Sycomore Eau de Parfum

Now I'm a Chanel fanboy, but this smells exactly like Lalique's Encre Noire which you can pick up for around $25.

This reminds me of something from my past but i cannot figure out. I could be scents from one of the hotels!? Dry wood, tabacco stands out. Zen but interesting. I do like the smell but to me, i prefer these dey woody smell to be room scent than on my skin.

141 wears. Still my absolute favorite...

I liken this to my long lost favourite L'Essence by Balenciaga. They aren't particularly similar in a way people would recommend them as dupes but I feel like they're similar souls. Both Sycomore and L'Essence are primarily violet and vetiver heavy, imo (and I'm a sucker for that rare combo). L'Essence is much more of a dewy forest after rainfall scent; juicier in a way, more "raw" smelling than the very refined Sycomore. Sycomore has a very polished air to it, almost aloof, that je ne sais quoi quality that I find many of Chanel's better scents have. It's simple but extremely well done in its simplicity. Its vetiver is the finest I've ever smelled without being overwhelming and that's saying something. It is incredibly polished. Like Sycomore could be the mother whereas L'Essence could be the young daughter. Longevity and sillage are superb - it's not a sillage bomb like Baccarat or anything but it's not a whisper, there and gone, like Jo Malone. The hefty price tag in this case does certainly come with a guarantee of longevity at least. Would I shell out the 200+ quid for it? Maybe. If I had it to spare, surely. It's definitely one of the most beautiful, harmonic perfumes I've smelled in a while. Perfectly unisex btw.

to me - this is a more subtle and subdued version of vetiver parfum from gurlain on paper i get nice woody notes but they get lost on my skin. also, it has a very intimate silage - so not the nice loudness of gurlain. so unfortunately this can't be justified for purchase (especially at this price point) i have a hunch that anyone who loves this - would love gurlain's vetiver parfum even more.

I wanted to try this hoping at least my.husband could use if it smelled too masculine but someones review on the edt who sounded really on the know, pointed out the smokiness of the vetiver likely came from some added guiac wood 🤢 so won't be forking out even the tiniest of cash for a sample. That's a note I can't stand on either gender. Perhaps I couldn't identify in that small amount I don't know but I'm sure I'd just not like it and think something in it isn't real pleasant. If I see it in my rounds I'd spray it on a strip gladly. I do like the foresty scents but for female scents it's a miss more than hit. The fabulous ones seem to get canceled. 😞

I absolutely love this dark, nutty vetiver. It’s a dark fragrance where vetiver takes centre stage. It has a woody, smoky scent. It doesn’t have any aldehyde or soapy notes, which is exactly why I like it. 10/10

Bought it a couple of days ago and...it smelt like a weaker version of Encre noire edt...gone was the beautiful Chanel DNA drydown..it feels watered down.

Clean vetiver and woody fragrance smells green classy well put. It’s fresh and creamy at the same time sandalwood is so relaxing with vetiver. Very classy fits a mature man, would be getting this. I would like my girlfriend to call me husband when I wear this hahaha

(My husband’s) Perfection. Complex without being complicated. To me, the violet and spice pop out in a big way, which I love on him. One of my husband’s signature scents.

For all those negative comments, this is not some Sephora mass production for the rookie nose. It’s a work of art, just one sniff and you create the story it contains. You have to appreciate art in order to appreciate Sycomore. Wearing it will change your class.

Dry, resinous wood, cured tobacco, and a hint of supple smoky leather. The smoke dissipates after the first half hour or so. Projection seems poor, so I wonder if it’s intended as more of a skin scent. Still, it’s restrained in a classy way.

I got 2 testers when purchasing another Chanel product. Have never fell so hard and fast for a perfume before. Officially made this my first true signature scent. Finally found the one. Simply stunning, quiet luxury at it’s best. To me this is all about a balanced creamy vetiver, sandalwood, pine and a touch of sweet vanilla. It evolves gradually from smoky, earthy to smooth and creamy. Very long lasting with a soft silage. Comes at a higher price point but what you get is fantastic quality. If you are looking for a signature scent it is worth the price. It’s a beautiful scent. Gives me a feeling of safety and harmony.

Lovely lovely vetiver. Refined, with a clearly defined structure, this is a superb scent. Very approachable, and very more-ish. I love to wear this when I know I am going to be able to enjoy it… and because it’s not loud, I tend to wear with a t-shirt and jeans and not hide it under a shirt and jacket.

You know who wears this on my wildest dreams? Me. Haha Smoky, woody, incense-y vetiver, it is fresh and it is dark (?) and it s smells like business. Very dry fragrance, I dont get the vanilla. And if this perfume was a character it would be a Bond Girl.

Sycomore is a masterclass in understated elegance. From the opening, you’re met with a dry, smoky vetiver that feels incredibly natural and refined. There’s an earthy quality, but it’s clean and controlled, never dirty or overpowering. A subtle touch of woods and soft smoke gives it depth without making it heavy. What stands out most is the balance. It has presence, but it never feels loud or aggressive. Everything is smooth, structured, and perfectly blended, giving it a calm, confident character. As it dries down, the vetiver becomes softer and slightly creamier, while maintaining that dry, woody backbone. It’s the kind of scent that feels composed and intentional, like a well-tailored outfit. This is not a fragrance that chases attention, it creates a quiet, refined aura that you appreciate more the longer you wear it. Perfect for someone who values simplicity, structure, and timeless style. Scent: 9/10 Longevity: 8/10 Projection: 6.5/10

The smell reminded the walk I had until the Juquehy beach in Brazil. Nice vetiver, great fragrance. However it reminds me also Encre Noir, a bit warmer (I have the traditional and Sport, so there's a chance it is even closer to the Extreme version). For a Vetiver Fragrance, I prefer Grey Vetiver from Tom Ford, nicer and more sophisticate, or Encre Noir, also great fragrance with better price.

The smell is incredible: no smokiness, mustiness, oiliness, just smooth, sweet, creamy aromatic cocktail that is a perfect balance of various notes. But the projection is too weak for me: while my wife can sense it when in the same room with me, I have to literally sniff my skin to enjoy it.

For the price and longevity, this is a terrible option if you want vetiver OR tobacco. I actually tried this because of the tobacco note, which for my skin, faded quickly and I was left with just the dry root. It's funny because I was accompanied by someone else who tried it on with me through a skin test, and the tobacco note lingered on her, but after not even half an hour of wearing it, the fragrance totally vanished.

vetiver end boss

The initial smell reminds me exactly the smell of the walls and air of a smoke sauna: black soot on walls and whisks made of birch branches in hot water, very realistic experience, even unexpected from Chanel. (The only other thing similar to such a soot have been the top/initial notes of Beautiful by Estée Lauder -- the vintage version, not the modern one!) Then it tones down a bit but stays roughly the same and is quite similar to Guerlain's Vetiver Parfum. Sycomore disappears immediately on my shirt. So I would certainly prefer Vetiver Parfum which has the same profile but much stronger and which works on shirt too. Similarity with Encre Noire A L'Extreme -- no, except the only common vetiver base. All vetiver scents could be considered similar then. I just compared on both hands and Encre Noire A L'Extreme also supersedes Sycomore by its clear character and strong vetiver in it. Sycomore seems to be the least "Chanel" scent so far. Edit 07.07.26: finishing my sample at last. This time I recalled that I had actually tested this already 13 years ago in a shop! This was one of the last two to choose from when I was buying a whole bottle of Chanel. Back then with barely any experience in the scent world Sycomore reminded me mostly leather, like leather boots, it felt too distinctive and brave to wear outside and I still feel so even though I enjoy the smell, so the winner back then was 28 La Pausa which I still use and which is one of my Chanel favourites. Another thing that I felt when testing Sycomore today was the same thing as previously: this is primarily soot, the black tar-like substance or coating material that forms over time on the walls of a smoke sauna. I don't consider this scent as a vetiver scent at all, even though yes, there is similarity with Guerlain's Vetiver Parfum which is one of my best vetiver scents! They're similar but still too different at the same time. Just to be sure, I sprayed some "pure vetiver" on my other hand (which I consider my Vetiver Haiti by The Merchant of Venice) so I have a fresh experience of vetiver in my nose and yes, this Vetiver Haiti / Vetiver Bourbon, Grey Vetiver, Cowboy Grass, September and others that I consider vetiver scents and enjoy them as such are very different from Sycomore. Only when the initial soot disappears a bit over time then it turns slightly more to the vetiver kind. Both stages are nice.

It's just a faint vetiver scent, this perfume is very overrated, the longevity and projection are zero, it doesn't last more than three hours on my skin, I don't receive any of the other notes mentioned apart from the vetiver. If you want a deep, complex, and refined vetiver fragrance, look elsewhere. 5/10

For me, this is a less fruity and less incensy Timbuktu. Without the incense and mango note, Sycamore is too much with the vetiver. It's a real spicy and earthy, peanutty vetiver which is just a little too much for me; however, this really calms down on the dry down and the fragrance becomes luxurious and smooth. Overall: 8/10.

It's alovely vetiver scent, a better version of Encre Noire IMHO, as it's crisper and elegant and clean. However, the lasting power and sillage are both attrocious, more similar to Jo Malone's EdC than Chanel EdP, so I'm not tempted to buy a bottle :(

The sexiest unisex fragrance I've tried. It smells like someone writing a letter to their lover on luxurious papyrus paper, their windows open with the scent of cypress trees in the air and incense smoke drifting in from another room. This review is for the Edp, I haven't tried its predecessor. Arms length sillage for 6-8 hours before it becomes a skin scent.

I love vetiver, so I really wanted to love Sycomore. I've tried it multiple times at various Chanel counters at airports around the world when I'm flying for work, but I can't see what the fuss is all about. I consider Jacques Polge one of the greatest designer perfumers of all time, yet this, to me, is so "muddled" and "busy" right from the opening, and it sorely misses that signature "airiness" that he is so well known for through his Chanel output. Where is the airy smokiness, crisp aldehydes, and smooth sandalwood that other reviews go on about? This, to me, is just a dank, murky, encre noire-esque vetiver fragrance. This is an extremely "hollow" sensory experience to me. Trust me, I rarely say this, but this fragrance is overpriced for what it actually delivers. 7/10

similar to guerlain vetiver but less cloying and bitter in the opening

Sycamore captures the childhood town Coco Chanel had grown up in. It’s green, soft, and elegant. I love the scent so much but the perfume keeps longing for more. It’s disappearing so fast as the silage is intimate - well too intimate. I need to keep sniffing my arms or shirt just to smell the lovely scent. Don’t get me wrong the longevity of the scent is around 5-6 hours on my skin and 8 hours up on my cloth, but you need to sniff it up! It would be perfect if they can make the silage range a bit stronger.

I love this fragrance. It stands in all seasons and works in almost every situation. This is my go-to.

Sometimes the notes on fragrantica bemuse me because I smell woodsy vetiver, yes, but also smokiness and incense (“other spices”) with a heaping dose of citrus. Initial spray is church outdoors - incense and cedar - which quickly burns off to a shockingly photorealistic citrus, either grapefruit, lemon, or both, and it’s immense. Citrus > Cedar > Smokey Vetiver in order of lingering power. This isn’t so low class to be Pine Sol-y, the spices make it classy Chanel, but by god would I *not* bill citrus anything lower than a headliner. Not for me, but may work for you.