Our take
What does Cristalle smell like?
Chanel launched Cristalle in 1974 as an eau de toilette. Henri Robert, who had composed No. 19 four years earlier, wrote the formula. It opens with lemon and bergamot, dry and almost sharp. Hyacinth takes over fast with the damp green of a cut stem. Honeysuckle and jasmine drift through, barely sweet, while rosewood adds a peppery edge. The base is oakmoss and vetiver. There is no amber or vanilla to soften it, so the perfume stays cool to the very end. That is the whole point. Compared with No. 19, Cristalle is less severe and brighter. In 1993 Jacques Polge spun off a rounder, fruitier eau de parfum. The original eau de toilette is the one with real character. On skin the hyacinth is the star, damp and slightly bitter. The lemon never turns sweet.
When to wear it
A summer office scent that won't bother anyone in a meeting. It lasts three or four hours, so keep the bottle close.
It belongs to the Chypre, Green family. Cristalle is one of 45 creations by Chanel in our encyclopedia.
