starts of as non-perfume – which might be not that something, from a marketing prospect interesting, attempt of the anti-perfume a la CdG, rather something that is lacking a clear quality or feature on an apparent impression on first encounter and continues to not settle to one thing. 28 La Pausa features a superbly elegant lightweight construction – lightweight as in weightlessness, would there not be the fantastic orrris root dose, the vetiver, and these leathery tunes that shift it from its being without gravitas – it highlights the similar novelty that some of Jacques Polge’s ‘spätwerk’ scent’s show – No.18, 31 Rue Cambon and 28 La Pausa … a celebration of superb perfumery, eery, elegant, sensuous, hard to put in words – no comment here about the infantile and boring disintegrations, the EdP version show … get 28 La Pausa as Eau de Toilette as long as it appears …
stprk1982 – :
Has anybody noticed that from October 2016 on the name has been shortened to La Pausa? Furthermore, the price has increased 25 % and the scent is now alledgedly being produced in an Eau de Parfum strength.
I am flabbergasted. The Exclusifs, apart from Boy Chanel, always came in an Eau de Toilette concentration, which had such a longevity and sillage that you were able to buy a high quality scent at a more or less reasonable price.
Now that the niche perfumes’ prices have exploded, the long time established houses seem to think: why don’t we just join in the same game, people obviously are stupid enough to pay whatever is asked.
This is a catastrophe.
Even if some persons had longevity problems with 28, La Pausa, I was perfectly happy with the Eau de Toilette version and its price.
nikolai290 – :
What a lovely fragrance. Elegant and delicate, stays close to the skin but you will not go unnoticed.
Love it during the summer days, while wearing a white shirt.
valera251 – :
I had a bottle of this and always seemed to choose it when I was attending a dinner and didn’t want to offend anyone. It’s very light, very dry, very ‘proper’. Beautiful, but austere.
RazielWoW – :
Absolutely beautiful. One of the loveliest Iris perfumes I have ever found. This is a treasure-and I have no problem at all with the sillage or longevity . I sprayed twice at 8:00 am and still have delicious waves of fragrance now at 7:00pm. It took me two seconds to buy the large 6.8 oz bottle. What a gorgeous perfume!!
aey067bedyWelty – :
Glossy and extraordinary beautiful and..dreadful by its longevity (20 minutes is about right)
Inky-dusky-dusty-leathery-iris as an image of serious, attentive and elegant personality, I just don’t get this Chanel’s HUGE problem – to make it last, so we able to enjoy it for real , not dragging pieces of the smell from the corners of our bank-memory to remind ourself that we actually ARE wearing 28 La Pausa…
barselona – :
28 La Pausa is a beautiful and ethereal creation … posh, yet earthy at the same time. I have never smelled anything quite so intriguing. Warm Iris and leather with occasional wisps of freshly mown hay… in today’s age, i do not want a silage monster – this is for my pleasure, not for the pleasure of other’s in the same room. And longevity i think, really depends on ones own skin chemistry … this last around 6 hours on my skin.
nazaron95 – :
So, today, I learned that iris fragrance comes from the root of the plant. Facinating. I really don’t care where it comes from, frankly. After running my nose through a field of craziness in an attempt to find some other holy grail, my wandering senses have returned with a sigh of relief. 28 La Pausa is fresh and feminine, like a crytal flower vase near a window sill with the morning sun peeking in. I do feel like I sense a little green & citrus, and maybe something a little soapy, but what do I know, other than that I like it. It’s not too sweet, not too woody, and doesn’t smell like baby powder. It’s a scent that I reach for when I’m feeling soft, and sophisticated (not playful). It lasts the whole day on me, without screaming to everyone around me announcing my presence. I simply love Chanel fragrances, even though I really can’t afford them. I guess you just have to pick and choose where you will allow yourself to be extravagant for the sake of quality.
rafisenok – :
This is beautiful, for the 20 minutes that I can smell it. It hardly has any sillage either. But the scent is a perfectly done, fresh, crisp iris with leather, that even an iris nay-sayer like myself would love! Chanel fragrances are gorgeous but they have been getting weaker and weaker and it’s really a shame 🙁 This one is basically unwearable for me due to how fleeting it is.
bathbodyxx – :
All I can say about this is that I must spray it on my pillow before sleeping. I absolutely love a cloud of “everything’s perfect” as I nuzzle in, and if I happen to awaken, I enjoy the feeling all over again! I agree that it does not last on the skin, and perhaps my use seems foolish, but honestly, a fragrance the gives you a deep, sweet sigh of relief at the end of the day is worth it’s price. If you own it, try it this way. You may also be charmed! Sweet dreams to all the ‘nistas lucky enough to own this wonder!
UPDATE: After my decant was all gone, I did buy the full bottle… And guess what? The longevity is amazing! Sprayed in the morning, I could still smell it when I changed into my nightie! This may be the longest any perfume has lasted on me! I adore it.
Andrei1273 – :
I love how serious this smells. It’s the perfume for a strict piano teacher.
This lasted a long time on my chest and a mere hour or 2 on my wrists (but that is typical). It wasn’t love at first wear but I know I have to revisit it because it is unmistakably regal and sometimes it takes many wears to fully love and understand a great perfume. It struck me as an orris scent as opposed to an imitation of the iris flower and that alone makes me want to buy a full bottle.
wwova – :
(review based on a single test)
I love iris and orris, and the reviews here made me really curious about La Pausa, I was pretty sure it would be the one to add to my collection.
Well, I’m disappointed. All I smell is a citrussy scent which is present at all times and ruins it for me. I’ll need to revisit and see if it changes or grows on me.
snake – :
As a true orris lover who even, on occasion wears pure orris absolute, I had to give this one a try. My first reaction was that it reminded me a bit of Chanel No 19 because it is a soft, sweet, powdery iris. I found it to be a very smooth and gentle perfume and explores a warm, powdery, violet side of orris as opposed to the cold, woody, carrot-like side like in Serge Luten’s Silver Iris Mist and Demeter’s Iris. I love it all and definitely plan to replace the bottle that ran out some time ago.
dyasya_kisa – :
28 La Pausa is an excellent fragrance, however it does not have the power to last for long enough on my skin, unlike some of the other fragrances in the Les Exclusfs line. Projection almost always sits close to my skin.
I hope Chanel reconsider and release 28 La Pausa in a stronger concentration, because then it would be one of my favourites.
Such a lovely scent, however it just doesn’t get noticed or lasts long enough. Pity
CMLiu62 – :
Brilliant. To me its an iris root note that conjures up the smell of minerals and cool earthy soil. But it’s also very wearable and ‘socially acceptable’ because it smells like a luxurious bubble bath, kind of lotion-y,and like expensive make up. I wear this to work and it’s soothing and makes me feel well put together. Oddly, longevity and sillage are pretty good on me, which is not usually the case and contradicts what many other reviewers have found.
You might think it’s not groundbreaking, too polite, too formal/reserved, maybe even so expensive smelling as to seem snobbish. And I can see all this. And yet still, for me, it has a quiet persistence and elegance which, this Summer, is making me turn to it more often than some of the stars in my collection. It makes me think of a solitary fragile iris softly glowing in the darkest depths of a forest.
LEVSHA22 – :
Such a skin scent, so attenuated and sublime to the point of anosmia, anoxia and amnesia… Ghostly fragrance , it appears to me as an extremely depleted version of Sycomore, Chanel. Ephemeral earthiness… Powderness…of pure pheromones, undetectable, I would like to say: ‘effective, seductive, seducing’, but no, not for me, at least, not for my skin chemistry unfortunately..
LA Pausa is pausing and posing…Anything else is resting …
She is so flawless, so angelic-too perfect to be interesting though
Not wishing to press her kindness, I tiptoed out…
Not yet ready to receive the gift …,the gift of Love.?!
Like it somehow
gme385Bessinepome – :
I so love this perfume. It is a delicate iris root, both airy and earthy. The very subtle vetiver drydown works perfectly with the ever-present iris. It is understated to a fault and I want it in a stronger concentration. I put on a good number of sprays on fabric to make it last.
Duke54 – :
I detect a lot of liquorice in the opening that adds depth to the powdery, slightly bitter freshness. Sillage is moderate to soft. It’s nice and clean but too similar to no 19 Poudre to even think about buying a bottle.
dimusik71 – :
There are many people who will love this because it has the watery green melancholy found in Dzongkha, Essences Insensees, and Chanel No. 18. The sillage and longevity are weak (as Chanel says, “delicate”) but as it evolves I much prefer the vetiver and powdery leathery notes of the drydown. Iris is not my “thing” but if it was, I would prefer Bas de Soie or Iris Poudre. Back to this scent: well made, obviously high-class and exceptionally fine ingredients, and a lovely soft ending, but not for me.
vovan7275 – :
I was amazed upon the opening of Chanel 28 La Pausa, by the buttery, doughy yet ethereal iris.
I find that when iris is buttery in texture, I usually have difficulties interpreting it as an iris fragrance, and my attention is usually attracted by other elements with more recognizable smell, which is the case with Iris Nobile and Terre d’Iris to me, although I enjoy them very much. But in 28 La Pausa, there’s no other element stealing the splendor of this buttery iris.
But then, after about 30 minutes, poof, it’s gone.
Actually, I can still smell it, albeit very close to the skin. But the magic is gone. The buttery iris mellows into a smooth, soapy, woody-floral skin scent. It’s still very elegant and chanel-esque, but it feels underwhelming after the marvelous opening.
The sillage is very soft and the longevity is around 6 hours. Despite its ephemeral nature and my personal disappointment towards the drydown, the opening phase of 28 La Pausa is still a quite unique rendition of buttery iris. I think it worths a try.
e703 – :
Even though the sillage is minimal and the longevity is, well, weak, to be honest. Still… I love it.
The iris root is just so stunning and rich in this one. Sharp-carroty-earthy at first, then a comfortable vetiver note creeps in. I spray it on fabric to make it last longer.
As we all know, these “For women” or “For men” indications are meaningless. They can discourage someone from trying a fragrance which would fit them perfectly.
And here, I find it particularly annoying to be warned off by a “For Women” signal. I encourage any guy who is curious to try 28 La Pausa if he gets the chance : it’s 100% unisex.
micnan – :
Wow, what a beautiful fragrance this is!
Delicate & romantic, feminine & dreamy. The texture feels like silk. It’s a perfect bland of floral, woody, green & leather. The base is similar to Chanel Bel Respiro.
I really don’t want to describe this smell, because I feel like butcher trying to do so. This one really needs to be experienced!
kuherenkoigor78 – :
If there was ever a perfume that could smell just like dust, this would be it. I have used orris root powder when making cosmetics. It is grey, and it smells just like the opening notes of 28 La Pausa. At first the smell is oppressive and a bit depressing. I am not one of those people who match mood to perfume, but I felt those things when sniffing this.
In my town we have a Victorian mansion that was turned into a museum, so people can see how a wealthy family lived in those days. This smells like a lace table cloth that covers a table that has not been dusted in 100 years. Kind of sad yet full of memories of the gilded days when there was livelihood in the house. Memories of dinner parties with silver tea pots and children being chased by their nannies. In the heart there is a floral note and a touch of citrus that brings some much-needed cheer. Leather is extremely tame.
I like it. It does contain that remarkable Chanel-aide, an elegance and gracefulness that makes even this melancholy, distant perfume seem remarkable. It is certainly unique, chic, and simply well-done.
wyv571speagoessenda – :
Love at first sniff.
Yes, I’m a lover of iris/orris; I love damp autumn leaves, rainy pavements, ink stained desks and the wonderful sense of nostalgic yet erotic yearning that orris/iris conjures up for me.
This is the perfume of Catherine Deneueve’s rain-soaked trench coat flung carelessly over a chair, before embarking on an illicit affair with an erudite, impossibly handsome author!
I know I go against the grain by finding this a million times more seductive than any gourmand, but then again I’m not interested in blokey men or footballers. I fall in love with erudite, talented, enigmatic (yet handsome!) authors and musicians, so if that sounds like you, wear this when you’re in the mood for love. But not when you feel low, because in a low mood this may make you feel a bit rainy in your soul – maybe not a bad thing when you’re in creative mood mind you
That’s my personal take on 28 La Pausa. A more down to earth decription is – inky, earthy yet light, subtle, skin-scent sillage yet distinct, scenty and redolent of timeless elegance
I dislike most of Polge’s creations such as Allure, Coco M and Chance but this is excellent. A full bottle is absolutely neccessary!
Lymnlavaima – :
Unfortunately, all I get from this is wet paper soaked in stale flower water.
Ha100yashiy – :
This review is based on a decant. It reminds me of Infusion d`Homme/Infusion d’Iris by Prada a bit. It has below average projection and moderate longevity on my skin.
valentin944 – :
28 has a delicate green, yet powdery openng. I was taken aback by that contradictory opening and didn’t believe it, almost.
The powder then faded away and left behind a fresh, green & light floral scent. This is the phase I am in right now. The sillage is very close to skin with one spritz.
Will update again once I have arrived at the drydown.
Edit: again, what an unexpected journey. The drydown has revealed a quiet, citrusy note. No sourness…more an allusion to citrus.
There is still a very light hint of floral, so together, it is very clean, refreshing, innocent.
28 is likeable, perfect, even for spring and early summer mornings before stifling heat sets in for the day.
olegxfile1 – :
28 La Pausa is a thing of utter beauty on the right skin chemistry. The opening of this is breathtaking: a gorgeous gray-toned chalky powdered iris note hangs in the air enticing you to sniff and sniff again as you evaluate its pleasing texture and softness. This hangs around for about 30 minutes before the perfume evolves into what on my skin chemistry is a semi disturbing rooty orris and vetiver drydown. It is not cold so much as acidic and slightly indolic. I can see how some reviewers likened this to a green tea note, but on my skin it is much more metallic-green-citric and lacks the roundness and duskiness that tea usually imparts to a scent. Perhaps this is my perception of what has been labeled a leather note in the pyramid above. Whatever it is, it was hard for me to appreciate this scent once this becomes the prevalent note and the powder disappeared.
Given the divergent reviews, I am convinced that one’s opinion and perception of 28 La Pausa is highly dependent on whether or not their skin chemistry projects this final note. For me the dry down is hard to like, but the opening is sheer heaven! Definitely try it on your skin and DON’T blind buy.
hlp236InsuffBooni – :
La Pausa is perfect. It is the exact evocation of the spirit of the materials it is made from. Orris is at once earthy, woody, boozy, hay-like, powdery, rooty, carroty, fresh, vegetal and dry.
La Pausa captures all of these elements and does so with charm, restraint and elegance. Its longevity isn’t great, and its sillage is moderate at best. But La Pausa isn’t about wafting a huge cloud of stench around and making vulgar display for hours on end. It’s about a personal and entirely introspective enjoyment of one of nature’s most subtly gorgeous scents.
There are four great perfumery Irises which all Iris fans should know well, if not own. Iris Poudre is one (Rich heady, chock full of natural orris), Iris Silver Mist (the ultimate expression of synthetic Iris dryness and melancholy), Après L’Ondee (the vintage version is a masterpiece for all time), and this La Pausa which showcases the true spirit of Chanel which contrary to popular belief isn’t Aldehydes but Iris. If you want to know what real orris smells like this one is a must sniff, if you love perfumery “Irises” then you should love this.
10/10.
be-ar89 – :
I sampled Chanel No. 28 as I am searching for an iris perfume that will remind me of the sweet ripe scent of living iris flowers as they bloom in the midsummer sun. No. 28 is an entirely different and much less satisfying experience. For me, it begins with a sharp, dry, and almost medicinal note. There is no sweetness or lushness, just a very dry and powdery smell. Perhaps it is this note that suggests vetiver to some reviewers, but I usually like the sharp deep woodiness of vetiver, while No. 28 just feels thin and dusty and dry. After no more than ten minutes, there is only a faint trace of scent left. In a hour, I have just the slightest hint of soap left on me, and I am ready to apply something more long lasting and interesting. No. 28 seems like a somewhat pleasant toilet water rather than a luxury perfume to me.
lusse – :
I quite enjoy this one. Yes its light and you need a few sprays but it’s such a realistic fresh rooty iris scent. I love it. Its well done without interference of too many other notes. If you like the smell of iris you will enjoy this one. La pausa unfolds like a blooming iris and dries down to a warm skin scent , like the smell of a lipstick.
Floral, metallic and slightly woody.
And needless to say the bottle is out of this world. All the exclusifs are stunning in their minimalist bottles with the magnetic top.
Thanks mister_chaz for the sample , I now have my bottle !
Sadly enough this one will be off the shelf by the end of the year. It was replaced by the new 1932 ,which I haven’t tried yet.
peter0001 – :
I have a 200ml Brand New in Box Bottle of this to sell if anyone is interested. Please pm me. U.S.A. Only…Sorry…Thanks!
iners – :
First i must say i love Chanel fragrances and they love me back but this one is NOT worth the money.it’s a week generic cologne and i bet if no one knew it’s a CHANEL and based on smell alone the ratings were much lower.
Shik^me – :
La Pausa 28 is just the perfect iris scent for hot summer when the little citrus opening adds a refreshing note to the delicate iris. There is no earthy heaviness or root smell as in SL iris silver mist better suited for late fall. The sillage increases with the temperature and longitivity if sprayed on cloth. It falls however in the “skin” scents and has a very soft and velvet feeling. I enjoy a small sample during hot days at work when I love the clean and refreshing impression.
Zakharovaalbina – :
23)I’m crazy iris and it is a marvel, a female version of Iris Silver Mist warmed by some vetiver and a background copied on Guerlain.
Je suis fou d’iris et celui-ci est une merveille, une version féminine d’Iris Silver Mist réchauffée par du vétiver et une fond copié sur les Guerlain.
dafte – :
Good Lord this is beautiful. No, it won’t rock your proverbial socks off (I tested this one alongside Sycomore which definitely WILL rock your socks off if you love woods, but the tenacity of which was too much for this floral loving girl). The iris in this is soft, delicate and yet still manages to be feminine. I have never been a big fan of iris save for No. 19, and this one has turned me around a bit. I plan to add this one to my collection very soon – among all of my Guerlain classics and deep, sweet florals, its presence will be a bit like Audrey Tautou in Coco Avant Chanel, wearing her tuxedo at Royallieu among all the other women in corsets and flowers. This has that smell of ‘high-class boutique’ or a silent woman wearing cashmere – soft and not obtrusive at all, slightly off-putting unless you approach the correct way.
кот22 – :
I found the opening VERY earthy, somewhat mineral-laden, with an overtone of rain on hot cement. After it warms up it is too soft and not noticeable. I am disappointed as I am a wild fan of Une Fleur, Gardenia, and Sycomore. That said, I do not unduly worship at the altar of Chanel, and offer an honest if somewhat undiplomatic review here. I put this through my “enjoyment per ounce to dollars spent” cost benefit analysis, and this one came out lacking. I will not be purchasing this one. Thank goodness for the small sample.
ipaq2110 – :
I smell it exactly as Doc Elly smells it – citrusy green tea and minimal iris.
There are far better iris fragrances around….
trairmFremn – :
I agree with Alfaron- well said, my friend. This is such a beautiful heavenly scent from first spray to drydown. It did not scream iris or funky orris root to me at any time, but I do smell the iris more in the drydown. Yes, the EDT does not have a lot of staying power, but on my skin neither does Cuir de Russie EDT. I will just spray on more of this initially and re-apply. Who wouldn’t love a pick-me-up of this glorious juice in the middle of the day?
What I love most is how the vetiver perfectly and subtly balances the florals but does not dominate the iris and rose. It is soft and just gorgeous. I like vetiver but I am so tired of the current taste in ‘slap you in the face, knock you down’ vetivers that tend to completly dominate a fragrance and then go on to conquer whole buildings. 28 La Pausa is vetiver and iris done right.
As an iris lover, and owner of about 8 bottles of niche iris dominant scents, this lovely fragrance is near the top of my list of iris loves. So many people ruin iris. This is iris and vetiver both done exactly right. Thank you, Chanel and Jacques Polge.
boss2011 – :
Evasive woody iris with some powder. Another of the les Exlusifs that does not have the staying power/projection to go with the price tag (talking about EdT). It is pretty while it lasts so I gave it to my mum who will probably wear it happily. I will get my iris fixes from Prada, Serge Lutens and Acqua di Parma instead.
markcello – :
I found a big resemblance with kelly caleche hermes ,but pause is without citrus note and very weak perfume.
i like pause cos it’s so fragile and tendre perfume with iris and rose,my favourite flowers.
BAIUR.73 – :
actually I find it very irisy- especially in the topnotes: it even has something that appears as strong as in “iris silver mist”- the same cool & metallic notes of iris – and not the iris/violet-vibe of, let’s say, Après L’Ondée. It’s a very natural iris and gets smoother and smoother after a while.
also the combination of iris and vetiver I find unusual…and very beautiful…I can smell it for about 10 hours on myself (the vetiver stays), but I’m afraid, that sillage is so poor, that nobody else can smell it…not even sure if it is recognizable when 20 sprizzes applied just before…but nontheless I prefer it to L’artisan parfumeurs “iris pallida” because I like the rooty-earthy-airy aspect of this more than the fruity-musky one.
all-time and every-occasion-favourite, even if it’s only me, thinking that I smell heavenly…BIG LOVE <3
(still hoping that it subconsciously transports its enigmatic beauty;-)
tocgrad – :
Not a terribly interesting one – an earthy (literally, a soil note going on here) iris on top of very mundane vetiver accord, which tends to steal the stage. It’s not just the drydown, vetiver domination from the very beginning. Agree about the tanninic tea note, definitely can get it and it does not work for the favor of the composition.
It’s not completely bad, but lacks refinement and feels slightly unbalanced. The gentle iris is almost completely wasted in this, just can’t understand the praise of it as an iris scent. And for vetivers – there are so much more interesting ones to choose from. I don’t really think that it is worthy of the hefty price tag.
I find the vetiver notes rather lasting on this, but the vetivery drydown is so mind-numbingly boring that I don’t really care.
yura50000 – :
When I first smell this EdT in the sample vial or newly applied, there’s a strong prickly green tea note that remains the main feature of the sillage even after it’s well into its main act, masking everything else.
Smelling it naively, I concluded that La Pausa was a fuzzy green tea with citrus scent, but after reading some reviews I see that it’s supposed to be iris. OK, I’ll play along. Maybe there’s a little iris close to my skin if I go earnestly looking for it, along with some vetiver, but it’s not the dominant note by any means. This makes me wonder if a lot of people are anosmic to the prickly green tea note that I find so prominent in this and many other commercial scents. That would explain why a surprising number of reviewers complain about La Pausa being weak. It would also explain why so many people love fragrances that I feel are ruined by way too much of this note, La Pausa being one of them.
I’m sure the green tea note was added to increase the sillage, which is minimal for real orris, but the element that was supposed to enhance turns out to be a hijacker that takes the poor little natural plants to a big, plastic shopping mall display. On me, sillage is considerable and the scent lasts at least 6-8 hours without ever revealing the iris that is supposed to be its theme. It’s not bad in tis own way, but it’s not the type of perfume that I wear.
vano777_88 – :
Anyone into iris-based compositions should, sooner or later, stop here as 28 La Pause seats just next to Roucel’s Iris Silver Mist. A woody-rooty concoction based on the complex smell of iris-roots and laying on a woody/vetiver drydown. Subtle yet magnificent, slightly powdery, mannered. Simply Terrific.
Rating: 9/10
nic110555 – :
Absolutely a member of the Chanel tradition, but much more easygoing than most of the other scents from Chanel. The iris is very clean and fresh at first, then softens down to a nice powdery note. I am a vetiver junkie, and this scent does not disappoint. 28 La Pausa goes green fairly quickly on the dry down, but never totally loses its floral aspect.
Overall, it reminds me of my grandparents sprawling 19th century ranch house: the breeze bending hay over the flint hills, a mahogany window seat, sprawling under a shade tree, and a century of Dutch Irises carpeting the lawn.
This perfume has a gentle silage, which is a major plus for me. I am not the kind of woman who likes a perfume to walk into a room before I do. Though this scent tends to staty close to the body, it can be easily amped up by applying a bit more. It should be noted, 28 La Pausa also does not have much longevity.
In total: gentle, classic, welcoming.
Polejaite – :
Unfortunately, to me vetiver stays up front and center on this one. It annouces itself immediately and would not mellow. I could not get past it to try and enjoy other aspects of it.
lev332 – :
One of best Iris scents…Super velvet and soft floral.
Fantastic for spring/summer use.
ali-khan85 – :
Gosh… it smell very original, never smell any perfume like this before. But it remind me of something else, smell of some things…I cant remember but I kinda like it. The smell stay close to skin, but detectable. A bit fresh and green. Weird…
superstarik – :
I’ve recently been fascinated by iris scents; most notably Iris Nobile by Acqua di Parma and Iris 39 by Le Labo. My mother had received a bunch of flowers after a performance (she’s an actress), and for days the room in which she’d placed the beautifully arranged iris and lily bouquet, smelt divine.
Chanel’s 28 La Pausa is close to that scent, but not close enough.
28 La Pausa opens rather fresh. The prominent iris note is green and natural. I do believe that the iris note in this fragrance is the actual essential oil, rather than a synthetic take on iris.
Citrus notes compliment the iris towards the heart, however when settled, 28 La Pausa transforms into a smooth, soapy scent. The soapiness, although feminine and pretty, resembles other iris-based scents on the market, most notably, Acqua di Parma’s Iris Nobile EDT.
The woodsy drydown only furthers my comparison to the above fragrance. I do believe vetiver may be a missing note in 28 La Pausa. It has this wonderful bitter and earthy quality that really compliments the iris.
There is a great sense of simplistic subtlety to be found in this scent. It doesn’t scream, “look at me!” or anything overtly sexy, however it succeeds in being soft and inoffensive. The scent lasted well on my skin, so I won’t agree with the other reviewers who experienced poor lasting strength. The scent is delightfully refreshing and clean smelling. I’d most likely wear 28 La Pausa during Spring, when the weather is particularly beautiful and the world is lively.
SPIRT 36 RUS – :
This fragrance has been heavily reviewed on the top blog sites, which I read while wearing it myself.
They all state that this is a good, not ground-breaking, Iris fragrance in the middle of the Les Exclusifs Pack. Another theme I agree with is longevity; yep, you’ll need a heavy, frequently recurring hand with this one.
Recently I bought myself a bouquet of iris, which is one of my favorite flowers. La Pausa is very true to the natural scent. The question is, do you mind smelling like your iris bouquet, or do you want a bit more excitement?
Because I love this scent I don’t mind the linearity. I know the marketing blab states it is ‘full of contrasts’,