My Chanel perfume dispenser is stuck!

[Tenebrist]

Mmm, this is a weird problem. I have a bottle of Chanel No 5, a present from DM. Looks like this. It worked fine for a while and about a third is gone, but now when you press down on the black dispenser thing at the top nothing comes out. I'm wondering whether one of the DC has somehow glued the nozzle shut (don't ask). Has anyone had a similar problem and can you think of any potential solutions? Would it make sense to contact Chanel? We can't go back to the retailer because I think DM bought it from duty free in a different country. I'm really annoyed that there's two thirds of a bottle of Chanel I can't access.

I have same problem with a bottle of bvlgari perfume, the spray nozzle stopped working.
have never got round to taking it back , got it in JL .

Is the hole in the nozzle blocked maybe with a build up of perfume?

I'd pull it off and give it a soak and a scrub in hot water. If not, take it back to your nearest Chanel counter. Could be worth a go.

Or, just thought.. see if the nozzle off something else will fit.

Is it a sprap top like <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=spray+top+perfume+bottle&um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&biw=1173&bih=618&tbm=isch&tbnid=GewXNtY0dV2ssM:&imgrefurl=eu.fotolia.com/id/3901364&docid=UMTOkfT1E1Z49M&imgurl=t2.ftcdn.net/jpg/00/03/90/13/400_F_3901364_HIL1d26XTV0z7NHacFElANGGz3Obv6p2.jpg&w=400&h=266&ei=LrXjTpy4NY-K4gTj8r2lBQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=480&vpy=151&dur=5718&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=175&ty=106&sig=103301411802205771690&page=1&tbnh=126&tbnw=168&start=0&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this?

Can you pull the round bit (with the hole in) off and wash it? Or try putting pin through the little hole? Or switch it for another spray top, if you have one?

I have a bottle similar to that and the pieces all come apart so you can get to the glass bottle, you may be able to see if there is a blockage in the plastic tube?

Worst comes to worst, get the glass bottle out, smash it, sieve it and decant into another bottle.

Or try this

Perhaps, Bendy, it's worth a try to soak it. I've tried taking the nozzle off (the whole black cap thing) and can't do it, I'm worried about breaking it all. TBH, taking the nozzle off would be something of a solution as at least I could then GET to the perfume and stick some behind my ears for emergencies.

Yeah, I might brave the Chanel counter at the local department store - I just imagine they'll be a bit snotty when I say I didn't buy it there. But maybe I'll be proved wrong.

Blue, it's not like the one you showed - the whole black cap is part of the spray thing so you press down on the plastic lid. The round bit definitely won't come off - it's all one plastic component - but I will try washing it. I've never seen a perfume lid like it before, and it's unlike my Allure bottle.

"get the glass bottle out, smash it, sieve it and decant into another bottle"
I'm the kind of person who would end up spilling all the perfume over the floor and cutting open an artery on the broken glass!

I think they might be interested at your local counter.

My mum used to work for Estee Lauder and invariably did replace perfume if this happened. I guess it might depend on how helpful the person is that you happen to ask. I'd def ask though if you have no success trying to unblock it yourself. You still have quite a bit left. It's expensive and you should be able to use it all not have to throw away a third of a bottle. Good luck!

I'd definitely go to your local counter and ask for their help. I buy a lot of Chanel cosmetics and I think the vendors see it as a global brand - I invariably get lots of samples and replacements no questions asked wherever I shop (and I shop a lot at duty frees). Their products are expensive, they want to go the extra mile for you, they want you to come back for more... (If you want to thank your local counter, you can always buy something inexpensive to return the favor: just a hint, the Chanel eye pencils are superb and won't set you back a fortune. I'm in love with the pale silvery, khaki and platinum shades.)

I had a problem with a bottle of chanel once and wrote to their head office. They replaced it for me and were really helpful.

OK, I've tried the soaking in hot water and it's made no difference. I'm very tempted to take camilla's tip and mail head office directly tomorrow. I live in Berlin and customer service is frequently poor here to say the least - if I went to the Chanel counter at a department store it would have to be the poshest store in town to stand any chance of not being told to stick my perfume where the sun don't shine.

Thanks again for all your thoughts and ideas.