Chanel Les Exclusifs – Bel Respiro

No summer would be complete without the easy elegance of Chanel’s Bel Respiro. Released in 2007 with 5 other Les Exclusifs as part of the original line-up, Bel Respiro is a study in green. It possesses simplicity and sophistication in equal measures, qualities which are woefully absent from many modern releases.  Indeed, although it possesses a far more subtle character, Bel Respiro seems to be more a contemporary of its elder sisters Chanel No 19 and Cristalle.

Given the number of show-stopping fragrances in the Les Exclusifs line-up, it took some time before Bel Respiro caught my full attention. In fact, it took something quite different than repeated sampling for me to fall in love. Named after Coco Chanel’s gorgeous chateau in a Parisian suburb, Bel Respiro was depicted in the 2009 cinematic release Coco and Igor Stravinsky. The film, which seeks to recount a love affair between Chanel and the Russian composer, is largely set in the beautiful chateau, which she “lent” to Stravinksky and his family so that he might compose his music without the pressures of earning a living and facilitate their amorous liaisons.

I have read that Jacques Polge drew his inspiration from various parts of Mademoiselle Chanel’s life when dreaming up the fragrance line. In the case of Bel Respiro, as in many of the other Les Exclusifs, he appears to have perfectly channeled her sensibilities.  It was there, in those scenes of the bucolic green grounds and magnificent house that the fragrance suddenly came alive for me. Bel Respiro, which translates roughly as “beautiful breath” (as in a breath of air) captures both the soothing effects of nature and beauty on the human psyche, as well as the luxuriousness of leisure time spent outdoors.

Bel Respiro is nature rendered with the elegance of Chanel. From the crisp green opening reminiscent of Chanel 19, Bel Respiro softens into a gossamer light green floral, with a touch of the fine herbs France is famous for. I find the fragrance to be changeable, sometimes giving an impression of green tea and sometimes a light subtle rose before warming into the softest hint of leather. There are whispers of myrrh in the drydown, but these are subtle enough that they only seem to lend to an overall impression of soft smoke and incense. While not mentioned anywhere in the notes, I have the sense of an iris coming in and out of focus. Overall, the fragrance possesses an expansive, airy quality – a beautiful breath indeed.  I can easily imagine Mademoiselle Chanel strolling through the grounds of Bel Respiro at dusk, taking in the scents of her garden and the beauty of her surroundings, wild grasses crunching underfoot.

While Bel Respiro was one of my later acquisitions of Les Exclusifs, I fear I may finish my bottle long before all others. The fragrance features a light and personal sillage, and requires heavy application to get it off the ground so to speak. Surprisingly, it is fairly tenacious on skin despite being a low volume fragrance. This is one of the Les Exclusifs that I will pray for a parfum version of. While it is gorgeous as an EdT, it would be heavenly as an extrait.

Be sure to check out these movie stills from Architecture of Film, as well as the film in its entirety. While it got mixed reviews, the scenery is astounding and a must for a Chanelphile.

Green floral

Notes: Crushed leaves, Rosemary, Thyme, Rose, Lilac, Hyacinth, Green Tea, Aromatic Grasses, Myrrh, Leather.