Timothée Chalamet
The new Bleu De Chanel L’Exclusif offers a deeper, more concentrated interpretation of the house’s modern classic. Created by Chanel perfumer creator Olivier Polge, the fragrance builds on the signature aromatic-woody accord of the original while exploring richer, more textured territory.
“It was my father who created Bleu De Chanel,” Polge recalls. “With L’Exclusif, the idea was to add a new chapter to the story. We started with the existing formula, then shifted key components to reveal new facets—intensifying certain notes until new harmonies emerged.”
At its heart is Maré Island sandalwood, a rare ingredient that brings a creamy, rounded warmth to the scent. This is layered with cedar, lavender, and the leathery, resinous tones of cistus labdanum, resulting in a composition that feels refined, enveloping, and quietly powerful. “We wanted to go beyond perfume,” says Polge. “To create something precious and intense, yet with a deep, mysterious expression of masculinity.”
As Bleu De Chanel’s égery, Timothée Chalamet embodies the fragrance’s blend of modern elegance and quiet intensity. Known for his distinctive style and magnetic screen presence, Chalamet reflects the spirit of L’Exclusif—confident yet understated, refined yet approachable. His association with the fragrance mirrors its evolution: rooted in tradition but reinterpreted for a new era.
The Role of Sandalwood
Santalum austrocaledonicum, the sandalwood variety used in Bleu De Chanel L’Exclusif, grows exclusively in New Caledonia. Its scent profile is close to that of Indian sandalwood—smooth, woody, and subtly milky—but with its own distinctive character. Polge calls it “a noble wood… discreet, not extroverted, but essential for adding texture and density to complex blends.” At Chanel, it has long been a cornerstone of perfumery, anchoring creations from N°5 to Bois Des Iles, Égoïste, and Allure. In L’Exclusif, it steps into the spotlight.
CHANEL’s sandalwood is sourced through a long-term partnership with the Kanak community on Maré Island, in collaboration with fragrance house Robertet. The project ensures that every stage of production is sustainable, traceable, and respectful of local customs. “Until the 2000s, we used Indian sandalwood,” Polge explains. “Today, we’ve chosen to work with New Caledonian sandalwood because it offers a very similar olfactory profile, but from a supply chain we can oversee directly.”
On Maré, only 250 trees are harvested each year, each meeting strict maturity and quality standards: a trunk circumference of at least 45 cm, a heartwood depth of under 2 cm from the bark, and an age of at least 25 years. Trees are partially uprooted to allow for natural regrowth, and for each one cut, thirty new saplings are planted—ten times the legal requirement.
Processing takes place locally at Serei No Nengone, a Kanak-run facility, ensuring traceability “down to the last drop” and providing fair income for landowners, growers, and workers. “It’s a virtuous circle,” says Polge. “We preserve a rare natural resource while supporting the community that stewards it.”
A Contemporary View of Masculinity
Polge sees L’Exclusif as part of a shift in men’s fragrance towards bolder, longer-lasting compositions. “In the past, men’s scents leaned towards freshness and discretion,” he notes. “Today, there’s a desire for more presence, more emotion.” By broadening the woody family to include leathery, amber-like notes, Polge has created a scent that is both assertive and understated. “Its power comes from the base,” he says. “It’s about strength that rises gradually, rather than overwhelming from the start.”
Housed in a minimalist square bottle in a deep, ambiguous blue—“the final shade of blue before it turns to black”—Bleu De Chanel L’Exclusif captures the essence of modern elegance: confident, considered, and quietly distinctive.
The Bleu De Chanel L’Exclusif is set to be released August 26th.
