Our take
What does Antaeus smell like?
Chanel released Antaeus in 1981. Jacques Polge, the house perfumer since 1978, wrote the formula. The name comes from Antaeus, the giant of Greek myth who drew his strength from touching the earth. The opening makes no effort to charm. Clary sage and coriander bring a bitter, herbal edge while bergamot adds only a flash of light. The heart is a surprise for a men's fragrance of that era. A clear rose sits there, held up by thyme and basil, and it smells like scrubland after a storm. Then the base takes over. Castoreum, leather and cistus build a tawny accord that feels almost tanned, and patchouli darkens it further. Kouros by Yves Saint Laurent came out the same year and invites comparison. Antaeus is quieter, though, and far less soapy. This is a fragrance for a man in a dark suit, and it makes no attempt to look younger than it is.
When to wear it
Wear it in autumn and winter, in the evening or with a wool jacket. One spray on the chest is plenty, because the animalic base fills a heated room fast.
It belongs to the Leather family. Antaeus is one of 45 creations by Chanel in our encyclopedia.
