Twenty-five years after its debut, Coco Mademoiselle remains one of Chanel’s defining olfactory signatures. For the anniversary, Chanel is giving Coco Mademoiselle a new edge with Crush Absolu, an intensified interpretation that arrived in the Middle East on September 9.

Olivier Polge, Chanel’s perfumer-creator, has revisited the fragrance first composed by his father, Jacques Polge, in 2001 giving Crush Absolu its own interpretation of the original. It keeps the signature character behind Coco Mademoiselle’s success, but takes the fragrance in a richer direction, with warmer amber and woody notes. The finished scent retains a sense of familiarity while bringing a more confident character to the Coco Mademoiselle story.

A Familiar Signature, Reworked

Photo: Chanel

Rather than depart from the original, Chanel builds directly on it. The fragrance opens on a bright note, with grapefruit and lychee bringing a fresh burst to the first impression. Rose and jasmine soften the heart with a floral touch, while patchouli, vanilla and vetiver give the base a warmer, more layered finish.

Olivier Polge describes Crush Absolu as “an affirmation of the self.” This is an intensification, it speaks to the same spirit of independence and vitality associated with Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel, expressed now with greater sensuality and weight.

Gracie Abrams Fronts a Campaign About Instinct

Photo: Chanel

For the anniversary, Chanel has named Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams as the new face of Coco Mademoiselle.

Directed by Joe Wright, the campaign moves away from the usual perfume-film formula, giving Gracie Abrams room to embrace a more spontaneous side.

It opens on a red-carpet scene, Abrams leaves the expected glamour behind, dancing on café tables and running barefoot through the rain as the evening takes an unexpected turn.

Abrams feels like a natural fit for the campaign, particularly given her admiration for Coco Chanel’s independent spirit. She has spoken in interviews about Chanel’s willingness to challenge convention and forge her own path.

More Than an Anniversary Release

Photo: Chanel

With Crush Absolu, Chanel is doing more than commemorating a date. It is repositioning one of its most recognizable fragrances for the present.

For a heritage house, that balance is critical. A dramatic departure could dilute decades of recognition. No change at all could make the fragrance feel static. Crush Absolu avoids both. It keeps the structure intact and deepens the character, offering a contemporary interpretation of the Coco Mademoiselle woman: confident, instinctive, and self-directed. The campaign’s focus on movement and impulse reinforces that positioning. The message is not that she has changed, but that she has another way to express herself.

Coco Mademoiselle Crush Absolu follows that same philosophy. Rooted in a 2001 creation, it is presented through Olivier Polge’s reinterpretation, Joe Wright’s cinematic direction, and a new generation’s cultural reference point in Abrams.

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Omani high perfumery house Amouage has expanded its Exceptional Extraits collection with two new creations, Decision 42 and Overture 41, reimagining existing fragrances with richer concentrations and more powerful interpretations.

The Exceptional Extraits collection allows Amouage to revisit its signature scents while exploring new expressions of their original concepts. For this release, the house revisits Decision and Overture Woman,

Decision 42: A Story of Survival and Renewal

Photo: Instagram /@amouageofficial

Inspired by the narrative behind the original Decision eau de parfum, Decision 42 draws inspiration from the image of a juniper tree struck by lightning, enduring a moment of disruption before emerging stronger.

The extrait version heightens that story through a deeper composition. Neroli, cardamom, and cinnamon create a sharper opening, before juniper blends with Javanol, patchouli, and rectified pine tar to reveal a darker, more intense character. Vanilla and labdanum bring warmth to the base, reinforcing the fragrance’s underlying theme of endurance and survival.

Decision 42 is aged for six weeks and contains a 42 per cent concentration of perfume oils.

Overture 41: From Understudy to Leading Role

Photo: Instagram /@amouageofficial

Overture 41 revisits the theatrical inspiration behind Overture Woman, which follows the journey of a young understudy unexpectedly stepping into the role of a Grand Diva.

The new extrait continues that transformation, presenting the understudy as the figure taking centre stage. Saffron, Calvados, and rose return with greater intensity, supported by patchouli and leather for added depth. A new amber accord introduces warmth, while Sandalwood Drèches Absolute, created from upcycled sandalwood chips, adds further richness and texture.

Photo: Instagram /@amouageofficial

Like Decision 42, Overture 41 is aged for six weeks and features a high perfume oil concentration, with 41 per cent perfume oils.

Together, the two fragrances explore moments of change and the strength found in unexpected circumstances.  Decision 42 and Overture 41 are available from Amouage boutiques and the brand’s online store from September 1, 2026.

Gourmand fragrances were supposed to be a passing trend. Instead, they have become one of the defining directions in modern perfumery, with food-inspired scents continuing to dominate launches and fragrance conversations in 2026.

What began with familiar notes such as vanilla, caramel and chocolate has expanded into pistachio, coffee, rice, sesame and milk, giving the category new ways to stay interesting.

The appeal goes beyond sweetness

Photo: Unboxed scent hub

Part of their appeal comes from the memories and emotions tied to food. Gourmand fragrances can evoke comfort, nostalgia and familiar experiences, giving them a warmth that feels personal.

Gourmand is becoming more sophisticated

Today’s gourmand fragrances are not simply designed to smell like desserts. Perfumers are mixing edible notes with woods, florals, spices and musks to give them more depth. Vanilla, for instance, can come across as creamy, smoky, spicy or woody depending on the rest of the composition. This gives brands room to revisit familiar ingredients while creating fragrances with their own distinct character.

Pistachio’s rise in gourmand perfumer

Photo: Instagram-@roshniizaveri

Pistachio has emerged as a prominent note in gourmand perfumery, bringing a nutty, creamy character that differs from the familiar sweetness of vanilla and caramel. Its creamy, nutty profile blends easily with other sweet notes, while florals, woods and musk can give it a more layered character that feels less like a dessert.

The popularity of pistachio is also helping push gourmand fragrance towards other food-inspired notes, including rice, sesame and creamy milk accords.

The trend is moving beyond perfume

Photo: Cracking springs

Gourmand fragrance is also becoming part of wider beauty routines. Kayali, for example, is extending Yum Pistachio Gelato | 33 and Yum Boujee Marshmallow | 81 into body creams and lip balms, allowing the scents to be incorporated into fragrance layering and worn across the body.

That expansion shows how edible scent profiles are no longer limited to the perfume bottle. They are becoming part of a broader approach to beauty built around scent, texture and layering.

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