Allure Homme Edition Blanche Chanel cologne – a fragrance for men 2008
The version of Allure Homme Edition Blanche that I’ll be reviewing is for my bottle that was produced in January of 2014. It is part of the last run of Eau de Toilette concentrations for the fragrance, before Chanel changed over completely to an Eau de Parfum concentration (in 2014), which is the only iteration available on their website as of today. The purpose of this review is just to provide some clarification among the different versions and to help the reader know what to expect from this particular batch/variety.
The most recent iteration of Allure Homme Edition Blanche Eau de Toilette is still a very nice, high quality scent though it has undergone some changes in terms of its smell from the original Eau de Toilette that first gained popularity. I would describe the current version as “creamy lemons” whereas the earlier version could be described as “vanilla cream and lemons.” The big difference is that the old one had more of a creamy vanilla quality to it (which I have to admit I liked a little bit more). The new one loses some of that vanilla smell while boosting the lemony aspect. It retains its creamy texture however and still comes across smooth and warm. I also believe the older version had more pronounced sandalwood and vetiver notes in the base. In fact the old version I almost thought of as a woody fragrance first and foremost, as the vetiver became very pronounced on my skin after about an hour into its development. The woody base of the current iteration is more reserved, and not as obvious as it had been. Performance is still very good with solid projection and above average longevity (especially for a citrus fragrance). Keep in mind that this review is for the most recently available EDT, not the original one; it also is not for the current Eau de Parfum. Though my bottle looks exactly the same as the current EDP, if I look on the bottom of it, it is marked “Eau de Toilette.”
In my opinion, the most interesting (and best) version of Edition Blanche is the original EDT, which features more creamy vanilla and pronounced woods. The 2014 version of the EDT lacks the vanilla and pronounced wood notes and seems to be much more in line with the currently available Eau de Parfum (though it’s still a nice scent). The only thing I’m not sure of is when the last batch of the “creamy vanilla” EDT was produced, before it became more lemon-centered. This could be worth investigating, and I believe it most likely occurred some time during 2013 (reviews noting an absence of vanilla started rolling in around June, 2013).. Either way, it’s a good idea to check the batch code of the bottle before making a purchase, and if you’ve found an EDT from 2012 or earlier, chances are it will have that original creamy lemon meringue pie that everyone raves about and which is missing in the most recent formula. I would snatch a bottle like that up.
I would still give the current formula a thumbs up overall. It’s a fine scent, just a bit lacking in comparison to its earlier form.
