AldehydesOpens with
VioletHeart
VetiverDries down to
Ernest BeauxThe nose · 18 fragrances · also made Cuir de Russie Parfum (1924)Portrait →Will you like it? Mark a few fragrances you own or love and we'll tell you.
Chanel · Sold as feminine
Le 1940 Bleu de Chanel
The quiet sophistication of an early morning coffee, where the crispness of aldehydes blends with the soft floral notes of lily and violet.
Full bottle: Premium tier, typically $100–250. Links open each seller's own page. We may earn a commission; it never changes the order.
Le 1940 Bleu de ChanelPremium · $100–250
46%Similar accords, often for lessLauren · Ralph LaurenMid-range tier, $40–100 · shares 6 of its 15 notes8 matches →How it wears
From community votes · bars are each option's shareComposition & Character
Notes Pyramid
HeartThe Soul
BaseFoundation
Main Accords
When to Wear
Who Wears It
The story behind the bottle.
Launched in 1931 by Chanel, Le 1940 Bleu de Chanel is a Floral Aldehyde fragrance for women crafted by perfumer Ernest Beaux. The composition opens with the crisp freshness of aldehydes and lily-of-the-valley before giving way to a heart of violet, cassis, and cyclamen. Vetiver, cedar, and sandalwood form a warm, powdery base that anchors this complex scent. This fragrance is a proof of Chanel's legacy of elegance and innovation.
Apply Le 1940 Bleu de Chanel lightly — its opening freshness is bright but fades within a couple of hours. The powdery base notes will linger close to your skin throughout the day, making it ideal for daytime wear.
Fig. 01 — Le 1940 Bleu de Chanel, Chanel
Where to buy.
Wear it for a week first
A decant costs a fraction of a bottle and tells you how it lasts on your skin.
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Ernest Beaux
The man who invented modern perfumeryErnest Beaux is the perfumer who changed everything. Born in Moscow to a Franco-Russian family, he served as an officer in World War I before entering the laboratories of A. Rallet & Co. in Grasse.
“I went to present her with my creations – two series: 1 to 5 and 20 to 24. From these she chose several, including one labelled Number 5.”
Ernest Beaux · Beaux, "Souvenirs d'un parfumeur", Industrie de la Parfumerie, Oct 1946 (trans. via Bois de Jasmin)
Designer Chanel
More from the house · founded 1921 · France
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Chosen from what wearers say it smells like, what its fans also love, and its notes
Love it, not the $100–250 price?
Matched by accords and notes. Sample first, then decide.
The originalLe 1940 Bleu de ChanelChanel · Premium · $100–250Ralph Lauren · 1978LaurenShares 6 of its 15 notes$40–100★ 4.07 (1,792)45%Match
Swiss ArabianRasheeqaShares 4 of its 8 notesunder $40★ 3.86 (192)42%Match
Shiseido · 1973NishikiShares 6 of its 18 notes$40–100★ 4.12 (16)
With Chanel Allure Homme Edition Blanche Eau de Parfum
Adds citrus and vanilla; shares sandalwood and vetiver.
Suggested from accords and notes · not yet tried by wearers
What people
are saying.
Respected, if divisive: loved by 54%, disliked or hated by 23%.