Le 1940 Bleu de Chanel
“Le 1940 Bleu de Chanel by Chanel is a Floral Aldehyde fragrance for women”
The Quick Read
Respected, if divisive — a woody, fresh composition with a white floral undertone. Voted best for summer and winter wear, leaning feminine.
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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.
Composition & Character
Notes Pyramid
Heart
The Soul
Base
Foundation
Main Accords
When to Wear
Who Wears It
How It Wears
Application Tips
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.
Ernest Beaux
Founding perfumer · 18 fragrances · b. 1881 · French
“I presented Mademoiselle Chanel with samples numbered one through five, and twenty through twenty-four. She chose number five.”
Ernest 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. In 1921, he presented Coco Chanel with a series of experimental samples — and sample number five became Chanel No. 5, arguably the most famous fragrance ever created. By boldly incorporating synthetic aldehydes into a floral bouquet, Beaux shattered the conventions of natural perfumery and ushered in the modern age. His legacy is not merely a fragrance but an entirely new way of thinking about scent.
Also created
About the Brand
Chanel
The epitome of French elegance and timeless sophistication
Founded by Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel, the house has defined luxury perfumery through restraint, precision, and abstract elegance. From the revolutionary No. 5 to modern classics like Bleu de Chanel, Chanel fragrances are known for their refined, wearable luxury.
Designer Chanel
More from Chanel
Edited by Scentsation Editorial
The story behind the bottle.
The quiet sophistication of an early morning coffee, where the crispness of aldehydes blends with the soft floral notes of lily and violet.
Fig. 01 — Le 1940 Bleu de Chanel, Chanel
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