Chanel No 5 Parfum Chanel for women

There's no need to hate on each other for having different tastes in fragrances. Celebrate what differentiates us from each other and let's remember that the most polarising fragrances are the ones that stand the test of time.

Think of Opium, Poison, Angel...

I personally love No5; it's my treat for the self-care days when I'm mindfully looking for a comforting set up. Not an everyday wear, but still a feel-good sophisticated classic.

And I think that everyone who cannot stand it is also right - the beauty of perfumery is that the fragrances are experienced on a very deeply personal level. How you perceive it is organic so, trust your nose and keep your mind open.

:)

The amount of pretentiousness in these reviews is astounding. Believe it or not, someone not enjoying a classic fragrance does not make them an idiot with an untrained nose and bad taste. Plenty of people who are very well versed in fragrance still do not enjoy aldehydic fragrances. I am not one of those people, I am very fond of No5 in all forms, but I can't imagine being so irritated by someone else having a different opinion that I feel the need to make snide remarks over a review that's in a place literally designated for personal opinions. You are not better than them because they prefer more modern sweet/fruity designer scents. They just have a different opinion. You will live.

Antoshka2 no 5 is not a perfume suitable for untrained noses. You need to have more refined tastes to understand this. I think you shouldn't waste too much time with this scent.

My very first job was working at a department store. Every day, I’d walk past the cosmetics and the perfume counters. I’d spritz my wrist with a different fine fragrance every day when my shift was over, and then take the bus home smelling expensive and absolutely divine while daydreaming of the day when I could finally afford one of them. For many years after, I had to make do with drug store fragrances. (Still love me some Emeraude, though. LOL)

About an year ago, it finally happened. I walked right into a department store and bought my first fine fragrance. Such a special occasion deserved nothing less than Chanel No. 5. I now understand why this particular fragrance is so legendary. If I only could use only a single word to describe it, I would call it timeless. It may have a dated feel to it, but it’s done in such a beautiful way that I can appreciate and enjoy.

I have since purchased several other fine fragrances, both vintage and contemporary. I’m really enjoying my olfactory journey, and I have Chanel to thank for my introduction into this world. Every woman should have this experience at least once in her life. I just hope they don’t have to wait as long as I did.

This is the encapsulation of everything which is powerfully loved in the most complicated of ways, then put it in a fragrance of the most glamorous powerful woman who has ever existed. Far more than just a scent...I can't even work out what this smells like. A griping psychological hold on my heart. An embodiment of what is possible from fragrance.

I felt the same about Chanel No. 5 as everyone else who hates it..... until I tried the extrait. 🥰

@Wictoria_Gemma, looking at your "have" and "want" list, it is clear you don't have a mental capacity to understand Chanel No.5 nor history behind it. I hate to break it to you, but your classmate has more of both: class and love for the art of perfumery.
Find another hobby.

No different to the edp that I can smell. Both smell like cat wee and common old ladies with fur coats and no underwear. I really don’t like this smell. It’s chemical and headache inducing. Smells like someone who’s desperately trying too hard. I can’t understand the hype. Chanel no 19 is the one everyone should be raving over but for some reason this is the one that sticks. I will never understand this. Rive Gauche has a similar aldehyde smell but without the ammonia smell and it has more depth and character. This just smells chemical and soapy.

Chanel No. 5, an iconic fragrance that has stood the test of time, is a masterpiece that encapsulates elegance and timelessness. My opinion and experience with this legendary scent are nothing short of admiration.

The moment I first encountered Chanel No. 5, I was captivated by its intricate blend of floral and aldehydic notes. The top notes, featuring the citrusy burst of neroli and the freshness of ylang-ylang, create a vibrant opening that immediately establishes the fragrance's refined character.

The heart of Chanel No. 5, with its classic bouquet of jasmine and rose, adds a layer of femininity and grace. The use of aldehydes imparts a unique quality, giving the fragrance a sparkling and effervescent aura that sets it apart from others.

As the scent develops, the base notes of sandalwood, vetiver, and vanilla create a warm and comforting foundation. The interplay of these elements results in a fragrance that is not just a scent but an embodiment of sophistication and luxury.

Wearing Chanel No. 5 is more than applying a fragrance; it's an indulgence in a timeless piece of olfactory art. The longevity and sillage of this perfume ensure that its presence lingers throughout the day, leaving an enchanting trail that is both subtle and unforgettable.

Chanel No. 5 is not merely a fragrance; it's a symbol of enduring elegance and a testament to the genius of Coco Chanel. It transcends trends, making it a classic that has resonated with generations. My experience with Chanel No. 5 is a journey into the heart of perfumery, where each note tells a story of refinement and sophistication, making it a staple in my fragrance collection.

NOTHING smells like extrait of no5....i own a collection of 400 full bottles nothing can out throne the complexity and sophistication of her...if i had to keep only one this would be!

If this perfume did not have aldehydes, the only No 5 this one would smell like would be the 1921 EDT of No 5, because the EDT and PARFUM are the only ones that contain a noticeable amount of musk/civet in omparrison and contrast to the other No 5 fragrances.

The EDP is MUCH more related to Eau Premiere than any other No 5. As I do not smell the musk. If anything, the No 5 EDP has the bright and fizzy citrus effect that Eau Premiere has when you compare the EDP to the EDT or Parfum compares to No 5

So basically, in order to give a visual of what I am trying to say, I say this:
1921 Parfum: Is the No 5 all of the other No 5's are trying to smell like and resemble. Parfum is very heavy with aldehydes, powdery notes, and musk to the point where I believe those are the only true notes I ever detect in the actual pure perfume version.
1921 EDT: Is the No 5 that smells closest to the Parfum where you are able to get the powdery, musky, and aldehydic smell. The main difference is that there is a small burst of "clean and fresh" but NOTHING like in any of the later versions. If anything, the burst of freshness would be more accurately described as sparkling powdery notes, as you never really smell citrus standing out like you do in the later flankers.
1980s EDP: Is the No 5 that smells like a total revision of the Parfum and EDT. Just like the Parfum and EDT, you are able to smell aldehydes and powdery notes, but I don't get the musk/civet accord the same way I do in the originals. In fact, the EDP seemingly dries down with MORE powdery notes, but the musk is so light, you never truly ever get to say that you "for sure" smell musk, because it is disguised in powdery notes.
2015 Premiere: Is the No 5 that is yet another total revision of No 5, but this one is totally based on the 1980s version.
You NEVER detect musk or civet. Where you just have powder, powder, and more powder with the 1980s EDP, you have fizzy, sparkling powdery notes in this one. If you can imagine taking the most premium lemon-lime soda in the world, chilling it down to near freezing, and then being able to crazk it open on the hottest of all days and being able to enjoy it..... Well, the way that icy, cold soda would taste on your parched tongue on that hot, summer day, is the same way No 5 Eau Premiere smells to me, as it is the most beautiful, and fizzy, version of No 5 I have ever smelled.
No 5 L'eau is barely related to even Eau Premiere. Even though it is refreshing and beautiful, it isn't fizzy like Eau Premiere. It is more just black and white citrus and aldehydes with no powder.

The extrait is my favourite concentration of N5, it evokes images of the most lush rolling hills of Mongolian grasses being blown by the wind and plush white clouds that dwarf you. It is a literal breath of fresh air. Ideal for celebrating special moments with ones' self at home.

N5 Parfum remains uncontested.

I remember smelling Chanel No 5 parfum when I was pregnant, and I finally understood this fragrance. While pregnant I was repulsed about many scents especially my expensive, organic, natural rose shampoo. Yet Chanel no 5 was the most beautiful concoction I EVER smelled-the highest quality ingredients. Pregnant ladies please smell this glorious creation--the most breathtaking perfume ever created! You will understand this fragrance!

This is IMHO the greatest fragrance ever made for man or women. If i catch a smell of this i immediately follow and compliment. I'm a man and with that being said I can't speak to hw it wears but DAM can I say how it smells. It immediately takes me to a warm cozy place. It's sophisticated and stunning. Perfection. I suppose from the mens side Dior Homme Parfum would be it's counter part exuding sophistication and quality. Perhaps get a sample as it may be too strong or project too much for you. My wife doesn't care for it and finds it too cloying. But, for me it's perfect.

A night at the opera. That’s what I can think about this gorgeous piece of history.
Chanel N5 perfume is one of the most perfect things ever.
I won’t go into details, notes and stuff like that. After 122 years what can I say about it that hasn’t been said?
Yes, some don’t like it, I am sorry but such is life.
On my behalf all I can say is that this is beyond magnificent.
Male, female, extraterrestrial must try it at least once in a lifetime.
After all it is so gorgeous that one of the most beautiful and glamorous women in history wore it to sleep. Yes, Miss Monroe!

If Chanel No. 5 Parfum (and only the Parfum/Extrait) were materialized into a solid object, it would undoubtedly be a fancy yellow diamond, something like the Tiffany Diamond: a stone forged by nature and cut by mankind to almost absolute perfection... Cold to the first touch, but with an intense solar yellow fire and sparking at any movement... Compact in size, but extremely dense, eternal on its existence.
If it were a sound, it would be a symphony orchestra accompanied by a full choir, all perfectly tuned.

The Parfum version of No. 5 is magical: the famous aldehydes give an almost icy freshness at the top, a cold air that soon begins to warm up when the flowers appear.

And what flowers! The floral absolutes of May Rose, Grasse Jasmine and Ylang-Ylang are in their purest and richest form, yet they are as intertwined as the carbon bonds that make up a diamond. These three flowers sing together to project the image of an abstract, almost cubist, golden flower. Furthermore, the iris absolute is so wonderful, so creamy but at the same time so dry, thick, sober and powdery, that it makes the experience even better if possible.

It's a fragrance full of contrasts: it's clean like the finest floral French soap and cold as snow, but it has that skin touch and human warmth (never dirty, fetid); it's smooth in its potency, yet highly dense and consistent in what it delivers.

Longevity is good on my skin, but the projection is naturally discreet. Where I live it's hot and humid, but that doesn't stop me from using it, I even think it helps the perfume to develop in an even more beautiful way. The bottle I have was produced in 2021, but I don't feel the need to run after an older version.

I could say many other things about Chanel No. 5 Parfum, I could make this review longer than it already is, but I can say that: if you've only tried the Eau de Parfum, Eau de Toilette, Premiére and L'Eau, you DON'T KNOW Chanel No. 5.
I like these versions, but none, I repeat, *NONE* comes close to the majesty of the Parfum.

If you hate, loathe No. 5, if you think it's something overrated, outdated or tacky based only on these four versions, your opinion may change when you try the Parfum on your skin.

Only the Parfum delivers the reason why this perfume deserves the fame it has, the iconic status it has.

TRY THE PARFUM, GUYS!!!

I struggle to perceive no. 5 in terms of individual notes, but I think that's part of what gives this scent a quality I can only describe as liquid glass windowpanes. It is paradoxical--swirling yet statuesque, cold yet reaching. The first time I smelled this I was outdoors in the snow, but I'm also loving how it's settling on a hot, August day- just barely, barely sweet as it dries down. So beautiful <3

Beautiful. Timeless. A Masterpiece. I treasure my bottle. I will always have this in my collection.

Nᵒ 5 has got to be the most iconic and influential perfume of all time, the name is known by everyone and for a good reason. I recently got an unopened bottle of the extrait from the 60s, and it made me realise what this scent was intended to smell like - it has subsequently earned a place in my top 5 for life.

This is a powdery floral bomb with an overdose of the most addictive aldehydes I’ve ever smelled. Ylang, orris and rose make up the bulk of the florals, while gentle citrus add a subtle sharpness. These beautiful flowers settle on a soft bed of civet, musk and oakmoss.

This fragrance is simply a masterpiece and the vintage extrait takes you back in time to a world of powerful perfumes with an abundance of character. As a man I love to wear this - it can give you so much confidence yet at the same time is so comforting and works beautifully as a bedtime scent. One of the all time greats!

I tried it in the 90’s and i hated it. I tried it again the other day and i still cannot stand it. ☹️

the power of marketing is real!!!

I am not one of those people that Chanel No. 5 works for, but I wish I was. We all have a piece of us that wants to be part of a cultural phenomenon, and people who get a kick out of being "different". I am, by my genetics, "different" and often can't fit in even if I try.

So, I've come to accept that I'll always be a bit trend-curious while still moving to the beat of a different drum.

That being said, one thing I still really envy is how much joy this scent brings so many of the people here who review it. The connection, the bliss, the memories. I celebrate it all even if I can't join in. It seems really lovely. I can appreciate what No. 5 represents for us, the first and biggest perfume phenomenon.

I think everyone on Fragrantica has Chanel No. 5 to thank for this obsession that brought us all together.

Skin-like despite being abstract. Leaves an unabashedly feminine impression.

I will secretly dab myself with no.5 parfum most night. It’s ultimate and the scent is intimate.
It is for your absolute pressure.

The magic, when you dab, you feel like you need a bit more, you dab a bit more until you know it’s enough.

Suddenly heat radiates and you experience, the scent tail it create make you wants to keep smelling.
But you only allowed to get a whip, time to time.

I know, I know that you know if you know.

*weeping tears of joy*

Every time I open my bottle of No 5 extrait, I am never quite prepared for its exquisite beauty. Simply beguiling. Chanel have made their range of extraits an experience to be had, from holding the glass flacon in your palm feeling it’s cool surfaces and clean cut edges, opening the seal, twisting the stopper to release the breathtaking aroma, with this in particular… the beauty that is No 5 Parfum. Pure artistry. This fragrance has a unique and unforgettable character. Elegant and sensual without being distant, aloof, dirty, slutty or exuding over the top decadence. It is also familiar, a comfort, serene and peaceful. I wear it sometimes for bed, or I dab some on pulse points before or after prayer and meditation, it helps relax me and instils calm within me. It helps me to sleep but also gives me the experience of quiet luxury. She doesn’t scream nor shout. She doesn’t need to. The parfum wears close to the skin but sings for hours and hours. This fragrance is truly timeless and can be worn for many an occasion, a masterpiece that stands the test of time. A fresh out of the shower, damp hair in a towel, robe on for hours while you pamper and self care… or your wedding… or a walk in nature. No 5 parfum is awe-inspiring, versatile and perfection. My first encounter with this fragrance was totally by chance when a lady I purchased a vintage COCO extrait from sent me a partial bottle for free with the package. Yup, free! She explained it was her late mother-in-law’s, preserved properly and well loved but she was more of a Dior girl herself so was selling all the Chanel she had left behind. I’m not kidding I opened it and gasped, there was a stare into space for around 10 seconds before my next whiff. “Where on Earth have you been? Or where have I been?” I would just scroll by this on eBay or walk past it in the boutiques and stores like Selfridges. I don’t know why. Probably a pre-misconception that No 5 smelt musty and dated. My Mom always preferred No 5 EDP on others but hated it on herself so I steered away from ever smelling any of the No 5 line. I’m a COCO girl, so is Mom. The EDP is the 80s iteration of the parfum, the same vein runs through but it is No 5 parfum with shoulder pads and huge hairspray laquered hair, however still unequivocally No 5. I have the vintage EDT from around 70’s, the Jasmine has turned very indolic and there’s almost a honeyed element to the florals in this, the top note citruses seem to almost evaporated but it’s still heavenly nonetheless, I wear this to bed a lot. I haven’t tried the newer formulation of the EDT. But still, No 5 parfum in its current formulation is still exquisite and smells incredible despite ingredients changing and real civet being substituted for synthetic over time. I haven’t yet got my nose on the signature scent of Marilyn Monroe, the EDC either.

My husband has always had a very positive reaction every time I wear the parfum, the dry down is delicious and the opening to mid notes are just a wonderful journey. The beauty of No 5 resembles, to me, the flickering and glow of a candle on a chilly evening… where the snow has fallen outside. The notes dancing and flickering to and fro with one another, like the flame — from warm to cold. There is an airy chill to this but it is ever so cosy at the same time. A juxtaposition of notes, a paradox of a perfume. A glorious creation by Ernest Beaux. One I will always, always love.

100% agree with Subhuman's review below. This scent comforts and pleases me. Nothing to add.

I've found my precious!

Today in an American Facebook forum I read someone describing this perfume as the smell in a funeral parlor and lots of people agreed 😬

You can have it, Marilyn

I have a vintage 1950s 30ml bottle of this beauty up for sale and swaps

I think I am the only person on the planet that dislikes this. To me is smells like aqua-net hairspray. It is one of the few scents I can pick up on a person anywhere. I'd ask someone what they are wearing and they would say Chanel, and I'd say #5 ? They would say yes and I'd nod. Then leave the area.

It was a favorite of a few women at work and I'd walk in the elevator and know they were in the office.

I would try it as a tester off and on over the years, but alas...still aqua net.

Edit: I tried a fragrance that seemed similar, and was very pleased with it. I think my chemistry had changed, and it may be time to try again :)

Not sure what else I can add except...this is a work of art and it makes my heart go all aflutter. Iconic.

A CAUTIONARY TALE AND WORD OF ADVICE:
For the sake of your dignity, your favorite fleece jacket, and the nostrils of your entire immediate family during the 40-minute car ride home, do not be a naive middle schooler who picked this up by the cap because you thought it was a screw-on when in fact it was a splash bottle and end up spilling half a bottle's worth of perfume all over yourself in your grandmother's bathroom--You will never again be free from reliving the infamous "Chanel No.5 Incident" when it is inevitably recounted at family gatherings for years to come. You have been warned.

Nice fragrance, otherwise.

Another great beauty that just isn't for me.

Years ago I smelled this on an older, very sophisticated lady. She reminded me of my late grandmother in that she was agelessly stylish and everything about her reeked of wealth and refinement with a twinkle in her eye that hinted at independence and a strong will. Just like grandma. I mustered up all my courage and asked her what fragrance she wore. Sure enough, it was No 5.
I was excited to try it, to get a piece of my grandmother's spirit bottled and so I went and tested it. The first spray tingled in my nose, it made me recoil a bit but then on the paper, I could make out the notes I had loved so much. Excited, I sprayed it on my wrist and waited for it to develop into this comforting, enticing elegance. Something entirely different happend though. Somehow my skin chemistry brought out only musk and Jasmine. A heady dose of musk, smelling very masculine and Jasmine lingering over it, like a deodorant barely masking sweat. I have no idea how but it progressed to an even worse smell: freshly cleaned public men's room. The unpleasant smells still detectable but drowned in whatever cleaner was available.
A few weeks ago, I decided to try again. Hoping my skin had changed since my teenage days, I sprayed from the tester bottle. Again the aldehydes tingled, lemon waved from the distance and Jasmin made an appearance. It was better than years ago but still not the amazing experience I had smelling it on that woman.
Sometimes you'll have to be content with smelling things on others.

2022 extrait formulation. (Cue Elton John's "I'm Still Standing".)

If there's one word that's been used and abused well outside its wheelhouse lately, it's "iconic". Sorry, kids, but Carolina Herrera's dreck in a stiletto-shaped bottle isn't iconic, nor is Marvel's star-of-the-minute during a sassy press conference, nor is Olivia Rodrigo's latest midtempo diary entry, nor is whichever Hadid sister is in the news this week. The Eiffel Tower is iconic. Michelangelo's Pietà is iconic. The martini is iconic. Marilyn Monroe is iconic. And, yes, Chanel No. 5, the perfume that irrevocably changed the fragrance industry, inspired thousands of imitators at every price point, and set millions of hearts ablaze - and counting! - is iconic. Whether you like it or not, whether you think it smells gorgeously lush or old-fashioned and musty (which version are you smelling, exactly, and how well has it been kept?), we should all be familiar with the one perfume that almost everyone on Earth can name.

Chanel No. 5 parfum is a marvel. Sparkling, silky, soapy, powdery, flowery, woody, sunlit, musky. It contains literally the highest-quality jasmine and rose in the world, *grown specifically for it*. Can you smell the difference? If, like me, you spent a decade and a half dicking around with lesser fragrant specimens before finally laying a nose on this beauty, yes. You can. The rose jumps out right away, as sonorous and heartbreakingly beautiful as a soprano solo. The well-heeled jasmine is a violin that somehow turns into a cello halfway through the heart, running its hand along your arm, giving you goosebumps. The sandalwood hums a beguiling bass note, with velvety iris and musk adding texture; the civet peeks out at odd intervals, reminding you that No. 5 is a proper perfume, meant to be worn on skin, wafting deliciously from warm flesh. And yet the whole is so much more than the sum of its parts. Its abstract complexity makes No. 5 smell slightly different every time I wear it, but always unmistakably of itself. And it's one of those very rare perfumes that's so rich and well-drawn it seems to be alive, in the room with you, possessing its own personality. Somehow this tiny bottle of scented alcohol feels almost...human. (There's probably a scientific reason for this; I simply chalk it up to the intangible magic of perfume.)

Yes, No. 5 extrait is expensive. It's also, like the Pietà, a work of art. But you can't wear the Pietà.

There is a world of difference between the old versions.

@ barwench Do you want to know what the next generation will say about you when you'll reach 102? N°5 is not generic. It's the mother of a large family of scents even in simple hygiene mall's products. A milestone in perfume history/industry with a huge influence.
You don't like it? It's your right. We are all different.
But generic isn't the right word.

[600] The word "icon" is overused nowadays, but most would agree that it applies to Chanel No. 5, the most renowned perfume in the world. An objectively excellent scent, groundbreaking at the time of its creation by the pioneering use of aldehydes, No. 5 also is close to my heart, as the EDP has been my mom's signature scent for years. I have previously reviewed the EDT and EDP concentrations of No. 5, but I recently received a 1980s vintage miniature of the parfum version and was very excited to compare them. The parfum is closely related to the EDT - the EDP is a slightly different formula, composed in the 1980s. The parfum is the most powdery of the three, and unsurprisingly the richest iteration. I dabbed on my vintage EDT for comparison, and I think the top notes have expired; its opening being illogically dryer, dustier and less bright than that of the parfum.

No. 5 opens with radiant aldehydes, soapy and bright, alongside a squeeze of citrus. Beautiful powdery florals, the backbone of No. 5, follow closely, dense yet distinguishable from each other. Clean, sweet jasmine and powdery rose are instantly recognisable, with the trademark Chanel iris note enhancing the powder. Ylang ylang is more evident in the parfum than the other concentrations, sweet and creamy.

There is a beautiful soft musky undertone, becoming more evident as it dries down - this is much more prominent in the parfum than the other concentrations. The musks used in vintage perfumes are far superior to modern musk molecules (ethical issues aside). It adds a soft animalic undertone, a nice counterpoint to the aldehydic florals.

The floral chypre stage comes to the fore later, woody and mossy with a hint of animalic amber in the background. The powdery florals remain until final fade, sumptuously rich. A hint of powdery vanilla adds sweetness as it fades, becoming a soft, powdery mossy-amber skin scent. Sillage is moderate and longevity is long-lasting.

Rich yet airy, radiant yet densely powdery, No. 5 parfum is a multifaceted, complex scent that is perfectly formed. This parfum concentration is my favourite - the EDP is my mom's, and I prefer the richness here to the EDT. Timeless, ageless elegance in a bottle, it is a masterpiece in the truest sense of the word. The GOAT, as the kids say. 5/5.

Wearing Chanel N5 parfum on my birthday. The best gift you can give yourself. Whether joyous or depressed, this is uplifting and contemplative. It makes up for the lows of life and sparkles like a fizzy white wine topped with petals from only the freshest yellow and pink flowers picked from a fantasy snowland. If a snowy mountaintop grew a field of flowers, it would smell of Chanel no.5.
Enchanting. A masterpiece.

The vintage of this fragrance is absolutely beautiful. I would wear the modern all the time if it smelled like the vintage. You get the smell of the jasmine and orris root but its balanced out with the vanilla and musk that its a sexy yet sophisticated fragrance. The vintage smells like a clean beautiful woman that enjoys taking care of herself and doing herself up every day and wearing clothing that covers but shows off the shape of her body. Like that woman that is absolutely gorgeous, but likes to keep it classy but has a sexy side that she likes to keep a secret and only lets 1 or 2 select people know about and see. That is what the vintage captures.

UPDATE: I have the modern now and I do have to say the vintage and the modern smell more similar compare to the EDP. I still stick by the fact that the vintage has a sexier smell and it's the civet that does it. The civet keeps this from smelling more mature. The modern parfum is nice and I prefer it over the EDP, but the vintage parfum still wins.

Agree with the review below it is a grandma's purse but disaggree that most ages could wear this. Imagine you walk into an old house which have been damp and abandoned for years. Thats how I could describe the first 1 hour. Top class perfume and extremely long lasting on me even washing my hand several times I could still smell it.
This is a historical perfume and you can easily go wrong with it. You need to know how to and when to wear it otherwise it will wear you and cause a headache to everyone around you.

At first: Smells like the inside of grandma’s purse and lemon bathroom cleaner. But after 5 minutes there’s something addicting about it. 🤔 Has that signature Chanel lemon candy smell. I don’t think I could rock this though. I think it would wear me. I detect the bergamot, lemon, iris, amber, musk, moss, and patchouli. It’s like if La Vie Est Belle Oui was made way back in the day. Like way way wayyy back in the day. Anyways! Not for me, but I quickly have come to appreciate Chanel No 5 Parfum. Just that initial blast was somewhat mature. The purse smell disappears quickly, but it definitely retains a maturity about it. I think most ages could wear it though, just gotta be confident in it!

I would believe that this is an important part of perfume history and it smells like that - from a bygone era when women were women the way they were. I believe that this scent will bring back memories from years ago for many or revive those memories that have faded. Chanel has always made people beautiful, so does this timeless fragrance.

I know a lot of people hate on this fragrance because it smells like a granny (in this fragrance's defense, it was originally formulated in 1921. Marilyn Monroe literally wore this.), but I believe there is a lot of dimension to this scent actually. Did I kind of hate this scent at first? Yeah. Was the powdery scent way too much? Sure. However, if you actually let this perfume sit on your skin for a little while, (depending on body chemistry) you will be able to see this scent unfold. I agree with a lot of people saying it's too powdery, especially at first, but after a bit it transforms into a more vanilla-y, mossy fragrance and at some points I'm able to catch traces of the sandalwood. While I wouldn't wear this fragrance often, I definitely don't hate it. 8.5/10

I just received my 7.5 ml bottle and I couldn't be happier. My favorite versions of No 5 are the Parfum and Eau Premiere. They are softer and much more complex. I am in love with the Ylang Ylang here. Just wish it had more longevity since it doesn't last more than two hours on me.
Now, I've heard many times that this is a grandma scent. I disagree.
To experience its beauty in full potential, you have to try it on your skin and give it a time to fully develop. (Forget the EDT and EDP for a moment. We are talking about the Parfum concentration). Only then you can really experience the uniqueness of it.
Second, No 5 was created over hundred years ago and became a signature scent for many. Hundred years! So of course, you will see different generations loving this scent. And that, in my opinion, is just beautiful.
Is it unisex? It is to me. But do you really care?
I wear fragrances for me. To make me feel certain way. Some of them I use to bring back memories, some to make me happy, energetic, comfortable, nostalgic, warm, safe... or just for fun.
Wear the one you like. And leave the gender labels behind. :)

In response to @gyps, you are right that the formulations are much much weaker now. My husband bought me the EDP last month for my birthday because I was out of the one I bought three years before. It lasts one hour on me. I have asked others at maybe the two hour point if they smell the perfume (nose to wrist) and they don’t. Now my skin has always worn Chanel No. 5 much more softly than is experienced on most others. I have worn it since the 1980s. In fact, my skin devours this fragrance more than most. However, never have I been more disappointed in any former version of the EDP. So, I decided to purchase the parfum so I could keep that lovely skin scent going for longer. This too is slightly weaker than previous formulations of the parfum, but it is not a disappointment and it is fairly unchanged. It has kept most of her vitality alive. To me, it is the loveliest most magical fragrance in the world. I pray that Chanel fixes its longevity problem with my beloved EDP, because one hour at that price is not worth it. However, the parfum still holds much of her former beauty and quality. I can’t imagine living without this fragrance.

Beautiful perfume. Not overpowering and stays close to my skin. Can’t wear it every day, it’s too expensive. I find all the Chanel perfumes I own aren’t strong like the votes say. Maybe it’s just my skin, but I smell them faintly for a long time. Chanel perfumes are class.

@ Miss.Tara, great review! The way you explain the texture and feel of the parfum vs other variations is spot on to what I experience as well.

The parfum melts into my skin, giving the illusion that it’s just my natural smell. So clean and relaxing. The parfum stays close, adding to the the deception that I just smell this clean and soft and lovely.

A heavy hand with No 5 in any form ruins the experience for me. I dab No 5 parfum just a tiny bit at a time, letting it warm up on my skin before adding an additional drop or two.

Smells like mature baby powder. I didn't like it at first, but after giving it another try, It's now the scent I wear to sleep.

My favourite scent of all time .. a bit too expensive to wear daily as a signature for me but would love to. I own both the Eau de Toilette and the Parfum there is a difference in the smell .. the Parfum is much heavier and a night fragrance I feel.
Oud always smells unsure how to put this polite but stale pee on my skin ..i avoid those but the civet musk is warm and like a big hug on a cold night. This perfume is legendary.

I am, at last, the proud owner of a 15ml Chanel No 5 Extrait. I say proud but this is very much an understatement as I was very emotional when I bought this, and I also have several bottles of the EDP and the EDT to complete my collection. I watched many of Dacob’s videos on YouTube (Dacob, we love you) and I exactly understand how he feels about being obsessed by Le 5 (as we say in my hometown and also Chanel No 5’s birthplace: Paris).
Yes it is expensive, but frankly if you have decided to buy a bottle, it is because you love it. Also the ingredients making this beautiful nectar (I did not say juice because we are at a different level here) are top quality such as jasmine flowers picked at early hours of the morning and May rose, both coming from the Chanel fields in Grasse.
The bottle does not have a spray cap and you don’t splash with no 5 Extrait, you dab. You dab on pulse points of your body where the heat will “activate” this beautiful, comforting, classy smell that is so unique to no 5. However, I have my own ritual: EDT or EDP is sprayed on my chest and the extrait is dabbed behind my ears. Also. no 5 is the perfume I wear everyday. You cannot understand and feel it’s presence if it is not part of your everyday routine.
Whenever, I wear no 5, even being a guy, I feel safe, comforted, at peace. For me, no 5 is an entire part of my personal space that nobody invades apart from my husband and very close friends. It is my world where I even feel Coco’s presence and connect with her. I know it sounds silly but no 5 is Coco and Coco is no 5 - she fought really hard to keep the brand as hers, probably not in a nice way but business is business.
Don’t expect to radiate no 5 when you wear no 5 Extrait. You will experience something personal that is unique and really magic.
Finally, anyone who says it smells mature or like granny does not understand no 5. They probably have smelled it on a strip of paper or worn it once in their life. No 5 does not smell mature or like granny. It smells class and sophistication.

If you're deciding between the Parfum and other formulations, the biggest difference in my opinion is one dab of the Parfum goes straight to the dry down without anything sharp in the beginning. But not just that, the texture of the Parfum surrounds the wearer in a cloud of a skin scent. So it smells and is as strong-smelling as a skin scent, yet projects in a bubble around you.
Usually if someone wants to be swaddled in a cloud of scent, they have to spray a lot and as a result it presents really strongly. Some people love that, and maybe that could be achieved with the Parfum. But that's not how I wear it.

For me, *that* is the magic and purpose of the Parfum formulation. If you just want a similar smell, Premiere is going to get you the closest. Eau de Parfum is a bombastic blast that eventually calms down after a few hours. but the end result is a different "presence" or "texture" than the Parfum.
Another unique aspect of the Parfum is that because its such "dry-down" or "base-note" type of scent yet still has such a presence, it layers really well with many different types of scents.
Maybe layering this is blasphemy since it is so amazing and multi-dimensional on it's own, but half way through the day, if I'm feeling restless, I can layer my Dior Gris lotion (a minimal boss-lady rose) over it or really anything! The Parfum softens and smooths anything it's up against, which really adds amazing dimension to spicy gourmands, men's fougeres, or tart florals. And something fruity, wow! It's heaven.
I've even tried a strawberry-aid lotion that is actually for my son, and I felt like a Summer goddess! Haha! It's like cheating with layering, you can't go wrong!

For anyone that is concerned with wanting the most "modern" take, I'd say Parfum > Eau Premiere > L'Eau (more of a powdered sugar lemon facet without being too sweet, and less yellow florals) > EDT > EDP. With the last two falling into the category as "vintage smelling." Which I enjoy when the mood hits, but I know that's not everyone's jam.
I tend to reach for L'Eau the least because it tends to be. . . "stuffy" sometimes. I don't mean powdery, they all have powder, maybe it's the combination of the powder and the sweet lemon? So I like to spray that in my bath water instead.

I’ve always wanted to try No.5 but never did. Probably intimidated because of its iconic status. I eventually bought a bottle of Eau Premier (2008) which has some of its DNA but more palatable for someone who prefers low sillage from my fragrances. A few years later, when my mom moved, she left me her perfumes as she no longer wears them. Amongst the stash is a No.5 Parfum from the 70-80s. I’m finally getting my wrists wet! A strong aldehydic opening with ylang ylang, then settles down to powdery iris and vanilla. Bright but oh so smooth. I sprayed Eau Premier on my other wrist and after the initial 5 minutes of a bit of aldehydes, all that’s left is some non descript powderiness. While I don’t foresee myself wearing the Parfum out much (definitely too loud for work), I will enjoy it at home. Truly lives up to its legendary status.

The absolute, eternal, undisputed, timeless queen of all feminine fragrances. A myth. It is useless to get lost in the sterile and cheap criticisms of irreverent and opinionated experts: Chanel n 5 is the feminine fragrance par excellence, a pioneer in modern perfumery. Forerunner par excellence. Aldehyde floral triumph of irrefutable beauty. All the fragrances that were born after have tried to equal this composition by going around it without being able to create such a masterpiece.

The first time I got to try an adult perfume was when I was 15, and it was Chanel No 5. My dad who gave me his permission to wear his bottle before he gifted me my own bottle. It was the eau de parfum so it was strong and it almost kinda killed my aunt and I started to develop a headache from it. I would used it but sparingly and rarely. It always has been a perfume that will give me a headache. Then I got to try a parfum (extrait) version of it, and I found out that I love it a lot. Much better than the eau de parfum. I’m guessing because I have to dab it instead of spraying it, I’m not overwhelm by the instant hit and I didn’t kill anyone along with it.

It is powdery fresh, woody, floral and sweet on me. The aldehydes didn’t disappear hence I guess the headache. The dry down is a lot sweeter on me cause of the vanilla but not sugary or sickening but still powdery. Does it smell something of the past? The perfume is a century old therefore, I’m sure everyone associated it with something from the past. For me, it isn’t old nor new. It’s something I’m familiar with. Is it sexy or a date fragrance? No, unless your date likes you powdery fresh. I recommend the parfum over the eau de parfum.

You have to try the greats, don’t you? Just to say you have. That’s why I tried this - I’m not even going to lie.

I’ll be real with you, I knew I probably wouldn’t like it. I dislike aldehydes and animalic notes, particularly civet, and as expected this is a strong dislike for me… when it comes to myself and what I wear.

When it comes to scent in general though, I actually enjoyed the experience more than I thought I would. There’s something familiar about this, as I’m sure there is to many, given how ubiquitous it was. I think my grandmother had a bottle of this back when I used to rummage through her perfumes. It’s comforting.

Some perfumes just remind you of times past and that’s okay. Would I call this timeless as many others have though? Dare I say it - only in the same way that old Hollywood is timeless - in the image. Sure, you can still dress exactly like Marilyn Monroe if you want to, and all power to you, but things, sadly, move along.

So, I got my hands on a sample of the original (yes, the one that used the sweat of a cat) and now I get it. That scent, while definitely a vintage almost bordering on grandma one, is a one of a kind original. It's sexy, it's sensual, it's warm and it's soft at the same time. I understand Marilyn and all the other stars in Hollywood for wearing this, because this perfume smells like sex on a vintage chaise lounge. The power of the spice in the original scent goes perfectly with the floralness of it, and I would love if they were able to develop the current Chanel No. 5 into something like this. But for now I'll just have to use this sample.

I had the parfum without spray automizer I almost showered myself with this.. Looved it and I was so young (loved this and also Coco and C. D. Poison.

I'm chuckling at the review that says "nor is it for someone who does not care about their appearance"

Well.... I'm wearing this at home, at night, wearing a huge dog food t-shirt (my husband works at a pet store) and sweatpants. I wear this to smell myself. Expensive self care. xoxo

Starts out a bit sharp (due to the citrus) , turns floral and mellows warmly.
I do Not like florals in general , with Chanel # 5 being the exception because it is so complex.
Once the first notes calm down, Chanel # 5 reminds me most of clean fresh soap (due to the strong aldehydes) but it eventually mellows with vanilla, Amber, patchouli….
It’s not for everybody and yes, it’s a mature fragrance. A true classic that’s standing the test of time

You OWE it to yourself to get to know more about the history of this beloved and ICONIC perfume – there's a book specifically written for it called "The Secret of Chanel No. 5".

In the end you may decide that this scent is not for you, but No. 5's life story and impact for over a hundred years from its debut should at the very least earn your respect.

I just don't get it. I'm wearing some of my Mum's newly purchased Chanel No.5 and for me it's a (sacrilege, I'm sure) scrubber.
It smells to me pretty much like Coty L'aimant (a copy of 5?), but with a 'brighter heart'.
Other than that, it smells one dimensional and too 'warm', in a cloying way, for me.
19 or Cristalle, yes, but I'm afraid Chanel No.5 is just not for me.
EDIT:
What happened?!
It's now October '22 and I tried my Mum's 5 again and ..huh?!
It could now almost be mistaken for vintage Hermes Caleche .. or Lauder 'Estee' ..
It seems much more complex now, maybe the cooler air now? I don't know!
But hmmm... interested ..

I find it weird (personally, ofc) when someone says this does not smell of a particular flower or scent 'cos to me, it's PURE JASMINE.. front and center. My partner, when I asked him to smell while telling him a little history about this gem w/c is the parfum/extrait iteration, he immediately felt GOOSEBUMPS all over – I thought, wow, THAT GOOD?! Then he said, he felt like a dead person just made a presence in the room like it smelled of white flowers you experience in a funeral wake.. and even though I HATED that description, it was his experience. I, on the otherhand, remember my childhood where we have jasmine flowers in the backyard, lots of it – making jasmine flower string necklaces.. it's like you're holding lots and lots of jasmine flowers freshly picked, and just sniffing them up close. That's what I get from this. The edt to me is more abstract, then again it's just my opinion, and perfumes can be very subjective.

In order to understand and love this fragrance one needs to understand the history of Chanel. As a brand and the great woman behind all it’s fabulousness who was Gabrielle Chanel. This parfum (extrait) is art and always will be, regardless of what some people say. The point is not everyone will like it, obviously it would be impossible that everyone would entirely like something, you don’t have to but you do have to appreciate it.
With this perfume you take your chances because it doesn’t smell like a particular flower, it smells like a composition, it doesn’t smell like something or everything, it smells like class, power, confidence and style. It really doesn’t care what other fragrances smell like because it’s on a world of its own.

So warm, clean, voluptuous, smooth, rich. Really, there is no comparison.

Oh man I really want to like the vintage-y Chanel scents, but both no 5 and Coco Mademoiselle smell like mould to and on me... Shame, smells beautiful on a friend!

My mother wore Chanel No. 5 when I was little so this was always a strong scent memory for me. Wanting to recreate those feelings, I purchased a bottle of the EDP years ago. It was lovely, but didn't quite flip that scent memory switch in my brain and I couldn't figure out why. For years, it sat mostly unused on my shelf, because it wasn't quite what I rememered. Then, a few weeks ago after learning more about fragrance here and on youtube, I realized that the EDP and the parfum version of a fragrance can be very different! I had a hunch so I took the plunge and bought the smallest bottle of this version, the parfum. Lo and behold, this is the scent of my childhood! This is what triggers those memory centers for me. They both have a place on my fragrance shelf but this one is nearest and dearest to my heart. The more you know!

Shit, I smell gooooood.

My first sniff of Chanel no 5 convinced me it was designed for old ladies who liked the smell of soap. It was probably an eau de toilette I smelled years ago at a department store counter. Soap, roses, and musk. That's all I got from it. I couldn't see what anyone liked about it. I was still young enough that most admonitions about what you'll like when you get older suggested you lose your senses, develop untreatable pain, and complain about how technology is ruining the young people nowdays. That sample of Chanel no 5 seemed to fit the idea that nostalgia makes you ignore what the world has to offer.

A few years ago, based on a first-hand description of how much better the perfume can be than the weaker concentrations, I decided to give it another try. Wow. I really was missing out! The soapiness is just one note in a field of flowers, with warm woods and resins mixing in, mosses and musk blending with all of it, none demanding your full attention but all of them keeping your nose alert for what might come next. It was the amazing scent people have claimed it has been for a century. Since our senses do dull over time, I can only conclude that the bottle I tried years ago was breaking down from age and was too low in concentration to hold all the scents together. This sample of the perfume to my more mature nose was the right formulation at the right time. I might have liked it when I was younger, but I think it would have been intimidating. You need to know who you are to wear something sophisticated. This is. It'll draw people's attention and hold it, as it did mine when I was ready to revisit it.

Not much to be said about this fragrance that hasn't been said for a hundred years already.
This is the only fragrance my mother ever wore, and she didn't wear it often.
I bought a bottle, because she is gone now, and it reminds me of her. I may even wear it on her birthday.
A classic masterpiece and cornerstone of perfumery that has never quite been matched, a century after its release.

My great-grandmother Elizabeth, or 'Lea,' was a woman of indomitable spirit and impeccable taste, and No. 5 Parfum was hers. A beautiful woman with dark hair in an upsweep or in curls along the nape of her neck, deep red lipstick and matching nails, a crisp white blouse and black skirt with hose-- Chanel in her own right. She was born two years before the creation of No. 5, so I rightfully say that she adopted this scent as her own rather than what happens now that the fragrance has become a legend: it is something that must adopt you. If you are not meant for No. 5, it will recoil and become bitter and disagreeable, the "funeral parlor" smell many complain of who have no business using it. If it accepts you, it reveals all of itself as it also becomes part of you. Bear in mind that the Parfum is the original and true form of No. 5 that the glamorous starlets of yesteryear enjoyed; the Eau de Parfum which is most commonly and widely available in department stores is a reiteration which was introduced in 1986. The true Parfum is a product of a bygone age, one of dignity and elegance. It is something that cannot and should not be worn by anyone, especially men. I am not one to segregate men's and women's fragrances usually, but this is one I will not touch as I hold it in reverence as the essence of exclusive femininity. I admire its aloof beauty from a distance, much like a Grecian statue. This is not a beginner's fragrance, nor is it for someone who does not care about their appearance. This is for those who choose to inherit a legacy.

This is my personal armour. A suit for a soldier of love.

What hasn’t been said about this beautiful creature? The Parfum is the epitome of French elegance and craftsmanship. The Jasmine fields grown by Chanel are very well renowned and this Parfum delicately describes the beauty that is cultivated from them. The aldehydes soar and bubble like champagne before the jasmine and rose bloom like a powdery silk. The gold color represents the warmth and tenderness of 5 as she radiates her soft and gentle nature. She is regal and sophisticated, but never too much on any given day or night. She is pearls and a comfortable sweater or a blouse and denim. She goes to birthday parties and balls, the grocery store and Nieman Marcus. She is all of us and for every occasion. Class in a bottle.

I have both a 2016 bottle of No5 Parfum as well as a 1940’s-era parfum, and I’ve gotta give Chanel props. They’ve truly maintained the integrity of the formula and have stayed true to the original. The 1940's bottle & the 2016 bottle smell nearly identical.

That being said, the 1940’s era parfum has an arrestingly beautiful golden warmth to it that the newer version lacks. I would imagine it’s due to the use of nitromusks, actual animalics, and a patina of age that it’s accrued over the past 80 years. If you ever get a chance to sniff a vintage, it’s the real deal.

However, if you can’t, I’ve found a close replica: layer this with just a touch of Kiehl’s Musk - emphasis on a light touch. Kiehl’s Musk and Chanel No5 are just similar enough scents that the tiniest amount of the musk recalls that vintage, voluptuous warmth that the 1940’s bottle has.

Perfume has always fascinated me as the perfect intersection of art and science, and as such you'd think No. 5 perfume would've been one of my first purchases when I became an adult. However, despite being (or perhaps because I am) a child of the 70's/80's, I prefer green, citrusy scents and unisex fourgere and cologne fragrances to floral scents, and haven't worn anything with a powdery note since I was 12.

Having gotten a sample in the 80's when my mom worked in Hecht's women's department, I associated No. 5 with an almost alcoholic opening and powdery floral dry-down that kept me away for decades.

Back around 2009, reading through "Perfumes The Guide", I was surprised to read how different the various incarnations of Chanel No. 5 were formulated, and I resolved one day to revisit the fragrance.

Today is the day. My precious .25 bottle arrived an hour ago, and like many others here, I'm shocked how different - favorably - the perfume is from the EDT and EDP (which is what I realize now my mom must've brought home in the mid-80's when it was first released vs. the perfume).

It is stunning. It definitely has a powder/iris note, but it keeps changing on my skin in a way that's fascinating me. For me, the scent I get whiffs of is not even the same as when I put my nose close up to my wrist - and while the top notes I wish would persist even a bit longer, I'm enjoying the dry-down, with the citrus and amber and vanilla coming and going, popping up and disappearing.

(ETA: 3 hours in, the scent is hitting the base notes, but it's surprisingly different from what I expected and again in a positive way. Sitting very close on the skin now, still periodic flashes of citrus, and the musk is showing itself to be a lovely refined one, melded with the amber and vanilla beautifully. The civet and oakmoss and patchouli feel like the "underpainting" (base layer) of color you apply before painting a picture, that gives tonality and contrast to the final painting you apply on top - you can't see (smell) them, but you know they're there.)

I've also ordered a small vintage bottle that hasn't arrived yet, as a comparison. I know the top notes won't likely be intact, but very curious to experience the dry-down which most people seem to agree stays true to form in vintage samples.

It's not something that's going to be a go-to for me 'personal scent', but anyone who thinks they don't "get" the appeal of No. 5 and appreciates the art of perfumery should have at least the smallest bottle, just to appreciate the art of the possible.

Note: I was surprised to see so many people say "unisex" in the polls above - but then as I hit the base notes, I asked my husband to take a sniff at the 3 hours mark, and he said "woody". I love seeing all the guys on here wearing this phenomenal fragrance, and I can 100% see men wearing this and smelling fantastic... I'm guessing the vintage stuff even moreso.

I love the EDP but for my birthday my husband treated me to the parfum and I’m not sure how can one ever go back. This is so beautiful, soft, tender, addictive. I’ve never tried a parfum version of anything before but this is pure class. I am trying to convince myself to only use it on special occasions but struggling to go back to anything else. This just makes me feel so womanly, tender, sensual and powerful and strong at the same time. Love love love

This is the most incredible version of Chanel No. 5. The opening is unlike the others. So sensual and woody with notes that still make it stand out. No. 5 may not be everyone’s cup of tea but even if it isn’t your favorite you must try this version. It is warm, beautiful, and unisex. I think this will be the only version of No. 5 that I wear going forward.

Literally just sprayed this on for the first time since receiving it today (it’s the evening so I’m channeling Marilyn right now). I am in LOVE. I love the EDT and EDP, but there’s something about this I love more. I actually find this one to be more unisex than the other two flankers, not that it matters. I’m a gay man, and I’ll wear whatever makes me happy. But something about this screams “a beautiful bouquet of flowers next to the best jar of body powder made.” I don’t know how to describe it other than, and I hope I don’t sound pretentious...ethereal? It must be the aldehydes. It’s been less than a month since I received my vintage EDT, and now I’ve bought a vintage EDP, and this new Parfum. I read somewhere on here that the parfum doesn’t come in a spray, and that if you got a spray bottle, this isn’t what you bought. I can’t say how untrue that is. My version of this is in a black lipstick style spray bottle. Both the glass bottle (replaceable) and the black case say “parfum” not “eau de.” And I know Chanel wouldn’t mislabel something. So if you, for some reason, thought you couldn’t get this in anything other than the dabber bottle...I have good news for you! I’ll come back and update the review once I’ve been able to study how long it stays on my body and if the scent evolves. But honestly, I don’t get that it’s going to. And even if not, I’m still in love.

🥀

Top notes are bright and sparkling citrus with almost sweet flowers, dry down is powdery, almost incensey, rather like the top notes to Givenchy III.
Interesting, definitely related to the more common eau de parfum but on the whole I like the eau de parfum better.

I consider my taste pretty modern, yet I've been a little underwhelmed by the more modern versions of No. 5 (Eau Premiere and L'Eau). They are nice and have succesfully retained the essence of No. 5, but somehow I have not been inspired to wear them. So far my favourite version of No. 5 has been the EdP - until I received this little gem.

Comparing this parfum next to the edp the latter smells almost like an 80's assault - the parfum is so much softer, like a pillow of flowers (I recognize ylang ylang and iris) on a bed of soft aldehydes and some animalic notes. I find the edp more harsh and aldehydic. I still like the edp but the parfum is so much gentler to the nose and therefore more wearable to me at least.

I should also note that my bottle is a current version in a tiny black spray container - not in the beautiful yet impractical dab bottle. I've yet to smell the vintage; I'm very happy with the current version at least while not knowing the vintage :D

Once I have disliked aldehydes, I finally understud why I disliked Chanel No5. I can smell it on 10 meters away from someone. It takes a character to wear it, ages and experience. I don't have neither. Maybe in 10 years from now.
It is not that I dislike it, but i do not like it, or love it.
Respect to every lady ever wearing and loving it.

So I wasn't expecting to be able to try this one but it was available at the counter so thus I go.
This to me is the definition of a chypre perfume. Citrus top notes and a mossy-animalic set of base notes, but this is characterized by its Adelic and woody powdery aroma.
If this fragrance didn't have such a perceived link to the ultra-feminine and the weight of its reputation I really believe It could have been unisex.
I had a paper sample and a drop on my wrist and it seems to be more than enough to fill the shop. I think a lot of people think of older women wearing this because the aroma really has captured the luxury of its time, the powdery feel of silk sheets represented by iris and patchouli, smoot glossy mahogany wood furniture represented by sandalwood, and the punchy musks invoice opulence and maximalism, which was the old luxury and to some people now still the real luxury.

I love it ! I know a lot of people say it smells like an old lady and I totally get it I think it's the powder smell who do that . For my part I feel like in a cloud when I wear this perfume , it's fresh , comforting and so luxurious . Moreover , I stays on the skin for a long time ! It's a10/10 for me

Chanel No. 5 Parfum (1921) - powdery floral - #ernestbeaux ‘s 100-year old masterpiece has the most refined aldehydes amongst the #no5 range. The florals pulsating and emanating this spirit of festivity and French joie de vivre. It’s supported by a base of Sandalwood, White musks, Patchouli and oakmoss. Reminds me of a sculpture of the #venusdemilo located at the #louvre - perfectly sculpted, smooth, and a muse of inspiration.

Just broke the seal and pulled the stopper on a 14 ml Parfum bottle from - so far as I can ascertain - 1991 (ish - barcode but no green dot).

Now I understand.

A genuine 'wow' moment for me and no, I wouldn't have any problem or difficulty wearing something this beautiful, even as an unreconstituted Gen X bloke.

This may prove an expensive discovery :)

This. is. the. Queen. The absolute lady. The grande dame. This is the boss. Wear it when you are the boss. Don't wear it to pretend you are ;). It takes class, style and character - then you can wear it. Otherwise it would wear YOU.
If real gold, champagne and old money had a smell, this would be it.

Timeless masterpiece.

The parfum version of no 5 is smoother and less aldehydic than the edp. It feels so much better put together. Bois des Iles parfum is still number one to me, but I think every perfume enthusiast needs the no. 5 parfum in their collection.

After a lovely trip to a Chanel store, the no 5 body cream is an essential part of my collection to be layered whenever i wear no. 5 parfum or bois des iles. The cream really captures no. 5 in a gauzy cloud. Of the no.5 collection my favorites are the parfum and the body cream. They are ethereal, feminine, and elegant. I need to try the other body products.

The descriptions of vintage no 5 make is sound much skankier and stronger. Current no 5 parfum is a clean, elegant amber floral suspended in a cloud of soapy aldehydes. Calming and beautiful but I think I would have preferred her in her wilder days.

I tried this sprayed on a test strip at Macy's for the first time ever today. I'm a dude but the only perfume I could name before I became a frag head was Chanel No. 5. So I was intrigued. I like masculine historic classics so the feminine's of the world - the Chanel No. 5's, Shalimar's, Jicky's etc. have me intrigued. About what I expected. Very "old school" smelling. And the civet! That was the first thing I noticed. The animalic civet was very pronounced. I liked that in this case. It wasn't quite too much. Smells like history. It IS too much in 1974's Givenchy Gentleman. There is only so much animalic civet I can take.

I’m a guy, and I love this.
A lot of people say this so very “old woman” or just “old” but honestly, it smells amazing. It’s fresh n clean with a slight powdery vibe on me personally but I get a huge dose of spice

No identity, overrated,saopy, it's not ugly, but definitely not wow for my taste, the over publicity of this perfume it what got it famous, i know a number of women with bad manners wear it to feel class as it's advertised 😏

As of 5~5~21...

HAPPY 100 YEARS YOU ICONIC BEAUTY!

✨

If you suffer from headaches from screechy white florals, exercise caution. This fragrance is not screechy per se, but gave me a massive headache both times I tried it. Washing with soap and following with an inert oil only diminished its presence.

None of the citrus in the opening, just orris root / powdery and white florals with a hint of rose.

Not a blind buy. It will likely be a love / signature fragrance or very hard pass depending upon your chemistry and preferences.

I am well and truly annoyed, ladies and gents. Why? Because this is an absolutely BEAUTIFUL fragrance, but it is only available in pure parfum form! That’s why! I had to shell out some pretty pennies just to discover that a fragrance I have deemed outdated (edp) and nice but too musky (edt) I had never even smelled before! That’s right, if you’ve never smelled the pure parfum you have never actually smelled Chanel No. 5. And yet, so many flankers bearing the name... it’s insane. But I guess here’s the good thing- this fragrance actually IS divine and DESERVES its pedestal, but ONLY in the pure parfum form. I’m pleased to discover this finally, but really wish there was a more affordable concentration.

I never understood the idea with this perfume. I think many actually dislike this but because is written Chanel, they induce to themselves to like it the same as I tried. Maybe in the other century was something wow but for me surely it is not. I hate it the first time I bought it, and i hated the second time again when i tried to like this because yeah it s an iconic perfume. To me it smells "old", masculine and like a granny or aunt is in a "chemistry lab". Chanel perfumes just don’t work for me, I’ve tried so many times with different scents but always ended as gifts to my friends. I have million times better perfumes than this so the idea with the “glamour” and “elegance“of Chanel didn’t catch me.

Chanel No. 5 Extrait de Parfum (vintage from before 2000):

What could I possibly say about this that hasn't already been said? It's headier, more voluptuous compared to the EdP, the Extrait opens with those bombastic sparkling aldehydes and an underlying creaminess that is so reminiscent of high-end soap... The muskiness of the civet somehow feels more prominent here, in submission to the exalted beauty of the golden elixir that is Chanel No. 5.

صد سالشه و هنوز هم پرفروش ترینه – تعجبی نداره که افسانه‌ایه این عطر. البته که کوکو شانل، مریلین مونرو، و اندی وارهول در خلق و ادامه این استوره سهم خودشون رو داشتن، اما بعد از صد سال احتمالا باید بدونیم که بحث فقط بحث استوره بودن نیست – بحث مارکتینگ و فروش هم نیست. استوره بودن و مارکتینگ فقط یه مدت میتونن جواب بدن، اونا به تنهایی نمیتونن برای صد سال یه عطرو در اوج نگه دارن – عطری که به چنین جایگاهی دست پیدا میکنه به قطع و یقین باید خاص باشه. شماره 5 عطری سحر آمیزه. این عطریه که نم نم میدرخشه: با آلدئیدها، هسپریدیا، رز و یاس. این اکسیر جوشان و سرزنده که به زیبایی ساخته شده، الگوی کاملیه از وقتی که در مورد کلاسیک بودن، زیبایی و پیچیدگی عطر حرف میزنیم - این افسانه ای هست که می تونم باورش کنم.

I don't know what the hype is all about up be honest.. on me it smells outdated.. vintage" to the point of smelling "old" . I detect no freshness or crispness in this perfume. very similar to Arpege.. with Arpege costing a fraction of the price.
I have many Upmarket perfumes "costly" and non costly that smell divine. this is not one of them. glad I bought the miniature of this "so called popular fragrance

@ Fierce Swan Scent This page is for the parfum, NOT the eau de parfum spray. This is pure parfum, no water or alcohol, that you dab on, not spray, and it smells nothing like the eau de parfum. At least, not to me.

If you were to ask me, the Premiere version would make a much better eau de parfum version than the current one. The Premiere version to me smells like a bit lighter version of this one. I wear this during cooler weather and the Premiere version during the warmer months. I love the eau de toilette as a daytime scent. It is soapy, but that, to me, is what makes it ideal for during the day,

Edit to add: I’m updating my review. I’ve discovered that this DOES come in spray form. I never knew that because it was always offered to me in dab bottle form. My apologies!

From time to time between the 90s and 10s I'd try this out, in its different forms, trying to understand it even if I couldn't love it. After all, this was the ultimate perfume and I was being unreasonable, right? And Marilyn herself wore it, for gawd's sake. And reading the notes on paper, well oh yes please. I finally gave up over a decade ago. It wasn't just my skin: I sprayed it into the air and the effect was the same. Marshmallows and acetone. That's it: a marriage of sickly-cushiony-vanilla sweets and nail polish remover. Coy yet harsh, like a woman in a pink suit at the office who undermines her female colleagues and cosies up to all the males with a pastel smile. No one sees through her and she keeps getting promoted. I won't be getting any upvotes, but I won't be drinking tequilas with this one.

Ill start with the negatives and move on to the positives. This definitely needs to come in a spray ideally 30ml so that I don’t have to ruin my dab on bottle with anything that eventually accumulates inside the bottle. The “parfum” version is my absolute favorite with the eau de parfum coming after. About 20 years ago, when as a teenager I had bought egoist platinum, I was given as a gift with purchase a mini pot of the No5 body cream. My oh my i tried it on my hands and i was in ecstasy . For the last 5 years I’ve been wearing No5 on and off and as of last year I’ve decided that i want it in my life every day. It’s a fragrance i want to be remembered by and I don’t care if people recognize it, or if they feel uncomfortable with a man wearing a perfume marketed to women, if its strong, too soft, assertive or simply divine. No5, especially the parfum is a bewitching masterpiece. I can’t think of any other perfume that makes me smile when i wear it, makes me feel confident, lucky,relaxed and somehow protected. It’s not a sexy perfume. To me it is what it is. You either get it or you don’t. “I am a Chanel perfume”.

A sweet Vanilla and White Tea drop. I always feel clean and warmhearted when I wear this. It's a whisper 'I love mysel' to myself all day. I smell it, I feel like no one else does. But it's personal to me, and makes me feel secure, comforted, and heard. If only just by my perfume.

Airy perfection.
This is what the upper stratosphere might smell like if everything beautiful on planet Earth grew wings, took to the air like ethereal birds and vapourised, becoming one quintessential scent.
No 5 Parfum is the perfect balance of elements in olfactory form.
Sparkling aldeyhydes, powdery iris, juicy, tart citrus, sensual ylang-ylang, dew-spangled florals, lush moss, those dappled-shade woodsy notes.... I'm on the verge of becoming rhapsodic.
This is bottled art. Not the only masterpiece, but up there with the greats.
I'll always have it in EDT, EDP and Parfum.

Haiku of the day

art in a bottle
the scent of ethereal
a perfect balance

I have been wearing this iconic perfume since my early teenage years. Although I do have alot of fragrances, chanel n5 as I considered as my signature scent.
Smells like a baby powder with a luxurious trail, this is how I described chanel n5.
A little story about my sister who try to wear this perfume. As she really love the smell it on me but sadly this gem is not fit in her body chemistry it smells so off on her, she really want to wear chanel number 5 and she ends up buying chanel n5 Eau premiere luckily Eau premiere soothes her.
PS. Chanel n5 leau is so much good too just imagine chanel number 5 but in a tone down version with the addition of citrus😊

Edit: My Parfum includes Oak Moss Extract on the list of ingredients so I probably have a version that is better than the current one.

Chanel No 5 Parfum has been my favourite forever, but it‘s definitely a perfume for evening. I came across this site (an aside -while on the hunt for a fresh rose-centred fragrance for day) and decided to check out the reviews for this absolutely wonderful perfume. The actual Parfum is rich and beautiful through all the notes. Not at all like the EDP or EDT versions which appears to be what some reviewers are describing. I notice “Parfum” is not listed on the Fragrantica Perfume Dictionary.To my nose, Chanel No 5 Eau De Parfum may take its inspiration from Chanel No 5 Parfum, but its not a close representation of the scent, even after dry down.

Very smooth, pleasant!
Everything here is perfect, there is balance of all the components and they enrich each other by creating a unique scent altogether.. Its almost impossible to say what components I feel mostly here.
I cant figure out the concrete flower or something else it is not so clearly recognizable and the scent is just so blended well together professionally.
In a high quality perfume you just do not feel concrete fragrances of its components, even if the formula is known, even if we see pyramid of what is included. So, here is exactly this case.
So, this lovely luxury soapy scent+ very delicate rich fragrance of the complex of well-blended components, presents a high quality obviously.

This fragrance is best described as a timeless classic. The ylang-ylang and rose dominate. It dries down to a lovely clean powdery scent with a hint of sweetness and mellow amber musk. A very ladylike fragrance, more of a daytime fragrance for me as I layer it by cleansing with the barsoap, followed with body cream, skipping the spray perfume. I find that combination lighter, very long lasting, soft and a fresher fragrance when applied using those 2 products.

Many people tell me I smell older than I am (<20) but I think it's a lack of appreciation for such a deep scent in comparison from the sickly sweetness you would expect from someone in their teenage years. I smell a strong undertone of sandalwood after 15 mins which is enjoyable but it's mostly floral scents you get from it. No.5 was the perfume that started me into this hobby as I had no prior knowledge that a scent could be this devine.

Used to love this one, i kind of understand why. It has a very strong chemical scent which reminded me of a harsh detergent soap smell. Maybe a weird description, but for some weird reason this smelled 'clean' in a harsh way to me. It was weird, because i could even appreciate the amber in this one, and amber is not a scent i normally like much. Amber definitely has the leading role in this one. I however have changed my mind slightly and think it's a bit too synthetic and strong smelling and that it's te kind of perfume i can't tolerate for too long. I don't mind strong smelling perfumes per se, but the scent itself is not pleasant enought to be allowed to get as overpowering as this one. I'm interested in the original number 5, the one Marilyn Monroe used to wear. I might have even smelled it once in the store and if i remember correctly it smelled completely different and a lot more toned down.

this perfume was used by Marilyn Monroe.

My impression when I first sprayed Chanel no. 5 on my arm was "well, this is the smell of every sophisticated lady I've ever smelled!" They say it is the most popular and famous perfume in the world, and that is probably true. It's almost impossible to pin down, but if you think about all the elegant older women you knew growing up, and the kind of slightly musky, slightly floral, slightly soapy/powdery perfume they would wear, well, that's what Chanel no. 5 smells like. It is not their fault that their formula has become widely copied and modified in modern perfuming; that is a testament to the versatility of their scent. Still, at the same time, it no longer comes across as a very unique or personality-reflecting scent. It is classy and reliable.

I wear this in it’s vintage form every night in bed. Some would probably consider that wasteful, as I’m sleeping and not awake to enjoy it. But every time I sleepily roll over, or flip the pillow, my subconscious wakes me up just enough to smile at the scent and drift back to sleep.

It’s the cleanest, softest, most ethereal cloud of soapy powdered heaven. I get soft woods, vanilla, powder. It doesn’t project, there’s not a lot of sillage, but that takes away nothing for me. It’s the most comforting scent I know.

Have you ever been struggling in life, and then someone comes along and gives you a hug, or lightens your load? Of course, we all know that beautiful feeling of relief. That is truly how I feel when I smell this.

1st perfume I wore as a toddler until I was a tween. It was my mother's. I was allowed to wear it when we went out to dinner, church, or to visit family on the weekends.

In my mid 20's I was working in an office with MBA's, scientists, and engineers. I needed something more fierce than the florals I favored and less offensive than the musks that I used for special occasions. I bought a huge bottle of Chanel No 5 thinking the strong opening notes would keep me in the mind space to match the serious powersuits I wore. Sadly, with my body chemistry the opening lasted about 30 minutes and the dry down left me smelling like baby lotion for hours.

I would get compliments in the office, but whenever I smelled myself I felt so frustrated thinking I could have just worn baby lotion and splurged on another of fragrance.

Recently I learned baby lotion was scented to smell like No 5. It all makes sense to me.

This is a classic scent. I really like it, but not on me.

i think this is, together with angel by mugler, the only fragrance on the market i can't stand. It just smells bad for me, that's all. It doesn’t have a pleasant scent. It might be "classy", it might be the perfume Marilyn Monroe used to wear, but honestly it is way too strong and, sorry for what i'm gonna say, but it smells a bit like urine lol. Not for me. I remember the first time i tested it on a perfume store, i was a kid, and i remember i had to wash my wrist after because the scent was so strong and unpleasant that i had nausea for hours. iI tested it again years later (this time on a paper card haha) and again, i had to throw it immediately. It is a no for me.

Magical and otherworldy. Somewhat sombre and melancholic but that may just be my temperament. A sprite I am.

This has a sort of mysterious, dark quality about it. It could easily be worn day and night but even though it's a classic, I feel like this is not for everyone, it has to really "fit you". I wore this for a while and it's beautiful, but I felt it wasn't really me, it felt heavy somehow. I did well with it's softer, more light hearted sister, the edt. Yet, I think this is timeless and could make a gorgeous and memorable signature scent if you can pull it off. :-)

this is one classy lady. in some way this gives me nostalgia for Shalimar. no 5 has none of the vanilla of Shalimar. no civet or rose either surprisingly despite the high votes....instead this is all iris, a shy ylang, lemon and for the life of me I get a leather note that remind me of Shalimar extrait. but where Shalimar adds vanilla and incense to get that deep resinous mystical scent, the Chanel adds aldehydes and takes this straight to heaven. velvety iris, balmy lemon, subtle ylang and sparkling champagne effervescent aldehydes. I'm so in love.

I am an old lady and I cannot stand Chanel N°5 or N°19 for that matter. N°5 smelled dated to me when I was 20 and that was 40 years ago. It has a completely synthetic vibe about it there is absolutely nothing sensual it is dark it is depressing. It evokes an image to me of a woman of the night in the 1930s wearing an animal skin coat and smoking a cigarette from an ivory cigarette holder, more pretentious than class. Each to their own but give me a blast of vibrant, lush Delina Exclusif any day

Think it works well with my skin chemistry because whenever I have trialled it in the past people have said I smell nice and it suits me, which I have always taken as a bit of an insult tbh lol

@ labonvie Imagine what will in 2070 be classified as Old or Grand ma's scents... all the yummy over sweet current non sense.

PSA to all the people who refer to fragrances as “old lady” scents...Just stop. It’s rude, lazy, dismissive and not accurate. The term is so overused that it literally means nothing.
I was wearing many so-called “old lady” scents at 13. Actually, I wore Chanel No 5 Parfum regularly when I was 5 thanks to my chic neighbor who loved to indulge my curiosity.
Everyone has different taste. Some people favor depth and complexity over the easily digestible and crowd pleasing, regardless of their age. We are allowed to disagree, passionately disagree. But the old lady bit is so, so trite. Just stop.

I get one bottle of 7,5ml parfum. For me, as a novice collector,this perfume is an incredible discovery 😍

@disintigratedwoman I started reading your very disrespectful review about this iconic fragrance and the lack of respect you show for the house, the nose behind the fragrance and those of us who appreciate good perfumes. At first I was getting upset then I looked at your collection and realized you are just starting out and your nose has yet to develop to appreciate good fragrances. I hope one day you will learn how to appreciate and see fragrance as an art. One thing you must remember fragrances are subjective, and sometimes it is best to stay quiet instead of sounding the way you came across in your post. Peace!

Chanel No 5 is a classic, and rightfully so. I think this is my favorite scent. It smells distinctive, both sweet and a hint of bitter. The scent is elegant and refined.

I obtained a .25 ounce bottle of the parfum that still had the baudruchage seal intact. The box it came in was pre-upc code and I've no idea of the date of manufacture of this particular bottle. The stopper was stuck so I had to put it in the freezer for an hour and was able to slowly turn it clockwise and open it without damage. Whew!

I've been wearing it for the last 24 hours and it brings to mind the Chanel I remember my mother wearing in the sixties. My father would buy her the ebony cased spray. I really didn't like the civet in it in those days. It was too sophisticated for my young nose.

So, I fell asleep just a few minutes ago while reading and the most glorious scent woke me up - a divine floral fragrance floated about me with a touch of woods. It surprised me and I wondered if it was coming from the window. I suddenly remembered the parfum and checked my wrist. Sure enough, that beautiful scent was emanating from my skin. Was this the legendary ylang-ylang, rose and jasmine? I'd waited a whole day for the pay off and it didn't disappoint me!

Writing this now I can hardly keep my wrist away from my nose. I suppose because it is a vintage it took a while for the notes to warm to my skin. So, notes, glad to meet you all! Thank you for your kind visit! Give my love to Mademoiselle Chanel and Ernest Beaux as you drift back to that place where legends sleep. And thank them for bringing your beauty to me!

I don't understand. This page and reviews used to be for the Chanel no 5 EDP. I even placed it in the perfumes that "I have" category. Now I see this was turned into the Pure Parfum page. The huge number of dislikes in this page is for the EDP (when this page used to be for the EDP) and not for the pure Parfum. What were the admins thinking?

I really like #5 because it's so subtle and not very strong. when i first smelled it, it was on my friend and i really liked it. to me it somewhat smells like baby products which i like.in the beginning it's a bit strong and though as the day pass by it gets lighter and lighter. it doesn't stay on you long. others can smell it for sure though you might not smell it through out the day. it does stay on clothes for a day or two

#5 is such a polarising fragrance. On one hand it smells fresh with the opening citrus and aldehydes, floral and feminine but also slightly skanky and oily. It’s a rich complex fragrance, an iconic masterpiece. It is also very complimentary when worn by a man. Hence polarising.. masculine and utterly feminine.

On my 16th Christmas there were two presents under the tree for me from "Santa". The first gift was a pink Lady Schick Electric Razor in a beautiful satin lined box. The second was a small bottle of Chanel No. 5 parfum. I learned quite a few things that day. That my mom had been paying attention to the way I smelled and the fact that the level of her beloved Chanel parfum was slowly sinking. And that my gripes to her over the years about looking like Fay Wray from the waist up and King Kong from the waist down didn't go without notice. And that I was now really becoming a young lady in her eyes. No more Love's Baby Soft and Fresh Lemon for me. And although I already suspected, there was no such thing/person/entity as Santa Claus bringing me gifts. After all, my mom was the one that knew me, oh, so well, not some chubby, white bearded dude squeezing himself down our narrow chimney. I still love my Chanel No. 5...but most of all I love my mom and all the wonderful memories she made for our family.

I’ve always loved this from a little 8 year old girl to now, it has the same connotation and uplifting effect on me.

Cold, opulent, mature and beautiful. The opening is elitist and grand, with a chilling effect. This is like the grandmother of all the Chanel fragrances, they all have a reminiscent charm but this is the concentrate. She is self assured, confident, established and revered.

There is a floral sweetness in the background, powdery iris and refreshing top notes. It has a soothing and maternal quality from the Ylang Ylang, a contrast to the icy aldehydes.

This draws in more compliments from a particular person, not everyone. Those who don’t compromise on anything they want in life.

The oakmoss and vetiver add longevity and strength, asserting a bold and timeless character. I much prefer this to many of the other immortal classics.

Hate at first review, now I grew a more complex nose to understand this perfume and appreciate its legacy in the perfume world. To me this is not ‘old-lady’, but rather very oriental, probably because of the amber and sandalwood I pick up most. The EDT and the pure parfum are the closest to the original formula, and the EDP is much more floral in my opinion. This pure parfum I scored a vintage bottle off Ebay, is a very soft fragrance with light aldehydes and a heavy woody undertone. It sits close to the skin so don’t expect sillage to be as strong as the vintage EDT spray (sprays in general give a burst of fragrance, whilst the parfum is a much more delicate application). Longevity is long, it is concentrated oil after all. It is a delight to have this in my collection, it has surely stood the test of time and will always be the greatest perfume in existence. Its allure is indescribable, it is truly Chanel’s greatest statement piece. Powerful and almost unisex, although the floral notes come up every once in awhile, I am a male and I love collecting vintage scents. To me this is the epitome of the perfume wardrobe. Nothing else compares. Very good every day perfume if the application is light, otherwise save this one for going out or indulging in its glory.

Overall: 10/10, I will be collecting more perfumes in this bold, timeless style.

@disintigratedwoman - I don't know if you will ever come to love No. 5, but I do know that if you are lucky, one day you will be an "old lady". I wonder how you think you will smell then or if you will appear desperate for attention? I wear perfumes from all ears, as does my 83 year old mother, and we smell quite lovely. I don't think you or the many others who use such language mean to be offensive, but the words are. Just wanted to get that off my chest.

When someone said "Chanel no.5" few years ago I couldn't imagine how controversial this perfume is. One can say it's love/hate thing. For me it's for sure love. I cannot believe I haven't tried it until last Christmas. For sure I have a thing for aldehydes in perfumes, because this is third perfume in my collection which contains them. But what comes after them is truly amazing! Flowery, soapy, powdery...so clean and classy.

Fashionable aroma for all times.
My parents brought me my CHANEL *5 from a trip to Paris, when I was 18. Springtime. Blooming may. For me CHANEL *5 this blooming may.
I associate this fragrance with my time of in the first years of University, those happy student time, carefree & dreams.

Arôme à la mode pour tous les temps. Mes parents m'ont apporte mon CHANEL *5 d'un voyage à Paris, quand j'avais 18 ans. Printemps. Floraison de mai. Pour moi CHANEL *5 c'est propre fleurissant de mai. J'associe ce parfum à mes années d'études Universitaires, avec ce temps d'étudiant bonheur, à insouciance et à rêves.

I don't know what it is about Chanel perfumes, but I just haven't found one I like, even this classic one, which is highly disappointing. I may try Chance Eau Tendre next, but if I still can't stomach it, I may have to just close the door on Chanel perfumes entirely. They turn my stomach every time.

This review is for the EDP.

Although I understood the reputation of this fragrance as classic and timeless, since my first sniff of it as a teenager, it always smelled like ‘old ladies’ to me and was a huge turnoff. But after reading so many rave reviews about this perfume, and how it smells so different on skin than on paper - I decided to give it a try today. Grabbed myself a sample and put a tiny spray on freshly-showered skin.

At first spray, my impression was again, yuck. Smells clean but so heavily floral - it made my stomach turn. But I decided to wait and see if it would turn into something more beautiful. An hour and a half later.. the smell still repulses next each time I catch a whiff. Perhaps it’s due to association, but I can’t seem to change my mind about how this perfume smells like old ladies who are screaming for attention. I’m going to wash it off now.

I’m disappointed that I can’t seem to appreciate this classic the way others do. Perhaps one day I will get the pure parfum or EDT to see if those smell differently on me. But for now, this one is a huge no.

I recently came to realization that Chanel №5 is something one may appreciate later in life. I remember in my 20s I smelled it and immediately thought “What the heck! Awful!”. About 10 years ago I gave it another try and thought “Hmmm... not bad. But it’s just too much money”. Yesterday I was at Ulta and decided to check it out again. It was something... amazing! Surprisingly I’m still thinking about this perfume and seriously considering adding it to my collection!

What can be said or written about N5 that hasn’t already been?

In 2021 Chanel will for sure celebrate its 100 years (!!!) and this must be something unseen and exciting. I’ll wait, and write my review in 2021…

It will be some sort privilege to be alive then. Ideals, beauty, archetypes, nature and humanity.

I can appreciate the history behind this fragrance however this smells like 13 cats have been dancing on me nonstop, if you know what I mean.....

Had to get it as a staple (for anyone’s classic collection I believe) but it has never been a personal favorite. Everyone knows how this juice goes at this point, it’s the scent of perfume that one would imagine when thinking of a classic perfume. The aldehydes leave that rubbing alcohol base that isn’t pleasant for me.

Great Reviews on YT channel: Perfume Realm

Smells only marginally acceptable on me after four or so hours when it's dwindled down to almost nothing. Don't have the $$ or the time for it.

And God said: "Let there be light"... (For His creation needed light to understand the brightness of aldehydes.)

And God said: "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters..." And God called the firmament Heaven. (For the divine must descend from a celestial realm.)

And God said: "Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear... Let the earth put forth grass, herb yielding seed, and fruit-tree bearing fruit after its kind..." (For the flowers and grasses and woods were destined for something greater.)

And God said: "Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years..." (For to be transcendent, there must be days and nights and seasons to transcend.)

And God said: "Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let fowl fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven." (For this would symbolize what it truly means to soar, what it truly means to plumb the depths.)

And God said: "Let the earth bring forth the living creature after its kind, cattle and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after its kind." (For His beloved civet needed prey to survive.)

And God said: "Let us make man in our image..." And God said unto them: "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth..." (For scent needed flesh to adorn, loins to stir.)

And on the seventh day God finished His work [CHANEL N°5] which he had made [CHANEL N°5]; and He rested on the seventh day [in a sublime cloud of CHANEL N°5] from all His work which He had made.

*****

A bit of fun on my part, eh? But really, there's no way to truly articulate the beauty of Chanel N°5. Forgive me some hypocrisy, if you please.

And for what it's worth, IMO:

Parfum > EDT > EDP

It makes me sad that so many fragrances don't even come in perfume form anymore. No EDT or EDP can compare to pure perfume, and Chanel No 5 is no different, but I think the current perfume is as wonderful as the older formation. I recently scored an unopened sealed bottle made before 69 but after 1950 when the dot disappeared between the no and the 5. The new EDP I own smells cleaner and brighter but the perfumes old and new smell very much the same in the dry down, except that I detect more brightness (probably from lemon) in the newer perfume. I like the lemon so I can't say the old perfume is that superior to the new one. I love them both.

My mother always wore Chanel No 5 and when I was a child I worshipped her and as I got older I just wanted to be just like her. She was so kind, graceful and beautiful too. Even my boyfriends would comment on my pretty mother. So the emotions the fragrance evokes is of a lovely woman who is just what she should be all the time.

One cannot use Estee Lauder's Youth Dew to throw shade on Chanel No 5. One was made for girls and the other for women. Youth Dew is in your face fragrance that smells exactly the same loud bossy way on everyone. Chanel No 5 is a chameleon that changes with the person who wears it. It is an enigma. Few people will walk up to you and say, "You are wearing Chanel No 5." Coco Chanel set out to find a fragrance that smells "like a woman" and succeed but it can also smell like a man.

Following in my mother's footsteps I started wearing Chanel No 5 in my late teens and until my mid-twenties when I realized I could no longer smell it at all just seconds after applying and I had been over applying trying to get the smell back. It was sad. I went on a 6 month hiatus and tried to start wearing it again and in just a few days the wonderful fragrance was gone again. Chanel No 5 taught me to take perfume vacations. I go for at least a week wearing no fragrance just to make sure I am getting all the notes in each of my fragrances.. If I lose the citrus in one perfume and switch to another fragrance with citrus that note is not going to be there for me. When people say, "I can't smell this or that note" in a fragrance I wonder if they might need a perfume vacation, not just a change of fragrance.

I am comparing these fragrances after taking a year off or more from Chanel No 5. In my opinion the perfume is as always beautiful beyond words. There is almost nothing else to say that hasn't already been said about the fragrance itself. For me it is perfection.

I am not sure what the old one smells like but the new one smells like cheap soap... Rather spend my money on actual soap...

Interesting comments. I inherited mine from my Aunt. I like the smell and it lasts. It has to be almost 10 yrs old

Wtf! 2018,edp smells identical to Johnson and Johnson baby shampoo with a splash of Windsong.which actually smells better than this crap. Total disappoint from Chanel.

What I like about No. 5 is how dirty it is. In a way it is just a few steps before the odd balls of Etat Libra d'Orange. It is fresh and flowery but at the same time has a strong dark odor which reminds me of public toilets in a train station. Or maybe it is just the vast amount of women wearing it that you cross whenever you are at every busy train station. It makes me think of a sweaty day in Paris, returning on the train to stinking Le Halles, and walking the streets wishing you could already be under the shower.

If you want to torture your beloved one! get this perfume for her. My husband got this for our anniversary, so unfortunately, I didn't have any choice. First of all, it smells like cockroach killers. Awful! I cannot believe you pay more than $100 to get such an expensive garbage. May be it's a good option that the smell does not last even for half an hour :)
Please do not buy this expensive garbage, I am so disappointed. Instead, buy Elizabeth Arden, red door to have heaven-like smell.

WHAT IS GOING ON ...?

my pure parfum from 2012 is beautiful, full , strong, so many notes.
sensual and perfection.

my newer 2015 bottle is a joke , notes missing, weak , lasts an hour or two only
on skin.
at first i thought it was a fake , but no its just a disapointment and rip off !

why chanel why ? ?

Absolute perfect soapy/floral perfume from Chanel. I'm wearing this one now (I'm a 37 year old man) and adoring every single waft of this gorgeous classic fragrance that I inhale. I smell rich, classy, and a step above the rest. The dry down smells extremely soapy & creamy. I truly believe either sex can pull this luxurious smelling fragrance off with absolute ease. No. 5 EDT is a real head turner but the EDP is the true MVP. LOVE THIS STUFF!

nada is correct. This perfume is extinct. I just sprayed three sprays on my arm at the local mall ( Mar 2019) and could not detect it after twenty minutes . AT ALL.

I hope something will transpire to return the Chanels that inspired women around the world. I feel grief when I remember how beautiful COCO used to be.

I will be comparing the modern EDP with the modern parfum in this review.

When I first smelled a dab of the extrait on my arm, I honestly couldn't tell the difference between it and my memory of the EDP. I could smell the aldehydes, ylang ylang, and iris, in that order. No civet or stanky musk whatsoever; it was strong, soapy, and powdery, as no 5 always is. But then I sprayed the EDP on my other arm, and holy crap! They're so different when smelled side by side, actually.

The EDP is much sharper, heavier on the lemon, bergamot, and neroli. When sniffing one after the other, all I can smell from the extrait IS the jasmine. Pure, beautiful REAL jasmine (no indoles, freshly bloomed, still attached to the plant), the most crystal clear and wonderful jasmine I've ever smelled in a perfume. Wow. I've never smelled the vintage extrait which contains real civet, but I think the current parfum's animalic quality is mostly carried by jasmine.

When I get a bottle of the vintage parfum, I'll do another side by side comparison. Many reviewers are complaining that this current version pales in comparison, but I think it's quite beautiful and worth testing if you're a fan of no 5 or just jasmine.

The modern version of perfume is disappointing, the real thing is no longer there... how sad.

Sometimes I actually crave this like a drug and will smell the bottle like I'm taking a hit of a drug. It's the only addiction that won't be sated until I put that liquid gold on my skin.
I have the EDP too, but when I really want to get high, I use the pure perfume. It is worth its weight in gold.

This one rules them all. Simply beautiful. I first experienced this as a teen when my Dad bought the smallest bottle of the extrait for my Mom for Christmas. We were all fascinated with the tiny bottle that was so very expensive. Mom passed the bottle around and I sniffed the cap and it was instant love for me. It was not instant love for my Mom and she rarely wore it. I used to sneak a dab here and there. Mom’s bottle is about 30 years old and only half used up (most by me I think). Mom’s extrait is not wearable anymore but I have long since had my own. It is an aldehyde, abstract floral scent. At first I would describe it as clean but it gets rich and warm. It smells round and full and womanly. It is powdery, heady and rich. I think it has amazing femininity. It lives on my bedside table. When I wear it to bed and a waft of No 5 reaches my half awake self I always think - oh that smells so good!

The parfum is a lemony yet deeply floral yet rich and refined, concentrated version of Chanel No 5. I wore it today from a bottle I've received within the last 10 years. I also have a vintage version that I've yet to open, so I need to do that at some point and I'll add my thoughts to this review! I layered today's wear over the lotion, which definitely helped punch up the scent and has assisted in letting it last all day. Chanel No 5 always feels homey to me, and reminds me of colder weather and family holidays. My all time love.

What can I say about this parfum that hasn't been said? It is iconic. I prefer the Parfum version with the dabber as it smells most like vintage to me. Minus the now illegal nitromusks of course, this Parfum still holds her own. I have a vintage 7mL parfum extrait and a current formulation 7mL extrait. In comparison, the vintage is muskier. Longevity is equal and they both become skin scents on me within 2 to 3 hours. They still remain ever present throughout the day. Having experienced a vintage, I prefer the current formulation. It is every bit as beautiful as its former self. It is a matter of preference of course. For those questioning whether to try this version in its current formulation, just do it. It is in every way as gorgeous as it once was. That's what makes it legendary.

I am a grandma and this was popular when I was a child. I never liked it . I still dislike it , even the updated and softened flankers.

To me it has a harsh Joan Crawford kind of feminity . It is also blah . It burned the hairs in my nose as a girl .

The women in my family wore the typical southern lady classic, Youth Dew . Youth Dew is sophisticated as well as feminine and has warmth. I was glad my grandmother , who raised me , did not wear #5 . This fragrance seems so unforgettable to me and I think it would have never lasted if it was anything but a Chanel.

I will add that overall I am a chanel lover and my two loves are Allure and Coco ( EDP ) . They are stunning compositions .

Dana valor in the bath water, and Chanel 5 extract on the skin make for a nice combination. It's the ylang ylang that makes it really nice.

Sometimes I just wanna be a goddamn classy lady, so I spray a bit of this on and...

Well...I smell like a classy lady... X

I have worn Chanel no.5 on and off for 20 years. I just recently purchased a 30ml parfum in Canada after using up my last extrait that was purchased 8 years ago.

I honestly thought I purchased a fake parfum from a reputable department store for over $ 400 CAD after tax.

There are no roses, jasmine, or lily of the valley. I'm not even sure what I am smelling, maybe some sweat, musk, and vanilla.

Too bad I cannot return this after it has been opened because honestly, the new parfum is NOT Chanel no.5.

There is something that needs to be said about the vintage 1950s formulation vs the present day formulation. I’m just going to write it, and please take it as you will. I just had the opportunity to buy an authentic Chanel Perfume from the 1950s. It was at an estate sale and the reason I’m fairly certain it’s from the 50s is that it belonged to a woman who passed who was a fragrance collector... her daughter told me he woman’s age and it seemed to line up with this bottle being from the 50s. If I can figure out how to post a photo and get opinions on its age that would be helpful to me but I’m going to guesstimate 50s.

This older formulation was stored in a cool dark place. It seems well preserved. I own this bottle and a bottle of the present day formulation. I had to smell them both side by side. Couldn’t resist! This is my opinion: the older formula is something I could wear. The florals were more authentic and the aldehydes were very well balanced with the basenotes. In comparison, the present day formulation of this perfume has a sharp medicinal note on my skin and it just makes it unwearable. I don’t get pleasant aldehylic lightness and florals balanced with a sexy musk like I do with the original. The present day formulation is bitter on my skin and I never really get any floral or clear musk note, it’s all overwhelmed by medicinal bitterness.

So this is what I really want to write to any perfume makers that may come across this:
You can do better. I understand there are limitations and regulations on ingredients for health reasons. But I know there have to be talented brilliant people out there who can make this better and more authentic! Or at least, more balanced like the original was?

I apologize to anyone who may not agree with me or who may think I’m being annoying. But I’m trying to make a very important point: if someone could make this present day formulation closer to the original with ingredients that are currently allowed, I really think you would reach a whole new generation and sell a lot more of this.

Plus, don’t you think a fragrance icon like this deserves to be done justice in its representation of the original?

Just something to consider.

people are confusing the original parfum, eau de perfume and eau de toilette version of Chanel Number 5.

This section is for the extrait parfum version the original parfum from 1920s that comes in a dab on bottle. If you are talking about spritzing, spraying or trying it at Macy's, this is not the right section. thank you.

Well, that was a turn for the books, I always thought Aldehydes gave me a headache. I tried Chanel 5 several years back but failed to appreciate it. One can hardly accuse me of being simplistic in taste owing and enjoying at the time scents like Youth Dew, Paloma Picasso, or anything with a hefty dose of florals,fruits and animalics (like Tabu and a million of Orientals) so it was a matter of time that Chanel 5 would come back for good. And this time was back in March while having tea with a friend. There I was sitting when I got the most delicious aroma coming my way. I asked which perfume she wore and she replied that she had sprayed "Sure"(the deodorant) over her jacket to cover the horse smell(she owns stables). But I wasn't getting "Sure", to be sure. I smelt red roses wrapped in vintage, soft silk.
I knew that whatever I could smell was something vintage or legendary, either sensing it in the composition or having retained some olfactory memory from years back. So at first opportunity I tried it and there it was again, the red roses wrapped in vintage silk and Nicole sitting all graceful sipping herbal tea.
So much has been said and written about this timeless perfume which is in a league of its own. It has adorned the wrists ( or other body parts) of famous actresses and Femme Fatales alike. To my nose it is a very well composed gem. At first spritz the aldehydes are bombastically released creating a bubbly, effervescent cloud of powdery roses. The roses here are strong, just the way I like them and together with the Ylang they lend throughout the creamy, soft, vintagy texture that this beauty is known for. Once the aldehydes have exhausted their course a combination of florals and Civet take over giving the rose note a sultry and seductive touch which lasts a long long time. At some point the composition turns slightly spicy/woody before the earthy vanilla heralds the dry down of a magnificent and long lasting journey.
Chanel 5 is a well composed, beautiful and memorable scent that manages to retain its vintage roots but also remain totally relevant today to every woman who wants to feel special. Above all, Chanel 5 is unapologetically a 'perfumy" scent, one that will make the wearer feel special even if they are in modest gear which, in my opinion, is the secret of its success through time. Roses wrapped in vintage silk; yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever.

This proclaimed old girl makes me feel young and beautiful like nothing else. The complex intermingling of the notes makes it magical. I can smell the best rose I ever smelled. It comes and goes replacing the soft powder. When I wake up in the middle of the night sometimes I walk up to my dresser and take a sniff. Its ultimate assurance that everything is in place .

Today, I tried Chanel No.5 EDP, EDT & L’eau. This one grasps me.
I had Coco Chanel before, the first perfume I bought for myself in 1989 with my first pay check. I thought I would still be a Coco Chanel girl, I love Coco, but didn’t have the resources to own one since those carefree days.
So today, I craved a bit of luxury, I smelt Chanel No.5 on a client yesterday, she said she uses No.5 edp, edt, hair mist and body lotion. She smells Class.
Once, many months ago, during a visit, she sprayed some of that hair mist on me and I was charmed and transported from a dreary working girl to a rich socialite in an instant.
So today, I tried all 3.....I like edt but it doesn’t hold, 2 hrs and gone with the wind, edp is a lot richer and last longer on me....
One day, one day, I will own one......
Every woman, no matter how working class, needs a little self love and luxury in life, There’s only so much chocolate a girl can eat to feel better, but chocolate and Chanel No. 5, now, that goes a loooong way.....
Dreams are free....

I always have a bottle in my collection, mostly out of nostalgia. My mom had the perfume and would let me dab a little when I was a kid. I loved the perfumed powder and would use it often....but as far as Chanel goes I'm a 22 girl always and forever!
By accident I layered No. 5 with Guerlain L'Instant and WOW. L'Instant usually stays with me throughout the day but yesterday it was fading a bit. Spritzed a bit on and then a few minutes later, without thinking I added No. 5 and it was gorgeous. I don't normally combine fragrances but will wear these together again. Just though I'd share.

It's taken me two years - but now it moves from 'like' to 'love'
An acquired taste. I remember, back in the day, the first taste of wine, wondering what the fuss?
Give this one time. Occasionally put it aside for a while, and then come back to it.
One spray for the day. Period.

When I was a girl, my father returned from Paris and gifted me Chanel No.5 Parfum. I became instantly smitten with the heady, punchy-yet-smooth, animalic-yet-soft liquor that resided in that delicate crystal flacon. That original bottle saw me through to my 20's and was solely responsible for my life-long obsession with scent. I own incantations of Chanel No.5 - Eau Premiere, and L'eau for day-to-day wear, but really, for me, there will only ever be one.
The one.

A temperamental enchantress.

Some days, No. 5 is sharp, devoid of warmth and powdery; on others, it is a sumptuously rich, warm bouquet of ylang, rose and jasmine with the signature clean, soapy aldehydes heralding the intensive floral heart. The drydown is irresistible-- warm, vanillic sandalwood with the signature soapiness that lingers for hours.

This is for the vintage late 70's parfum I have of gorgeous No. 5. Of all the concentrations I've collected of No. 5, the parfum has such a depth of richness that the other's can't compare. I do love the EDP, EDT, Eau Premiere, L'eau...everything about No. 5!
That's what makes it so unique; each concentration has its own take on the original composition.

To experience the whole thing, however, I highly recommend trying the vintage parfum. It has the brightness and soapy spiciness of the EDT, but also the rich foundation of creamy ylang ylang and deep woods and amber. It smells more smooth, rounded, and full. The real civet, which is not used today, adds a slight animalic aroma, which gives it a slightly dirty but sexy vibe.

If you have the classic splash bottle of the parfum, I recommend decanting it into a small spray vial, as I found it heightens the sillage a bit!

I have avoided reviewing No 5 EDP for ages because... well... because it's Chanel No. 5! What do you say that hasn't already been said (and probably been said better. lol) But because this is now one of my favorite fragrances, I feel I need to.

Like others, It took me many years to appreciate No. 5 in any form. I have tested it dozens of times between 1998-2016. I never even understood it, let alone liked it. I recall at least two of my earlier testings where I actually scrubbed it off! I'm telling you, I have talked so much trash about No. 5 that it's the last fragrance I ever thought I'd have a change of heart with. But a couple years ago I tried the EDP and after a few minutes I just felt so serene. A calm, confidence & feminine strength swept over me and I couldn't stop smelling my wrist. Now, this would have been after the 2015 reformulation that everyone is complaining about. So perhaps I actually prefer the reformulation. Or maybe my chemistry has changed.

Whatever happened, Chanel No 5 stepped into my life and it has literally rendered dozens of other fragrances in my collection completely irrelevant. I wear No. 5 so often that I haven't touched some of my previous favorites in over a year and they are now going up for sale. It waltzed into my wardrobe and flipped the perfume game completely upside down. Now every fragrance I encounter has to measure up to No. 5. It's utter madness.

On me Chanel No. 5 is mostly a creamy, smooth blend of Aldehyde, ylang ylang, Jasmine, Sandalwood and other non-descript light woods (perhaps vetiver or oak moss) I don't actually pick out any of the other notes. Probably because it's so expertly blended. It is clean smelling but to me, it's also a bit dirty. I know that probably makes no sense, but it has a very "unwashed human skin scent" underlying all the contradictory cleanliness. It's perfect! It is deserving of its status and I totally get why it has stood the test of time. It is not a powerhouse and I don't recall it ever having been... at least not since I began trying it in the late 90's. The silage is fairly close and the lasting power of this formulation is quite good. I don't understand the complaints. It goes about 8 hours and my skin typically eats fragrance much quicker than other people. But yes, it is pretty much a skin scent the last 3 or 4 hours.

I sometimes wonder if those shouting "GRANNY" from the rooftops have ever even tried it on skin and allowed it to drydown. Because even back when I didn't care for it I never thought it smelled old. I just thought it smelled like soap. I have had people say, "You smell fantastic!" When I tell them it's No.5 they're almost always surprised. One of my sons girlfriends even said, "Really?! Gosh, I've heard so much about it but I guess I always thought it was for much older women! It's beautiful." (I am regarded as the cool mom in the group btw lol) The most famous fragrance, a name everyone knows, but it would seem not many actually know what it smells like. I've yet to have anyone compliment it who wasn't utterly shocked to hear it was Chanel No 5. As if it didn't fit their preconceived notions. I'm telling you, a sniff from the bottle or a test strip is not going to tell you anything about this one. It demands skin, patience, and a intimate romp with your individual chemistry before she tells her secrets.

What add more about number five? A legend.

Just this. Yesterday I was wearing the edp version and I have to say only one minute after the boost of aldehydes, I've immediately noticed a loud jasmine-monoi-tiare presence. I've never noticed that before. So I think the reason is that usually I wear edt of n° 5, where is more present the side aldehydes ylang orris powder musk.

The edp it is more "tropical" in some way.

Even if the eau de toilette (and expecially the eau de cologne) it is more typical n5, the real shape of this legendary scent, I like a lot also this eau de parfum version. More sunny, joyfull, less animal.

When people say that it’s smells like granny’s I don’t care it’s a really sentimental perfume for me it brings back memories of my child hood I like it alot

Divine. I find the Parfum Chanel No 5 stunning.
This is my favorite version.
So refined and beautiful.
Elegant
And the dry down is Gorgeous.

There are some crazy people on here calling this unisex. Everything nowadays is, even 5. Ridiculous. If I ever smelled this on a straight guy I'd laugh

The first time I tried it was in a winter. I put it on the sleeve of a beige whool pullover. And in the car, heading home, this clean scent would make me come back for it. And i Love using it after a hard day of work. It's just clean. It's not old lady. Not sexy. Not overpowering. It's clean. All the notes abandomn their identities to become, together, the unique scent of number five.

I got my first ever bottle of No.5 two years ago. The lady at the store asked me if I was buying it for my mom to which I said no it was for me. She then looked at me and paused for a bit as if it was baffling that a 20 year old guy looked for a Chanel No.5. I still bought it anyway, but never really had the guts to wear it outside because of the "feminine older lady" impression that most people have on the perfume.
Then one time I went on a vacation to New Zealand and for some reason forgot to bring my usual fragrances with me; this was (ironically) the only perfume I had in my bag. Now I'm the kind of person who would get really uncomfortable (weird, I know) if I go out without wearing fragrances. So I wore it and hit the clubs at night with a few new friends that I'd met in a hostel. After a few hours when I was on the dance floor my friends and I got closer to each other and to my surprise everyone (all in their 20s) started whispering to me that "I smell great" and proceeded to sniff my neck a few more times. Just goes to show that it doesn't take any "mature" noses to appreciate this perfume and anyone can wear any fragrance they like regardless of gender and age.
Needless to say now I walk outside with my No.5 like a boss a** b*tch and it's also helped me discover that musk is the most dominant and intriguing scent on my skin.

A perfume full of magic notes. An absolute delight to wear and smell.10/10 for this beauty.

This is a review of Chanel No. 5, but I want to tell a funny story of something that happened to me in a Chanel shop.
I love Chanel No. 5, No 19 and Coco. Mostly because they were my mom's fragrances and she passed away 28 years ago. Wearing one of these frags makes me feel she is somehow near by. As a matter of fact, even if I am not wearing one of these and they are stored safely in their dark cool perfume "vault", every once in awhile I catch a fleeting whiff of one and say, "Hey mom!".
Here is my funny story...A friend from Spain desperately wanted to go to Vegas in the middle of Summer, because she was visiting and had never been. She didnt want to take a cab or drive down the strip, she wanted us to walk pushing our littles in strollers in 1,000 degree heat. I indulged her. We FINALLY went into a mall on the strip that was air conditioned and filled with very fancy smancy stores. She and I looked like a couple of wrung out dishrags when we came to the window of Chanel. Their mannequins feet in the windows all around the outer perimeter of the store were showing off the weirdest shoes we had ever seen...stilleto pumps with built in knee socks. I said to my friend, Oh, I've got to go in there and try on a pair of that weirdness. Remember, we both look like we`ve been put through the ringer. Pushing baby carriages that looked like mini laundry wagons, with diaper bags, baby blankets, stuffed animals and store bags with Vegas souvenirs hanging off of Mommy hooks" (only a mother of a small child would know what those are, a very helpful little invention at the time). We walk in. The whole sales staff are dressed in Black Suits, both men and women, looking like Secret Service. We had to walk through the jewelry department where the sales people glared at us suspiciously. Then through clothing where we received more glares and not one person asked if they could help us. Then on to the shoe department where I asked one sales person, "How much are those sock shoes in the window?" This is how the rest of the exchange went: "We don't have your size!"..."That's not what i'm asking"..."They're all sold out!"..." Again, that's not what i'm asking"..."$2,500 a pair"..."Coco Chanel must be rolling in her grave, lol"..."MS. CHANEL WAS A VERY FASHION FORWARD PERSON!!!!!!"
I'll stick to buying my chanel fragrances in discount stores, online and at duty free shops in Airports.
What a bunch of snobs. I could have just won $100,000 in one of the casinos and felt like going on a shopping spree for all they knew. Never judge a book by its cover. Also, as far as they knew I could have been a "secret shopper", which is something I did part time in my youth. Oh, how I wished I had been on that day!!!

I tested the modern EdP a couple of times, and I don't get the reviews. Creamy? Powdery? To me it's very fresh, clean, citrusy, soapy. A very nice scent which lasts really long and makes me feel like I've just stepped out of the shower, I'm thinking about getting a bottle. But it seems like a pretty universal daytime perfume suitable even for the very young, unisex. Not at all what I expected.

I had this in 1990, tiny bottle. I remember getting heavy floral and creamy scent, absolutely divine. Accidentally spilt some in my handbag. Ahhh beautiful. If I want to get a no5, I would only search for this version .

I agree with the reviewers below: This is superior to any other version (Eau Premiere is lovely, too, but nothing really comes close). It is my christmas / festive season perfume, but it deserves to be worn every day. the spray works better for me than the splash bottle, and it's refillable. the refill sprays can be found less expensive online.

Oh boy.. As long as I remember myself, I've always LOVED perfume! 1st time I sniffed this perfume(I believe I was 10 y.o)- hated it, it smelled like an old lady! But now I LOVE it(ill be 20 soon), I don't wear it every day, I wear it only on special days, and I do get compliments. On me it smells like vanilla(cozy), little bit of a baby powder, some type of flowers(deff not a rose), really light scent but sooo cozy, I only wear it during fall and winter, for summer its just too much, haven't tried during spring time.

I have never liked the EDP or EDT version of No 5. Smelling the pure parfum version was a revelation...... I’m able to enjoy the composition behind the aldehydes. The rose & jasmine are wonderful, the rose captures the smell of my spring blooming roses in my garden. During the gray gloom of an midwest winter it smells like living things (last January we literally did not have a single sunny day). With the EDP & EDT my nose can not find anything besides the aldehydes, not even in the dry down.

This is my bedtime scent. I understand why Marilyn Monroe wore it to bed. I find it like the olfactory version of crisp line dried sheets (childhood memory ♥️). Applying the same scent at bedtime & only wearing it at bedtime is a tool to signal your “animal brain “ that it is time to sleep.

Chanel No. 5 Parfum is art in a bottle. The initial spray is bright and fresh. A few minutes later it becomes powdery and spicy. Once it's settled into your skin, it smells absolutely luxurious. I smell like I bathed in a jacuzzi at a luxury hotel.

I like it, I enjoy the strictly " perfume" smell...purposely made not to be food like, or floral or even spicy or resinous. This is a woman who is modern, bold and does not hesitate to go for what she wants. This IS Ms Chanel. Im surprised so many dislike this but I guess a lot of people prefer sweet, candyfloss sugarbombs, or weaker aquatic florals these days. I think luxury and successful female when I smell this scent. Doesn't gave to be worn on ones self to be admired.

This is my favorite perfume of all. I mean I know it's many people's but I think that speaks to its quality. In the early 90s my mom found a bottle in an estate sale and gave it to me. It smelled wonderful, and unlike any perfume I had had before, it lasted and changed and made me love the smell of my own skin. I remember the first days of wearing that bottle. I kept sniffing my wrist over and over. I still do that with Chanel No 5. It will always be my favorite perfume. That said, I'd love to find more that suit me as well so I can change it up now and then. Tonight I tried on Coco and loved it, so that will probably be next.

Oh and one more thing about this perfume - it smells best on skin. I have other perfumes that smell wonderful on clothes. Funny how that is.

Clean, but not chilly. Powdery, but not dusty. A perfect skin scent (imagine Romy Schneider's gorgeous bare back in Boccaccio '70). This is a perfume for the modernists. An abstract art in a bottle.

No.5 never shows the identity. She is mysterious. That is why No.5 has always been the best selling perfume of the world. The scent let people want to know...."who is she?" and can't stop thinking about her.

If you tend to enjoy detecting favorite materials in your fragrances like "Where's Wally", I don't recommend blind-buy.

I write my review based on my mother's parfum bottle. My mother has the vintage 1982 EDP Bottle, so the formula is not like the current EDP (which was created in 1986), it's the same formula as the original Parfum, that's why I'm posting my review here.

I really wished I liked Chanel No. 5. I can see the mastery behind it, the talent to choose and coordinate each of its notes... To me, it's a scent that plays with our senses, sometimes you think it's floral but when you smell it again it becomes animalic, then it becomes woody, then it's powdery.. I can find each of these notes in the perfume, and I praise Ernest Beaux for creating such a beautiful, intelligent and complex fragrance as Chanel No. 5.

I believe it's complex because each person smells and processes it in a different way, to some it's a mainly floral perfume, to others it's more animalic or powdery and so it goes...

Yes, I can acknowledge it's a complex, beautifully constructed perfume, but I definitely do not like it. It doesn't captivate me. Though I can smell all its complexity - I can find the rose, the musk, the vanilla, the amber, the violet, iris, lemon and sandal in it - in the end all I really smell is baby powder. The base notes are disappointing - it's cheap, pure baby powder, it's a classic "old lady" smell that to me it doesn't evoke anything romantic, magical or ethereal... It's mundane, concrete, almost pedantic in a way. I usually like perfumes that with their scent transport me to another world or an imaginary reality, but Chanel No. 5 only transports me to a cheap Coty perfume bottle that you can find at a drug store.

Though it's considered unique by many, it doesn't smell "unique" to me. Not because I have smelled anything like it, because no perfume is like Chanel No. 5, but in a very odd it smells generic... Plain, concrete, serious, square, old-fashioned... Not my kind of perfume at all.

Soap Marseille, clean and fresh. There was a documentary at the tv suggesting that the bottle has a higher cost price then the actual perfume. Oh dear.

No 5 even after many reformulations is a gem.To me is the smell of beauty,intimacy,class,jazz music,arts and New York City(as an arts center).If you take marketing out, as a smell the EdP version is 100%unisex.The smell is cosy and devine.On my skin I get mainly the iris,subtle hints of white flowers and a citrus-musk dry down which is reminiscent of clean warm skin. Stays close to the skin but when the body heats up, there it is again more present than ever. It all started with No5.May this beauty live forever and ever.

Chanel no. 5 is a unisex fragrance that succumbs both men and women due to its fame. Starts off with kumquats' aldehydes, then jasmine, then white flowers, some lilac, more delicate rare notes, then last sandalwood trace with amber, vanilla, and musk. Oerfect for moms and guys age 26+

No.5: Where do I start? So many memories attached to it, so many different incarnations of it and so much mystery surrounding it. The No. 5 that I've smelt in the past, present and future will be entirely different to what the other people smell.

The Eau de Cologne: A not so lightweight cologne, it's quite aldehydic and quite animalic. Seems less citrusy, but has much more in common with No. 5 than the Eau de Toilette seems to.

The Eau de Toilette: The sparkly, youthful original one. You wear it and feel classy and elegant. Super pretty, but lasts very little time. Less than 2 hours.

The Eau de Parfum: The golden one, the one that everyone should try in order to get to know the 'modern' No. 5s. It's strange in the top and middle notes, but the dry down is where this one shines. Very musky and creamy, extremely sensual and long lasting. 13+ hours.

The Parfum: The platinum one, the goddess. It's the one where it all started. The one that created something that women, and now men, could aspire to own as their own personal signature. So well known that it became synonymous with both the twenties and the twentieth century itself. Creamy ylang ylang, white florals, civet musk and aldehydes. Impossible to describe, impossible to decipher. 9+ hours, sits close to the skin. You feel beautiful in the rain

L'Eau & Eau Premiere: As far as flankers go, these two were masterfully done. Eau Premiere simply feels like a lighter version, which isn't bad. Suits the young ones. L'Eau is something different. It's long lasting, and the initial opening is so different from the originals but still remains beautiful. It dries down to No. 5 but has an opening more akin to 1932. Cannot praise Chanel higher for the quality of those reforms.

Go out, try it if you haven't already. You won't regret it.

I originally only bought this perfume because it was such an iconic piece that I had to have in my collection. I didn't like nor wear it very much at first, but I kept putting in on every once in a while because it made me feel so posh. And boy it grew on me!
It is now one of my favorite perfumes to wear, sometimes even in the summer. Even though I'm only 24, I can definitely pull it off. I was afraid I would be smelling like an old woman's closet, but I've gotten so many compliments, with someone even telling me it smells citrusy on me.
And it's such a nice surprise when I shower after a long day and the smell is apparently gone, but immediately after the hot water hits my body that lovely smell comes back.
It was also the only perfume I brought with me when I visited London, and now whenever I wear it I feel like I'm back there.

One of the very first high end (of my budget) perfumes I bought was Chanel no 5 (EDP version). It was also a blind buy (no regrets), but I couldn't understand why it was so popular. Bottle wise, it was simple yet very elegantly designed. It felt heavy and luxurious & I pictured Mademoiselle Chanel herself holding a big heavy set decanter of whiskey or perhaps red wine pouring it into fine glasses, maybe even taking a swig or two out of it. Scent wise, I'd have to say I agreed with a lot of reviews, that it smelled like something my grandmother would wear. And yes, I did just that, I would douse my grandmother in it everyday, at least I knew it wasn't gong to waste.
Over the years, there seems to have been a resurgence of Chanel no 5, with more modern variations. Obviously with the intent of growing sales off the popularity of No 5.
So, I thought I would venture again into the world of Chanel no 5 to give it another go. I thought I would buy the L'eau version but instead bought pure Parfum. All I can say is "wow, what a difference!". This (the parfum) must be the magic that Mademoiselle Coco Chanel had fallen in love with & intended for us to fall in love with too.

Dug this out of my closet because my partner is away and is allergic to something in all the Chanel bottles. So I must take advantage of the time to myself and douse myself in all the forbidden 'fumes.

It's a hot day and this perfume is unexpectedly soothing. A bright blossoming open with lots of aldehydes, a nutty note, then musk and iris and lemon. Maybe a little touch of lily-of-the-valley in there too but turns to a mostly powdery, soft, floral spray. I had a revelation today--I always thought my grandmother exclusively wore Opium but I just realized that she must have kept a bottle of Chanel somewhere on her vanity because after spraying it there was a moment when it seemed like she had appeared. Missing you granny, thanks for all these fond smelly memories.

About 6 years ago. I tried No.5 for the very first time. I remember I was going to Singapore and at the airport the SA told me Chanel has an offer on it you should try some, and I levitated towards the No.5 bottle which in my opinion looked ageless.. i had tried chance and loved it even mademoiselle and loved that one too. The hype around No.5 was just crazy, it has its own display and the SA told me, there couldn't be a more iconic scent for women, I had not sprayed anything on my wrist to save them for the No.5, got a generous spray and waited for a bit to sniff it, hating it soo much that it made me sad. I wanted to be the woman who wears No.5. Over the past 6 years on and off Id try the No.5 hoping i like it.. and I never did... But a few months ago i sprayed it on my wrist and completely forgot about it and then a few hours later i was looking for this beautiful nutty but also sweet floral scent and thought it was my mothers scarf, which it wasnt... I was ecstatic when I realized its me, its No.5... It had finally chosen me.. after 6 years I understand the beauty and the mystery that is Chanel No 5

I have only one thing to say about Chanel No.5 in EDP (manufactured July 2014): MASTERPIECE.
To me, there are no specific notes I can single out, but the scent changes and transforms as it warms up on the skin, revealing new undertones. Close to the skin it smells different than at distance.
No.5 is so intimate yet elegant, so charming yet formal, so sexy yet not carnal or dirty. It is about same intimate as unbuttoning a shirt on someone you love. It is about as sexy as Marilyn in black turtleneck. No.5 doesn't scream "take me", but it is seductively alluring, sophisticated and elegant. No.5 will be what you want it to be. It is suitable for any occasion and anyone.

If you are looking into this fragrance, there are several things you should know.

YOUR SKIN CHEMISTRY will largely define how this develops. On me, I get beautiful rich buttery scent, charming from the moment I spray it until drydown disappears. Lasts about 7-10 hours on me.

TRUST YOUR NOSE - if you don't like it on yourself, then just skip it, because headache and hate are guaranteed. Legend or not, it is just a perfume which you should enjoy on yourself.

REFORMULATION in 2015, unfortunately, reflected on scent and longevity due to the ban of oak moss and other components. I tried current version of EDP and it is like watered down No.5 before reformulation with 2h longevity at max.

'OLD LADY' vibe is what people get when this fragrance doesn't agree with their skin chemistry. Same as ANY fragrance, it tends to smell bad when it doesn't agree with skin chemistry. No.5 is not an exception to this rule. Just because this perfume happened to be invented in the 1920s and your or someone else's grandmother wore it, doesn't mean it's for older people. It simply means they have GOOD TASTE, and GOOD TASTE DOESN'T HAVE AGE. Period.

UNISEX - yes it can be! Men are also people and it all purely depends on skin chemistry, NOT GENDER.

If you haven't tried it yet just because everyone keeps rattling 'old lady', be brave and test it on yourself. You might find something you have been looking for your whole life.

This fragrance is a beautiful classic. Soapy,clean and sophisticated just like you would expect from a house like CHANEL. It does remind me of very elegantly dressed mature ladies. However I cannot find the excitement when I wear this. I love my fragrances to conjure up images in my imagination but unfortunately Chanel N05 doesn't quite do that for me. Classy and elegant is fine if this is what you are looking for.

CHANEL No5 is my ultimate favorite perfume ever ever ever!
It is a scrumptious, intoxicating, sniff the path of air and the circumference, unmistakable, undeniable, classy fragrance!
A pow and then a softens to a fluffiness.
I absolutely LOVE the gorgeous glass bottle too. Always a nice weight and an undeniable beauty to any room you may display this.
My first bottle was given to me as a gift when I was in high school in the 1980's...since then, I have had countless more bottles of this forever fave given to me through the years by my husband for birthdays, Christmas, etc.
I hold this fragrance close to me sentimentally as well: reminds me of a time gone by, many memorable events in my personal life, and a spritz of this glorious scent has uplifted me many times when I needed it. A feel-good perfume :)
I also love to spritz this for bedtime as well...on me and the sheets. Turns my bedroom into an instant feeling of old Hollywood glamour!! :)
Chanel No5 evokes the epitome of such classiness and timelessness, glamour and an air of intrigue all at once.

I blind bought this based on the reviews, never even smelt the edt or edp so jumping to parfum was all down to you fragranticans :)
oh im sooo glad i did ! !!!!
I must admit , i did wonder if id think it was a little dated but i just had a feeling about it.
A good feeling, what a totally adorable classy fragrance this is !
my bottle is from 2013.
shes all aldehydes at first , but i encountered this with fendi fendi edp so knew it would be good to let this settle a little first before judging, that said i must say haters of chanel no 5 probably wash it off before it has time to turn into its full magical effect.
in fairness my hubby said " its alright but whats all the fuss about " men , oooh dont we just love em ;)
2 hours after puting this on i got him to smell it again , a little more favorable reaction , beacause those dated smelling to some aldyhydes had mostly turned into a BEAUTIFULL ,POWDERY , sophisticated fragrance !!

So this is what marilyn monroe wore to bed huh !
who can blame the girl :)
she ( mk ultra diamond presidential Slave ) marilyn never realised her own
beauty , not really , but no doubt she probably did wear only a drop or two of parfum to bed and whatever her sad personal circumstances her soft shining beauty makes no 5 automaticly the first perfume that comes into mind when you think of fragrance / perfumes.

You will probably find the mid and dry down most to your liking ,let those first soapy aldehydes settle for 30 mins and you get the most amazing fresh yet kinda dry lemon, bergamote ,jasmin rose and iris , over sandalwood .
Theres just enough soft musk and the whole composition feels very fresh still.
Think baby powder and a soft lemony sweet woody creamy vibe, delightfull.
im unsure what in this gives off an unusual strange vibe but something does, but it tottally adds to the allure and wonderfull butteryness .
I dont feel its at all dated -not the tiniest bit, intead its a classic that will always have a much deserved place high up in history !!
im impressed.

10/10




TIMELESS , you would never know this was from 1921 originaly.

oh my goodness sakes....finally the real stuff, and it lasts for hours! My prayers answered.
I have a vintage bottle of this thick amber gooey lusciousness with original box. Christmas came early,
I'm always buying pure parfum from now on.
What a difference! Now this is beautiful.

This is my first Chanel fragrance, I'm in love. This fragrance is very complex and mysterious.
It is overpowering at first, and when it relaxes on my skin it smells very sweet and vanilla on me but also classy and elegant.
It also has a comforting quality to it and it reminds me of my great grandma I believe she had this perfume. Don't be mistaken this is not an old lady fragrance this is so timeless. I know I should wear it on special occasions but I want to wear it all the time and casually because it is so comforting.