Boy Eau de Parfum

It's nice. Safe, soft, and well balanced. Barbershop style. But i would stick with Tom Ford Beau du Jour over this any day.

Took me a while to warm up to this. So happy i have it in my wardrobe.

Love this fragrance. Powdery and very unisex. I can wear it, your mom can wear it and your grandma can wear it. We can all smell good together. Just don't be a sucker and buy it for the opening. It is fresh but the dry down is a lot more deep. It transforms into a non freshie. 8/10

I completely understand why this has become such a beloved fragrance. The opening is unmistakably classic Chanel. It starts with that familiar aldehydic, almost barbershop-like freshness, with lavender and bright citrus leading the way. If you’re not expecting it, it can feel quite traditional—but give it a few minutes. On my skin, that phase disappears surprisingly quickly. What follows is where Boy becomes truly special. The fragrance transforms into one of the most beautiful clean scents I’ve ever worn. It’s airy, creamy, softly musky, and incredibly refined. Nothing feels sharp or overly soapy. Instead, everything melts together into this elegant cloud that sits close to the skin while still maintaining enough presence to keep you smelling your wrist. I think the geranium is what makes this fragrance so captivating. Rather than smelling floral, it adds an aromatic, slightly green quality that keeps everything feeling fresh and alive. Combined with the lavender, it creates the impression of walking through a field of wildflowers rather than wearing a bouquet. Oddly enough, whenever I wear Boy, I picture daisies. There aren’t any daisy notes here, and daisies barely have a scent, but that’s the image this fragrance creates in my mind. It reminds me of the fields I grew up around—wildflowers scattered through tall grass, warm sunshine, dry hay, and a gentle breeze. The coumarin contributes that beautiful hay-like warmth, while the musk and sandalwood give everything a soft, creamy texture. It feels less like smelling flowers and more like smelling the air surrounding them. Despite its fougère structure, Boy never feels dated to me. Olivier Polge took the DNA of a classic masculine fragrance and softened it with heliotrope, vanilla, musk, and sandalwood, creating something that feels effortlessly modern and incredibly wearable. This isn’t a loud fragrance. It isn’t trying to command attention. It’s simply elegant, comforting, and quietly sophisticated. To me, Boy smells less like a perfume and more like a memory—a peaceful afternoon in the countryside surrounded by wildflowers, warm grass, and clean air. It’s one of the most beautiful clean fragrances in my collection.

Like most Chanel perfumes, has a classic feel. It is polite, inoffensive but unfortunately to my nose has a very strong lemon note which I’m not keen on.

Warm, toasty, classic - like a lion cub licking your arm with a sand-papery tongue. It's also very reminiscent of 'barber shop' scents for men, like Old Spice - that kind of thing. Depending on your generation this will give grandad vibes, in a nice way, and only if your grandad was a dapper sort. At the same time though, i I think it would be a gorgeous perfume for women in autumn. It reminds me of the very classy Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier's Cuir Fetiche, a lovely powdery raspy leather. I remember buying it, just loving the scent, but then being put off it by my sister saying 'Oh it smells like a man!' In the same way, you'll enjoy the opening of this, but the more it dries down, the more manly it smells, and that's great if you don't care, if you just like the scent. I do believe Boy would be more of a statement on a woman than a man, since it's slightly generic as a man's cologne, but, It's good quality. In fact it has a hint of poweder some men wouldn't be able to pull off too well. Maybe a bit like the wonderful Knize Ten, which I'd also say suits some women. Perfumes with this balanced, classy elegance (those without the screeching synthetics that linger for days and eventually make you feel sick) are a dying breed, I fear. Dries down to a warm, slightly rough tawniness. Love.

Oh boy, loved it knew that i would be getting this instantly upon sniffing. Its a fougere with citrus and florals and powdery creamy vanilla sandalwood and tonka. Smells very classy, mature unisex. It’s perfect blend of fem and masculine Opening is masc and dry down get fem leaning, a lovely cozy cuddly soft fragrance for you and your partner. 10/10

The best perfume for everyday wear. Bought my first bottle in 2018 and have been in love with it ever since. Unisex, beautifully understated and effortlessly elegant, this is the ultimate quiet luxury scent in my opinion. Although I stop smelling it on myself after about some 4 hrs, I’ve noticed that other people still pick it up around me even 8-12 hours later. It has that rare, discreet kind of presence: never loud, but it's there. A real compliment-getter, especially with men.

This is so gorgeous. Perfectly unisex, more masculine at the top and more feminine at the base. The geranium shines here, with the lavender giving it that "barbershop" edge in the beginning, and the powder softening it toward the end. It smells expensive and alluring. Is it worth retail price? Not sure, I was able to find a next to new bottle on Mercari for a pretty decent discount, and I'm not sure if I would personally spring for this at retail. But, it's got good lasting power, composed well, and smells wonderful. Projection is just okay, it's stronger in the beginning but clings to the skin as time goes on. I'm happy to have it in my collection, I'm always looking for a good unisex option and this one is one of the better ones I've found.

truly surprised at all the recent comments - i wonder if this was reformulated; i have a a 2023 batch that lasts 8-10 hours with a nice scent bubble, but fairly exceptional longevity. i think this scent is simply perfect, day and night, 365 days a year, calming and soft signature scent, albeit androgynous, so for those that want a traditional masculine fougere, steer clear, or at least hold your nose the first hour while the signature chanel aldehydes die down

The perfumer must have been afraid of getting the wrong balance of scents so made the perfume so week it needs multiple applications to appreciate, and does a disappearing act within an hour to hide all evidence. You have to put your nose to your skin to smell it, not what you expect when you pay $600 for a bottle.

A soft, powdery and delightful geranium with the special Chanel DNA. I love it but after 6 sprays and an hour later, it’s vanished from my skin and clothes. If it didn’t do the magical vanishing act then it would have been my signature.

Every time I wear this, I find a new note, and I love it more. My go-to office scent, headache reliever, and relaxation scent. All season, day and night perfection, definitely my fav from the brand. I do wish longevity were 25% better

Inches away from perfection this one of the cases I wish this was modernized make it fresher, a little less serious and improve the performance

Love at first sniff. Skin scent. Lavender (not like the Jersey one), geranium, barbershop and grandpa vibe that evolves to powdery/slightly citrus drydown. Lasts all day.

A high-quality, traditional French eau de Cologne for women; it's nothing like a hair salon fougère. A floral, musky cologne in the same vein as Chanel No. 5 Eau Première, it's feminine and not at all masculine. It's very strong and has excellent longevity, lasting over 9 hours on my skin. If you're looking for a barbershop fougère, look elsewhere.

The aromatic powder of Penhaligon’s Sartorial meets the well-blended rosy succulent of Ormande Jayne Nawab of Oudh Intensivo. Slightly sweet powdery aromatic lavender, with the familiar elegant hints of Chanel’s powdery creamy classic florals combination. It projects nicely around me, and lasts for a long time as skin scent.

baby powder, i love it

The first 30 minutes of this fragrance is, in my opinion, the most beautiful and interesting fragrance I have worn. It carries Chanel DNA yet does not smell outdated or overly mature. At the same time, its vintage notes work well with the lighter, airier lavender. After those thirty minutes, however, I can hardly smell it. For me, this scent is a cruel joke---it evokes everything I want and require out of a fragrance, but just does not last. When the scent fades into the skin, a mild smoky sweetness is all the is left. I love this scent, obviously. But in line with many other Chanel L'exclusifs, the projection and lasting power is seriously killer for me.

Worn a few times...first time was meh. Second time was intriguing. Third time...starting to love it. Not sure what to make of it. Lovely Chanel aldehydes and a mix of oriental notes, vanilla, aldehydes, soft subtle florals, and some citruses in the opening. Clean musky drydown. Not sure how to classify this...doesn't fit any specific genre or profiles. More of a vibe than a specific scent profile. Having read the history of it's inspiration, I might understand it a bit more...an effort to capture a memory and a feeling more than a specific scent. Beautiful and melancholic. Scent: 8.5-9, Sillage: 7.5, Longevity: 7 EDIT (8/22/2025): It occurred to me that in the drydown, the aldehydic, vanilla, and musk reminds me of the original Chanel Allure Homme, which I love. That one doesn't quite have the opening fougere like vibes, but the dry down has a lot of similarities.

Lavender bergamot geranium rose powdery musk oakmoss Boy was believed to be the nickname of Chanel’s love of her life, who tragically died in a car crash. Whether this is true is largely irrelevant as it becomes quickly apparent that boy is an attempt at creating the male ideal, clearly masculine, but emotionally tender and in a way that approaches a more classically feminine beauty, young Alain Delon, comes to mind, glowing skin, high cheek bones but with a razor sharp jaw line. Olivier Polge seems to have taken the fougere structure of lavender coumarin oakmoss and have infused it with rosy musk and powdery almond/heliotropin. Lorenzo Villoresi Musk comes to mind, in the way woods, musk and powder still confidently stay in masculine territory, Amouage lyric man is a more distant relative. The base retains the fougere authenticity by introducing a hint of a convincing oakmoss accord. The result is brilliant. The perfect money trap for a enthusiast of classic fragrance with modern sensitivities, like myself.

It’s a sour scent, defiant. A lure for lions. A bit like extracting the final note from Habit and indulging in it alone — a somewhat unappetizing vision. Boy reflects itself and grabs onto the barber’s razor — mint approaches, the predictability of old-school classics follows. In the fashion of pour homme, it retains a final note at the end.

Right when the rest of the fragrance industry is going bananas 🍌 in Elixir Absolu Concentree Variations of variations, the Chanel Customer gets the royal 🫅 treatment with constantly high quality products. Boy comes across as a smooth Fougere for 15 minutes. While you’re trying to figure out what’s going on you already know you’ve won the attention game. It’s not a screaming 😱 Extrait of some Ambroxan Cashmeran chemical Desaster. The Chanel DNA 🧬 comes across quite nicely and yet subdued. The musk part reminds me of 1957 although nothing that potent and strong. If Fragrantica wouldn’t have some ingredients listed, half of the reviews wouldn’t know what they were talking about. It’s a skin scent with an attitude. Clearly signature fragrance worthy. I’ve struggled to buy it because I’m a great fan of 1957 and LeLion and Coromandel and a few more. I was worried is there enough room for this to be worn with joy and love. And the answer is a resounding yes 😊 The play between the musks, Chanel DNA and the powdery creamy texture is a masterpiece. Nothing edgy about this one. No sharp chemical reaction whatsoever. This goes on for hours. The fragrance reacts with your skin. Your own musks. I’m so happy to have made this purchase. Because it’s Chanel, I already know I can enjoy it for a long while because one of my favorites is around for 40 years already… Egoiste 😊 If you like my thoughts, hit the 👍 button.

This is a beautifully composed aromatic fougere that may lean a tad too feminine for some in the mid to late drydown. It's also a very busy powdery lavender composition, and I needed quite a few wears to really appreciate it, but it’s become a love.

this has becoming my dumb reach scent. whenever im overwhelmed with the thought of choosing the scent of the day (always an issue for us fragrance lovers), i almost always reach for this one. its easy, present without ever being cloying, fits any occasion and any time of the day. signature worthy for sure 😘

I finally got to sample boy. This smells like Celine Reptile if it had added Coumarin sweetness and vanilla. This smells like a woman wearing her husbands or father sweater. His Musk and aftershave kissing the fabric. Really beautiful and haunting. Creates a pang of nostalgia and makes me miss my grandad. Edit: I’ve worn this a few times now and Sigh! The opening is too sharp for me. I wanted a fluffy mossy Coumarin dream and it gets there but that opening really disturbs me. I have a 65% full 75ml bottle of sell or swap. I’m the states.

It’s super hot here in Atlanta in the summer and after a day in the sun and a cold shower this feels so fresh. It’s opens with a burst of Chanel DNA. Meaning it’s just smells like a Chanel fragrance. After 5 minutes who can start to separate some top and mid notes. I tend to wear this casually but I could see it being more dressed up, not formal but put together, date night. I’m not sure the longevity is what you get this for. These notes don’t have the molecule size for that. It’s very pleasant for a decent amount of time then a good clean skin scent. What more do you want in 90 degree heat

Despite feeling a certain type of way towards the brand, mostly because of their elitist politics and abusive behaviour towards the fragcom, i hold Chanel in very high regards. I always thought of their fragrances as well mannered, of classic luxury and exquisite taste. A brand that embodies french sophistication and refinement. I’ve smelt hundreds of perfumes but never a Chanel. It so happens that this first one is a lesser known one, so much so that i never even knew of its existence even tho i’ve consumed alot of fragrance content in the past few years. If not for the kind heart of a lady who included a decant in a package, as a gift, i would have remained oblivious to it. “Boy” was i right about the style of the brand (pun intended)! This one is subtle, smooth and dare i say vintage in its aproach. I keep hearing about the “Chanel effect” and i think that refers precisely to the classic elegance of times gone by that this fragrance showcases aswell. Interesting name however, “Boy”, because its a completly androginous fragrance, feminine leaning even. If we read about Gabrielle Chanel’s personal love life, we quickly find out where the name actually comes from. Its a fatty, soapy-powdery perfume with light herbal green elements that remains delicate throughout the complete experience. A pampering, pillowy fragrance with touches of vanilla, musk, heliotrope and white florals. It feels aldehydic aswell but that adds to the delicate and wispy nature of the scent. I must admit i would have liked some dryness and more woody aspects for the sake of adding a “hard base” and masculinity to the perfume. Having said that, such tweaks would take away from the concept of the scent and denature its message so perhaps its perfect as it is. It would be unfair to place it in the basic powdery or clean musky category of fragrances because i’ve never smelled anything like this. Its not unique because of contrasting elements or highs and lows, its simply built differently. I cannot emphasize enough on how smooth the fragrance is to my nose. Its ethereal in nature, it feels like trying to grab hold of a ray of sunlight shining through the windows of a room full of dust particles that gently reflect the light. At first glance, Boy comes across too soft bodied for my taste but i suspect that this scent will remain engraved in my mind. It has that “Je ne sais quoi” and the compliment of “beauty in simplicity” is both true and insulting to describe this perfume. P.S. I have to correct myself, this isn't the first Chanel i've ever smelt, i already reviewed Platinum Egoiste. 2026 Update: My intuition told me that Boy will leave a mark on me and i was right. An opportunity came to pick up a near full 75ml bottle for the bargain price of 80$ and i jumped on it without second thoughts.

She loved him, dearly. That was the first thought that I had when I smelled Boy on a blotter strip. Now that it's on skin, I'm not so sure that's the same feeling I get. On a strip Boy comes across as very gently masculine; a very slight and quiet lavender fougere tinged with sparkling florals and aldehydes. I got this image of Coco picturing a boy in her mind's eye and swooning with love - a masculine energy hugged by feminine longing - whether that was a love interest of Coco's or perhaps the thought of the son she never had. My heart swelled with hers. On skin, the perfume's behavior is a bit different. The sparkling aldehydic florals present themselves more simply as sparkling citrus fruits with a slightly more robust lavender. The floral middle is noticeably subdued. The gentle musks of the base allow the sandalwood and moss to have greater projection. On skin then, this is shaping out to be much more of a typical masculine fougere than, shall we say, a feminine fougere. It is Fougere Royale given the Chanel treatment of French chic and restrained elegance via powdery florals and a gentle voice. It does go far enough in that direction that even most women, I suspect, would be quite comfortable wearing this perfume - a very rare thing for the fougere category. Then I learned what actually inspired this fragrance: Boy is the nickname of Arthur Capel, considered to be Coco's one-and-only true love, who was killed in a car accident in his 30s. The pieces then fall into place as I am smelling it. This is a fougere about longing and the remembrance of a lost-love. The love of and for a man who is fading further into passing time. It's a very lovely perfume, if a bit sad and almost a bit too heart-swelling. Like the most heart-wrenching of stories about love lost and longing, they are stories more suited to private moments than public broadcast, which is probably why this perfume's projection and sillage is quite minimal. I have a hard time picturing when, where, and with whom I would wear this perfume, so for private moments it will be. I will likely rarely wear it, but it is a story I am very glad to know.

Love everything about this fragrance. It’s so well rounded and easy to wear. Never offensive or cloying. The lavender is the most prominent note when sprayed but gently fades letting all the other notes shine through. I’ve worn it 3 times since I bought it 10 days ago. One of the days I layered it with Jersey and they compliment one another beautifully. I find this to be more subtle than strong. If you love strong fragrances this may not be for you. Performance is amazing on hot days. I will wear it year round.