Le Lion Eau de Parfum

Ambra Aurea has nothing to worry about. This Chanel is just a basic mid-tier designer fragrance.

absolutely a modern classic from Chanel and the first perfume I want to buy 200ml of. elegance, warmth, depth, sure it might not be the most projecting by the modern standards but maybe this is also part of the charm. absolute beauty!

Masterpiece. Gold division winner in Amber class. It’s over. She takes the prize.

Like a stronger Shalimar, but i prefer Shalimar that is a bit softer and more well rounded.

To me, this is primarily musky/animalic - but not in a pungent way. I don't sense any sweetness, it's neutral. The patchouli (or maybe the labdanum) rounds it off slightly - connecting animal to nature. I'm not experienced enough to say whether i sense the labdanum or not. It's warm. Slightly stuffy. It has no real texture (no leather, no smoke, no real wood). It's quite soft/rounded. I wish the citruses/freshness was stronger to my nose / on my skin. Overall, this is very understated (compared to other musky/animalics) A bit hard to describe, but very pleasant. Evokes in me a sense of like a boutique hotel / vintage furniture / un-smelly sweat mixed with soap --- which is inherently a more mature style. I feel this is very unisex (or at least, as a guy, i wouldn't mind smelling this on a women whatsoever -- but I'd perceive her as trying to appear more wild/mature/classy/sexy and not necessarily gentle and feminine). UPDATE: ##### Sprayed 3-4 more sprays on myself, and now I can sense the patchouli and freshness a lot more! It also gives it a bit of slight tangy/sour feel (or maybe that's just the remnant of the citruses) My wrists actually give out a more animalic version of this compared to my under-arms, so this seems incredibly sensitive to skin composition and spray location! I probably won't buy a full large bottle but I'm happy with my 35ml

Wow... what a masterpiece of perfumery. Despite not being a fan of culinary-leaning notes, this fragrance uses them in an incredibly sexy way. It's unique, powerful, and explosively masculine without ever becoming offensive. It has the aura of a lion that doesn't give a damn about what's around him—not because he has anything to prove, but because he knows his worth. Confident, dominant, effortlessly sexy, and completely unapologetic. What I love most is that it doesn't smell vintage—it smells timeless. It reminds me of the rich, resinous, culinary facets often found in Amouage fragrances, yet it follows a completely distinct path. This is a fragrance with character, confidence, and exceptional artistic quality. I absolutely love it.

Today we're continuing the exploration of Chanel's prestigious Les Exclusifs collection with one of its most commanding and revered creations: Le Lion Eau de Parfum. Inspired by Gabrielle Chanel's lifelong fascination with the lion, a symbol that represented both her astrological sign and her fiercely independent spirit, Le Lion has become one of the most celebrated releases in the collection, frequently praised for its unapologetically bold character and remarkably luxurious amber composition. Since its release, it has developed a reputation as a fragrance that embodies confidence, strength, and refinement while remaining unmistakably Chanel in both its elegance and execution. Rather than chasing modern trends or reinventing the amber genre, Le Lion appears to embrace a far more timeless philosophy. Built around a foundation of rich resins, warm woods, and smooth vanilla, it seeks to deliver an opulent interpretation of amber that balances immense depth with the polished sophistication that has long defined Chanel's approach to perfumery. It is often spoken of as one of the house's boldest offerings, standing in contrast to the understated elegance that characterizes many of the other Les Exclusifs releases. Following my experience with Coromandel, another highly acclaimed amber fragrance from the collection, I'm especially interested to see how Le Lion distinguishes itself. While both fragrances occupy similar territory on paper, they have developed very different reputations within the fragrance community. The question is whether Le Lion can justify its status as one of Chanel's greatest modern creations by offering a truly unique interpretation of amber, or if it ultimately finds itself overshadowed by its equally legendary sibling. Let's find out whether Le Lion earns its place among the very best that Les Exclusifs has to offer. Opening: The opening is ambery, leathery, and sweet. The primary notes I get are labdanum, amber, Madagascar vanilla, and patchouli, with the labdanum and amber leading the composition. The labdanum immediately takes command of the fragrance as a rich, resinous, leathery amber accord. It leans heavily into its animalic character while carrying a distinctly smoky, incense-like undertone that gives the opening a remarkably dark and commanding presence. Following closely behind is the amber, expanding upon that resinous foundation with a smooth, golden warmth that feels more refined and enveloping than the raw intensity of the labdanum. The Madagascar vanilla works quietly beneath these heavier materials, introducing a creamy, natural sweetness reminiscent of fresh vanilla bean rather than sugary gourmand accords. Lastly, the patchouli rounds out the opening with a dry, earthy woodiness. While nowhere near as overtly earthy as the patchouli found in Coromandel, it serves a similar structural purpose by reinforcing the fragrance's woody foundation without drawing attention away from the dominant amber accord. The result is an opening that feels considerably darker, bolder, and more traditionally masculine than Coromandel while still sharing its unmistakable amber heart. Dry Down: The dry down is ambery, leathery, and powdery. The primary notes I get are amber, labdanum, Madagascar vanilla, and sandalwood, with the amber and labdanum leading the composition. By this stage, the amber has confidently taken the lead, delivering an even richer concentration of its signature golden warmth while becoming the emotional centerpiece of the fragrance. The labdanum steps into a supporting role but remains highly recognizable through its deep, leathery resinous character. Interestingly, much of the animalic quality present during the opening gradually fades away, replaced by a surprisingly soft, velvety powderiness that gives the fragrance a more refined and elegant character. The Madagascar vanilla continues providing a smooth layer of natural sweetness with little change in either intensity or profile, maintaining the balance established from the opening. Finally, the sandalwood replaces the patchouli as the structural backbone of the composition, contributing its signature creamy woodiness and reinforcing the increasingly powdery texture of the dry down. The patchouli remains faintly detectable as a dusty earthiness beneath the surface, but it has become little more than a quiet supporting accent. The result is a dry down that leans heavily into its amber core, allowing the rich resins and luxurious powdery textures to define the fragrance's final hours. Performance: The initial projection within the first hour of wear is incredibly strong, easily filling a room with very little effort. The sillage matches that intensity, leaving behind a dense, commanding scent trail that ensures the fragrance will not go unnoticed. Even after approximately four hours, the projection remains remarkably powerful at around six feet while the scent trail is a bit lighter but continues to be easily noticeable. By the eight to nine hour mark, the fragrance finally begins to settle, though it still projects an impressive four to five feet with a clearly perceptible scent trail. Le Lion does not officially transition into a skin scent until approximately eleven to twelve hours of wear, demonstrating the exceptional technical performance one would hope for from such a rich and resinous composition. When to Wear: Le Lion is unmistakably a fall and winter fragrance that feels most at home during the evening. Its dark, opulent composition makes it an exceptional choice for formal occasions, elegant dinners, anniversaries, or date nights where its luxurious character can truly shine. Despite its sophistication, however, this is not a fragrance that blends quietly into the background. Its rich amber profile demands attention, making it feel far too intentional for casual everyday wear while also being excessively bold for most professional office environments. Blind Buy: Le Lion is not a fragrance I would consider a safe blind buy. While the dry down evolves into a remarkably elegant and broadly appealing amber composition, the opening presents a very different story. The intensely animalic and leathery nature of the labdanum is likely to be immediately polarizing for anyone unfamiliar with or sensitive to those darker resinous accords. When combined with Chanel's luxury price point, that challenging opening makes sampling on skin an absolute necessity before committing to a full bottle. Final Verdict: Like Coromandel before it, Le Lion immediately announces itself as a fragrance of exceptional quality. From the very first spray, the richness of the raw materials and the meticulous attention to detail in the blending leave little doubt that this belongs within Chanel's Les Exclusifs collection. The commanding labdanum, radiant amber, and beautifully restrained Madagascar vanilla come together to create a composition that feels both deliberate and effortlessly luxurious. It isn't merely the notes themselves that stand out, but the remarkable refinement with which they are woven together into a cohesive whole. One aspect I found particularly compelling was the fragrance's evolution. The opening initially presents itself as bold, smoky, and unapologetically animalic, yet over time it gradually softens into something considerably smoother and more elegant without ever sacrificing its commanding presence. That transition gives Le Lion far more dimension than I initially expected and prevents it from feeling like a straightforward amber fragrance. Combined with its outstanding longevity and projection, the fragrance demonstrates the complete technical package expected from a luxury release of this caliber. What I find especially interesting is how differently Le Lion and Coromandel interpret a similar foundation. While Coromandel leans toward elegance through powdery florals and an almost gender-neutral refinement, Le Lion embraces a darker, more assertive personali

Smells like church 😭 so far it’s been on skin for the last 2-3 hours. It’s giving frankincense & myrrh. I love Chanel but never been a huge fan of their mature fragrances. 7/10 for now, incredible sillage. Update: It’s been a little over 7 hours. I still smell it on my arms even after taking a shower. I’m obsessed.

leans feminine. All new formulations have less than average performance; not surprising for Chanel fragrances. only first batch was strong.

Add lemon sherbet to Musc Ravageur and you have Le Lion. So yes, it's amazing. I might even prefer it to MR, as it's slightly more wearable.

First of all, what an obnoxious name. It's fitting, as the fragrance itself reminds me of something one of my arrogant, cigar-smoking, tobacco-laden uncles once wore. He was probably a stalker, as "Le Lion" is also horrifyingly persistent. It literally never comes off. Ugh. Gentlemen, please do not buy this fragrance.

It’s incredible. It’s like a warm vintage hug when I wear this. Powdery and delicious. Makes me feel like an older excellently dressed man living in Paris who smokes everyday. It kind of reminds me of Musc ravageur. Fantastic! 9.5/10

this scent didnt do it for me, smells like grandpa's old cologne that turned orange

A classic fragrance: a vintage-inspired oriental scent with the feel of Chanel’s luxury range. It doesn’t suit me—it has notes of leather and classic amber. 6/10. The performance is excellent.

yes, from a sample this was an unexpected meeting. even if Olivier Polge says it isn't aimed at the bestiality of the lion, what I immediately got was a pissy civet and a slab of black leather, tar, smoke. and I love it. the Labdanum is fully used in all its narcotic facets, the patchouli anchors this dark Amber Leather Animalic perfume from Chanel. I guess it takes after Cuir de Russie. the Leather is composed then by the Musk, Patchouli and Labdanum. perhaps there are several chemistries working through each other. I love this perfume and it shoves Chanel into Feral Zones. no Jasmine, Rose nor Lily of the Valley. but also not needed. I am surrounded by a dark and infringing perfume. just the way I like it.

Reminds me of a Buddhist temple – the smell of incense and mystery. Not exactly a scent I personally would wear or think "smells good," but definitely a scent I can appreciate the depth and beauty of.

The drydown is so beautiful.

To me this smells like a sexy church. It reminds me of the beautiful incense that is burned in Orthodox churches. I enjoy it, especially the opening but I would say that it is different and this is not a mass appealing scent

I could wear this everyday no problem. It doesnt come off “nighttime” to me at all. I can’t pick out individual notes but the whole comp smells like hemp twine to me. A bit smokey in the deep drydown. I’m picky to a fault with fragrances and so many ambers smell like play-doh or 00s cheapies and this one does neither. Probably my favorite amber forward fragrance yet along with cartiers oud + ambre and coromandel Two spray bae lasts all day

Opening is definitely more challenging and animalic but the drydown is where the fragrance shines. This is true parfumery. Drydown smells like a dusty 600 old book made with musty parchment, very dry, magical. It feels vintage but the deep waxy, smoky and warm nuances just work so beautifully.

I adore this, I have the original formula, very first released. It's a special night scent, I couldn't wear it everyday, it's "serious". It's a little like Chanel did a Shalimar with balls. It's better than Shalimar, of which I have 4 different ones. I will say, I adore Coromandel even MORE. To me, they are very different, but I have a picky nose. Coromandel I think I COULD wear everyday as a signature, very lightly, just a touch.

High quality vintage style patchouli amber, very similar to Francesca Bianchi Byzantine Amber or DS and Durga Amber Kiso, both of which can probably be had on the grey market for a lower price. Excellent performance and longevity, no sweet gourmand presence as in Coromandel. If that one was too sweet for you, you might give this one a try instead and vice versa.

Not my cup of tea.

I wear this year round. Middle of summer to the dead of winter. Never gets cloying or overbearing. Le lion is comforting and fresh while still maintaining a deep structure. Fantastic signature for someone who is confident enough to be remembered.

Horny sweat lion. A lot of musk and citruses. Amazing combination. Three sprays lasts 24h. I love it!

I adore this scent! It gives beautiful Parisian women who is unbothered by the world around her. She is classically chic. 10/10 no notes. The lasting power is amazing, and the fragrance trail is enticing!

10/10 nothing else needs to be said .

Very similar to Coromandel. This does not roar- this is a fancy kitten. A french mademoiselle kitten.

Reminds me of Amouage jubilation xxv and Clive Christian rococo immortelle. It’s been a while since I’ve tried those but they immediately popped in my head when I smelled this. Natural, smokey and spicy (like spice cabinet), with some vanilla creeping in as it dries down which really rounds it out nicely. Very classy, very mature.. def not a hype beast frag. For special events. Demands respect. Excellent.

I don't know what to make of it. I understand that it's a VERY sophisticated, classy and grown up fragrance but when I sprayed it, my heart didn't leap the way it did with Cométe and Coromandel. The notes say I should love it but I'm just not there yet. I really dislike Chanel No.5 and that keeps coming up for me. I asked the husband what he thought and he said it was austere and matronly but did acknowledge that it had a classiness to it. What it is bringing up though is my Grandmother's apartment in Brussels where the entrance way had a beautiful wooden floor, wood panelled walls and a crystal chandelier. They used a very resinous polish to keep the wood looking gorgeous and I'm reminded of that as I think they combined it with a wood soap that I'm picking up here. As it's drying down I am liking it more. The memory of that beautiful apartment is softening my heart. There's only one occasion for this and it's dinner in Paris or London somewhere quiet and chic. I don't feel any element of fun whilst wearing this. It's serious, compelling and dressed up. It's going to go one of two ways. I'm either going to love it or respect it. It won't be both.