Magic of Cherry Blossoms in Chanel’s New Comète Fragrance
By Camille Delasalle
I think you have already heard of the cherry blossom, haven’t you? But have you ever smelled the delightful fragrance? These soft pink and white petals bloom in a breathtaking display that lasts only a short while, yet their impact is profound and enduring. Centuries ago, local Japanese Samurai brought hundreds of these ‘weeping’ trees from the country’s then capital, Kyoto, to Kakunodate, in the far north of Japan. These gifts would bud, swell, and grow, kicking off a form of gentle social competition between the area’s nobility. Could this have been the original garden hedge argument? Find out more here in Magic of Cherry Blossoms in Chanel’s New Comète Fragrance
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In Japan, the brief bloom of Sakura (cherry blossom,) is celebrated with Hanami, a cherished tradition where people gather under the blossoms to enjoy their ephemeral beauty and reflect on life’s impermanence.
This tradition is about appreciating the present and finding joy in fleeting moments. The cherry blossoms remind us that true beauty often lies in transient, quickly passing life moments urging us to embrace and cherish every moment.
Hanami is the Japanese art of springtime flower watching. During the eye-catching cherry blossom festival that marks the arrival of the bloom, nearly everyone partakes in this mesmerizing pastime. It’s a time when the air is filled with a sense of wonder, and the sight of cherry blossoms against a blue sky can feel almost otherworldly.
In Japan, it’s an art form taken into overdrive; giving life to everything from vibrant street festivals to even a blossom flavour of KitKat.
It’s also a floral spectacle that brings people from every walk of life together. Many like to gaze at these nougat-coloured wonders while eating seasonal sweets and sipping on fruit wines in one of Japan’s many parks. It is seen as a charming way to enjoy the cherry blossom season.
The flowers themselves, tiny starlets of pink, red and white, have deep cultural significance in Japan, where their short-lived existence taps into a long-held appreciation of the beauty of life’s transience.
This is known in Japanese as mono no aware, meaning ‘an empathy toward things.’ Belonging to Japanese Buddhism, this bitter-sweet concept recognizes the fundamental impermanence of life. Here today, gone tomorrow.
But Blossom is fragile and temporary, ephemeral, just like stars in the night, that shine their brightest, yet are gone in an instant. Gabrielle Chanel captured this spirit with an enchanting jewellery collection, in 1932 her first High Jewelry collection; Comète.
Like a shower of stars, the COMÈTE pieces reveal the brilliance and modernity of diamonds. Made of 18K white gold with brilliant-cut diamonds, the collection is made up of rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces.
“I wanted to cover women in constellations”
Gabrielle Chanel in 1932
Taking it one step further the house now brings together the fine jewellery collection together with perfumery. Captured in a bottle is a new scent Comète, from the « Les Exclusifs de Chanel » This enchanting ‘olfactory ballet’ leaves a sensual trail as rare as it is unforgettable.
Celebrating the visionary spirit of Gabrielle Chanel, this fragrance embodies the eternal optimism of the designer, capturing the magic of the stars in a bottle. With every spritz, Comète transforms the everyday into a mystical experience, much like the Hanami transforms the fleeting bloom into a celebration of life’s beautiful moments.
Intensely floral and luminous, Comète explores a new olfactory identity, capturing the spirit of the stars in a bottle. Stardust, the lightness of cloud-like powdery particles, are the core of this celebration.
Infused at its top with a fresh, light and delicate is a cherry blossom accord, with slight earthy tones rather than sweetness, and that powdery ‘smile’ of aldehydes. Caressed in its heart by sensual notes of cloud-like, delicate Iris and hints of soft Vanilla and Marzipan notes with a trace of spicy Licorice via Heliotrope. The finale find a wrap of elegant skin-like facets that have depth and intensity via Musk
A singular character with an aura of light, which in perfumery is luminous is difficult to balance with floral notes but the craft of perfumer Olivier Polge brings his craft to the fore. As the petals of the trees bring sensual delights, as diamonds brighten our day, here it sits, captured and bottled.
Alongside Comète, the « Les Exclusifs de Chanel » offers a constellation of exquisite fragrances, each telling its captivating tale. From the abstract floral bouquet of N°22 to the imperial warmth of Cuir de Russie, each fragrance is a unique expression of elegance and sophistication.
Whether you’re drawn to the heady, enveloping warmth of Bois Des Iles or the delicate expression of spring in Bel Respiro, there’s a fragrance to suit every taste and occasion within this exclusive collection.
Housed in the iconic Chanel bottle, Comète and its counterparts are masterpieces of this olfactory constellation, each shining brightly in the perfume sky.
With Comète leading the way, this celestial journey through the world of fragrance is an experience not to be missed.
If you like reading Discover the Magic of Cherry Blossoms in Chanel’s New Comète Fragrance. Why not try reading Frame: Oud & Orange Blossom
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