How would you describe your fragrance taste? Imagine you had to come up with three words to share with someone across the table, and in return, they would give you a key to a room filled from floor to ceiling with perfumes that match your description. Could you decide? Try it. I would choose three ingredients: neroli, bergamot, and jasmine. I’m certain that if a perfume contains one of these notes (or all of them at once!), there’s a good chance it will hit the right note with me and we’ll get along very well. Given this, it’s probably clear that today’s star of the article – Chloé Nomade EDP and its sister Nuit D’Égypte – are a bit of a safe bet for me.
I had never tried the former, but I was curious when I received it from Elnino for review. On the other hand, I fell in love with the Egyptian version the moment I tested it in a perfume store; it completely captivated me, and I’m considering buying the full-size bottle (I have a miniature). [Of course, only after I’ve been eyeing it for a few months like a greedy cat, before finally being convinced – and maybe Santa will sort it out for me, hehe.]
Before diving into the actual review of Chloé Nomade EDP, how about we take a quick detour through the brand itself, and then move on to the Nomade collection as such? If you’re interested, keep reading. If you’re just here for my perfume review, feel free to skip ahead.
Chloé – French Elegance with Egyptian Roots
The Chloé brand was founded in 1952 by Gaby Aghion (*1921 – †2014), who was born in Alexandria, Egypt. She emigrated to France with her husband in 1945. Chloé, as a fashion brand, was allegedly founded as a protest against the formality of the 1950s, with a vision that combined French elegance with freedom and lightness, which later also reflected in its fragrances.
Interestingly, Gaby Aghion was one of the first designers to create “ready-to-wear” collections – luxury fashion that wasn’t custom-made for a specific customer but was available immediately in boutiques. This was a revolutionary concept for the 50s! Famous designers like Stella McCartney and Karl Lagerfeld (who worked for Chloé from the 60s to the 80s) also started their careers under the Chloé brand, and his designs greatly influenced the brand’s image.
The first Chloé fragrance was launched in 1975, when the brand decided to expand its vision of feminine elegance into the world of perfumes. The nose behind this fragrance was Betty Busse, and it had little in common with the later “typical Chloé” scent as we know it today. You can judge for yourself: top notes – aldehydes, peach, honeysuckle, hyacinth, lilac, ylang-ylang, neroli, coconut, bergamot; heart – tuberose, daffodil, carnation, jasmine, orris root, rose; base – oakmoss, amber, sandalwood, benzoin, musk, cedar. It should be noted that Chloé fragrances even back then became symbols of independent and free women who radiated natural charm.
In 2008, the iconic Chloé Eau de Parfum was launched, embodying the modern and creative feminine spirit. Its light, floral notes made it one of the brand’s best-selling perfumes. The creators of this fragrance were Amandine Clerc-Marie and Michel Almairac (who created Bottega Veneta’s “leather” perfumes – EDP, Sensuelle, L’Absolu, Eau de Velours). Here’s a comparison of the Chloé EDP composition with the original 1975 fragrance: top notes – peony, lychee, freesia; heart – rose, lily of the valley, magnolia; base – virginian juniper, amber. Quite a difference, right?
Recently, Chloé has focused on sustainability. In 2021, it earned B-Corp certification, confirming that the brand meets high standards of social and environmental performance. This includes a commitment to more eco-friendly packaging and ingredients in their perfumes. By the way, I also have a review of Chloé’s 100% natural perfume on the blog (click here). It’s from 2022, called Chloé Rose Naturelle Intense, a vegan fragrance with hand-harvested, ethically sourced organic rose.
Chloé Nomade Collection – A Symbol of Freedom and Adventure
Chloé Nomade perfume was launched in 2018. The nose behind it is Caroline Dumur, and her main inspiration for creating this fragrance was an independent, adventurous, and free-spirited woman. The fragrance was designed to express a desire for freedom and exploring the world, which is a stark contrast to the romantic and soft style of the original Chloé perfume. Nomade brings an unusual and bold combination of floral and mineral notes. The key ingredient is mirabelle plum, which adds a sweet, fruity undertone, while oakmoss in the base provides earthy, sophisticated tones. This combination is very unique, giving the fragrance both depth and freshness.
The Nomade bottle design is inspired by one of Chloé’s iconic handbags, which highlights the connection between the world of fashion and fragrance. The bottle shape resembles an arch and is adorned with a leather strap, evoking elegance and travel.
For the Nomade campaign, Greek actress Ariane Labed was chosen, who embodies the spirit of freedom and independence. Ariane was born in Athens to French parents, spent her childhood in France, Greece, and Germany, and this mix of cultures is evident in her acting work.
Although Nomade is marketed for women, its earthy and leathery tones make it feel a little unisex, which is unusual for Chloé perfumes. This aspect adds versatility to the fragrance, making it appealing to women who enjoy scents with a hint of masculinity. Nomade is a fragrance that plays with contrasts and pushes the boundaries of typical feminine perfumes by blending delicacy with strength. It’s an excellent choice for women who love discovering new experiences and independence!
My Impressions: Chloé Nomade Perfume
I knew about Chloé Nomade, but it never occurred to me to specifically seek it out and test it. In hindsight, I consider this a huge mistake! The official ad always fascinated me – wild horses running, motorcycle rides, endless deserts and seas, spreading your arms as wide as you can, closing your eyes, feeling the wind in your hair, and turning your face to the sun… I think this perfectly captures the essence of the fragrance!
Fragrance Composition:
Top: lemon, orange, bergamot, mirabelle plum
Heart: peach, jasmine, rose, freesia
Base: patchouli, sandalwood, oakmoss, white musk, amberwood
What I find absolutely beautiful, and where my gaze often lingers, is the bottle. It’s incredibly well done! Simple yet luxurious, with a striking leather detail.
The first notes of Chloé Nomade remind me of a large tree with branches that almost touch the ground under the weight of ripe fruit. Like someone deprived of all senses, you wildly pluck them, trying to gather as much as you can. The fruit is bursting with the most beautiful and vibrant colors and smells stunning. You feel like you’ll never encounter anything so delicious again, so mirabelle plums, oranges, juicy peaches slip through your fingers, and bergamot peels sparkle somewhere in between. You don’t care that overripe pieces end up on the ground. You leave them there and eagerly reach for more and more. The fruity scent that surrounds you is divine, your mouth waters, and a satisfied gourmand’s smile spreads across your face…
You fall to the ground in the grass because there’s nothing left to pick, and you feel the stray pieces of fruit under your hands that you hadn’t managed to collect. You catch your breath from the harvesting phase when, out of nowhere, you realize you’re looking at a flower garden behind a stone wall. Roses climb near the wall, intertwining with jasmine. Their scents blend, and a fresh breeze suddenly carries this magical mixture to you in a few wonderful fragrant sips. You gaze at the scenery, stunned, not understanding how you could have missed these beautiful flowers. You walk closer, carefully picking them one by one, inhaling their scent as if this was the only way to breathe in life-giving air…
The Nomade fragrance is so wonderfully clear and genuine that I feel like I want to bathe in it. Which, by the way, I practically do. I don’t remember any fragrance disappearing so quickly for me. Not because it lacks longevity (on the contrary, it’s unmatched!), but because I constantly want to remind myself of the fruity and floral phase before the fragrance blends with my skin and settles on the velvety base of warm sandalwood.
What also fascinates me about this fragrance is that it’s definitely not a typical fruity floral freshness. On the contrary – it has a leathery depth and velvet quality that reminds me a lot of Michel Almairac’s earlier creations, particularly Bottega Veneta’s Eau de Velours from 2017. A year older than Chloé Nomade. In my opinion, these two masterful fragrances have a lot in common!
Final Thought: The Ideal Fragrance for a Life Stage
I’m quite enamored with Chloé Nomade, and while I was initially skeptical thinking this might smell like every other perfume… Oh, it doesn’t matter, this is an absolute hit for my fragrant blood type, and I’m completely in love. It’s a stunning fragrance, STUNNING! And I absolutely need to try more from this line!
I am convinced that every stage of life brings with it a preference for different fragrances. And in my opinion, you won’t necessarily wear the same perfume when you’re twenty as when you’re thirty (except for the exceptions, of course). Nomade really resonates with my taste, perhaps because its original inspiration came from adventure, independence, and freedom. And also courage! It perfectly mirrors my mindset over the past few years – when a person just packs up, leaves everything behind, grabs their shoes, and sets off to explore the world. And they enjoy it so much that they end up moving to an island and happily live there ever since. So, yeah 🙂
*PR sample – chosen by me, loved (or not) by me. I picked it out myself, no arm-twisting involved. 🌞
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