Chaos Donna Karan for women

I may finally have found the ultimate saffron perfume! This vintage sample of Donna Karan CHAOS offers a hefty core of saffron which is buttressed by a variety of dark oriental elements to produce a gorgeous tapestry of scents. The saffron dominates from start to finish on my skin, but there is so much more going on than just that note, which swirls together with wood, incense, and herbs in an enticing and magical way.

I have been dissatisfied with some other saffron perfumes, including AP SAFRAN TROUBLANT, which strikes me as a Demeter-like culinary facsimile of saffron rice. I really do love the inviting aroma of saffron rice—but in the kitchen, not on my skin! Other compositions I've tried have been more complex but unbalanced or incoherent. Still others boast saffron as a note though it remains hidden from my nose.

CHAOS manages to avoid all of these mistakes. The only real complaint I could even begin to make would be that the perfume seems to me to be misnamed, as this composition is not at all chaotic. That's no criticism of this beautiful perfume, though, which has fairly big sillage and excellent longevity on top of everything else.

If it is true, as some have suggested, that the recent re-launch is of the original CHAOS formula, I'll definitely be adding this splendid creation to my collection!

This is a review of the 2011 re-issue:

A warm spice blend, redolent of cinammon and what reminds me of clove, stays close to the skin and remains pure throughout. As the fragrance develops, a warm, almost honey-like note joins the spices - not enough to make this truly sweet, nor a gourmand, but just enough to warm the scent and keep it from being to dry. The sandalwood and musk lend the same warmth, with added depth. All in all an interesting spicy scent, that somehow remains close to the skin, and has quite good longevity as well.

Based on this trial, I will be purchasing the Long Lost Perfume version of Chaos, which I understand is an excellent version and very much like the original. (The prices of the vintage version, and of the re-issue, are too much for my pocket-book).

Chaos is all about Spices. This one starts with a blast of coriander mixed with saffron, (but it isn't strong, on the contrary, it is a light spicy smell). and this combination goes on and on.

At the end, we then have something resembling a leather note mixed with a hint of musk.

Is the one that Neiman's offers the same as the 1996 original???

This is unforgettable. It is def unisex!

When I purchased Black Cashmere The Sales rep gave me 2 mini samples and a 5ml spray. This to my nose is somewhat of a fusion of DK Gold and a little Black Cashmere.
It is warm, a little sweet, heady and oppulent.
I wore this on a cold night on friday and was told by a delightful young woman that she could find me anywhere by my scent and that she just LOVED IT, a couple of my manly friends mentioned I smelled nice too.
I found the longevity of this very good and the scent journey beautiful.
I dont feel that the ingedients list is complete. this frag is a bit richer than these ingredients seem able to muster. The base notes have more oomph than musk and sandalwood. I would have anticipated amber or tonka bean and a middle note of Labdanum.

It's a very strange smell,certainly not for all tastes.In my country it's been discontinued for a decade,but I know many momen insist on wearing it.

After all the good reviews I was curious about this and thought this could be of my likes, but what I found was a rather uninteresting perfume.

Gorgeous. An extraordinarily beautiful creation. I still have a little bit of this precious potion left in the original crystal bottle. I bought it for someone else who (unbelievably) couldn't get on with it - she very kindly gave it back and I started wearing it.

Others have described it well in the reviews; intensley fruitcakey, slightly oily, sweet n' sour, musky unisex aroma that lasts days. 'Masterpiece' is a bit of an overused word...but this surely deserves that title. Amazing stuff.

I had a sample of it, and frankly don't understand what is this all excitement about. I only smell just pepper and something dusty, may be a book-shelf. I wouldn't spend on that my money.

Chaos Is not trutty fruity like many women's fragrances in today's market. It could have been worn by men. It's full with spices like saffron and cinnamon on my skin. It's very incensey and somewhat spicy with a little hint of oriental sweetness. There is nice sandalwood at the end but just a little musk, and the cinnamon loves to hang on. The closest thing that I can think of, as far as men's fragrances, is Kenzo Power. In fact, Kenzo Power is more feminine than this Donna Chaos. Believe it or not. Again, it is just my opinion. I found on today for $75 and I think it's still very pricey. I'll keep my eyes on it. Hopefully the prices will go down somehow.

I am at a loss of understanding as to why Donna Karan discontinued many of her earlier fragrances. Thanfully she has brought them back in the form of limited releases in selected stores. I feel incredibly privileged to have the opportunity to try both Black Cashmere and Chaos before they disappear off the market for good.

Chaos, to my nose, is a clean, unique and somewhat soapy, sandalwood based fragrance. It's complex, distinctive and expensive smelling.

It's not too heavy, like some woodsy scents tend to be. You could possibly get away with wearing this in the Summer and Spring months. I find the scent to be very relaxing, non-gender specific and thoroughly enjoyable.

The hints of oriental spiciness throughout the composition does bear some similarities to Black Cashmere, just perhaps not as rich, sensual and dark. It's a beautiful fragrance, particularly one that will appeal to any lovers of intense woodsiness and understated mystery.

The 'chaos' comes from its slightly animalistic tone, which I find rather arousing on both men and women. This is not a fragrance for the faint of heart or those who consider themselves refined. A hint of carnation every now and then fools you into thinking this is pretty and feminine until the woods force you to think otherwise.

Some reviewers are saying incense, and while it is spicy and smokey in some instances, it is not entirely incense to my nose. Regardless of what people describe it as or perceive it to be, Chaos is a truly hauntingly beautiful fragrance that deserves to be around for a long time.

I just aquired a huge bottle of Chaos by Donna Karan, the re-edition in the tall black bottle and is a part of the 'Essence' range, thinking it's the original Chaos fragrance which I never smelled.

Oddly, I actually think the new Chaos is the mixture of 80% dark, woodsy-nutmeg-clove heaven Black Cashmere + 20% sweet and creamy spice and benzoin Theorema.

So if you're trying to hunt down the original Chaos, I recommend you go for the re-issued one that can be purchased in UK department stores for £55 / 100ml Eau de Parfum. I actually got mine on ebay for half as much.

Choas was designed for Donna by her husband, When he passed away she took it off the market. I love the fragrance and Frangrances Unlimited made it for years but now they are not making it either. If anyone knows of a scent similar please let me know

With the complexity of woods and spices
what would to be described as? what comes
to your mind? for me it makes me think of a warm cup of chamomile and cinnamon tea
that's what would i describe it.
Cinnamon is the base of the perfume for top middle and base notes which it's dominates also dries a bit to allow
saffron with it's velvet and spice and woods scent to drift though don't underestimate the delicate chamomile flower it may be withe but stands on it's own with it's strong herbal note.

Carnation with powdery nuances starts
the middle heart of the fragrance dries to the bottom of the notes with dry unsweetened sandalwood powdery vanilla
and musk.


i would compare chaos and issey's
Le feu d,issey the dry bread scents because they lack the oily texture that is used in most perfumes and give it a more natural aroma healthier a bit more
outdoorsy feel then most designer perfumes one of the unique pieces in my collection.

I remember this! I remember the launch. Dr. Strangelove this one...such a quirky little thing, it was like a rubik's cube or a pandora's box or I dunno really how to describe it. I heard it was discontinued. Is that so? The Gods. Chaos. or something like that.....

I happened to put the whole sample on me, just to figure what it is smell like. What I can say- Nothing special, not a perfume masterpiece. It doesn't have a staying power. peppery, powdery,not memorable. On a drydown is a bit bitter, but thanks in a good way.That's all.

Sandalwood is the genie that first pops out of the Chaos vial when it's opened. Big, bold, warm sandalwood that flies around the room and announces its presence in no uncertain terms. After 10 minutes or so it calms down and lets the other, lesser genies take over. The coriander is very much in evidence, eventually combining with the sandalwood to give that slightly sweaty aroma that evokes a hot summer night - in the best of all possible ways. It was this note that first turned me onto Samsara. This is one of those perfumes that seems to be coming from somewhere across the room until you realize that you're really smelling your own sillage. The drydown eventually ends in a beautiful white musk. Chaos was love at first sniff, and I'm a little dismayed to think that I may have to get more than just my tiny sample.

Oh. My. God. If ever I loved a perfume, this one was it. Loved the bottle. Loved the scent. Loved the time in my life I wore it. Loved the young man who bought it for me and loved it, too. So NYC. So down-to-earth, modern, sexy. Whyyyyyyyy the heck did they discontinue this? I have no idea, because I know it had/has many devotees. Anyway, I think I would cry if I smelled it again. So, I just remember...and hope that someday, when I'm feeling strong enough- I'll find it on the web somewhere. Peace to you, Chaos.

I simply LOVE this perfume! I have a bottle I've had for years and am down to my very last few sprays of it and will be scouring the net for a replacement bottle!

irmashorell.net offers a replica of Chaos for a very reasonablble price called Anarchy. It's not a knock-off, they bought the rights to the formula. They offer a 100% money back guarantee for any reason whatsoever. As the owner of the real Chaos & Anarchy, I can say the Shorell version smells the same, and seems to last longer on my skin !
MJ

Does anyone know if its unisex?
I am a male and love Commes des garcon, and might try Chaos.
I cant find any samples though and dont live close to Berg. to try.
thanks

New Chaos has just arrived today!
I was so excited to find the new limitted collection of Chaos at www.johnlewis.com and www.harveynichols.com.

Chaos is VERY DIFFERENT from any other perfumes, but a bit similar to Donna Karan Black Cashmere...
When I sniff Chaos it reminds me of Black Cashmere, but without the special wood notes.
I love both!

This has been re-released via Bergdorf Goodman. I ordered it and it is ALMOST identical to the original which was kept secret when Donna sold out to Lauder. One size only and $85.

Sandalwood, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Padukwood, Agarwood, Saffron, Clove, Amber, Musk, Sage, Lavender, Camomile, Coriander.

You must have the right attitude to wear this fragrance. It is bold, a bit loud and very very different from most fragrances. There is nothing feminine or soft about it, but it's still warm and layered. It is spices and wood and sharp herbs. Very intriguing, but also can be very hard to wear. Still, it's really a must-try for anyone considering them self a perfumista.

As I mentioned before, saffron is traditionally a Christams spice in Sweden. The saffron note in Chaos dosn´t really remind so much of Christmas tough. I think the name is really suitable for this fragrance because it is rather much going on in it. I got a very clean soapy smell from it, but on the other hand it is warm and spicy and just a little dirty. It changes a lot and I get very excited waiting on what to come next. I have a small sample of the new formulation, so I have no idea how the original smells, but I guess it isn´t that big different? It is intriguing, original and pleasant. Another of them kind of glowing fragrances that I like so much. The basenotes are smoky, kind of rich smelling incense, woods and musk.
I would very much like to get my hands on a big bottle of it.
I do recommend it and it is a must try, lovely, fresh and very exciting.

While I do not have enough money to buy a full bottle of this one (even if I could find one), I can't help but say that this perfume just may be worth the money. Oh, to have all the money I wanted to spend on perfume! Oh well..Chaos is beautiful. I agree that there is a hint of Black Cashmere in this one. But it has a personality of its own as well. The top notes come in with a lovely tea scent, probably courtesy of the chamomile. In fact, the opening of this one is quite similar to Fendi's Theorama. As it is on the skin, it changes into an unusual spicy scent with a touch of saffron which adds an unusual twist. Once it dries down, it is a great clean (but in no way powdery), spicy, and slightly floral mix. It lasts and lasts on the skin but is never overpowering. Nor is it too sweet and is in no way a 'foody' scent. It is sexy, spicy and unusual.

I suppose the high cost of this one is probably partially due to the allure of a discontinued scent. But the other part of its attraction is the fact that it makes you feel great when you wear it. Have you ever caught a beautiful note of perfume in the air and then figured out it was you? This is my experience each time I wear Chaos.

noor - jehan my dear.who took the jam out of your donut???!

truly decadent

i love it

had it a long time ago and crave to have it again

Thanks to generosity of my friend, I tried a sample of Chaos a while ago.It evoked so many memories, because I knew this fragrance once, it was worn by a person I admired a lot and loved much.Thinking of that - it could not be Chaos, because I knew this person some years before Chaos was made.It was immediately one of the favorites. Chaos is rich, agressive,earthy, a statement of a scent. Here I am! - take it or leave it...I don`t know, which note makes it sound bitter - almost like it has artemisia in it, but it is genius.Feels like you are smelling the hot earth, dried out under the sun so much that only bitter herbs can grow on it.

I was given a sample of this back in the 90's along with Bal A Versailles; both I loved but unfortunately have not been able to get this one since....not wonderful enough to pay lots of money for though!

It is so expensive because it is discontinued. It has myth and legend behind it.

Chaos is a fabulous zingy incense.
Infact if you sniff Black Cashmere you get Chaos in the middle notes.

I would love to hear a review on this... I've never smelled it and it sells for hundreds of dollars online, so it must be special. Is it because it's discontinued or because it smells so nice?

dear catherine, we do not sell perfumes. this is an informative and iteractive site about fragrances. :)

IT DOESNT SAY IF ITS FOR SALE...AND IF SO HOW MUCH?? NOTHING TOO REDICULOUS PLEASE!

CATHERINE