NEW FRAGRANCE REVIEW: Chanel Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme “Riding Giants”

1999’s Chanel Allure Homme is still one of my favorite men’s mainstream fragrances. I was split on the two subsequent flankers Allure Homme Sport felt less inspired than the original. Allure Homme Edition Blanche actually replaced the original in my affections as this is the version I wear most, especially in the warmer weather. Now the third flanker is here which seems to be a flanker of a flanker; Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme.

As Chanel did with 2010’s Bleu de Chanel they have created a visual partnership for Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme pairing Oscar winning director Kathryn Bigelow  with extreme big wave surfer Danny Fuller. As I looked at the video I was reminded of the documentary movie called Riding Giants and that creating any flanker of a fragrance is sort of like riding a giant wave hoping you won’t wipeout. Jacques Polge was in charge of Eau Extreme and he successfully navigated this tube all the way to the beach.

This fragrant wave builds off an initial swell of mandarin, cypress, and clary sage. The light woodiness of the cypress supports the citrus and herbal qualities of the mandarin and sage, respectively. I really enjoy this opening especially M Polge’s use of the sage and cypress. As we start to coast down the face of the wave we come to the note which I think is going to make wearers really enjoy this or crash in the surf. M Polge chooses a clean white musk as the core of Eau Extreme and I think it fits perfectly as it feels like you are gliding along through the clean air in a pipeline.  I know many are exasperated with the ubiquitous use of white musk but I think M Polge has used it well here and even if you’re tired of it this is worth a try. A bit of tonka is used to smooth out some of the rough edges of the musk. As we successfully finish our ride to the beach we smell the sandalwood and cedar on shore.

Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme has outstanding longevity and above average sillage.

I am surprised at how much I enjoyed wearing Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme. Considering that I wasn’t the biggest fan of Allure Homme Sport. M Polge really submerged the things I wasn’t crazy about in a clean wash of a big wave. Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme was a breathtaking ride for me with no risk of wiping out.

Disclosure: This review was based on a bottle of Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme supplied by Chanel.

–Mark Behnke, Managing Editor

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3 comments

  • 3thingsuneed says:

    I don’t surf..but reading this article I was visualizing riding the waves just as Mark was describing the cologne.. very sexy way of combining two subjects..♥

  • AubreyZ says:

    I’m a big Chanel fan and have been searching for the “one” masculine Chanel to add to my collection. Maybe this is it. Cypress isn’t in my collection at all yet.

  • Geekedz says:

    Seductive, masculine, fresh, and extremely “alluring.” The opening reminds me of an orange creamsickle, with added spiciness from the sage & clary. The mush is refreshing and sweetened by the lovely tonka and sadalwood. The cedar/sandalwood combo finishes the fragrance off perfectly with a crispy woodiness.

    I absolutely love this frag! It’s my new favorite from Chanel, surpassing Bleu de Chanel and Chanel Allure Homme Edition Blanche. Both of which I still adore, but this juice is so appealing to me, and I receive many compliments when I wear it. I also feel like it’s versatile enough for all sessons, which is a bonus. “Sport”- even though it seems to receive more positive reviews- just isn’t as intriguing and not nearly as beautiful as “Extreme.” Highly recommended!!!!