I have always had a habit of turning “ordinary” objects into lucky charms. Lucky socks, lucky pens, lucky hats… As someone who is always nervous, it comforts me to know that luck is on my side, whether it is self-made or otherwise.
Luck is not just a game of chance. Good things don’t just happen; we attract them, accept them, and embrace them with all our heart. Sometimes, to get lucky, you need to take a risk – you have to do something daring, brave, or tenacious. That’s when things turn out to be lucky.
Luck, chance, fate, and superstition defined my time in Tokyo last week. I traveled to the city with the Chanel Beauty team to immerse myself in the scent of the new fragrance, Chance Eau Splendide. Created by in-house perfumer Olivier Polge, the fragrance is a masterful blend of raspberry, rose geranium, violet, cedar and musk. It exudes the energy of fun, youth and rebellion. It’s like a lucky charm; my lucky scent.
My trip started with uncertainty: back-to-back appointments and only about an hour to pack, hydrate, and board the plane. The consequence of the time crunch was that I carried 30 kilograms of luggage (which was shameful for a five-day trip), but mainly because I was exhausted and slept all the way.
I arrived in Tokyo as the sun rose. This is definitely my favorite city – organized, efficient, futuristic, but deeply rooted in tradition. The food is mouth-watering, the people are warm and friendly, and even the simplest things are made beautiful through ritual and careful design. For a megacity, it’s peaceful and serene, perfect. But the real highlight came from the Eau Splendide perfume journey: dancing under Tokyo Tower, playing Chanel-style video games, listening to a surprise concert by my dream lover Angèle (who happens to be the global spokesperson for the fragrance), and talking to the brand’s in-house perfumer Olivier Polge.
A quick story about Olivier: his father, Jacques, was the perfumer at Chanel from 1978 to 2015. He created Allure, Bleu, Coco Mademoiselle and the original Chance. Like most teenagers, Olivier rebelled against tradition but eventually found his own way in perfumery and took over his father’s position after retirement. During his tenure, Olivier created fragrances such as No. 5 L’Eau, Gabrielle, Comète, Le Lion, as well as Chance Eau Fraiche, Eau Vive and Eau Tendre.
As it turns out, luck was definitely the theme of the week: lucky to see pink cherry blossoms, lucky to drink an ice-cold Gibson beer, enjoy the view of Tokyo Tower, and very lucky to encounter sunshine (it was great T-shirt weather in April). Also lucky to learn about the latest addition to Chanel’s Chance series, Chance Eau Splendide.
Chance is largely due to the pioneering spirit of Gabrielle Coco Chanel. She is bold and fearless, not afraid of taking risks. She is also very superstitious. The Chanel brand is deeply influenced by this spirit – her lucky number is 5, the lion (she is a Leo), and other symbols that represent the universe. She believes in luck, but also in hard work; seize the opportunities that are presented to you. This is a valuable lesson, especially for someone like me who often lacks confidence and conviction. Say “yes”, eat a bite, take a meeting, have another drink, dance, ask questions, stick to your decisions, and work hard to overcome the fear of judgment. Luck happens when you make it yourself.
There are many things to do in Tokyo, but the main agenda is food and perfume. As for restaurant recommendations, I have many. Umi has the most delicious sushi (be brave and try the sea urchin), Kawakami-An Aoyama has juicy soba noodles, Nakamura has a serene teppanyaki environment, and Omino Kamiyacho has yakitori. Pork lovers should also put Katsukami 2 on their list. I would also like to mention Souai and her husband at Harmony Tea House. Both are experts in the tea ceremony, and walked me through the rituals of making and drinking traditional matcha. The process was slow and deliberate—with meditation sessions and antioxidant-rich matcha said to aid longevity. As Souai put it, “Every day is a good day.”
Chanel’s Eau Splendide fragrance collection, which awakens all the senses. We started at the party at Star Rise Studios under Tokyo Tower (all lights lit up in Chanel purple, including the iconic “CC”). Pop star and brand ambassador Angèle sang the original song from the campaign, “A Little More,” all the way up to a melancholic, nostalgic Britney Spears cover. Walking into the party, I got my first taste of Eau Splendide, a blend of juicy raspberry, delicate woods, and crisp rose geranium (which is to say, it’s bright and delicious).
We then headed to Chanel’s dedicated arcade and mirror room—there were games of chance and skill (slot machines, ball tossing, etc.), as well as many other delightful scent experiences. These experiences perfectly capture the energy of Eau Splendide: playful, joyful, provocative yet hopeful. The experience was capped off with a conversation with Olivier. Despite his father’s legacy, the French perfumer continues to create in his own way. As for the moments that stood out to me? He mentioned sincerely that he’s not much of a talisman or lucky charm. Olivier prefers to rely on his olfactory instinct. Despite this, he still managed to create some magical experiences.