Women's Perfume Essens W124 — a Fragrance Inspired by Chanel Chance

A chypre, floral fragrance for refined and elegant femininity

🏛️ The Legend of Chanel Chance

This fragrance was introduced in 2002 as an Eau de Toilette and immediately became one of the most beloved compositions of the French house of Chanel. It was created by the legendary perfumer Jacques Polge, inspired by the very idea of chance. The concept was born not from an abstract idea but from a specific phrase by Coco Chanel that the house found in its archives, «Chance was my soul, my icon». It is on this quote that the entire narrative of the fragrance is built.

🎡 Concentric unfolding. The main innovation of Chance that few people know about, the composition is built not on a vertical pyramid but on the principle of concentric circles. The notes do not unfold sequentially from top to bottom, they sound simultaneously, layering and rotating around a single center. Jacques Polge described it as «a fragrance that does not develop over time but moves in a circle». The round bottle is not just a symbol of the wheel of fortune but a visual embodiment of the structure, concentric circles are cast even on the bottom of the bottle.

💼 Three concentrations and three pyramids. Chance was released in three concentrations a few years apart, and each has its own pyramid. Eau de Toilette (2002) has top notes of pineapple, hyacinth, iris, patchouli and pink pepper, a heart of lemon, jasmine and rose, and a base of patchouli, musk, vanilla and vetiver. Eau de Parfum (2005) opens with pink pepper, has a heart of jasmine and iris, and a base of patchouli, musk and vanilla. Parfum (2003) sounds of jasmine, iris, white musk and vanilla. So pineapple and citrus are characteristics of the EDT specifically, not the whole fragrance. If we are talking about the 2003 parfum, there is no pineapple or citrus there, it opens with iris and jasmine.

🌸 How it sounds and wears. The EDT is «pineapple juice with hyacinth and pink pepper settling on patchouli and vanilla». The start is juicy, sparkling, with the bitter greenery of hyacinth. The base is warm, patchouli-musky, with soft vanilla. The chypre character comes not from oakmoss, as in classic chypres, but from patchouli itself. The EDP is denser, more powdery, without fruity juiciness, it is pure pepper, iris, jasmine and patchouli. Many prefer the EDP for its more «grown-up» sound. Longevity 6–8 hours, moderate sillage. Fragrantica rating is EDT 3.93 out of 5 with 12,400+ votes, EDP 3.82 out of 5 with 17,500+ votes.

🏆 The award. Chance received the FiFi Award in the «European Women’s Fragrance of the Year» category in 2004. This is an important marker confirming that the fragrance was not just a commercial hit but a recognized industry event.

🎬 Advertising campaigns. The commercial was directed by Jean-Paul Goude, a cult French visual artist who has worked with Chanel since the 1990s. His signature is a bold, carnivalesque aesthetic, models in a bowling alley where the balls and pins are Chance bottles. In 2024 a new campaign by director Jean-Pierre Jeunet («Amélie») was released, and in 2025 the face of the fifth version, Eau Splendide, became the Belgian singer Angèle.

⏳ A colorful line. Chance has spawned one of the most colorful flanker lines in perfumery, each bottle its own color. Chance (yellow) is the original, Eau Fraîche (green, 2007) is citrus-fresh, Eau Tendre (pink, 2010) is delicately floral, Eau Vive (orange, 2015) is sparkling fruity, Eau Splendide (purple, 2025) is raspberry, peach, rose, by perfumer Olivier Polge, son of Jacques.

📖 Stories of Four Notes

Pineapple — a juicy tropical fruit with bright sweetness and a light sourness. In perfumery it sounds joyful and energetic, adding sparkle and dynamics to the composition. It is what makes the opening of the fragrance so memorable and life-affirming.

Iris — a noble flower with a powdery, slightly cool aroma. In the top notes it creates a sense of elegance and refinement, and together with hyacinth and pink pepper it unfolds especially exquisitely.

Jasmine — a delicate flower with a sweet depth. In the heart of the composition it gives the fragrance femininity and sensuality, and together with citrus notes it creates a harmonious and refreshing accord.

Patchouli — an earthy, woody-camphor note with a light sweetness. In the base it gives the fragrance character and depth, creating that recognisable chypre accord. Patchouli is the backbone of the composition that holds the trail and makes it noble.

👤 Portrait of the W124 Woman

She is elegant and self-confident — but her confidence is light and playful. She loves surprises and knows how to find joy in little things. Her presence is felt without words: a sparkling gaze, a light smile, natural grace.

She suits flowing dresses, pastel colours, minimal accessories. She loves morning light, fresh flowers and heart-to-heart conversations. Her style is elegant simplicity with a touch of playfulness, where every detail is in its place.

Essens W124 lives with her all day: in the morning it unfolds with sparkling pineapple and iris, during the day — with a jasmine-citrus heart, and in the evening it warms with musk, patchouli and vetiver. This is a companion fragrance for those who value a light yet confident presence.

⚖️ Original and Essens W124 Side by Side

The only difference is the price and the bottle. The scent remains recognisable from the first seconds.

✨ Women's perfume W124 by Essens is an elegant chypre-floral fragrance that unfolds with sparkling pineapple, powdery iris and noble patchouli. It embodies all the magic of the French perfumery school — it is an exact analogue of the legendary Chanel Chance. Every drop conveys the recognisable accord familiar to fans of the original, and gives a feeling of lightness, confidence and style.

A versatile fragrance for any season and any occasion. Try it and see for yourself.