The French maison brought its in-house perfumer to L.A. to launch Chance Eau Splendide
Words by KELLY ATTERTON
Chanel’s latest fragrance, Chance Eau Splendide eau de parfum, enters the house’s beloved Chance family with a bold top note: raspberry. Bright, spontaneous, and subtly unexpected, the new scent continues the collection’s spirit of youthful movement and optimistic energy. To celebrate the launch, the house hosted an intimate dinner on Wednesday, April 30, at the Beverly Hills Hotel pool in honor of Olivier Polge, Chanel’s in-house perfumer since 2015, gathering Jessica Clements, Nara Smith, Olivia Sui, Larsen Thompson, Eileen Kelly, Kelsey Merritt, and others.
For Polge, who was born in the Grasse region of France, the formula marked a break from tradition. “Usually, we begin with the base and build upward,” says Polge. “But this time, I started with the top. I was looking for a hook — something that grabs your attention immediately. And I felt I found it with raspberry.” Then come the florals violet and rose, which bring airiness to the raspberry and add a soft bloom to its initial brightness. At its heart is geranium rosa — grown in part in Chanel’s own fields in Grasse — which adds an herbal, minty dimension. “Geranium can be more grounded than rose,” says Polge. “It gives freshness without sweetness.” A hint of cedar, powdery iris, and white musk provide subtle structure. “At every step, I wanted to make sure we preserved the freshness,” he adds. “Nothing that would darken the scent.”
The Chance line — now with five fragrances — has always embodied youth and energy. While N°5 is iconic and Coco is seductive, Chance leans into spontaneity. “They are lively and direct,” says Polge. “There’s a sense of movement in each.” The vivid purple color came after the scent was finalized; it complements the raspberry-violet interplay while giving Eau Splendide its own identity. “Some people might just remember the pink one or the green one,” says Polge. “Hopefully, some will love the purple.”
As with all Chanel scents, the ingredients matter. The house’s vertically integrated process — including proprietary distillation and harvesting in Grasse — ensures quality from start to finish. “It’s not about the beauty of the flowers,” Polge says. “It’s about what they will smell like once transformed.”
He also honors Coco Chanel’s original vision for a fragrance that wasn’t just natural, but also composed. “She wanted something created the way a fashion designer thinks,” he says.
Whether Eau Splendide is the final chapter in the Chance story remains to be seen. But for now, Polge has given the collection a joyful new note.
May 9, 2025
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