BLEU DE CHANEL L’EXCLUSIF: A DAY WITH CHANEL IN NEW YORK
words and images by RAZ MARTINEZ
Bleu de Chanel has always stood for modern elegance, but this September in New York the fragrance opened a new chapter. Chanel debuted Bleu de Chanel L’Exclusif, and I was there to experience the full journey. From an intimate tour with Olivier Polge to a night where the city itself turned blue, it was a day that blurred work, memory, and celebration.
The day started quietly but with intention. After lunch, I met Belgian model Matthias Geerts who was my companion for the experience. We went to the Chanel offices for the Bleu de Chanel Fragrance Tour. It wasn’t about walking through elaborate spaces. It was about sitting down, listening, and letting the fragrance reveal itself note by note.
We were guided through the building blocks of the scent. Santal de Maré brought warmth and depth. The Cedar-Leathery Accord gave it smoke and texture. Bleu Eau de Toilette pulled us back to the brightness of the original. Each note was different, but all carried the same DNA. Olivier Polge explained how L’Exclusif takes these familiar elements and sharpens them. At its heart is sandalwood, supported by leathery and resinous notes that make the scent richer and more magnetic.
In that room it all came together. Bleu de Chanel L’Exclusif is not about rewriting the story. It is about turning up the volume on what already works. The freshness remains, but the resonance is stronger and the presence more commanding.
That evening Matthias and I went to the launch party at Le Jardin sur Madison. The Empire State Building glowed blue above Manhattan, making the fragrance feel like part of the city. Inside, the mood was effortless and glamorous. Actors, musicians, and artists filled the room. We crossed paths with Teyana Taylor, Daniel Caesar, Indya Moore, Lukas Gage, and Justine Skye among others.
The highlight came with Daniel Caesar’s surprise performance, his voice carrying through the night and closing the celebration in the most intimate way. By then Matthias and I had already shared a full day together, from discovering the fragrance privately to celebrating it in public. It felt less like attending an event and more like living through a story that moved from conversation to spectacle.
Bleu de Chanel L’Exclusif is not just another launch. It is a continuation of a story we already know, told with more depth and more intensity. For me it was a reminder of why fragrance matters. It captures memory, sharpens experience, and can turn a single day into something unforgettable.
