Description Chandigarh Express is Ex Nihilo's ode to a city built from nothing. Released in 2024 by the Paris niche house, perfumer Gaël Montero's composition mirrors the modernist Indian city of Chandigarh — a bright cardamom-citrus opening gives way to a supple leather-jasmine heart, before settling into an earthy vetiver-tonka base. It's warm, textured, and appeals to fans of leather-forward niche scents without leaning overly aggressive. Scent Character Woody — 25% Sweet — 17% Amber & Resinous — 17% Fresh — 17% Spicy — 8% Leathery — 8% Floral — 8% Translation: A warm, woody leather scent softened by sweet amber-balsamic depth, with a bright spicy-citrus spark up top. Fragrance Pyramid Top: Cardamom, Mandarin Orange, Bergamot Heart: Leather, Balsam Fir, Davana, Mahonial, Jasmine Base: Vetiver, Benzoin, Tonka, Patchouli Performance Longevity: Moderate to good — reviewer accounts range from a solid all-day wear to a more average, several-hour run, so expect some variation by skin chemistry. Sillage: Moderate — present without being loud; a few reviewers suggest more than one spray to let it fully register. Projection: Close-to-skin to arm's length through the leather-jasmine heart, settling closer to skin as the tonka base takes over. Best Occasions & Season Fall and winter evenings Everyday wear for leather-fragrance fans Layers well under a jacket in cooler weather Unisex. Concentration & Provenance Eau de ParfumPerfumer: Gaël MonteroHouse: Ex Nihilo, ParisLaunched: 2024 Try Before You Commit Not sure yet if Chandigarh Express is your signature scent? Start with the 1mL sample ($8.99) — the lowest-cost way to test its leather-vetiver character on your own skin before stepping up to a 5mL or 10mL decant. 100% Authentic, From Authorized Distributors Every Venba sample and bottle is sourced through authorized fragrance distributors — never gray market. We've filled over 200,000 orders with a 4.9-star rating on Trustpilot, offer free U.S. shipping on orders over $100, and back every purchase with hassle-free returns. FAQ Is Chandigarh Express a men's or women's fragrance?It's designed and worn as unisex — the leather-citrus-vetiver profile works equally well on men and women. How long does it last on skin?Reviewer experience is mixed: some get a full day of wear, others find it closer to several hours. Skin chemistry plays a big role with leather fragrances like this one. What does Chandigarh Express smell like?A spicy-woody leather fragrance — bright cardamom and citrus up top, a supple leather-jasmine heart, and an earthy vetiver-tonka base. Who composed it, and when?Chandigarh Express was composed by Gaël Montero for Ex Nihilo, released in 2024.
