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Glasiabol – :
Taking advice from Sebastian. ( smelling great) I got a 5 Ml sample. I thought I pull this off since it is supposedly unisex. Nope . Hated it. Sweet. Powder powder powder. Not for me . It went to powder very quickly . Good luck
Maike33 – :
I finally got my hands on a sample of this. After all of the captivating reviews that I have seen, I just had to get a good sniff. Patchouli is one of my favorite fragrance notes;but sadly, my nose doesn’t agree with sophisticated
noses.
The test spray that I did on paper never gets past the intense citrus(I don’t normally love citrus to linger).A day later and it’s very alive,and herbal, and green, and bright smelling.Very much the opposite of how it transforms on my skin.
Once the initial citrus blast has faded (just a matter of a minute or 2 on my skin), I am then whisked away to a head shop full of dry wooden carved boxes,incense, and lots of patchouli oil. It smells musty, and dusty. This is a fun, teenage, boardwalk memory;but, I wouldn’t wanna smell it on me.
Soys – :
I finally realized what Coco Mademoiselle Intense reminded me of. The dry down gave me Coromandel vibes. This is a masterpiece on its own, don’t get me wrong.
olobumer – :
It smells like a female version of LIDGE , I love it.
Cka3ka – :
Magnificent, creates an aura of sheer beauty, words don’t suffice
yelka61 – :
I am not a Chanel fan, I always thought they were overpriced and overhyped. This one has me eating crow. It is a beautiful well blended earthy powdery patchouli with a gourmand nuance. The silage is wonderful, it wraps you in a soft comforting cloud. If you love patchouli, you will love this perfume.
BIZON5799 – :
It’s perfectly pleasant
In fact it’s the only chanel I like….but…its only ok.
It doesn’t blow me away.
I wouldn’t get an FB of this.
Doesn’t last long on my skin either….
metallist96 – :
CHINESE LACQUERED SCREENS – that’s it!
I could never put my finger on this scent – is it too sharp, does it lack sweetness or what.. But the idea of Chinese screens just hit the nail on the head: this scent is woodsy, aromatic, balsamic with a touch of sweetness which I imagine would be dry powder and perfume particles that have settled on an old lacquered screen throughout the years sitting in a 1920’s actress’s dressing room near her vanity.
As for the modern era, it’s a winter scent, when the weather outside is wet, cold and miserable and you’re on your day off with cozy socks going through old photos and drinking coffee on your bed. Not one of my favourite scents at the moment, but it’s an undeniably great work from Chanel.
Longevity: 10/10
Sillage: 9/10
BrutalheatH – :
Oh look it’s Chanel! It’s got white chocolate! *goes to votes and marks it as very prominent*
The amount of times I’ve heard people mention white chocolate in this makes me want to overdose on milky bars because at least when I die I know that I would have truely enjoyed the smell and taste of white chocolate unlike this wet socks smell of a fragrance. A fantasy note if there ever was one for the people that live over at Disney Land.
Larisadem – :
Coromandel is one that almost wears ME! After a bergamot-heavy opening, it’s heavy in green, pine-like frankincense and butterscotch on me, with a little patchouli thrown in. The patchouli is neither clean nor dirty, but very oily. I love the woodsy undertone that gives Coromandel a vintage vibe. I don’t know if the sample I drained was the EDT or EDP, but it was more woodsy than the EDT I ended up buying by accident. A happy accident at that! The seller had mistakenly described it as an EDP. This one is an untamed perfume fit for a confident man or a daring woman. A masterpiece, worth every penny for the dedicated perfumista/fumehead who falls under her charms.
I have trouble detecting it once sprayed, but others have commented on it, so it definitely goes strong. One spray, two max is good. It lasts into the next day. Oh and, not a safe fragrance by any means, so wear with discretion.
Xeroxdhdom – :
The hype is worthy, but I wouldn’t break the bank chasing the eau de toilette. A lovely patchouli dominated scent that doesn’t disappoint.
meergolve – :
This is a question for those who have tried both the EDT and EDP rather than a true review:
I have a mini of the EDT version and I love how it smells in the bottle and on paper, I still like it on me but my skin makes it a little funky. It gets really warm (I don’t like overly warm-makes it smell very oriental and the gourmand white chocolate becomes harder to notice) but at the same time the patchouli gets damp, almost a little mildewy? Before my skin does a number on it, it smells cool and crisp with a delicious white chocolate note. The drydown is much better but I would love if the top notes worked on me too. Might I have better luck with the new EDP?
Also, since I have the dab bottle I can’t put it on my clothes, so take in to consideration that if I got a bottle/decant of the EDP, I could just spray it on my clothes.
Gosha_61 – :
Patchouli oriental. After a tart citrus burst settles into a polished, well-tailored, almost gourmand balsamic floral. This is one of those smooth, melded fragrances where it’s difficult to pick out individual notes, but the overall effect is one of a very up to date refinement. Patchouli forms the heart of the structure, along with the benzoin and the rest of the base. However, the frankincense and incense give it a church-like high note that keeps it from sinking too deep. Appealing to mainstream tastes while offering a complexity and deftness that satisfies aficionados. Warmly elegant.
selivanoff – :
Let me start off by saying this: I do not like patchouli. Neither do I like people wearing patchouli. So with that out of the way I shall review COROMANDEL!
This thing has a multiple personality disorder, which suits me well as long as they all match up with my own 10 personalities…
From first whiff to 5 hours later on skin I have smelled the following:
Chocolate
Vanilla
Dirt-like wet soil kinda dirt
Leather
And something VERY faint “flowery”-something…
Soap
These are the 6 stages it’s gone through on my skin today and I have been very active and my body temp has been warm. Climate is freezing cold with horizontal snow.
3 hrs in I was THIS close at developing a headache from it but I think Coromandel sensed it and switched personality on me. Bastard! It can read my mind…I can’t afford it right now….I’ll wait for something pungent and disgusting to show itself and that’ll be my perfect escape to go back to my beloved Une Rose…
Serious sidenote: I don’t really know ANYTHING fancy about perfumes! I don’t know the fine jargong that is used but I do know a great perfume when I smell it-whether I can handle it or not-and this is a GREAT perfume! With a light hand ( I don’t see anyone needing more than 2 LIGHT spritz of this to last 12+hrs) 75 ml ought to last a long while making this perfume worth every penny!
Also, for some reason I sense this beast behaving better in a warmer climate than what Sweden currently has to offer. I think Coromandel becomes…..a hormonal teenager when Celsius hits below -5 but will calm down when it’s warmer outside!
Edit: 8 hrs later and 2 showers, yes TWO-it’s freezing cold here, and the Bastard won’t budge..will update!
Energeezo – :
Creamy – resinous – woody
Color impression: gold crimson
It’s dreamy like interior of an old big house with Persian red carpets and naturally age-darkened wooden furniture, where a large pendulum clock is the only who speaks… Tick Tack…
Coromandel is rich in sensations, tangy in ambery and fruity attributes, creamy and sweet, un-earthy patchouli and resinous woody like scent track of a potpourri on heavy velvet curtains.
★★★★
murathapov – :
The most sexiest patchouli i ever smelled. Definitely unisex.
ul7pai – :
I’m obsessed. I want.. I neeeed! I’m a man and this is the best Chanel I have ever smelled.
10/10!
bams23 – :
This is the fragrance that made me forgive patchouli’s presence in the world. It think it was Angel’s fault for making me dislike it in the first place, but Coromandel certainly made me rethink. It’s like catnip! All day I’m snuffling at my wrist, trying to get my fix.
I first tried the EDP, I believe that’s all Chanel is making now. It’s really luscious, smooth and rich. Kind of buttery, with the patchouli giving it a bit of texture. Lasts for hours.
Today I’m wearing my decant of the EDT. The notes seem pretty identical to the EDP to me. It’s a little more sheer. I’d probably want to reapply the EDT once during the day, where I think the EDP would go all day. But since the EDP is so very lush, I think it can afford to go more sheer in the EDT without missing out on too much.
Update: Actually the more I use the EDT, the more I yearn for that rich hit of the EDP. The EDT never quite gets there.
mixfog – :
I’m not a Chanel fan : most of their fragrances don’t like me at all and they start a loud, obnoxious, chemical-smelling symphony on my skin:)) I dislike the Chanel signature, easily recognizable in most of their fragrances and I m not a fan of their bottles either (yeah, as stupid as it sounds- I enjoy a perfume more if It comes in an equally nice bottle). The only Chanel that I really like is Chance eau fraiche and I tolerate Chanel N5 L eau and Jersey. Well, at least until a couple of weeks ago when I was gifted a bottle of Coromandel.I didn’t have high hopes for it and when I first sprayed it on me I got downright disappointed. Where’s the chocolate, where’s the sweetness and why do they compare it to my beloved Angel when they have nothing in common? Then I tried it again on the second day. Slowly, but surely I stares liking it more and more to the point of becoming obsessed with it. It’s so warm, and complex, never the same, never boring, unconventional. Woody -yes, add some sugar free chocolate and warm, earthy patchouli to the mix and here you go- you have Coromandel. There’s also the Chanel base in it, but I really enjoy it in this combination. Amazing perfume. Worthy of all the positive reviews and that long “love” bar. I think I found a new favorite!
jux793speagoessenda – :
So, I finally got hold of the edt, a miniature. This is one of those I was expecting to be a positive symphony of deliciousness, the mother of all that is olafactory amazingness. And I’m underwhelmed yet again. I mean, it’s nice, it’s sophisticated, quite strong for an edt, and a well blended smooth whole, no notes leap out at me, which I always prefer. But for me it’s predominantly woodsy patch, not sweet enough and the purported white chocolate is not there to any discernible degree. It has that distinctive Chanel vibe but it’s not special enough for me (burn the heretic!) and I think I can safely remove this from my want list and let the rest of you fight over the remaining stock. There is a hint of actual lacquered wooden boxes though.. is that just me being suggestible or is it there deliberately? Still not good enough for me though, hahaha Coromandel is not good enough.. prefer Britney’s white choc notes.. (sounds of pyre starting to crackle..)
Addendum: Finding the dry down very lemony, very similar to the beginning of Shalimar. Which is putting me off even more, soz.
dimas76 – :
Chanel Coromandel EDT…wow!! I just received a 6.8oz discontinued beauty, and immediately thought of LIDGE when I sprayed it. This has the same Guerlain feel to it as the Vintage LIDGE; coco, patchouli bomb. However, I do feel like this takes a bit of a powdery turn, where LIDGE stays dirty and earthy…both have extreme longevity, both are genious. I have yet to smell the EDP version, but from what I can tell, the discontinued EDTs are masterpieces!
10/10 (fall/winter)
kevin.xxx – :
Been wearing this EDT for a couple of years, on and off, evening time only.
this bomb is something I haven’t found easy to review, for some reason. now that i have sat down to do so, I can’t think why.
Coromandel is a rich blend of oriental Chanel.
This is an amber fragrance to my nose, with patchouli, a facet of which smells like chocolate powder, in this case, white chocolate.
A leathery smoke unfurls in the opening, with plenty of frankincense throughout.
this is rich. sharp. bitter sweet. complex. amber spiced. and lasts about a day.
it is more powdery than creamy. and projects. really projects.
Coromandel is very wearable.
definitely unisex.
intense and rich.
one squirt will do.
not a gourmand.
and yes, in the vein of Coco (they do not smell alike), a voluptuous Chanel.
Since discovering the EDT’s one by one, I reach for a Chanel Exclusif virtually every day. The more I get to know them, the more I love to wear them.
This has nothing to do with the name, the bottle/packaging (although I do enjoy their clean simplicity), the marketing never reached me – I am a small-town bumpkin in deepest darkest Cumbria, who has no desire to buy Vogue, visit harvey Nics, follow fashion, read Sunday supplements, or watch TV.
Les Exclusifs line have me in their spell, through their smell alone (and through your fantastic reviews on Fragrantica) and much as I love it, Coromandel is not my favourite.
lvan – :
I cannot believe I haven’t reviewed Coromandel! Bad perfumista, bad!
The EDT (discontinued) version of Coromandel is my signature. I cannot speak to the new version as I still have a full bottle of the old and no need to replace her anytime soon (I bought a bottle when it was discontinued so it’s the most recent formulation of the EDT).
Coromandel is, in a word, a masterpiece. If I had to own only one perfume for the rest of my life it would be this beauty. So let me break it down.
Performance: If you are not getting *beastly* silage and 24 hours of wear you either have a bad bottle or a fake. : I hate to say it but Coromandel is a powerful fragrance. I am an undersprayer, I spray TWO sprays of her MAX. One on my neck and one on my chest under my clothing. And yet, at a horse barn (I’m an equestrian), OUTSIDE, surrounded by horses ladies half a barn aisle away will say “Oooh, Tandaina is here, Tand you smell AMAZING” They’ll then go sniff the place I’d been standing or sitting because the scent hangs around that strongly. I apply her after my shower, and the next day when I get in the shower? Yup, can still smell her (faintly and the far, far drydown, but she’s there).
Scent: You really have to experience Coromandel yourself. This is patch for people who don’t think they like patch. This is patch that is made of money and elegance. I get a creamy sweetness that I’ll call white chocolate though it may not smell like the candy exactly. And sweet, smooth patch that sings. The scent is incredibly well blended. There are *no* hard edges here, nothing to disrupt what feels like being wrapped up in a luxurious cashmere robe, snuggled up in your favorite place.
Coromandel is elegant, classy, sexy without being trashy, and comforting. She is simply beautiful, everyone needs to sample this at least once so you have something to judge all other patchouli against. Because you will, and it will all come up short.
Clipallunwisa – :
I have owned Coromandel in the mini-splash and sample spray for almost a year now. I’ve worn it many times, except for during the summer. It is truly beautiful, interesting, complex, elegant, and classic.
On me, it’s a huge patchouli blast at first for about 20 minutes. From there, it is a bit chameleon-like. Some days my husband says it smells like candy (the white chocolate, but never gourmand which I dislike), but mostly to me it is spicy, creamy, and woody. It’s not remotely dry; in fact, it can be a little “humid” at first, if that makes sense. The spices are calming and comforting, not stimulating, and never foodish. This is a perfect sweater-weather scent. I loved the idea of Youth Dew, but it was never wearable to me. This is wearable to me, especially once it settles into a more subdued complexity.
Sillage: Excellent. One spray to the chest has good, arm-length projection, especially if I get even a bit warm.
Longevity: Incredible. At least a full 10-12 hours on skin and much longer on clothes.
Occasion: date night, comfort scent in cold weather, too complex for office wear unless you have a very light hand in application
Xeroxcpzeb – :
I’m going to write my thoughts on the actual scent right now, as my other one was just a loving look back on what I had. I purchased a 5mL decant of it, might be receiving more and purchasing another 10mL decant because my love just keeps growing. 75mL was not enough.
This review will be for the 2007 edition, which is surprisingly not too different from the 2014 edition which I had a full bottle of.
The voted on notes are reasonably accurate, but I’d say that the vanilla and white chocolate are a lot more noticeable than represented. The patchouli, however, is definitely the most noticeable of notes. The patchouli and white chocolate combo is very reminiscent of Jessica Simpson’s Fancy Nights, although the latter came afterwards. Fancy Nights is much more dirtier whereas Coromandel is absolutely delicious. The smokiness, the the comfort – truly, truly opulent. Not something to wear every waking moment like I did. Not something to overapply, as you only need a bit – don’t waste it like I did.
I love, love, love this scent way too much. It may be my financial downfall 😉
Enjoy the scent, everyone!
palahx – :
#118
I owned the EdT of this which is, alas, long gone. However, this is (the EDP, that is) actually remarkably similar to it. In fact, I’m reasonably certain I prefer this. The EdT was a gift from my lovely mother, who has recently started to enable my Chanel addiction despite both of our limited incomes. This is the best example of why perfume exceeds social status to me, as many Chanels have a coldness to them that makes me wonder if I should wear them at times. I do when I feel comfortable (especially Coco) but it exists. I’ve never smelt something so inviting and inclusive. I should just say, should she read this ever, thank you ever so much and I love you! She cannot take most perfumes as they make her sneeze, but she quite enjoyed this.
Secondly, I may consider saving up for a new bottle. It was my first owned Chanel, of quite a few. The prices have risen, which will make this hard but still… I may need it again. I won’t use it anywhere near as quickly as I did. a 75mL gone within 7 months. Quite sad, I still keep the bottle as reference. Love this with all my heart, its so unpretentious and something that everyone can at least like. May be worth the price point, if not for the sheer quality then the comfort and sense of wellbeing it can give you. Smells very French and classy, which I always need … even when I’m not feeling classy.
10/10: a modern classic
Ideotoliede – :
Well, this is a perfume you have to smell because one can not truly describe what it smells like.
When I first smelled this I couldn’t stop myself from thinking “Where have I smelled this before? What does it remind me of?”
And I don’t think I’ve figured this out completely, but it sort of reminds me of my Mom’s old clothes bag that she keeps in the basement. Like those 80s or 90s clothes. When I open up the plastic bag, it smells like this… minus the sweetness.
I was very hesitant about ordering a sample of it because of the heavy patchouli, but I’ve grown to really enjoy it.
The scent is a little different every time I wear it. Like a chameleon. It doesn’t quite change it’s colors completely but gives out some variations of the same concept. I guess it depends on your skin chemistry and what you’ve eaten the day before and so on. But I’ve found that a fragrance works best when you really feel the drive to wear it. Sometimes I end up smelling multiple different perfumes before I decide what I desire to wear on that day. And this perfume works best on me when I have a strong desire to wear it on a given day.
When I’ve worn it on a day that I don’t really feel like wearing it, the patchouli and woodsy notes get overwhelming and the white chocolate is barely noticeable. But when I wear it on a day that I really strongly feel like wearing it, the scent turns into wonderful melted white chocolate on my skin with strong woodsy-incensey-smokey notes with patchouli barely on the background. Just amazing!
I do feel like it’s an acquired taste and has a sort of a vintage vibe. The sillage is enourmous for the amount of perfume I put on my skin – simply amazing. And it also last very long. I haven’t tried the newer version of this perfume, but as I’ve understood it can’t be compared with this masterpiece.
Kinder234 – :
Tried this for the very first time at the Chanel store. Fell in love with it and kept on going back to smell it on the test paper. I’ve never smelled anything like it. A few months down the road, saved some money, and still could not get it out of my nose so I took the plunge. A little painful on the wallet but worth every cent. Not only is this scent so evocative and transportive, it lasts incredibly long. And I found this out only through people telling me that they can still smell my perfume at 3 AM! And mind you, I only sprayed it that morning. Definitely the longest lasting fragrance I own. So beautiful and so timeless. Hands down it is my ultimate favourite perfume.
shadow1997 – :
This is an amazing spicey patch lovely. The patch dominates but there is plenty of kick from the incenses, resins and wood notes. I can just about make out the white choc but it’s faint.
I have to say that I own Laetitia, tested Xerjoff Richwood and the Calvin Klein. None of them are like Coromandel. No one has created anything similar although Adnan b Ambre Noir is not a bad stab. Apple instead of the lovely white chocolate. It’s a gorgeous unisex stunner.
Good sillage and longevity.
iux107intitytek – :
I’ve only just tried this today for the first time. I’m a man who has a fairly low tolerance for scents that smell too feminine to my nose (unless they are worn by a woman), but this scent is very unisex. It smells fantastic. I’d be very happy to wear it. I need to go back to the Chanel boutique and try it on my skin again at least one more time, but the initial spritz to my wrist was extremely promising.
So nice to smell something from a designer house that is appealing. I was worried that I’d fallen down the niche rabbit hole and was never coming back. Chanel (and also YSL with their Le Vestiaire des Parfums series) have restored my faith.
Yes it’s expensive, but after having already bitten the bullet for perfumes from Maison Francis Kurkdjian et al, I can’t complain about the price.
I don’t know enough about this fragrance yet to wax lyrical, but I can certainly recommend this scent to other men who might normally be sceptical about wearing a female scent.
garvd1 – :
I’m cursed with tastes far too expensive for my budget. I’ve been managing this by not going anywhere near anything I know to be too pricey, but today Coromandel came looking for me!
I sampled Coromandel years ago, and fell in love on the spot. Real fragrance love, that eyes-roll-back, make-inappropriate-noises, nose-stuck-to-wrist kinda love. But nothing could become of us because I couldn’t rationalise the price tag (only the big bottle will do). Time and distance helped… I haven’t sniffed the stuff in at least two years, and I had even taken it off my want list. Today, because life is cruel, I sat through a meeting all afternoon next to a lady who wore this juice, and wore it BEAUTIFULLY… and now I’m pretty much foaming at the mouth with gotta-have-it-itis again – which is a real illness, as far as I’m concerned.
Mmmmh, delicious, sensual, earthy cocoa and powder wondrousness! I forgot how improbably gorgeous Coromandel is. How can it be so PRESENT and yet so ephemeral and dreamy? How can such an obvious chocolate not smell like food? How can something so CHANEL be simultaneously so very Guerlain? How can something so perfect for me not be my RIGHT to own? So many questions.
I told the lady that she smelled amazing, and she got all bright and said her husband got it for her.
Hmmm. Time to get married?
(Send help.)
CrRonaldo – :
Love this and am trying to decide if my love is equal to the price tag. Have not smelled Prada Amber, but agree that this has a close kinship to Angel with a slightly lighter hand than Angel. Coromandel is beautifully balanced with plenty of patch which makes this patch head happy. I can never smell chocolate in any form, and cannot smell it in Coromandel either. There is nothing very sweet here, save a brief, slightly floral opening. The general impression is a slightly dry powdery patch softened by vanilla, incense and musk. Projection and longevity are excellent. Coromandel would be amazing during the fall and winter months. Perhaps I will mortgage the house.
dany2401 – :
If one had to describe Coromandel really briefly, he would say – the tale of patchouli and vanilla. When is said the word patchouli, Prada (Amber) and Angel are both remembered, both of them unbearable for some, and heavy. Coromandel has much finer, softer patchouli than both of these scents. Delicate and bright fragrance. Splendor…
dnk78 – :
Its a pretty fragrance. Next to MISIA and Bois des Iles- these ones are my fav.
Close to Boy and Beige this one is the richest.
I have my sample from Chanel I have got it yesterday.
I put it on myself it went nice… I have a cotton blouse and it dry down nice.
The only thing preveting me from purchase is price – its to expensive.
The whole collection is just too expensive.
alen24 – :
My skin must amp gourmand notes because this smells like fruit & nut chocolate on me – there is a distinct, rich sultana/ currant feel (including the waxiness of the dried currant skin) that was a bit tooooo much for me. Shame, because I love the rest of the fragrance especially the shimmering patchouli!
igor999m – :
They’d have to prise my 2 bottles of EDT out of my cold, dead hands to get them. Even then I’d go ‘Walking Dead’ to get it back (even as a zombie, I’d be looking to smell this good).
The woods and patchouli are all gruff and almost medicinally caustic, but just before it gets too much what’s this….soft chocolate. O. M. G. It’s unbearably lovely, always teetering on being too much but never being too much. I feel teary even thinking ‘what if I never smelled this’
So, yeah, one might say I like this and if it’s been in any way compromised in the EDP there’s going to be a petition!
saha8585 – :
I did a comparison of Coromandel edt and the edp. Edt is sharper and imho a lot better.
Those who know me know my complete love for Coromandel edt – it’s one of my favourite fragrances and I confess I’m addicted to it, I wear it often and know it very well. I know every note, every angle, I know the bones of edt to the point that if I catch a whiff of it on someone (which rarely happens) I feel compelled to put some on as soon as I can. It’s a delight, rich, sweet/sharp and note perfect.
The edp is good, very very good and I will undoubtedly buy a fb at some point but whilst it’s extremely similar to the edt it is not in the same league as my beloved.
The Edp is smooth, it’s obviously Chanel and it shares a lot of the edt DNA- but for me edp is a sister, not a twin.
Still fb worthy though. And yes I do love it, I’m just not IN love with it – that special love is reserved for my edt.
Nikolagon – :
Perfection. Coromandel is a sweet, warm, intoxicating patchouli- in fact, I would say that it is THE patchouli perfume. It is not dirty, moldy or stuffy. It’s patchouli wrapped in creamy sandalwood and spices and dipped lightly in a vanilla cream white chocolate. It’s an oriental that toes the line of gourmand territory without crossing over. It’s mouthwatering to smell, but I don’t crave a taste. Perfectly balanced, and long lasting. It conjures up scenes of bright leaves flickering in the pale autumn sun, or the glow of a bonfire on a snowy night, but I can and do wear it year round. Like many Chanel perfumes, Coromandel is strong and almost harsh at first spray, but within just a few seconds every note falls into place. I have not smelled the edp reformation but pray that it is still the perfume I’ve fallen in love with, because it’s a masterpiece.
icersape61 – :
Coromandel
Chanel
Nose
Jacques Polge
Year
2007
Coromandel I wish I’d discovered you sooner. What an exotic and intoxicating cacao and vanilla brew you are. When I first smelled you I couldn’t wrap my head around what I was smelling because it all came to me in such a fantastical kaleidoscope of scents. Cormandel is a very hard to wear fragrance because at least for me it is a hybride of gourmand fragrances with notes of white chocolate, vanilla, pretty flowers of iris and jasmine, orange blossom, and yet with notes that I normally go for like patchouli, musk, myrrh, incense, spices, and that kind of thing. So what is Coromandel? This is at best a strong Oriental vanilla fragrance. You know. Think Shalimar. Or rather a variation on Shalimar. The fragrance is complex and projects like missiles and it’s powdery and sweet but spiced up and eventually very dirty and animalistic, intense and musky in the style of Bal a Versailles or Salome Papillon Artisan. Those are two frags I like so I had mixed feelings about this one because it has things I like and dislike. But here we are.
Opens with bitter orange and very deep juicy citruses. Very strong and similar to the orange notes in Shalimar minus the lemon. There is an alcohol content but not straight up aldehydes which give the oranges a medicinal bite. They’re astringent like a citrus tonic. Then it softens and settles down and turns into a lighter neroli and orange blossom floral smell. As the orange flower plays her note, it’s a melody that turns into a duet with a rose. These two notes match up perfectly, as there are many a rose that smell of citrus. The thing about Coromandel is that every note really does match up. This is like a fine puzzle put together into even pieces! The formula is a perfect concoction of florals citruses vanilla and woods as well as musk. The rose in turn matches up with the powdery iris and the jasmine and patchouli are quite well-paired, with a green indolic night blooming jasmine bush type of scent. At that point it does smell of Shalimar because of so many similar notes they share together – citruses at the top, rose and jasmine in the heart, patchouli, woods, vanilla and incense in the dry down.
The patchouli here is the biggest accord. Quite herbal and mysterious, deep and smoky with layers of incense and benzoin. Then it’s a nocturnal woodsy aroma that takes over. Woodsy and masculine or unisex with a musk that is quite prominent. Though not marketed as a unisex frag, that’s exactly what Coromandel is so if you’re a male and you’re looking for unisexes that you haven’t discovered yet because they’re disguised as women’s perfume you just found one.
Cormandel has a vanilla and chocolate aroma that is not too gourmand or sweet but gives it the right kind of modern attitude. It’s semi-formal and matches up with like a nice dress shirt and slacks if you’re a guy or dress shirt and jeans a la Seinfeld long sleeves tucked in to your jeans. It is elegant and classy with a little air of fun. For a woman this matches up with a nice blouse and skirt and or a cocktail dress or mini dress to wear to a date or nightclub for dancing. A really warm musky scent in the end and gourmand so it’s perfect for colder weather autumn and fall. So glad I found this baby.
freedomoya – :
there is a floral note in the opening which makes it more feminine..after half an hour that note subsides and THEN its unisex and with great village and longevity..reminds me of Shalimar.
dyt998speagoessenda – :
This big 200ml Coromandel EDT bottle stands, no towers beside my 30ml draw of Dior