There’s something mildly antagonistic about wearing a deep, heady perfume in the middle of an Indian summer. It’s impractical, maybe even a little masochistic, but I’ve always gravitated towards scents that carry weight. Vanilla, tonka, amber. Fragrances that announce themselves softly but firmly, that linger like the last note of a song long after the room falls silent. But CHANEL’s CHANCE EAU SPLENDIDE, the newest addition to the house’s cult-favourite CHANCE line, caught me off guard. As CHANEL launches on Nykaa’s e-store and into select Luxe doors, I found myself facing a question I thought I’d long resolved: what does a summer scent smell like, to me? CHANCE EAU SPLENDIDE opens with a crisp, tangy burst of raspberry, like biting into fruit that’s just come out of the fridge, perfectly chilled and full of life. It’s sparkling but not saccharine, and it immediately sets the tone: playful, yes, but with a sense of control that doesn't dip into the juvenile. The heart blooms into rose geranium, a note that wears its floral identity lightly, cut with a minty coolness that stops it from tipping into powdery nostalgia. It feels modern, freshly snipped, almost aerodynamic. Just when you think you’ve got the measure of it, the base reveals itself: white musk and cedar. It’s clean, but not clinical. Understated, not underwhelming. It doesn’t shout for attention, but it gets it anyway. Like slipping on a white satin shirt that somehow fits just right. This is what surprised me: CHANCE EAU SPLENDIDE isn’t trying to dazzle. It’s not aiming to be sexy or quirky or trend-chasing. It simply is. A fragrance that meets you where you are, and then subtly elevates the moment. It doesn’t layer itself over your identity, it syncs with it. And it thrives in heat. Fragrance behaves differently in summer, especially the kind we know in India. Notes bloom faster, wear longer and move farther. Heat amplifies top notes like raspberry, making them feel even juicier and more effervescent. On warm skin, the rose geranium sharpens just a little, like the edge of a well-pressed pleat. Even the white musk feels less like a base note and more like skin after sun. Clean, warm and intimate. It’s rare to find a scent that wears well because of the weather, not in spite of it. Most summer perfumes veer into overly bright citrus or shy florals. Inoffensive and often forgettable. But CHANCE EAU SPLENDIDE strikes a quiet balance. It offers lightness, but not hollowness. Femininity, but not fluff. There’s confidence in that restraint. CHANCE, as a fragrance family, has always been special. This latest release takes that DNA and refines it. It feels grown-up, but not stiff. Like someone who knows exactly who they are, and doesn’t need to explain it. Fragrance, for me, is about intention. It’s how I shape my mood before a meeting. How I say what I don’t say out loud. My usual perfumes feel like armour—bold, shadowy, deliberately elusive. They match my wardrobe, my calendar, my instinct to keep a slight distance between myself and a world that's not always kind. But CHANCE EAU SPLENDIDE feels like the opposite. A loosening. A shift in mood. Not fragile, just less guarded. It’s a reminder that you can evolve without erasing yourself. That there’s a different kind of power in lightness, in elegance that doesn’t ask for applause. I may not be trading in my black outfits or switching to turmeric lattes anytime soon, but I can appreciate the idea of something cooler, quieter, more deliberate. A version of summer that doesn’t ask me to fight it, but lets me move through it on my own terms. This isn’t a reinvention, just a recalibration. Like choosing shade over sun. Stillness over noise. It carries the same legacy of elegance you’d expect from CHANEL, but with a soft-focus glow that feels entirely new. CHANCE EAU SPLENDIDE hasn’t just been a scent I’ve worn, it’s been a mood I’ve been slipping into. A gentle reminder that beauty can be easy. That joy can be quiet. That sometimes, the lightest touch lingers the longest. Everything you need to know about hair perfume 19 celebrity-favourite perfumes to add to your wish list: From Deepika Padukone to Shah Rukh Khan From sexy-spicy to fresh florals: the best vanilla perfumes for every mood