I was gifted this for Valentine's so probably for the first time in this channel's history I was able to do a sniff along at home. What strikes me most about this scent is just how much it changes over time with the leather and incense becoming more dominant.
This fragrance really connected for me. It’s up there IMHO with ANDY TAEUR’s LDDM. Whilst not a literal interpretation of a lion, I can see one. Perhaps a mythical lion like creature made of smoke that comes out at night to rule. Glad you both stopped to check this one out. Zoom on.
Really excited to see you reviewing fragrances again. As soon as this perfume was released, I had to get my nose on it since the notes in this one are totally up my alley. I agree on most of the things you have pointed out. The juicy bergamot in the beginning contrasting the resinous labdanum in the mid and base, coming together with the smoothness of the patchouli with a tiny hint of funk that never really comes to the surface. Having said that, I truly find this fragrance very one-dimensional after the bergamot begins to fade. My nose can't seem to smell anything else but the labdanum and the patchouli, which, albeit this being a vintage smell, seems very out-dated and almost grandma-y. This is a very well done fragrance with no sharp edges, yet I feel this is neither sexy, nor particularly interesting since there is almost no development in the scent whatsoever. This might not be the best comparison in the world of fragrances, but this Lion, to me, is a muted Tyger Tyger, which pales in comparison the the Francesca Bianchi scent.
I think the leather as it develops steers this in a new direction. I hadn't thought to compare Lion and Tyger, but now it seems obvious! As olfactory experiences I find them very different. Le Lion is, I suppose, a little simpler and more immediate. Tyger is honey and peach, lion is bergamot and labdanum. Even though we've made a strong Shalimar connection, I'd say Lion feels more modern than Tyger.
Waiting for my delivery from the sad closing down sale of Debenham’s. It’s Jicky parfum extrait from the little known niche house, Guerlain ;) It’s where it all started for me. You can buy a work of art that was unveiled alongside the Eiffel Tower a whole 131 years later. It’s an awesome thing.
I appreciate this review because I like your taste guys, this is funny I wore pour monsieur concentree a couple of weeks ago and happens that the day before I wore shalimar EDP, and I realized that both share the same powdery vanilla I Guess, at its different stages it reminded me of shalimar EDT later the EDP I love all shalimars and also as a Man I use a lot of chanel female and unisex fragrances, so this is now a must for me jejeje I trust you guys, great review.
My father wore Shalimar back in the 60’s and 70’s and he always got compliments.....when my mother wore it, no one seemed to notice...lol It’s a timeless and exclusive scent and I recently began wearing it myself. I also wear Sycomore by Chanel and that’s another over the top fragrance that I get many compliments on.
@@MrScottie68 jejeje cool story and yes some old lady perfumes are overlooked and mostly nowadays so I wear them a lot, need to try Sycomore, I only have Boy and Bel Respiro, looking to get Coromandel and sycomore, thanks for the recommendation
Thanks for this. I'd love to know more about Sheldrake's involvement with Chanel. Did he start there, leave for a Serge Lutens, Shiseido etc chapter, then return to Chanel as advisor?
@@WaftsfromTheLoft it's actually kinda neat, as fragrance enthusiasts we sometimes just take the name signd to a composition as gospel ie. From fragrantica or briefs from the brand, but it's not always as black & white as that. Things nobody talks about like Francois Demachy was once in charge of Chanels perfume development laboratories and working underneath him was Jaques Polge when they came up with bois noir later to be renamed egoiste but in the end its only ever credited to Jaques Polge....Anyway I digress, it is from my understanding Sheldrake made almost all of Serge Lutens releases but also worked in Chanels labs and never really left completely.
On eBay. But u risk getting a watered down version or a fake. But if u live in the US, my friend I will send you a sample for free. I have so many perfumes, I don’t mind sharing. I bought a bottle of Le Lion right before Christmas as a gift for myself. If you want I can also send you a sample of my other favorite, Areej Le Dore Grandenia. I didn’t like any of the others from the collection . Oh and Chanel Coromandel is another amazing one that I can send u a sample of, if u like. Ok well, I’ll check back tomorrow to see if you get back to me. I don’t know how they private message here on RU-vid, I’ve never done it. I guess I could give u my email address and then delete it quick before everyone sees it and I get a million ppl asking for free samples...lol
Elisabeth has a great answer for you! Chanel don't sell samples, but they do give them free with bottles. You could try a decant on eBay, but (as E. points out) you take a bit of a risk. People often sell on the official Chanel samples, so that might be a good bet. I bought my decant through a Facebook group, from a seller I know.
For me it was love at first sniff that I ending purchasing the 200 ml bottle but other underrated fragrance is one from kenzo called jungle elephant is for women from ropion omg is amazing is not new but anybody talk about it
Flashbomb! 🤣 A wonderful name for a current designer release! Blinding mediocrity for a second and then gone. 😄 🎆 Leaving the buyer with sodden limbs and bitter disappointment. Le Lion a natural exception. I think you're right about the important distinction between material quality and craftsmanship Dan. For me, the perfumer is usually where the buck stops.
you prolly dont care but does anybody know a method to log back into an instagram account..? I stupidly lost my login password. I love any tips you can give me.
@Miguel Chris Thanks for your reply. I got to the site through google and I'm waiting for the hacking stuff now. I see it takes quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.
The picture you're showing at the beginning is Chanel with french dancer Serge Lifar, not Boy. As for the perfume, it's still unavailable here in Paris. Go figure.
I can’t seem to get past the signature Chanel aldehydes in all of the Les Exclusif line. The one exception is Sycomore, which I love. The others are too aldehydic and feminine for my taste.
Yes, I suppose this, like Shalimar, does lean slightly feminine. But then, Channel No 5 (cologne version) and Mitsouko (extrait version) are two of my favourite fragrances.
I definitely see the comparison. Ambra Aurea is another labdanum bomb. But, I get tonnes of ambergris with AA, as well as myrrh, I don’t get that from Lion
I was disappointed in this one. The opening does remind me of Shalimar but then it goes very dry and smokey on me . Doesn’t remind me of Coromandel at all. Where both Shalimar and Coromandel are full rich orientals this one is much drier and thinner...kind of an ‘Oriental Lite’ version. Not FB worthy for me.
My favorite house! They do no wrong! Niche perfume is a major hit or miss for me. More times then not Niche stinks! There I said it. Xerjoff, Amouage etc you are nothing compared to Chanel!
