Bleu De Chanel L’Exclusif Review – Here’s What It Smells Like

It’s been a while since Chanel had their last fragrance release from the Bleu de Chanel line, 7 years in fact since the brilliant parfum was released back in 2018.

Now it’s 2025, and it’s time for a new scent from the line, Bleu De Chanel L’Exclusif. I was excited when I heard about this scent, Chanel has sent over a bottle for me to review.

Here’s everything you need to know, including what Bleu De Chanel L’Exclusif smells like.

What Does Bleu De Chanel L’Exclusif Smell Like?

From the first spray, Bleu De Chanel L’Exclusif smells incredible.

It has that unmistaken Bleu De Chanel DNA, and you can instantly sense that it’s from the same line, but as other iterations, it has some variations within the scent.

From the opening I got the soft sandalwood which is the main takeaway note from the parfum variant, along with an almost green-citrus type of note.

In no time at all, you get a strong leathery note, the labdanum, which is really intoxicating and inviting.

It’s dark and moody, and the leather lasts a long time. It has that amber style to it, and you still get the hints of the soft sandalwood, subtle but still present.

There’s a real hint of a creamy nature to the leather, while still carrying that woody and amber style to it.

It feels very layered, with all the notes playing their part and being present in the overall scent from start to finish.

I can honestly say I’ve worn this a few times and every time I like it more and more.

Bleu De Chanel L’Exclusif Fragrance Notes

• Sandalwood
• Amber
• Labdanum
• Woody Notes

Fragrance Accords

How Long Does Bleu De Chanel L’Exclusif Last?

Chanel say that this is a fragrance which is built like an extrait de parfum, so you would expect it to last a long time.

I was able to get 8 – 9 hours of Bleu De Chanel L’Exclusif when it starting fading. This is slightly longer than the parfum, with a couple of extra hours.

How Strong Is Bleu De Chanel L’Exclusif?

Bleu De Chanel L’Exclusif is a strong scent without shouting about it. It doesn’t have that huge projection that’s going to fill the room, but that’s kind of the point.

It smells strong without over-powering, it’s a subtle strength, with it’s leathery and soft sandalwood notes.

This is a similar profile to the parfum, but this one has that added leather note that you can really notice.

How Many Sprays Do You Need?

I use the usual number of sprays, spraying L’Exclusif around 6-8 times on the pulse points. 2-3 on the neck front and sides, 2 on the chest, 2 on the wrists and one on the nape of the neck.

Bleu De Chanel L’Exclusif Pros And Cons

Bleu De Chanel L’Exclusif Bottle

The Bleu De Chanel L’Exclusif is an all new bottle, with some of the features of the original in-keeping with the line.

It’s a brand new shape, a cubic bottle with what Chanel call a perfect square that contains infinity within it’s structure.

Details retained from the previous bottles include the ultra dark translucent blue colour, almost black but not quite. Branding to the front is clean, with the wording presented in a beautiful gold colour in clean Chanel style.

I have a 60ml bottle, with 100ml bottles also being available.

What Clothes To Wear With Bleu De Chanel L’Exclusif

When it comes to pairing clothing with Bleu De Chanel L’Exclusif, dressing the part is something you’ll feel compelled to do.

A suit is the perfect choice, failing that going smart casual with plain knits and a blazer will also work well.

It’s a sophisticated perfume, so dressing the part is something which the scent deserves.

When To Wear Bleu De Chanel L’Exclusif

Bleu De Chanel L’Exclusif is a dark style of scent, making it perfect to wear in the cooler months of autumn and winter.

I’d wear this on an evening rather than through the day. Date night, out for drinks with friends, formal or informal events are perfect occasions to bring out this scent.

Who Is Bleu De Chanel L’Exclusif For?

In my opinion Bleu De Chanel L’Exclusif is for the more mature guys, or anyone looking for that sophisticated smell.

When you want to feel like a grown up or smell like a gentleman, this is definitely one of the scents that’s going to get you there.

Is Bleu De Chanel L’Exclusif Worth It?

When it comes to price, Bleu De Chanel L’Exclusif is the most expensive in the Bleu De Chanel line. At £158 for 60ml or £215 for 100ml, it’s very close to the niche fragrance house prices.

But you do get that niche scent quality. The Bleu De Chanel DNA is there, with this added leathery note it gives it that something special which you can really get a sense of when you’re wearing it.

Bleu De Chanel L’Exclusif vs EDT vs Parfum

The inevitable question is the comparison with this and the rest of the line. Bleu De Chanel L’Exclusif vs parfum vs EDT.

I will write a full comparison guide for this, but in brief:

• Bleu De Chanel L’Exclusif – The sophisticated scent
• Bleu De Chanel Parfum – The mature scent
• Bleu De Chanel EDT – The youthful scent

Of course with all the line having similarities there is plenty cross-over, it’s the subtle differences which makes each scent unique in its own right.

Where To Buy Bleu De Chanel L’Exclusif

You can buy Bleu De Chanel L’Exclusif from Chanel here as well as other official stockists such as Boots, The Perfume Shop, The Fragrance Shop, Fenwick and all other partners.

Bleu De Chanel L’Exclusif Fragrance Details

Longevity – Bleu De Chanel L’Exclusif is extrait de parfum strength, and I was able to get 8-9 hours from this meaning it has good longevity.

Projection – The projection is good, and those around can smell it without it being over bearing.

Best season to wear – Autumn/Winter
Scent type – Woody/Amber/Leathery
Age Recommendation – 25+
Best Worn – Evening, Formal, Smart Casual

Fragrance Notes

• Sandalwood
• Amber
• Labdanum
• Woody Notes

Verdict

I really like Bleu De Chanel L’Exclusif, I’ve been wearing this for a week and like it more and more as time goes on.

I think that it’s a fantastic mature masculine style of fragrance that I’ll want to wear on any evening. The small differences makes this a good fragrance to have either as a standalone or as part of the family of Bleu De Chanel.

This is a good, strong release for 2025, and I am going to enjoy wearing it for the foreseeable future.

As always you can read about all scents in the perfume blog, where you’ll find 100s of my independent reviews and guides on all things fragrance.

Have you tried Bleu De Chanel L’Exclusif? Let me know your thoughts.

This post contains a press sample courtesy of Chanel, all opinions are my own