221. Chloe Coover [NOSE CANDY POD] ~ What a *Perfume Shop Girl* Wants.

Perfume Room

In this episode of Perfume Room, the host sits down with Nose Candy co-host Chloe Coover for a wide-ranging conversation about scent and iden

Key takeaways

• Chloe identifies licorice as her primary signature fragrance note.
• The new Guerlain L'Heure Bleue 2026 features an ozonic aldehydic accord, iris tincture, and warm vanilla.

Main topics

• Guerlain L'Heure Bleue 2026 Review
• Scent Memories and Family Influence

Notable quotes

Some of you are just hoarders with addictions to the dopamine hits you and excessive gluttonous consumerism.

Conclusion

A deeply personal episode that connects the art of perfumery to memory

Transcript preview

Speaker 1 (0:00) you Speaker 2 (0:11) Welcome to the perfume room. My scent of the day today is Guerlain Le Bleu. And to clarify, I am talking about the brand new 2026 Reimagine Le Bleu from Delphine Yelk, not the 1912 original. And I have to say, I have been on a roller coaster journey with this one ever since I first smelled it. In fact, I had actually forgotten about the first time I smelled it, which was a little over a month ago in the Bergdorf's perfume. dungeon. I'd spent a few hours smelling as many perfumes as humanly possible. And on my way out, I stopped at the Guerlain counter with the friend that I was with who inquired about the new Le Bleu fragrance because they had heard rumors. And the salesperson was like, okay, so technically it's top secret. But we are allowed to spray a lab sample for deep fans who know about it and specifically ask about it. And I hope that all of that is true and that I'm not getting anyone in trouble for saying this. Anyway, that was technically when I first smelled it. And I found it a little unmemorable to the point that I had forgotten. that I ever even smelled it before I smelled it at this launch preview event. I found it to be a nice sort of cool aldehydic citrusy iris. And of course you have to take that with a grain of salt because like I said, I had also just spent like two and a half hours smelling probably like 50 different perfumes. Cut to a month later, this was like the other week, I attended the launch preview for this scent. at the Waldorf Astoria, because at the Waldorf Astoria is where they have the girl on spa, yada yada. Anyway, this is where the plot thickens, because when I smelled it there, I was immediately smitten. Perhaps it was the presentation, or maybe it was having the chance to smell the three hero accords each isolated, the three hero accords being an ozonic aldehydic accord, an iris tincture, and a warm vanilla. Or maybe... It was the incredibly appealing price point, ranging from $110 to $180, depending on if you get a 30-milliliter bottle, a 50-milliliter bottle, or a 100-milliliter bottle. That is right, a 100-milliliter Guerlain fragrance for $180. Whatever it was, I loved it. And while it feels completely separate from the original, which also I really respect that they are trying to market it as something entirely different, the old one will still be available. And I think if I remember correctly, they said that the old one will now be marketed as Le Bleu 1912, and it will be in the original packaging to make sure that there is that distinction. I felt like when I smelled it then and when I smell it now, it has a sliver. of the original's essence and a familiar girlinod base in a way that feels like it's been adapted to serve a 2026 sort of like Sephora palette, if that resonates. It's like an ambery floral with a sort of like wink to vintage. Soapy aldehydes, a citrusy sort of airy marshmallow, a lipsticky waxy iris on top of a sort of new amber meets old amber. vanilla, grelinade base. I find it very original, but if I were to place it for you in other fragrances that share little pieces of it, I think of scents like Frederic Malle Acne Studios or Chambre 52 Contre Tapot, which I talked about in the last episode, or even something like Celine Son Germain Des Preux. because all of these scents share a similar sort of soapy, lotiony, floral, citrus aspect. Then I think of scents like Soradora Mallow or Marissa Zappas Marshmallow Muff or Jacques Fath Mousse Couture for that powdery, sort of ambery marshmallow aspect. But here's where that rollercoaster kicks in again. Because for me, this is decidedly a one to two spray scent. When I spray, One spray on each wrist, I get that sort of soapy, aldehydic, floral, sweet, marshmallow-y, airy gherlinad. It's angelic. It's chic. It's cheeky. But anything upwards of five sprays, as I learned the hard way, for me personally, is just too much. I sprayed like, I think, six sprays of this in total before I went out the other night. And I was sick of myself. I don't know what the molecule is. It could be methyl anthranilate. Maybe it's something else. But there's this certain rubbery, plasticky nuance that I only get on my skin when I do upwards of five sprays. Because right now, I'm back to one spray on each wrist, and it is heavenly. So I think my verdict is being demoted from a love to an incredibly strong like because I really do love this scent. I guess I do love it, but like in small doses and not in a way like, oh, too much is too cloying, but more like I actually find that the scent changes on my skin if I do too many sprays. Do you have any scents like that in your collection? Any other one spray wonders that you know of? Have you smelled this one? What do you think? Speaker 2 (5:35) Quick little Smell Club announcement for you. Smell Club tickets for September are now on sale. And as I mentioned in the last episode, the theme is one you've been asking for for four years. It is patchouli. The link to sign up for Smell Club is in the notes of this episode. Space is limited. It's already almost sold out. So I highly recommend getting your ticket now. The sessions will actually be meeting at the very beginning of October just because of timing issues. And we will be smelling this often polarizing note in perfumery in its many forms. You'll smell classic patchouli, earthy and mossy, chocolatey and candied, a sheepbra patchouli, and of course, something a little pissy in there too. Also, for everyone who has already purchased a ticket or everyone who might be about to purchase one, yes, I'm fully aware that Eventbrite is glitching out. I hope that it is fixed by the time you listen to this. But if not, if you sign up and you have any issues at all accessing the pack link, just let me know and I will make sure that I send it to you. TLDR, it's all going to be okay. See you in the Julie's Milk Club. Speaker 2 (6:43) Today's episode is a fun one. We are entering the fragrance podcast multiverse once again, this time with Nose Candy co-host Chloe Coover. Aside from being a fragrance connoisseur, Chloe is an artist, a singer-songwriter, and an authority on every episode ever of America's Next Top Model. I first met Chloe a few months ago in LA at the after party of Smells Like Love, which you will hear more about in this episode. And it was then that I immediately knew I had to have her on the podcast. This episode is a hang, to be honest. Listening back to it, I was like, oh, this format kind of feels like a deconstructed episode of Perfume Room. And I say this because I think we only got to the third opening question that I ask in every episode of the podcast, like 40 minutes into the conversation. So that is what you are in for. It is a good time. Chloe is funny and charming and full of lots of good takes. So fold that laundry, get on that reclining bike, go on your walk, take your bath, whatever it is you do when you listen to this podcast, you are about to hear about everything from the canons of Chloe's personal fragrance wardrobe to the bottles she's emptied, her high school persona, scent memories of her dad, the notes that always delight her, her hottest retail takes as a perfume shop girl, and so much more. Here is Chloe Coover. Speaker 2 (8:14) Chloe, Speaker 1 (8:15) welcome Speaker 2 (8:15) to the Perfume Room. How are Speaker 1 (8:17) you doing today? I'm good. I'm good. We're recording on a very bizarrely sad day because we've just, the world has just lost Dolly Parton, which is like a major... I just saw Speaker 2 (8:30) that. I know. I just saw that. I just saw that like minutes Speaker 1 (8:33) before. I know. RIP to truly like an earth angel. What a like beacon of light. for people for her whole entire career. Speaker 2 (8:47) Truly a beacon. And also, did you smell any of her like recent Dolly Parton fragrances? They're actually kind of fun. They're like sort of like sparkly. Speaker 1 (8:56) I don't know. Speaker 2 (8:57) They feel like a little bit evocative of like some of the other like kind of like sparkly musks that you would find at Sephora, but they Speaker 1 (9:03) were very pleasant. So did she release like newer perfumes? Speaker 2 (9:07) Yeah, like she came out with one, I think in like 2022. And then I want to say she released like another one after. And it had like the little like butterfly cap on it. See, that's Speaker 1 (9:18) fabulous. See, I may just buy one of those just as like a memento. Have you ever been to Speaker 2 (9:23) Dollywood? Speaker 1 (9:24) No, I would love to go though. Me too. I've never been. Let's go. Speaker 2 (9:28) Okay. I'm so happy to finally have the chance to record with you. I've known about nose candy for a while, have known about you from afar for a while, and then we had the chance to meet in the most serendipitous, kismet way of all, which is, for people listening who might know of or attended Smells Like Love, the match that was made was matching, okay? When we got to the bar after the show, the couple that picked each other, they were like... Emma, we already made out in the car on the way over here. They sent me a picture of them at brunch the next morning. I don't know if they're still together, but I know they were together for like at least a month after. And that is a match to me. I think they might still, I don't even know. I just like, I don't have an update. Speaker 1 (10:10) That's a match to me. That's a match. That's Speaker 2 (10:13) a Speaker 1 (10:13) match. Yeah. And Speaker 2 (10:14) the Speaker 1 (10:14) reason I'm talking about this is because Chloe is part Speaker 2 (10:17) of the match. Speaker 1 (10:18) So I got very, very, very last minute sort of notice from Steve Gontarski, our bestie who we love, that there was a need for one more contestant for the show. And I posted on my Instagram just like, hey, like any gay guys who like fragrance, like hit me up for a last minute opportunity. And literally. I think the post had been up for one minute. Like, I don't think it had been up for any longer than like three. Like, it was immediately. My one friend just like responded and I took the story down because I was like, okay, well, we filled the spot. I didn't even know Speaker 2 (10:59) that that's how it happened. No, it was so Speaker 1 (11:01) crazy. It was just like, boop, immediate. Okay, so Speaker 2 (11:03) then I spoke to Alex. Alex was on, Speaker 1 (11:06) right? Speaker 2 (11:06) Alex, yeah. Yeah, okay. So then I spoke to Alex on the phone. Such Speaker 1 (11:09) a Speaker 2 (11:09) sweetie. And like within a minute of talking to him, I'm like. this is our person. We found him, lock it in. It's perfect. And then what's so crazy is that so at the bar, I, for, for people listening, yes, I realized I haven't posted any video content or pictures from the show and I owe you that. So like, maybe this will be like the lead in and it will come soon. I just like, haven't gotten around to like the teaser. Speaker 1 (11:30) Yeah. Yeah. Speaker 2 (11:30) Might be. Um, even though it happened two months ago, but at the, at the bar after they both said to me separately, that they knew who the other one was and thought they were cute from afar. Speaker 1 (11:41) Yep. Speaker 2 (11:42) See? Crazy. Speaker 1 (11:44) And you know Speaker 2 (11:45) who found Drew, who is the dater, is Claire, who works at Scent Bar, their Lucky Scent. Yeah. So this is a perfume girly setup. And basically have your perfume Speaker 1 (11:54) friends find you love is the moral of the story. Totally. I have friends who are putting together this event where just on Instagram, they just were like, hey, we're doing this like matchmaking thing. If we find a match for you, you will be invited to this party. If we don't, that's fine. You know, like, you have to just go in knowing that that's, like, a possibility that you won't get the invite, which is fine. I submitted and I'm like, I Speaker 2 (12:25) wonder what this is going to be like. Well, Chloe, you know what I'm thinking? What? So you're seeking straight men, right? Yes. So if you are a straight man in LA, listening to this episode right now, Chloe's DM, this is the classifieds, the perfume classifieds. You're single? Speaker 1 (12:46) I'm single. Speaker 2 (12:48) All right. And then, so I guess I'm going to jump the gun. We're going to go back to like the questions I asked at the beginning, but like, let's talk about it since we're talking about it. If you were to pick a match based on scent, since we're, since we are now doing a classified ad for you, are there any smells that you find very sexy or attractive on another person? Speaker 1 (13:08) So this is funny because it really does tie in with like something I was mentioning to you being like something I wanted to talk about in general. I'm in such a vintage, like, kick these days. Lately, at work, so I work at a store called Le Pink & Co. in Los Angeles. When men come in looking for scents, I always steer them over to Ait and Bob, the original formulation Ait and Bob. Because I'm like, let's just, like, not fuck with the classics. And every man... doesn't think that they're going to like it. I can't tell you how many I've sold that to, just from like, to skeptics. So many men are like, oh, I don't know if this is really going to be my thing. And then they spray it on their skin and they're like, wait, this is kind of exactly what I want to smell like. And to me, it's like such a classic vision of like what like men should smell like. Isn't that what Speaker 2 (14:07) JFK Speaker 1 (14:07) wore? Like, isn't that the lore? Yeah. Which kind of tracks. Yeah, Speaker 2 (14:11) yeah, yeah. Speaker 1 (14:11) Yeah. It's like, Eight and Bob because it was like JFK ordered eight for me, one for Bob. Robert Kennedy. That's the Bob. That's the Bob in question. So that's the lore. It's just like very, you know, classic men's grooming Barbasol style. Like, and I think there's probably some associative stuff in there that like, I remember, you know, my dad having. like morning grooming rituals before he went to work of like shaving and stuff. And he always used all these Caswell Massey products. That was like his like- Oh, Speaker 2 (14:47) very classic. Speaker 1 (14:48) Yeah. But very like heritage-y kind of smelling things. I forget exactly. He had like one of the sandalwood ones that I'm not sure if I love personally the smell of, but like, you know, just like, I have a love in my heart for Caswell Massey because of that association. And he did have some sort of these fougere sort of Barbasol, whatever, style things. Handsome, Speaker 2 (15:15) classic. Yeah. Speaker 1 (15:17) And Speaker 2 (15:17) it makes me think Speaker 1 (15:18) of that and just kind of like, it's just like, that's what a guy going to work should smell like. Not to be so gender. That's what you find, Speaker 2 (15:26) like, I mean, no, it's like, it's just like, if there's a smell that immediately, like, makes you be like, it's kind of that classic. It's comforting. And yeah, I mean, I think that, like, not Speaker 1 (15:37) to just go, like, really in deep from jump, but like, I lost my dad in 2022. My dad was like a very... I'm Speaker 2 (15:45) sorry. Speaker 1 (15:45) I'm a fellow Speaker 2 (15:46) member of the Dead Dads Club, so we can... High Speaker 1 (15:48) five through the computer screen. Hey, Dead Club. Speaker 2 (15:52) Hey. Speaker 1 (15:53) I feel