Chanel No 5 Eau de Parfum Chanel for women

Literally FOULLL 😭

I love the parfum and vintage eau de cologne. I even enjoy the current EdT, although it is my least favorite, eau de cologne is my favorite. The EdP was flat and boring on my skin. It didn't have the same "opulence" I experience from the other concentrations. I decluttered it from my collection years ago.

For some reason this just smells like straight up diapers to me

Pretty soapy flowers… and old pee. I’ve definitely smelled this in the wild and thought someone had an accident or diaper needed to be changed. I genuinely didn’t know anyone was smelling like this intentionally.

Rancid. Smells like urine mixed with cleanser and reminded me of the toilets on the road in the balkans 🤣

Definition of old but gold :) despite the new trends, this will always be my favorite. I have a very old collector edt version which projects like a beast, this eau de parfum version which projects well enough and allows you to play with it. To all my chanel no5 lovers, i suggest you should layer it with a touch of Prada’s infusion d’iris. It gives a modern touch without ruining the beautiful notes.

I love the EDT and Eau Premiere but I don't love the EDP. Something in this composition, maybe the peach, makes this a bit stuffy. It is a good scent but not as outstanding as other members of the No. 5 family.

Every uneducated mortal thinks that this smells like a granny's soap, and as far as the intuitive fragrant association to our memories go, that is correct, however it's worth knowing that No5 is where the soaps actually got their scent from - aldehydes proved to be stable in alkaline environment and Chanel made them more popular than any other company.

We might no longer live among the generations that remember how the aldehydes came to dominate the market, but we still have people that remember the traditional soaps and the post-war revival of the clean scents; at some point, Chanel No5 will enter into its own revival period without the scrutiny of being heavily related to the toilet and cleaning products.

So, yes, it is a waxy/fatty, heady and a bit metallic - citrus aroma of the 3 aldehydes that makes this so special and I love it.

It doesn't mean that I'll wear it every day. I find it very comforting actually and I treat myself to it when I'm having a "me time" with a book, wearing a soft jumper. It's a smell that in its sophistication says that you have stuff under control and that you can slow down to enjoy your life a bit.

+ I love the timeless design of the bottle and the historical significance.
10/10

According to my sister and my mother this smells like a toilet. Straight up

Timeless masterpiece. However, I don't know what happened, but my last bottle bought in 2023 directly from Chanel doesn't last more than 1-2 hours.. It's a shame.. This used to last on me the whole day..

If to compare with fragrances introduced at the market, chanel no 5 stays aside. It seems even innocent in some way. No rush, no stress, non-provocative. Just perfectly well-blended creation!

I LOVE my No 5. I’m a man, wearing it for my wedding - and I am confident it’ll be perfect. To those who sniff it and hate it, it’s because you sniffed it. When No 5 lays down, it’s IMPECCABLE.

This is a very mature fragrance I think this perfume is lovely but it's not what i usually go for, I think it entirely depends on your body chemistry as well becuase it smells somewhat very powdery on me sorta like [Niveas face creme] but on some people it's giving mature elegant woman in her 50s in fur jacket sorta vibe

[ by the way what I mean from that comparison is by no means insulting it means that a woman of class would wear this Fragance 😎]

People giving this 3.67 rating in fragrantica is the reason why i should not get too caught up with ratings on this website (which admittedly i still do). What a joke.

This, remains to be, a very well executed and beautiful fragrance today. Bold, confident, floral fragrance + iconic chanel aldehydic DNA. Still ahead of many offerings out there.

Chanel No. 5 was the first "real perfume" I wore when I was a teenager back in the 1960's. I remember being totally in love with it at that time, and it was certainly a highly regarded scent then. So, I know what it smelled like then and retained my memory of it. From reading other people's reviews, it seems the later versions, particularly after the 1980's, aren't on a par with the earlier formulations, which is sad. I still have a very small amount in a tester from the mid 1970's and sometimes open it and just smell it to bring me back to my memories of it.

Even though I was a big fan as a teen, I graduated into a variety of different scents and somehow never found my way back to No. 5. I'm not sure quite why. I don't perceive it as "grandma" perfume or "soapy" or "powdery" as some have described it. I can't quite put my finger on why I drifted away from it. I still appreciate it for the distinctive scent it is (or was, if they've changed it into something lesser). I've never smelled the newer versions, so am not able to compare.

Maybe today I prefer scents that have a peppery or spicy undertone, whereas Chanel No. 5 always seems on the sweeter side. Or too lushly elegant or something. As some have said, it's more of an evening scent, going to the theater in New York lol.. ..it's such a unique scent, I could pick it out of a million people in a room. So what's the upshot of my comments? I'm not sure lol...perhaps I now have a love/hate relationship with it. And I guess this proves that it is a divisive scent, although I truly don't like contributing to the division that apparently exists. When I was a teen, I don't recall anyone feeling divided about it or disliking it. I think most people thought it was the top of the line in the perfume world and anyone wearing it was equally top of the line, or had excellent taste. Today apparently that opinion is not the norm about this perfume. That makes me feel a bit sad, but tastes do change. I just think it's unfortunate that whatever people are being sold today as the current formulation is most likely not as complex or beautiful as what I wore years ago. But that's the way it is with many "vintage" perfumes, so that younger people today can't have the full experience or understand what it was that made some of these classic perfumes so grand.

I love this perfume and do not care if anyone says it smells like grandma. It smells classy and timeless to me. Elegant and vintage. Ladylike.

Understandably Chanel no. 5 has been reformulated throughout the years, so what I get from this is sparkly champagne top notes with strong powdery, ambery notes. I find it difficult to wear powdery notes without the connotation of grandma references. I guess with Chanel powdery notes, it's more of a rich bouje older lady as opposed to grandma's bathroom.

Although I could not pull this fragrance off myself, I was pleasantly surprised how well this worked on my friend who is extremely alternative/grunge. It somewhat elevated her into prestige status.

I disliked Chanel No. 5 at the start of my fragrance journey, but after years of exploring fruity, floral, gourmand, and even complex scents like jammy rose or oud, tobacco, etc., and all kinds of assaults on my senses, I have begun to understand the appeal and beauty of Chanel No. 5. There is something special, subtle, and timeless in Chanel's DNA that one can crave for its simplicity or seek solace in after gluttony.

May peace be upon you.

This is a fragrance which has nothing to do with being old or old-fashioned. It is just a perfume for classy, elegant and noble women of all ages. The industry has overly focused on sticky and heavy fragrances and it has changed the perception of many users. Chanel No5 and other Chanel perfumes are reminders of elegance and femininity without creating a cheap impact.

Floral notes are much more stronger and clean with aldehydes. Moreover, this classic is a cornerstone in the development of designer brands. I hope it will be in my bag until the end of my life.

Chanel No.5 has been my signature scents forever. My grown children associate it's fragrance with me, and my daughter takes to stealing my sweaters because they smell like me - even after several washes.

I get compliments galore, it's such a lady smell. The bergamot and peach notes are just heaven, I feel like I'm walking on a cloud. I get random compliments, one of my favourites was an older gentleman who stopped me in the mall. He knew it was Chanel No.5, he was a widow and said his wife wore it. He just wanted to smell me.

My Man loves it, and it's guaranteed to get some extra cuddles & smooches from him. This fragrance is a classic, and while I am branching out & trying new Parfums, it will always be my go-to.

The love child of a bottle of champagne and some furniture polish, in the best way.

In all seriousness, give it a few goes as you may not love it on first sniff. It's not "likeable" like many more modern fragrances - which is neither a good nor bad thing, it just depends on what you are looking for. But if the fruitchoulis of today are the equivalent of alcopops for teenagers, this is vintage sparkling wine. Rich, complex, slightly harsh but very addictive.

Definitely more aldehydic.

I really wanted to like it. I love the aldehydic opening! I'm not really a big fan of people describing how a fragrance smells by their own incredibly personal and culturally differing associations to other products (e.g. Play-Doh for Vanilla fragrances, cough drops for cherry fragrances(i'm sure that's just an American thing)). And I've liked fragrances previously described as smelling like baby wipes, like grandma, whatever and I've never thought "dirty toilet" or "cat piss!" when smelling a fragrance - However - this smells so much like grandma or senior home furniture, mixed with baby wipes and something very very sharp and sour, the florals in this give me bathroom freshener (recently used bathroom at that). And it dries to down to German truck stop bathrooms and porta potty(Dixieklo), with baby wipes, with floral bathroom freshener, with the beautiful rest of airy aldehydes doing their best. I have the vintage version of this - so I don't know how much of the nastyness in this can be attributed to the perfume turning....after about an hour it's not straight up unpleasant anymore + now its just baby wipes and floral bathroom air freshener. I'm so incredibly disappointed and sad because of the icon status of this fragrance.... miss monroe wearing this to bed.... the elegance.... I don't think I'll be able to wear this one, at least not the vintage. As much as I will never wear this I don't hate it and keep smelling it as it reminds me of something - I don't know if maybe I've gaslighted myself into thinking this smells like grandma because everybody says it does - or because all young ladies when this was incredibly popular back then still wear this, now being old ladies, and the association comes from that generation - or maybe my own grandmother used to wear this in my childhood and the olfactory memories are giving me a whiplash.

Edit: I've smelled the current (2024) version of this in the store and can say it still very much smells like toilet, a much nicer and cleaner bathroom, but still.

An old classic that opens up strongly with aldehydes and wilted flowers. This scent lingers on your skin for hours, evoking a rather 'old world' charm. I would not wair this, nether would my granny.

This is in the same category for me as Chloe, in both I can't distinguish individual notes and overall they just smell like scented wet wipes. This smells like sth a grandma would wear, which makes sense. This is the only fragrance from Chanel that actually smells like an old lady.

Luxury in a bottle

I get compliments everytime I wear it, to me it is also a confidence booster. Great for winter and special occasions on evening.

Smells like my grandmas ass. I detest this scent, very old fashioned. In fact, most people I ask hate this scent as well. Not very "timeless" or "elegant" in my opinion. Wear this if you are over 80!

My granny pushing 80 and I believe she too young for this perfume. It dont smell bad, but its very outdated.

Smells very soapy. Not powdey. Just soapy. Nothing more to it. To my nose at least...
Why would you pay a bunch of money to smell like a cheap soap? Just why?

A classic! I feel as though I have been traveling through a dark tunnel of Orientals and ouds. Suddenly I broke through to the sunlight. The sky is blue, birds are singing and the flowers are in bloom. Though it is winter, spring is in the air. Lady friend, thank you for breaking out the Coco Chanel.

extrait de gramgram in a bottle. Makes me feel very clean. This is a fun fragrance for when i feel like cosplaying as a fancy grandma

Sexy soap...! No. 5 exudes such an aura of cleanliness, sophistication, femininity, and just a touch of mystery thanks to the powdery iris. And yet, beneath, there's something indolic and earthy (the yellow florals? the oakmoss?) that elevates her above being simply 'soapy'. It's very sensual. But, to my great disappointment, the longevity on my skin is poor; not a whiff remains after 2 hours. Such a shame - if she lasted longer I'd certainly want a full bottle.

I wore Chanel No. 5 all during the mid 1960s to mid 1970s, then switched to other fragrances. When I tested No. 5 recently, the scent was completely different and not pleasant. When I wore it, it had notes of apricot, roses, and jasmine. The most recent iteration has an off-putting chemical scent, almost like perfumed insecticide. I'm trying to find the version I wore long ago, but haven't had any luck. I think the very old scents of the perfumes that have been around for a century or more should not be interfered with.

I love Chanel No. 5 EDP so much. I know that this is a very divisive perfume, but I have loved this right from the start of my perfume journey about 15 years ago. This is such a masterpiece to me; I love the history and the iconic status of No. 5. But in all honesty, I would love this even if it was some unknown fragrance.
No. 5 smells so familiar to me but none of my family or any person I had regular contact with as a child wore this. Yet this feels so familiar, almost hauntingly familiar. Today it finally hit me why! While wearing this I was transported back to sitting in class as a 10 year old deeply inhaling the scent on the inside of my jacket sleeve. When I was around 9 or 10 years old, I received a gift set from my mother which contained a body lotion and a perfume spray. I cannot remember the exact name of it. It was from a cheap local drugstore brand of scented products which has long since been discontinued. All I remember is how much I loved that scent; it was clean and soapy and it smelled “powdery white” to me. The lotion came in a white bottle and I am pretty sure the name or the description of the scent had the words “white musk” in it. That drugstore scent was definitely strongly influenced by No. 5, it had the same fresh aldehydes, the same soapy cleanliness and the same delicate and velvety musk.
I have been wearing Chanel No. 5 for years and I still enjoy it as much as the first time I wore it. What I appreciate the most about No. 5 is the perfect balance between the clean, almost airy components and the opulent, rich and luxurious components. This scent is so well blended, on occasion individual notes are identifiable, but for the most part it is like a well composed symphony where all individual notes blend together beautifully to create a wondrous experience.

this is so icey idk how to describe it but soapy and elegant one of my all time favs

Very classy, also strong but doesn't last long.
Peachy and soapy.
Super floral but I don't get the jasmine at all. Among the Chanel no 5 various versions (Eau premier, L'eau), this one is the best.

I as a 14 year old girl, I enjoy this to a certain extent. I wouldn’t wear it to school or anything (I probably will one day) but I do just generally like the smell and the freshness of it.

Contrary to most women, I get to enjoy it less as I get older. I now tend to prefer lighter scents.
Of course Chanel n 5 is still a must have, but I’d rather wear it only in the evening.
Definitely not an office scent for me

This is not a review of No. 5, that would be unnecessary. My experience with this perfume is that I have smelled it once every couple of years, the first time when I was around 22 years old. It wasn’t until I was 27 that I “got” it, and now at 28 I am shopping for a bottle.

Don’t give up on this one if you’re curious about it. I’ve been wearing more vintage smelling scents lately and now many contemporary ones don’t excite me as much. And it doesn’t seem as related to my age or “maturity” either, but more so about the scents I grew up around and how that has conditioned my tastes.

This perfume went from reminding me of powdered bathroom freshener to now smelling like sparkling peach in a bed of soft, fluffy florals. It’s simply heavenly, and will be a big spring scent for me. It’s both comforting and sexy, which, as a mother and wife, I like to strive to be.

Smells like the original Johnson and Johnson Baby Shampoo... Or rather Johnson and Johnson was made to smell like it.
Either way, this smell reminds me of both baby shampoo and that orange colored hand soap.
It's a shame that what would otherwise be a pretty, classic scent was ripped off and associated with cheap soap products and babies, but there it is. And because it's so deeply imbedded in my mind as such, I just can't get on board with it.
I think it takes a certain type of individual to pull this scent off and when they do, they do so beautifully. But it is certainly not one that you just buy willy nilly without seeing how it sits on your skin first.
An extremely polarizing scent.

Ever wait in line for the bathroom at the theatre and there's a bunch of older ladies in front of you wearing pearls and a vintage handbag? This is what they're wearing. Not bad per se, but it's so overpowering that after an hour you just need to take a shower because it's just too much.

I remember the first time I ever sniffed no 5. It was at the perfume counter in a Macy’s sometime in my teens. I thought it had to be the most gorgeous smelling perfume because of how iconic it is. When I sprayed it on my wrist, I was shocked. I hated it. I felt betrayed lol. I know many others have had this same experience.

I am now 26, married, and pregnant with my first baby. I sprayed this a couple days ago while shopping and I am in love. It is beauuuuuuuutifullllllll. I can’t stop sniffing myself. It is so feminine, soft, and comforting. THIS is how I want to smell for my child. Goodness gracious is it good

ok, so. i wanted to love this so much. right now, i have mixed feelings on it. i don't know if it's just my skin or what, but it smells like straight up baby powder- like a classier Love's Baby Soft. i unfortunately don't detect any of the notes described by others.

smells like a urinal. not even joking or saying this for attention, it's just the first impression i got when i smelt it.

Thanks to the all "old lady" comments, from my very heart.

First, do old ladies smell bad and young ladies smell good? (then you have a very little mind or just a very little world).

Second, that´s the great clue for those who have not smelled the perfume yet, because you know what "old lady" means? Class, long time elegance, experienced taste, tons of style, that you-have-the-money-to-choose, that you don´t need the loud-here-I-am anymore, the already-been-there wisdom. So, to those who feel offended for that type of comments let me remind you that we should appreciate them a lot, you know you are not facing a choco-fuity, nasty, tacky, cheap smell (even being a splurge) gourmand-easy parfum that satisfies the inmature and not developed perfume culture.

Then my second favourite... "smells like urine".... thanks again, oh boy/girl you have a terrible skin chemistry that´s far away from mine. That helps me to rush to find the tester as I know there is going to be an interesting discovery inside that bottle.

This comment is extensible to all reviews but I find N5 the best fragance to make the statement.

To me this is a true timeless masterpiece. It so abstract and surely forward for its time. I know a lot of people say it smells dated because they associate it with their grandmothers or mothers, but fortunately, none of my grannies used to wear any perfume and my mom wore a different one, so I have never made this association. To me is classy, elegant, sophisticated, fresh and clean, and yet warm at the same time. It is a fragrance which makes me feel calm and serene and put together. I have both the edp and the edt, and I am planning to buy also the pure purfum version in the future.

I loved Chanel No 5, the version that was available in the late ‘70s that I wore in high school. I was filling nostalgic and ordered a bottle a few months ago. This is not what I remember- had the formula changed? Maybe I am not remembering the scent correctly. Here is says this came out in the late ‘80s?
Much prefer the EDT.

very lovely and sophisticated. it smells powdery on me but not dry. Its creamy and warm. comforting but at the same time very alluring. If beautiful has a scent, this might be it.

@Perpetual Collector

I didn't know someone could be personal offended and react like this because of a smell ("I bet your mother in law smells better...." etc). That's really weird to me.

Even though the original is from 1921, most people don't know this - - why should they?. MM made the hype (Had to read up, being this bad-smelling terrible woman that I am, and so I did).

My original post is also deleted, and I don't know why.

I also read that this was the first time perfume was made with artificial ingredients only. 80 different ones. That alone makes me dizzy, but I wouldn't know - because I will never get the chance to smell the original.

The hype though, startet with Marilyn Monroe, and it has continued with the blend from 1986 - as "ordinary people" with no particular interest i perfume would never know the dates. Just the name and her statement.

P.s. Before I get attacked for my poor English - I'm Norwegian and my English keyboard on my phone setting doesn't work for some reason.

@Perpetual collector She wore the original yes, I just mean to say that if you smell the original, it is an entirely different fragrance. That one truly smells dated, this one just smells like “a long time ago, but not too long ago”. I couldn’t handle the original, but this one I adore.

A very powdery jasmine smell that could be worn at all times and seasons. Not headache inducing for a flowery perfume, and it has jasmine notes in a nice way. Overall, very average and inoffensive and I could imagine this being a very nostalgic smell for some people...

@RoseGrande, original Chanel came out 1921, this particular version was released 1986. There is an interview with Marilyn where she states that she wears "one spritz of Chanel No.5".

This is NOT the perfume Marilyn Monroe wore. I’m so confused why everyone thinks that, it says very clearly that this perfume came out in 1986. They literally spray this perfume in the Beverly Hills hotel she lived in when people tour it. I purchased the perfume she actually wore, and if you think this one smells dated, boy are you in for a surprise. I will admit, if this was around in her time, I’m positive this would have been her favorite perfume. As dated as it smells, I think this perfume is a true work of art. It smells so feminine and elegant, Im obsessed with it.

@HeidiCL, your review of the most iconic perfume in history of perfumery is idiotic.

"It feels like this one is made in an era when perfumers didn't have the tools, or nose, to make a good perfume" 😂
I suggest you educate yourself further and stop making a fool out of yourself by writing stuff like this for the world to see. Or maybe let your mother in law write reviews, since she obviously has more class and taste when it comes to perfumes. And I bet she smells better than you.

It’s difficult to review such a classic, to detach cultural, pre-conceived notions of it. But i’ll try.

So strongly aldehydic, dry baby powder and soapiness.
A nitro musk element certainly makes it feel vintage.
Meringue-like texturally. Even a little screechy.
Dried pink rose petals and iris in the middle certainly add to the powdery crunchiness.
Some jasmine pushes it even more feminine and sweet.
Sandalwood in the bottom adds a desperately needed grounding depth. Which unfortunately is counteracted by some creamy sweet vanilla right beside it.

Reviewing this has made me realise we are spoilt for interesting, unique and authentic fragrance ingredients these days.
No 5 is a beautiful fragrance that has a very special place in perfumery, however, comparing apples to oranges, I don’t feel that it holds up in the present.

VERDICT: Sampling No 5 is a joy, like visiting a museum of perfumery. I wouldn’t wear this classic.

No. 5 smells so vintage, like a woman wearing fur coats and diamonds and have a personal driver. Madame also deal with people by appointments only, haha 😂! She had to grow on me, but I most definitely see a bottle of this in my fragrance wardrobe in the near future. 💅

I don’t like the #5 sold today in stores, so I found a bottle from the early 70’s and WOW it’s so beautiful. It’s strong and you can smell all the ingredients and it lasted on my skin all day. The nasty aldehydes are gone and what’s left is the beautiful middle and base notes. If you can, I highly suggest seeking out a very vintage bottle. Nothing after 1980’s tho. That is IF you can find one . There are so many fakes out there since vintage perfumes have become very popular. Be careful. I got my bottle years before vintage perfumes became highly popular. Honestly the Chanel #5 sold in store now days is so gross, I can’t understand why anyone would buy it. It smells like cheap soap. I have a half bottle I’m about to put up for sale on eBay. I’m sure someone will buy this nasty perfume . If not, I’ll just give it away.

For me, it smells awful. Tried it several times because I don't know why everyone likes it. I want to like it, but not. Smells like dry shaved woods that you suddenly inhaled then irritated your throat so you have the tendency to cough it off. Also, it literally dries my throat. The smells is like an old cabinet. I don't know.. probably it's not for me. I prefer aquatic, light floral, citrus, fresh fragrances. Yep.. not for me.

I'm so disappointed in this fragrance l wish l never bought it but would of always wondered...
I had my mums last dregs in the bottle leftovers of this at the end of the 80s and loved it. Fast forward 35 years and l have forgotten what it smells like. Being one of the most expensive perfumes l always just bought others that are just as nice but a little more affordable. So this was on my wishlist and a couple of days ago l thought l will get it for myself as a treat for my birthday.
It arrived this morning, l get what everyone is saying about the soapy powdery thing it smells like that on me and l love it. I adore expensive soapy smells and love baby powders fragrance. I was just so very disappointed in its strength l have my nose pressed against my skin 20mins after spraying it and can barely find it. I'm reading reviews that are saying you only need a dab use sparingly etc they must be wearing some from the 80s or 90s..l sprayed the hell out of it literally l probably sprayed 5mls onto myself and the smell was gone after about 3hours. Mine is Eau de Parfum so am l wrong for thinking this perfume should be a potent beast that leaves a trail for anyone in a 5mile radius to pick up? I mean what the heck with this weak so so strength I thought Parfum was supposed to be so strong?
Now, l do love unapologetically strong perfumes, most of mine are beasts, my signature is Kenzo Jungle le Elephant which is probably the strongest perfume on the planet with lasting power of almost 24hours its a savage. Am l wrong in thinking Chanel no 5 should be of that power & concentration? Or is it a 5 out of 10 sillage and projection perfume and l was expecting too much from it? I'm worrying mine maybe has lost its potency where its gotten old or might be fake or something but it was from a reputable seller. I'm surprised at how uninspiring it is, its like a light soapy powdery scent with a few floral notes here and there lovely but safe and weak. I definitely won't ever buy a bottle of it again there's other perfumes a fraction of the price that smell just as good if not better and last on the skin this is a disgusting price for what you actually get, there's way too much hype around this perfume what a joke, especially when compared to Chanel no 19, why pay a ridiculous premium just for a name? I'm glad I gave it a try though even to stop myself always wondering, now l can buy two lovely perfumes for the price of one of these and not feel I'm missing out on a life changing fragrance experience, Miss Dior Originale is sooo much better. Its a lovely fragrance I'm not knocking how it smells just the lack of strength and projection and lasting time, ive now used about 8mls of it and my bottle is now back in its box in a drawer "masturbating" 😆 🤣 😂 im hoping that when l get it out in a few months it would of had itself a good old time in there, and taken advantage of the air l let in & hopefully its got darker and stronger. But on first trials I give this fragrance a generous 4/10.

It’s beautiful, I’ve seen this described as the scent of an expensive French soap and that’s super accurate; It’s fresh, powdery, soft and feminine, also a tad sweet. I understand that a lot of people say this smells like “grandma” but let’s not act like that’s a bad thing, some of the most beautiful women in history have sworn by this perfume, and I can see why, timeless.

It kind of smell like cat piss to me, expensive and vintage though but the first fact throws me off

it smells so good!! i felt like an vintage actress when i wore this.
it does smell like grandma but in a very good way.. very powdery and comforting

Chanel n°5....This is a fragrance that makes me miss a time that I never witnessed, back when women's perfume were classy and men's perfumes were actually masculine. All i smell now at the women's counter is cheap smelling sticky sweet fragrances for teenagers, with a few exceptions. This may be considered one of the greatest of all time. I was not used to aldehydes the first time I smelled this, so I didn't immediatly like it, in fact i hated it. It intrigued me, so i kept coming back to try it untill I loved it, and i feel like that's how a love for a perfume starts.

10/10

I don’t understand people hating this. It’s a decent, classy perfume. But to be fair, I loved the citrusy L’Eau more than this until I gave this one a chance. I used to be scared of this bec I wasn’t the biggest fan of the EDT version. BUT! When I checked this out on Duty Free, I KNEW I needed to smell it firsthand. It’s very much a vintage-smelling scent—you may associate this with a former movie star in the 60s. I love every single sniff I do from this.

Some people say No 5 smells like a rich old lady - personally, it always reminds me of my Oma, who is a rich old lady, so I would have to agree, though I do think it is ultimately more versatile than that. Because it reminds me of my Oma, it is very nostalgic for me.

This is a fragrance that will smell different depending on who is wearing it. For me, it mixes wonderfully with my skin chemistry, and is a staple for me. It is well crafted, balanced, and difficult to describe. It feels neutral and complex at the same time.

Though I love it, and I can't imagine anything about it being offensive, I hear many people dislike it. Seems to be a 'love it or hate it', or people love the smell out of the bottle and hate how it smells on their skin. I recommend sampling it on your skin and wearing it for a day before committing to a full bottle, as it is very expensive.

Chanel no5 is the fragrance I've had for the longest, my dad picked it up duty free on the way back from a trip for me and I've been wearing it ever since. I feel a strong attachment to it for that reason; it's comforting and familiar. I get the powdery iris notes come up on my skin the most, and I really like that soft earthy floral. I know this is the quintessential "old lady scent", but I don't think that should be held against it. 1), older women know perfume, and this one IS a winner, 2) I think it smells like a big hug from a woman that I love and trust and I don't mind smelling like that at all and 3) when i wear this I don't think it's possible for me to smell like an older woman because I am in fact a young woman.

Accessible fragrance for fans of vintage scents who can’t afford the Parfume (see notes from @BerryRose) Can be polarising due to the aldehydes. Boss girl scent but be careful in office, don’t over spray.

i actually really like this despite not liking powdery scents, and that says a lot since this is pure powdery soap galore (a lot of people say it smells like a grandma). i have a 100ml bottle from 2013 which I've been macerating. i loved this so much when i first got it but i’m halfway through the bottle. i’ve taken a long break from wearing this as i now save it only for special occasions where i wanna feel like i’m on a 90s Chanel runway. it’s defo one of those scents that develop more depth as it ages, i can’t wait to see how time affects this bottle in years to come!!

Stunning fragrance which reminds me (in the best way) of my Mum who has had it for years . A warm sultry embrace in a bottle - creamy , slightly sweet but has that wood that keeps it elegant and mature. Then we had Marylins endorsement : it contributes to making this a forever classic fragrance .

I feel like im in hospice. GRANNYYYYYYYYY just like all of the chanel perfumes. you're lucky if this smells good on you, or you're unlucky because your sense of smell no longer works.

soap opera

So when I first started collecting perfume I could not stand this scent. I don’t know what changed but 6 years later and this is absolute perfection in a bottle to me. I can and will not go without chanel no 5 lol. On first spray it is a little intense, but give it a couple minutes to let it settle and it turns into this beautiful vintage rose, warm vanilla, and dreamy musk. To me this smells warm, romantic, vintage, inviting, and elegant. Not to mention it’s timeless. I truly don’t think you can go wrong with this scent. If you used to hate it please try her again!!

As for me, it was, has been, and always will be a timeless classic. Warm, elegant, close to the skin, not shouting but gently whispering. With its warm, cozy, yet powerful embrace, I feel more confident, professional and elegant. A must have on my shelf.

For the 100th anniversary of Chanel No. 5 in 2021, I selected the EDT formulation as my first bottle of No. 5. At the time, I was 35 and didn't feel I was ready yet for the stronger Chanel concentrations. I feel that one must grow into them. Flash forward two very difficult years and much personal growth later, and I purchased the EDP. Though I must admit the initial reasons I acquired it were rather silly: firstly, I wanted that iconic bottle on my bureau. The EDT is the only formulation of No. 5 that isn't available in the iconic bottle, and while I own Coco, Coco Mademoiselle, and Coco Noir, it's just not the same. I wanted to see that beautiful, gold liquid sparkling in the perfect, square-cut bottle on top of my dresser in the autumn light. Secondly, I have a thing for perfumes released in 1986, the year of my birth. As I've said before, each of the editions of No. 5 are variations on a theme, and in their incomparable work Perfumes: The A-Z Guide (2010), Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez take the time to review each. The Chanel website also provides very good descriptions of the differences on the products pages of their website. In brief:

Parfum - the original formula, the masterpiece of olfactory modernist sculpture, created by Ernest Beaux in 1921
Eau de Toilette - a "warm, bright version" of the original, created by Ernest Beaux in 1924
Eau de Parfum - a "fuller, more voluminous version" of the original, which was reinterpreted by Jacques Polge in 1986
Eau Premiere - a "light, airy, luminous version" of the original, which was reinterpreted by Jacques Polge in 2008
L'Eau - a "modern, fresh, and vibrant embodiment" of the original, which was reinterpreted by Olivier Polge in 2016

I don't think that most consumers realize that the EDP is not the "original" formulation. Although I suspect that Coco Mademoiselle now outsells No. 5, I believe that the EDP concentration is the best seller of the family because it is less expensive than the parfum, but perceived to be better quality than the EDT. The EDP is a 80s version of the original, at the time of its release it was a "modern interpretation" of the timeless fragrance, and these modern takes often don't age well. As Turin stated in his review of this formulation "nothing is less modern right now than eighties fragrance." But this written in 2008, and as with Coco, which Turin stated "feels terribly dated and needs another decade or two to overcome its tired eighties image" Turin has proved himself correct yet again. Like Coco which I acquired last year, the EDP formulation of No. 5 feels perfect for the current moment. It pairs perfectly with the floral midi dresses and oversize blazers which were 80s staples and have come back in style. To me, this is a bold-shouldered take on the original, for a woman who is confident and puts her own spin on classic styles. While I will always enjoy the timelessness of the EDT, after everything I've been through the past two years I am happy to turn to this in moments when I want to feel bolder and stronger.

Smells nice, but is not for my taste. The smell reminds me of a clean hospital, a hospital room which has clean sheets washed with "fresh" smelling detergent and "fresh" floor cleaning solution.

The first time I ever smelled No. 5 was when I was a little girl. My mother wore this fragrance in the evenings usually to church services or a social dinner get together. She had the 1980's version in the lackluster boring black rectangular bottle. The scent was 'funny' to my nose then. It smelled warm and musky. The reformulation which you get from the one selling today at Macy's or the Chanel boutiques comes in a clear glass square bottle. This new one has a fresh, dazzling aldehyde and citrus opening. It's not bitter orange or orange-orange but a neroli and orange blossom dipped in aldehyde or alcohol/booze. It's bright gold, like golden specs falling over you. The delicious citrus top note is lemony and zesty. This is followed by the floral notes that envelop you. These are very 'posh' florals that don't get too flowery and are simple and linear. Rose, jasmine, iris, and orange blossom from the opening. In the old and new formulas, I don't pick up on any rose. It's mostly jasmine and iris to my nose and the rose is very far behind. A sweet and soft jasmine is clearly there and it's playing second fiddle to the powdery iris. The new formula has a very cold floral air, clean but cold. Fresh. Soapy. The scent lingers in the florals for a while until it cuts down quickly to the dry stage and then we get some sandalwood and vetiver. It's not very mossy or green or very woody. Just a small and very dull sandalwood. The dry down is less interesting and less pronounced than the initial and middle stages. By the time of the dry down it's your clean skin with a perfume on it. This is the classic perfume perfume. It's an iconic fragrance made famous by nose Ernest Beaux for Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel. Even before the commercial release on May 5th, 1921, at her store at 31 Rue Cambon, Paris, Chanel had a bottle which she deliberately spilled onto a dinner table in a Paris restaurant a few months prior to the release. Her dinner guests were amazed at the scent and she promised them each a bottle of the perfume once it was released. This is a beautiful fragrance and I don't see it as an old lady perfume or just a vintage. It's like a friend and a signature woman's item - a handbag, a pair of heels, a lipstick, a diamond pendant. Chanel 5 is luxury and now thanks to it's being far more accessible at the Macy's, an easy to reach for luxury. There was a time when Americans and other world citizens could not get to a Chanel 5 so easily. It only sold at the Chanel boutique on the Rue Cambon in Paris and no where else because Chanel stores had not opened up world wide in the 1920s or first few decades in the 20th century. British and American soldiers who were in Paris during World War 2 found the store and brought the perfume back home to US or UK and gave it to their significant others i.e. wives and girlfriends. This was not just any perfume back then but THE perfume, THE ULTIMATE FRAGRANCE. It was like getting your hands on a very expensive diamond jewelry piece. It was not till after the 1960s that the Chanel stores were popping up in all major cities. Marilyn Monroe famously wore this perfume - the cologne version - as seen in the black and white photograph of her dabbing on the bottle on her neck. She said she wore it to bed. The faces behind this popular and eternal fragrance have included Catherine Deneuve, Nicole Kidman and Leonardo Dicaprio. Absolutely gorgeous. It's fresh, floral and heady, rich, unforgettable. This perfume is a queen who sits on her throne forever. I love to wear this perfume in the hair fragrance version as well. It's great for formal or informal affairs, clean and elegant, bright and womanly (or unisex) and very much a mood lifting pleasant fragrance for fall and winter. Merry Christmas.

Five years ago, a beloved longtime friend / past lover of eight years gave me a bottle of Chanel no. 5 the last time I saw him before sudden tragedy befell him. I hated the sight of it. It sat on my shelf, a physical manifestation of my grief. I donated the bottle to my friend's mother and haven't thought of Chanel no. 5 for a few years.

Fast forward 5 years, and now, I'm happily married and am spending winter in England. On a day out in London, I noticed a Chanel store in King's Cross Station. I already have a few Chanels that I adore. Chance EDP, Coco Mademoiselle, and Coco Mademoiselle Intense. I picked up the tester bottles and was quite intrigued with a few Chanels, but no. 5 kept catching my eye. I was scared to try it. Scared of the bad memories, scared that it was as dated and mature as people had made it out to be, etc. Yes, I had sniffed it before, but must have mentally blocked it out. I picked up the bottle and spritzed myself a few times with it.

After this, I went out into London to do all sorts of fun and exciting things. I kept getting whiffs of a gorgeous, timeless fragrance. It was me! It smelled gorgeous on me. My spouse kept commenting on how I smelled like our wedding / honeymoon. On my wedding and honeymoon, I wore Shalimar by Guerlain. Unfortunately, to my nose, I now detect a note in Shalimar that is reminiscent of gasoline, so I avoid it despite loving the dry down of it. Chanel no. 5 has that same classic (some would say dated) and timeless vintage smell to it, however, there are no off-putting notes in here that my nose hates. Yes, it's still a vintage smelling perfume, and you either love it or you hate it. On me, it smelled divine, so it must have worked well with my skin chemistry. I bought a full bottle and am so happy to have this masterpiece back on my shelf.

It’s a strange thing the effect Chanel No.5 has on some people, if you don’t like it, they say it’s because ‘you don’t get it’
It’s almost cult like😵💫 ( I wonder if they would like it as much if Ms Monroe hadn’t endorsed it?)
Shock horror - different people like differing scents.

I’ve smelt it on various women over the years, my dear Aunt used to wear it. It’s not awful, it’s just not one I’ve thought ‘wow, what is that?’

On me, I don’t enjoy how powdery it is & it doesn’t work with my chemistry. Too cloying & too sharp in the beginning, then dries down to a soapy talc smell, I don’t mind that part, I enjoy soapy smells but I find it to be….quite tepid & safe.

This is just a no for me, I absolutely hate how it smells makes me feel nauseous

Let me say I get VERY OFFENDED when people say they don’t like this masterpiece because it STINKS? Noooo maybe you just don’t have good taste. This is not for girls who like sweet like candy, Ariana grande, Britney Spears scents. This is for true Women who like to smell elegant, clean, modern, beautiful. You need this in your collection. I can’t even explain how it smells because there is nothing similar to this beauty. Try it at últa , you won’t regret it. I just wished it was less expensive, but hey you get what you pay for right? And this gem is worth every cent 👌🏼 ❤️

Trying to comprehend Chanel 5 when you've just started your fragrance journey is impossible. This perfume is unique, and due to its vintage (more or less) formula, it's very nuanced. You should test it in different dosages, in various weather conditions, and during different seasons. This fragrance works amazingly on some people but doesn't work at all on others. I absolutely adore Chanel No. 5, but I understand why some people don't. It's soapy, clean, and incredibly floral—a gorgeous scent

My gf tried it on her skin in the store and I’m not in the position to say this but GOD it was awful. I have no clue what goes on in women’s perfumery but this is not pleasant at all. I don’t know why but all of the “earthy” women’s fragrance just is not good at all in my opinion. Black Orchid is disgusting as well. This just makes me appreciate sweet vanillic gourmand scents even more.

I have always avoided testing Chanel No.5 since I always get this sour old lady vibe whenever I smelled it on other pple… apparently just because it’s popular it doesnt mean its a universal fragrance and everyone can pull it off…after all these years I finally decided to give chanel EDP a chance…and God I was n love… it meshed and worked so well with my body chemistry, soooooo creamy , fresh yet warm and clean…don’t build your expectations on how you smell a fragrance on other pple… give it a shot, you can always wash it off…

Finally got to test this at Ulta… and all I smelled was urine. The dry down on my wrist continued to smell like urine. It’s the aldehydes, I have found, do not mix well with me.

My body chemistry + Chanel No 5 EDP = 0 compatibility. But hey, that’s just me! For those who love this perfume, good for you! You’ve found a perfume that has incredible lasting power and radiates off the skin for hours.

As a disclaimer, the only version of this I’ve smelled was from my grandmother’s perfume collection. I have no idea how old her bottle was except that it had been around quite a while when I was a kid in the 80s. As a kid/teenager, I thought it was overpoweringly “perfume-y” which I now attribute to the aldehydes. It is not a scent I would ever be able to tolerate on myself, as even if I could weather the opening, that heavily floral middle would kill me. It smells like what it is: a strong, distinctive and classic fragrance. For me, it’s out of the question & an instant headache, but that’s true of every fragrance with prominent jasmine notes or sharp, strong aldehydes.

I was lucky to be introduced very young to some nice perfumes. I already wore Chanel No 5 in the 7th grade, year 1972! I grew up in Chicago and my mom went to the downtown Marshall Fields store & bought me some really lovely scents including the original Le Galion "Jasmin" (which the new one doesn't even remotely resemble! The original Jasmin was a sweet realistic floral scent with great sillage and no animalic undertones)

Anyway I've missed my vintage Chanel No 5 since the current version completely lacks the smoothness and warmth I remember. However I just bought a bottle on Ebay that smells good to me... it's the Cologne 1.5 oz spray in the same squarish black refillable bottle I had at age 12! I had to spray it a bunch of times to clear out the old sprayer but now I have my nose glued to my wrist and a big smile on my face! ;-D

So if you want to know what Chanel No 5 really used to smell like please try for the really old vintage black bottle ones!
(And by vintage I don't mean 1990's :)...I mean the 1970's...) Black refillable spray cologne if possible because even the pure perfumes I just cannot tell what year they were made

What!!! I'm shocked. I always assumed this was a super "grandma" perfume based on what others say about it, but I just smelled it, and it's actually really nice??! It's fresh, light, and pleasant, like a nice soap, an expensive hotel, or maybe even like the air on a private jet (that's just my imagination running wild, lol)? Clean clothes, clean skin. The notes are blended well. To me, it's not overly floral or overly powdery, which are two notes that I associate with older women. Honestly, I've never smelled an old lady who smelled this nice.

It's not my favorite perfume ever, but it is good! I don't really care about the history behind it-- I just think it's surprisingly better than I expected based on my preconceptions. Maybe it's not for everyone, and that's okay, but I'm personally surprised by how much I liked it.

Vintage queen. ❤️
(Wardrobe)

Smell like old money.

I hate the opening of it but the more time pasts on the skin the more i like it. Smells so soft, it reminds me of my mother :)

to me this is powdery and aldehyde, clean and fresh. Love Chanel no5. It's a great scent and a need for any collector, although be warned the EDT is actually the original no 5 scent and it has a slightly different formulation. For those who feel the EDP is too heavy or nursing home smelling, I recommend trying the EDT, it will be lighter and more airy for some.

Aaah 😌. I remember the first time I
I smelled this on my Asian friend named Lulu. I didn’t even know anything about perfumes back then. Only wore girl colones. Which were pretty bomb, but I remember she was the prettiest girl back in school, so kind also, wearing Chanel n.5. She was chewing a minty gum and I got a whiff of both things, I had to ask what she was wearing bc it definetly made me feel some type of way. Like hugging and kissing her. Never bought it but, now that I love scents and everything derived plus the cash to obtain it, and will definetly give this beauty a chance although I’ve heard many comments saying it smells like old lady, i’ll not let that cloud my judgement. I have to try this gem and see for myself. Plus I love smelling unique in this world of ultra sweet popular fragrances.

All I get are aldehyde, aldehyde and floral aldehyde. My skin chemistry hates it and prevent it from developing into the wonderful scent that many other experienced. I tried to like it but it’s too much for me to handle.

Update : Yesterday I smelt it on a friend, it smelt so damn sexy.I am kinda craving for it and thinking whether I should purchase it again or not LOL but It turns so weird on me.

My whole life I've been promised that this is the sexiest smell ever.. well duh because Marilyn wore it. However, once I finally got to smell it I was severely disappointed. There is nothing sexy about this at all. It smells ancient. It smells like how I imagine an old lady smelled like in the 1940s. It's not necessarily a bad scent, but not sexy at all.

I feel like this is more of a kitschy scent and something more like an art piece than a wearable perfume. There's something so John Waters-esque about it.

A true icon of the perfume world, the inimitable Chanel no5. Bold but elegant, powerful yet understated.

It is hard to describe this fragrance. To my rather untrained nose, No5 smells like an exquisite soapy floral bouquet. It's hard for me to detect any individual notes, but I assume the soapiness is the aldehydes this perfume is famous for. I don't really get 'woody' notes as the listing states. To me this smells like old Hollywood glamour from a bygone era, encapsulated in a bottle.

Not everyone desires this sort of scent. It is very different to the perfumes of today. If you dislike it, that doesn't make you any less of a perfume lover as some of the reviews here have suggested. It is also worth remembering that this perfume is famous due to a throwaway comment made by Marilyn Monroe and that the No5 she wore differed from this formulation.

The sillage and lasting power is reflected in the high price tag. You only need a few squirts. Overspray this and you risk overwhelming everyone around you.

My birthday is coming up and I think I might ask my husband to buy me a small bottle of this for me for special occasions...

I love this masterpiece! Those, who call number5 old-ladish or dated simply cannot appreciate and understand the beauty it has, it’s ok, as not everyone sees the genius in a piece of art!
To tell you the truth, I was attracted by the history of the brand and the character of the Mademoiselle at first)) but when I purchased N5 I immediately understood what was the reason of its glory and the history behind it!
EDP is my favourite concentration, btw. Nothing on Earth smells like this! Soothing, comforting and sexy( but in a really good way! Expensive and exquisite) I also received compliments from a man, he said that I smelled amazing and unique! GORGEOUS!

This is what i picture the magical ANGELS falling from the sky, such a delicate nice scent.
oh this fragrance is like sleeping on a big white pillow in the sky on top of the clouds,really gives an incredible innocent calming sensation.

I have received a new sample. it is like if I fall in love again with a first love, after dozen years of desired separation, I the .My manual tells me to use floral scents with just a few spray to keep a delicate and fresh cloud.
Although my grand mother weared Chanel , the powder was stronger, with a heavy lipstick scent. To day the scent is seems to be different to me and I suppose the grand mothers of nowdays do not wear this scent anymore. (They wear LVEB ?)
I suppose this could be an heritage gift for next generation.

This is the worst perfume I've yet to smell. As a long fan of Marilyn Monroe and the Golden Era of Hollywood, this fragrance has been on my radar for many years. Unfortunately it smells as though every bottle is expired and left to pulverize since the 1950's. The immediate notes are Neroli, Rose and Sandalwood and it burns whatever little hair I have in my nose. It's extremely overpowering and whisks me back to my grandmother's perfume collection, but even then she wouldn't dream of donning something so intense and overwhelming.
It really does smell like a concoction of chemicals and rose leaves dipped in acid. Rarely do I pass by someone who's wearing this fragrance but believe me, when I do, I'm hit with an aroma that would linger in the rooms of Saw.
Great gift for someone you hate.

One of the worst things I've ever smelled. It's old, a classic, I get it. But it's just way too bad. I have a friends that uses this regularly and had to ask her to stop because it kept giving me headaches and terrible nausea. It might have been good back in the day but now it's just not it.

Golden era. If you don't like it, it's because you don't get it.

For people who hate it, it was a relatively beautiful scent when people didn't have variety.

This smells like (dabur amla) hair oil. One of the worst smells I've ever smelled.

Classic, elegant, timeless. The most bougie grandma ever. I love to be this grandma y’all xD

No 5 by Chanel is simply the most beautiful fragrance ever made. I consider this the gold standard of perfumes. It’s a unique smell… The first spray is bold and almost animalistic like pure naked skin and then it settles into a powdery fragrance that is very seductive. The scent is strong, sophisticated, classy and feminine. It makes me feel like I can be anything I want to be. I may use other fragrances from time to time, but Chanel No 5 will always be in my collection.

A classic befitting its status; opens with bright and powdery aldehydes, ylang, and bergamot, becomes more powdery and woody as the iris, rose, & oakmoss notes emerge.
Very fizzy and uplifting, I like wearing this in warm and/or cool weather, is very lovely on a sunny day.
Sillage monster for the first 3 hours, becomes a comfortable bubble for the remaining 5-6.

I love Chanel No 5 for a lot of reasons, one being that I've never smelled it on anyone but me- two being that no one ever knows what I'm wearing- three being that it smells like fizzy, powdery lemons, four that it lasts a really long time and the sillage is enormous- and five, that it is a piece of perfume history that you can still find everywhere today. Everyone has a right to love and hate fragrances, but at the end of the day, its mostly someone else's opinion that has determined our own. Apart from other's opinions, there are so many variables, the temperature, the season, the occasion, the mood that you are in that day. I implore anyone to wear a fragrance that they aren't familiar with for an entire week, really get to know the notes, journey through the day with fragrance, wear it at night to bed, and after a week, determine what you think of it. You might be surprised.

Maybe it says “grandma” on the first spray. But give it an hour on your skin and then wear it in the bedroom, if you will. It will shine. Chanel no 5 will not let you down. Ultra feminine and sensual. Floral, powdery, woodsy. A gorgeous scent.

smells like grandma

Chanel No 5 is such a classic, iconic and well-known fragrance and is so much a part of the Chanel mythos and legend. You hear about it all of the time in movies, TV shows and in literature and also how famous stars of the past like Marilyn Monroe wore nothing but Chanel No 5 to bed!

Despite it being so famous though, it is definitely not something I'd choose to wear and I admit that the soapy and fatty smell of aldehydes is the main reason why. I know that it was a big innovation back in the 1920's when this came out and so unlike anything that came before, but it dominates most of the fragrance during its first 2 hours and smells quite strange to my nose. Thankfully most of this dies down later though and you are left with a clean and powdery floral smell.

The ylang ylang, the neroli, the bergamot and the peach then all start to shine through and make this fragrance a bit warmer, a bit sunnier and a bit more comforting. The bergamot also gives the tiniest citrus touch in the opening. I start to like this fragrance more during this stage.

The floral heart of Chanel No 5 is probably my favorite part and what keeps this fragrance sweeter and more feminine smelling and not masculine. The light and airy green nuanced white floracy from the lily of the valley, the sweet and indolic character of the jasmine, the lushness of the rose and the powderiness of the iris are just lovely.

This is all ruined for me a fair bit in the drydown though, since the iris in this becomes too powdery and I start to smell like cheap baby powder. I'm also not a fan of the very bitter oakmoss in the base, the strong dusty and woody smell from the vetiver and the dark and earthy hippie smell from the patchouli. I feel like Chanel No 5 would have been promoted to a "like" if it weren't for that oppressive smelling base.

Longevity was really good though, since Chanel No 5 lasted 11 whole hours on my skin. It also had a strong scent that had a sillage that could be smelt from about 6 feet away. It is a classic and enduring scent that can be worn day or night during fall, winter or spring and it does smell undeniably chic and like a fashionable woman that might work at Vogue, Harper's Bazaar or somewhere else like that.

I'd still only give this perfume a 5/10 though because of the strong aldehydes at the beginning and the strong oakmoss, vetiver and patchouli in the base. I would have loved this fragrance if the vetiver and patchouli were toned down, the aldehydes and oakmoss were taken out and if maybe a few more florals were added to the heart like maybe honeysuckle, gardenia and black locust perhaps to sweeten things up?

I still applaud Chanel for keeping this on the shelves for so long and making sure this perfume remains immensely popular to this day though. I can appreciate it for its history, for how much of a juggernaut it is and what it means to the house of Chanel.

I love it stunning I ding my self wearing this most days I also love the edt I find it very different to the edp

This is definitely an acquired taste. I love polarizing fragrances because that’s what makes them interesting. If a citrine crystal had a smell this would be it. It’s sparkly and yellow. It definitely has a nostalgic quality about it but I wouldn’t say dated. There’s a reason this has stood the test of time and it has nothing to do with marketing. There’s nothing that smells like it. You either love it or hate it. It’s a classic and always will be. Yellow, sparkly, nostalgic and a bit naughty. This would go well in a satin dress. Or under satin sheets.

N5 is definitely a conspiracy theory because for a bottle being sold every 10 seconds, I have not met one person in my life who wears this. It is an icon of its own and at that time I can see the popularity revolving around this bathroom cleaner scent mixed with a vintage store. If you took Bacarat rouge and had someone in the 1950s smell it, they would run away. We have different icon scents of generations and what we consider modern. Back then this was everyone dream scent but even after 100 years, it still goes strong which I applaud Chanel for keeping it on the counters. I think the history behind it is what makes it beautiful but the scent alone is just horrific in these times.

I have posted so much about Chanel n5, however I have realized that I have not yet shared my thoughts on it.

Chanel N°5 was launched in 1921 only in the Parfum version. In 1924, it was also released in the EDT version.
And in 1986 the olfactory composition of its predecessor was reinterpreted to create a new, even more generous version of Chanel N°5 Edp.
(The floral bouquet of aldehydes is intensified by citrus notes and voluptuous vanilla).

N5 is the epitome of fashion and glamour. It opens beautifully bright, citrusy, slightly bubbly and an even more intense florality than in the fresher EDT versions. With a large load of aldehydes C10, C11 and C12 that give a unique presence to the composition, some of these being more sophisticated than others to work with the florality of fine perfumery. The smell it transmits is soapy, clean, but in a gentle and elegant way. The heart of Chanel n5 is composed of a lush floral bouquet of great intensity and this revolves around the May rose, accompanied by Ylang-Ylang, jasmine and iris (luxurious makeup powder) that are very present from the beginning, providing extreme richness to the composition. The drydown is absolutely beautiful, sweetened with vanilla along with harmonious oriental accords (tonka bean, cedar, sandalwood, Vetiver, oakmoss, patchouli and civet) in a perfect olfactory symphony.

The substantivity on my skin reaches 6/8 hours. With moderate to mild diffusion.

Continues to be a staple fragrance in my life. I'm 24 y/o so my friends and s.o. think I smell like a grandma when I wear this lol. My grandmother used to give me a spritz of it after my bath when I was a child, and it probably affected the way I perceive it. To my untrained nose Chanel no.5 smells clean and comforting. It's mostly soapy and powdery, far from fruity. Although it does have a hint of sweetness it's in a pleasant way that compliments the florals well. I'm a sucker for sweet, powdery and woody scents, but sadly most perfumes trigger migraines for me. I personally find Chanel no.5 inoffensive. It's never triggered migraines nor worsened a headache for me, and most importantly I think it smells really good.

I recommend trying out in store or getting a decant before committing to a full bottle. I'm quite sensitive to smells therefore I love fragrances with arms length projection, moderate longevity and has a nice neutral balance between sweet-clean. You may not enjoy this powdery, soapy, floral, aldehyde concoction the same way I do. Whatever you decide on just make sure you're buying a fragrance YOU enjoy smelling. Life is too short, fragrance is too expensive and way too personal for you to decide based off someone else's validation.

I am 33 years old and I love chanel no. 5 insanely! Now I haven’t smelled it on anyone else before. No scent memory attached to it.

I first owned it in my 30th Birthday, ever since there's never a long break from the smell. I love wearing it to bed. It’s very comforting and puts me in sleep. It’s powdery, complex and magical!

Now I understand the hate people throw to it for being granny scent. If I had a bitchy grand mother with bitter memory and she used this scent I would hate it!
I seriously do hate smell of Burberry Her edp 🤮
It’s not a bad scent, but someone I strongly dislike uses Burberry Her as signature, every time I smell it I feel nauscuous.

I used so many fruity modern perfumes in Early 20's I can't tolerate fruity vanilla mess at all. Anything that reminds of those days I don’t like it. I'm a different person now and only matured complex and more subtle perfumes are my jam!

I understand someone's nose is apt for fruity vanillic caramelized scents, wouldn’t get the beauty of no. 5.

I love chanel no 5 and wear it like a second skin to bed.

Looking at the reviews around here I can see that No 5 is still a divisive fragrance, probably now more than ever considering the fact that when it appeared seemed to be successfully embraced by many. I don't know if Chanel is trying to push this perfume forward aggressively or not, but I'm glad that treasures from the past are still in production, reformulated or not, most of them reformulated.

I can see why so many hate this. Body chemistry is a really complex matter so I guess that the heavy dose of musk and aldehydes reacts differently on each of us. Now I'm not gonna give an in depth review of this fragrance as many did it better that me before. I love Chanel No 5 because it smells differently from what the market has to offer nowadays, I love it because of how it reacts with my skin, I get the most velvety combination of ylang ylang, jasmine, musk and vanilla, it smells clean but dirty at the same time, smells like fresh washed skin with the most luxurious soap, it smells classy and demanding. I mostly wear it during cold season as I find it more wearable during those months, in warmer months I go for L'eau version.

To me this fragrance is a treat, it has a certain atemporality which I think it makes it successful even nowadays. And in case you were wondering I'm 25 years old, and yeah, I love and wear this fragrance to death, I loved it ever since my childhood.

Couldn't agree more with gemeljoseph below. I don't like the way this smells either, and you would think I murdered someone's cat by how offended they get when I day that. Actually, it does smell like a dead cat, but that's beside the point. Allow people the freedom to express their perceptions, and not conform to the politically correct nonsense sweeping the globe. Difference in fragrance perception is one of the best parts about this hobby. Chanel has some great scents, (Coco is one of my wife's favorites) and no one is denying the impact No.5 has had on the industry...but man does it stink, and a majority of the general population thinks so. If it floats your boat, great, but don't blindly expect it to float everyone else's. Not everyone loves my favorite scents, and that's just fine.

I am shocked by how generic this smells- I own Dolce Red Cap, and I wanted to smell the iconic N5, but I was surprised by how mellow, generic, ''whatever'' this is. It did not cause headache, nor is it strong at all, it is aldehydic,yes, but all in a calm down manner. Nothing special, nothing ground breaking, yes, dated in a sense that this is a whole different time in perfumery- sweet, creamy; vintage, but feminine, nice, NOT AT ALL uncomfortable or loud.

p.s. after this I am more content with the latest reformulation of the og Dolce Gabbana Red Cap- it is a beast comparing to Chanel. And not at all a dupe, just in a similar vibe category. Like nowdays- you go for creamy sweet- all Narciso's and L'interdit- similar.

I have smell on people and my reactions was always wow it is so pretty ,but for some reason everytime I spray it in the perfumery shop I never like it . So finally I am wearing it and yes it is odd in the begining at point I don't know do I love it or hate it . But after minutes it start to change to something soapy and pretty ,than again in the middle it comes odd smell ,maybe flowers forgotten in a vase with water ( kind of pee smell) And than again it changes to be woody creamy and pretty . I put just a small quantity and it stays about 10 hours on me .
I think it is very realistic in smell ,that's why it can be off putting for someone. I am 36 and I don't find it dated ,it has slightly vintage vibe ,but modern in the same time . Also I didn't smell another perfume with similar vibe ,for difference to many other designer and niche perfumes . Saying that,I think it is gorgeous , I really like it and I think it can be a love for me .

I wish people would be confident enough in their own perfume likes and dislikes to NOT insist on rudely trying to tell people what they should and should not “appreciate”. Who do some of you think you are honestly? Who died and made you Perfume God? These comments replying back to people who dislike this perfume are really weird and ridiculous. Constantly ranting and raving about “appreciating history”…what’s history when you don’t like the way something smells?! There are so many bad, evil and inhumane things that have happened in world history. Shall we just appreciate them because they have history? Make it make sense.

I’m beginning to think some of you are paid employees of Chanel and are being hired to constantly bombard Fragrantica reviews of this fragrance with your bs about history and downvote and try to overshadow any comment against it. For the love of God, let people feel how they want to feel about a fragrance!

I swear to everything I own Chanel n°5 smells EXACTLY like Lidl / W5 Glas Reiniger Classic.
Please ignore the extreme marketing over this and let abomination finally be discontinued.
Severe headache and nausea from a simple sniff of this.I cant believe I tried to like it and I suffered wearing this for so long just to say that I have and I wear chanel n°5.

@sabertooth_salem Oh shut up you miserable f****!! No one decides what someone else must like or appreciate in order to get validation!
I have thousands of perfumes (bottles, decants and samples) and been collecting them for decades! So every time I see someone like you pointing put that “you are not a real ‘whatever’ if you don’t appreciate ‘whatever”, I just roll my eyes and tell them to go f**** themselves!

I do like No5, because it is an odd scent among the modern fragrances, but I really do not give a crap about its’ history or whatever people like you are impressed by. The background of the perfume is not a reason to force someone to appreciate it! Not even the stories behind it or celebrities.
So even if I do appreciate the scent (and scent only), I will never do it because of the *insert whatever* behind it.

The only reason this perfume is so popular is because of the aggressive marketing. It is neither the first or the best perfume! You can make stories about anything and every perfume, and then market them aggressively and pretend it is quality and history you are promoting!

You don't have to like it, but I think that anyone who considers themselves a connoisseur of fragrance should respect it. The history behind it, the extent of its popularity, and longevity of its reputation is really unlike any other fragrance. This perfume has survived (and been directly involved in) more history than any of us.

Given the nature of today's saturated advertising and globalized economy, there will never be another like it. An emblem of modernity from a bygone era.

I absolutely love Chanel No. 5. It's a beautiful fragrance and a timeless classic, but it simply DOES NOT LAST. On my skin it was faded to a faint dry down in under an hour of my initial sprays. Believe me, I covered myself in it. For the pricepoint I expect more in terms of longevity & quality and it just did not perform. It's fair to say the reformulation of this fragrance is a major rip-off. I was with my Nana today, who wore No. 5 from the 80s to the late 2000s, and she told me how disappointed she was with what we had smelled. As somebody who admires and appreciates this scent, I was meaning to buy a bottle for my collection, but I'd honestly rather save my money. Not saying I will never own a bottle cause you never know, but I'm not gonna jump to it by any means. It's fair to say I was let down big time with this. It smells wonderful, but not for very long.

I love this scent. It will was and will always be my number 1 choice.
I always look for new scents and I want to explore new releases but they all smell the same to me now days. All candy sweet copy paste perfumes .
I will always return back and everytime I come back, I realise how magnificent Chanel no5 is.
How different and how unique among these all.
My fiance thinks the same and he says the same to me, it is his favourite perfume and I have a huge perfume collection. So rich and so feminine.
Nothing can beat her majesty and for some reason it endures for 100 yearsand it will endure for many more years , best selling perfume off all time.

Sorry, but I have to agree with Sotnos. I too have done the same, given it a try a few times over the years and honestly hoped I would change my thoughts about this scent, yet my opinion hasn't wavered. I have often wondered what the hype about this is...is it because *Marilyn Monroe* wore it? Ladies, we cannot identify with an icon whether by imitiating them in behavior or wearing whatever it is they wear, whether it is clothing, hairstyles, accessories or perfumes. Learn to celebrate the uniqueness of you!

I feel like the only person in the world who can't stand this one. Everyone keeps recommending it, but every time I smell it I feel like puking or running to take a shower. Someone said it smells like old grandparents, and I can't forget about it. There's just something about it that no matter how many times I try it, I can never like it. I genuinely, truly do not understand the hype about this one.

I loooove, I mean LOVE No. 5 on other people and thus really want to own and wear it too (in some form or another.) For this reason I am now on a mission: finding the flanker or variation of Miss 5 for me. The Eau de Parfum is not it. It‘s most definitely the No. 5 most people think of when they hear the name and she really is a powerhouse, one that I don‘t think suits me. When I first mentioned wanting a bottle of No. 5 to my family they all pretty much immediately said that it would overwhelm me and after trying all the fives in comparison with each other I think they‘re right. On my skin No. 5 is strong, woody and aromatic, completely overpowering the nuances of creamy, grown-up, feminine soapiness I love smelling on both the older, well dressed lady on the subway and the young, carefree woman in the Barbour wax jacket. I think the EdT or EP are more up my alley, at least for right now.
No matter what: No. 5 girls and women, You rock!

First Impressions (from memory & from having tested it several times):
Alright y’all this is gonna be a controversial one. This is a very divisive perfume to review because it has so much history behind it. Not to mention since this is the best selling perfume in the world. Then you could say that this perfume is like the Bible of all perfume. If you criticize it, people will get enraged because they are a ride or die for that classic Chanel. Many people grew up loving this perfume, and I’m not a fan of it. I know… I know …before you get your pitch forks & hunt me down I would like to explain why I’m not a fan of this perfume.

The Overall Smell:
After smelling hundreds of perfumes, and coming back to this one. I can sadly say I do not like this one in any shape or form. I’ve smelled old school aldehydes, which I’m not a fan of. I’ve smelled Iris, I’m a big fan of Iris especially in Prada L’homme, and I’ve smelled ylang ylang. I also love ylang ylang in fils du joie serge lutens, or in Tom fords Jasmine rouge. However, in this composition they are constantly at war with each other for the spotlight. None of the notes actually make sense pairing with each other. The old school aldehydes create a saltiness on my skin. The iris has a earthy carrot like smell. Ylang ylang is like a calming down note for me to make something less Indolic. Jasmine is fighting the neroli for me in the perfums. It’s seems as though dosages of the notes are brawling with each other, and are mismatched. Creating this pee like scent to my nose.

Associations:
To me since I’m young I always smelled this on the older women in my life. My aunt loves this perfume, I think my grand mom used to love this perfume (she’s 100 now). It was either my mother or my family members one Christmas that gave me the body wash of this one, and my mother use to have this perfume in her collection. I used to secretly spray this one, and then scrubbed it off at the end of the dry down. However, I associate this with baby boomers, and the older generation alike. Maybe it’s the patchouli that is too much to my body chemistry, or even the neroli. I also unfortunately associate this perfume while working it a public maternity home as a former CNA.

Marilyn Monroe & Chanel No 5:
We all know the interview when Marilyn Monroe said she wore nothing, but Chanel no 5 to bed. However, what if I told you that was her BED TIME scent not her signature scent. I can hear the detractors saying “THAT WAS HER SIGNATURE SCENT!!” To that my reply is to do a little more digging. Marilyn Monroe’s daytime scent was sadly discontinued. All because that one never got the love that chanel no 5 did, and it was called Floris Rose Geranium. You can buy the 80$ of the body wash though.
The modern Chanel no 5 is not the original version that Marilyn Monroe use to wear. There used to be a note called rosewood (I think it’s called) in the original. Unfortunately, that type of wood is extinct thanks to over consumption of the product. Then years later when the fragrance probably went bad, a perfume maker “recreated” the fragrance.

Ask yourself (not to the people who genuinely love this scent skip ahead):
Do you really want to smell like the most sold perfume in the world, that is the shell of what Marilyn Monroe used to wear? Or are you just looking to buy a status symbol this just to say hey I have a Chanel in my collection? Maybe possibly this reminds you of a loved one, and you want to cope by trying to smell like them. I think sad nostalgia is detrimental to my health. I may suggest you need therapy rather than buying Chanel no 5. But to each there own. Maybe sad nostalgia helps people, idk lol. I’m not a psychologist.

Summary:
Smells like: old school salty aggressive aldehydes, with notes that are mixed up in dosages.
Family of: N/A the original
Silage: strong to moderate

Verdict:
Hard pass- I could see getting the body wash again since I did really like the very light smell of it on my skin when I go to bed. However, L’eau and the original are hard passes for me.

I'm fairly new to fragrances and I'm also in the process of quitting smoking so I feel like I'm learning to smell for the second time since puberty, so this isn't going to be the most accurate or descriptive review. I found a sample of this in the pocket of a pair of skinny jeans that were left at a frat house, and whoever that girl was is who this fragrance is made for. The woody, almost spicy notes make this fragrance feel sassy at first, then it becomes much more subdued and shy once it dries down. I'll be buying a bottle once I get my money up and start feeling slutty again.

I love the "luxury paper" smell that this and No.22 include as part of their aldehydic profile. Somehow I get the mood of creamy rough cotton rag cardstock paper. It is probably an amalgam of aldehydes, iris butter and vetiver.

This is not a review, just a comment :

I just want to say, that very few people understand classic French perfumery like No5 nowadays, what is very sad. I am really happy, when I read some of the comments here, that people still love this kind of perfumery. You just should understand and appreciate this, if you find yourself a perfume enthusiast, in my opinion. Don't let classic perfumery be forgotten.

Chanel No5 is not dated, it is immortal. Complex, eloquent, very elegant feminine floral-chypre, even after hundreds of reformulations. A true masterclass of classic perfumery, this is brilliantly constructed. No5 made the history, because Aldehydes were used for the first time in perfumery's history. You can still feel the radiance and this ozonic, fresh explosion on the start: Aldehyde C9 (Nonanal), C11, C12 MNA. Vanillin, Evernyl (Oakmoss) and Nitro-musks (Musk Ketone) are quite apparent as well. This is a very complex formulation, iconic and very beautiful. I saw women who love it and hate as well. People who say, this smells like urine probably smell their panties too much and definitely do not understand French classics at all. Sorry, but this is quite immature. This is pretty the same, when I see parodies created on portrait of Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci. I am not a master of art, but I try to appreciate art at least...

For people, who are interested:
Nitro-Musks create a very first group of synthetic white musks which have been using in perfumery since early 1900s. They give sort of powdery texture in classic formulations, Musk Ketone, for example. I saw GC/MS analysis of No5 EDP offered by Labtorium Formulas, this is differently built, than majority of perfumes nowadays. Pinenes and Ionons, Hydroxycitronellal, Rose constituents, Ethyl-Linalool, Vanillin are some key raw materials. The percentage of Linalool is very impressive, this is almost 12% of the formula.

Recommendation for people who appreciate No5 EDP, L'eau and the Original:
Try Shalimar EDP by Guerlain, also a chypre marvel, which takes an oriental direction. (To my nose, of course)

Smelled it in Macy’s today after hearing people talk about this perfume and it smelled like urine. Like the urine of someone who drank everything but water for months. Shockingly offensive to my nose. I wouldn’t even accept this as a free gift.

I used to hate it because its’ smell almost made me sick: outdated and definitely not how a pretty perfume should smell! But something changed and I really learned to appreciate it: it is a ‘breath of fresh air’ among the modern fragrances, even though it is older. It’s that special one that I was looking for and hoping to find in niche market. It is different, it has character and yes, I really enjoy it ❤️
I will probably not buy a bottle because I generally despise Chanel - this brand should not be existing anymore! I will not give my money to a brand that hasn’t brought anything new to the market in decades, yet they are just sucking the old-time success they once had and claiming ridiculous amounts of money. People who don’t know design and tailoring should do more research before praising this brand. You are getting robbed! The old time elegance and glamour that some people associate this brand with, it is long gone! Nowadays it is just marketing scheme, and nothing more than marketing.
I also don’t like celebrities cult, may it be Marilyn or Kardashian, I refuse to praise them.

Anyway, regarding the scent only: I really do recommend to give this a try and be open minded. This scent is not for everyone, but it sure feels different and refreshing!

EDIT: stop praising this perfume like it is some kind of a holy water! IT IS NOT! Stop praising Chanel like it is some kind of divinity! IT IS NOT! Chanel is NOT the cradle of elegance and class! It is just a shit corporate making lots of money on naive people being influenced by social media ‘elegance and class’ trends! That is such a rubbish! Get a life, get your own style and stop letting Chanel and influencers decide what to wear and how to style yourself and your life!
Chanel ‘elegance’ is rubbish! There are so many styles and cultures and such a beautiful diversity, yet some people still think Chanel is the ‘elegance’ thing!
I really do like No5, but people should be allowed to hate it if that’s how they feel!

Thumbs up for all the No5 lovers and the haters!
Thumbs down for all the suckers that don’t have a life and praise this corporate Chanel 🤮

One of the "women's" fragrances that I enjoy wearing. This threw me off the first time I tried it, because to me it smelled just like a detergent, and I thought why is this still popular? I didn't buy my bottle, I got it for free from a Chanel event in Harajuku last year, I also got a couple of small bottles with it as well, so I decided to use one of the small bottles to try its longevity and see how the scent would develop over time. It's long-lasting and the sillage is decent, I'd say it's quite noticeable. The smell is pretty linear, but towards the end, it becomes more powdery. So it's like from strong detergent to baby powder. I enjoy wearing this nowadays.

I don't hate it, but I can't say that I love it either because I only love the dry down. When I first sprayed it, it smelled like something super vintage and also smelled like hairspray. After a few hours, it smelled like a really nice powder, which I really love. The only con for me is that it sometimes smells sour on my skin, I don't know why.
Longevity wise, it only stays around 3-4 hours max on my skin, but lasts 12+ hours on clothes (and smells fkin amazing!).

This fragrance is for superiors, not subordinates.

An emblem of reinvention and the symbol of modernity from the past.

Icon.

So I’ve never smelled another Chanel except my grandmas No. 5 like is likely 50 yrs old. With that, I’ve never thought much of it, and have no previous experience.
My son is named Gabriel, so i thought “aw! I’ll buy this. It sounds like a fun buy” So I did. I like it. It’s strong, like I like, and it’s not too intrusive ( which is good for me, because I’m a waitress, with a heart for intrusive perfumes.. It’s very average smell. A smell anyone could wear with no real complaints. It smells citrusy and floral, but I don’t get an exact smell from anything. It’s blended great. I don’t really have any complaints. While I don’t think it’s too unique either. If I was 12 I’d think this is how all perfumes smell. It’s like the basic back drop of all perfumes floral or citrusy. That’s all I got. I hate to call anything Chanel “basic” but if people are looking for a basic floral/ citrusy perfume. This is it. It stays on all day. The dry down is exactly as the first spritz. It’s just as it is.. all day. Nothing big, or unique. Just a good perfume.

THE PERFUME STORY BEHIND CHANEL nº 5

1921,
A French businesswoman from the Parisian social elite created a perfume that revolutionized the world's perfume industry forever. After more than 100 years, "Chanel Nº 5" is still one of the world's most iconic perfumes in its own right. With a healthy disregard for social etiquette and an entourage of friends and admirers among the most daring women in Paris, Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel crossed the line between ladies and mistresses. By the early 1920s, the "Chanel Atelier" was already a phenomenon in French fashion circles.
One of Chanel's ambitions was to launch a fragrance that would be suitable for the modern woman, who was increasingly gaining space in the very conservative European society. As a requirement, the perfume should have clean and refreshing notes, reminiscent of her early rural life, but without looking too provincial. At that time, the best way to develop a scent with this type of freshness was to use citrus fruit essences. But the industry chemists, although they were able to isolate the required essences, couldn't get the concentration judged as correct for Chanel's commercial use. So, the designer decided to seek help. She sought out Ernest Beaux, a perfumer who had worked for the Russian royal family and who lived in the centre of the perfume industry, in the city of Grasse. After having accepted the challenge proposed by the businesswoman, Beau just took a few months to present a set of numbered bottles for her to try. Chanel chose the bottle labelled with the number 5. She liked it so much that she decided to keep the number as the fragrance name. The perfume was originally created as a limited edition of only 100 bottles to give as holiday gifts for customers of the Chanel boutique. Soon enough the production flasks conquered the Parisian high society, and later, a much-loved global bestseller.

"Chanel Nº 5" is respected by all whether most like it or some don't. In fact, the art of fragrances and the perfume industry has been mostly shaped around this perfume, which served as one of the main models for what perfumes would later become during the XX century. Ernest Beaux proved his worth.
Regardless of the scent's high quality, the perfume recalled various different aromas to those who smelled it. Was it a floral or citrusy perfume? Maybe a chypre? Undoubtedly it became a status symbol for everybody and a true example of innovative work of olfactory art. It had an unprecedented quantity of aldehydes for the time. The perfume was predominantly worn by women, but there were men who also used it. Regardless of age, both genders had the potential to use and enjoy it.

"Chanel number five!" replied Marilyn Monroe when a journalist capably asked her what she wore to bed in a celebrated 1952 interview. Marilyn was 25 years old and perhaps had no idea of the force of her statement, but the fact is that the phrase went down in history. To this day it remains unclear whether Marilyn's statement was as spontaneous as it seemed, since shortly afterwards she posed hinting at nudity with a bottle of the iconic perfume next to her bed. Catherine Deneuve, whose beauty is a symbol of French cinema, was the marketing face of Chanel No. 5 from 1969 till 1979. In this case, she was under contract, just as it happens nowadays with Brazilian model Gisele Bündchen.
All these women, beautiful and talented, have more zeal for their own image than Coco had. Coco's reputation was tarnished by an alleged collaboration with the occupants during the invasion of Paris in 1940. As fascinating as the perfume, she created, Chanel lived for 87 thrilling years. Her creation bearing the number five has outlived her.

The original scent of N°5 (Parfum) was quite an exciting one. Both the perfume and its associated image have become ubiquitous in popularity because of its pioneering style, the very same boldness that has also been the death of many other perfumes. At the opening, the huge boost of aldehydes and bergamot is later softened by lemon and neroli. This accord becomes an instantly recognizable golden halo when someone crosses our path while wearing it. The base is filled with sandalwood, oak moss, vetiver, patchouli, amber, and vanilla, as well as a light portion of musk and civet to blend in the skin scent's animalistic attraction. The only real competitor that "Chanel Nº5" faced has been Joy (Parfum) by Jean Patou" released in 1935.
Many decades later it was still possible to recognize in it a superior level of pleasure, comfort, and confidence difficult to find in the chypres of the 70s, or a correct balance absent in the tuberose strong scents of the 80s. Currently, it is still very easy to find this Chanel product, for a price, because it is sold in almost every perfume shop all over the world. I recommend at least you test it and discover what is it all about. Don't risk ignoring this still actual "old perfume". The recent efforts of editing flankers to introduce corrections prove that Chanel is attentive so that future generations will be able to understand and appreciate this wonderful perfume.
It really is a fundamental flask in the drawer of any scent lover.

Music: "I Wanna Be Loved By You" sung by Marilyn Monroe

I had a bottle of #5 back in the 90's. I was in my 20's. Try as I did to love it I couldn't, #5 for me was arid, strange, unappealing mish mash of aldehydes, soap and laundry detergent. Since I got into collecting over Covid I have finally decided to give Chanel another try and a serious one. I sample #5 Eau de Premere and fell hard for it and bought a full bottle. I have a full bottle of Allure edt as well and I keep falling hard for other Chanel's perfumes. A good friend (I have met so many kind people here) @AnaMandy said that the new #5 formulation is wonderful, so I decided to try it. Everything she said in her review for the new formulation is true for me. It is a contemporary rewrite of a classic fragrance. It is softer, sheerer but still sparkling and airy. She is spot on. I never thought in a million years I would "get" Chanel but now I get Chanel and I am completely w/ the program. Whoever is running the place now is doing a fabulous job. This rendition of the famous #5 is just fantastic. I wish my bottle in the 90's was this light, fresh, and sheer. I love this rewrite and it is going on my Christmas list. If you hated past renditions of this perfume like I did give this new reformulation a try. You might be shocked like I was.

For me No. 5 EDP smells sweet and earthy and stays pretty linear. The dry down adds a slightly powdery, makeupy note. It's somehow reminiscent of the scent of dried, brown autumn leaves, baking in the sun on the kerbside. It seems that all notes are blended very well as none of them is sticking out in particular. Sillage and longevity are on the average side. I don't find the fragrance offensive or terribly oldfashioned at all.

Edit: Ms. Monroe probably wore No. 5's perfume Version which is a different fragrance. The Eau de Parfum was released in 1986.

I really like No.5. It is acquired taste. It doesn't happen overnight. I was already quite into perfumes but I still didn't like it until I was 26 and didn't start wearing it until 29, I don't know if that's old, lol.

I am convinced that Marilyn Monroe (having her signatures and fragrances she frequently wore) occasionally spritzed No.5 before going to bed naked not for the reason you think at all... but because it is such a comforting bedtime fragrance! Marilyn Monroe's favorite perfume was Rose Geranium by Floris, which she ordered bottles of in one go... (I will never understand why Floris never made use of this fact and later discontinued the fragrance.)

No.5 means business for me. It's a great perfume I wear which fits for every occasion and when I hesitate what to wear but would like to make a good, prim and proper, polished, elegant impression... Smelling it on my mother's age group will not stop me, because 1. the perfume is really good, 2. it is very unpopular with younger generations which is a good thing for me for I don't want to smell like a copycat, 3. it's a wonderful way to measure if a guy suffers from the harmful complex of Oedipus (ok, I am kidding), and 4. the stuff really smells different on everyone and it certainly doesn't make a younger woman any less sexier just because.

That said, I find No.5 even innocent. So that's why it's a bedtime fragrance, it's clean, smells like baby powder, baby shampoo, luxury face powder, high end lipsticks and makeup, a bit of a hair spray, and the backstage (yes, makeup artists confirm).

I find it really comforting.

2023 formula is lightweight, I don't find it overpowering at all. I feel like spraying myself with it top to toe, especially including my hair, and this you can do.

There is also this legend or rumor that plenty of women met their significant others wearing No.5. I sometimes really wish to be that naive to believe that, but I can assure you, I didn't get an adverse reaction from a single man, and neither from women wearing No.5 indeed.

I think you should get a bottle of this, but if you are ready.

I like this but not love this. It smells like soap and pure clean skin. I tried Sisley eau du soir and that had the way too strong soapy smell. This one is more whispering soapy. I wont buy it though because I prefer coco and I hate the idea everyone recognizing the fragrance I wear. Because nearly everyone would. Perfectly unisex, because smelling clean is good for all genders.

You have to love aldehydes to love this. I remember when I first smelled this as a teenager and decided I needed to have it, and I made my mom buy it for my 19th birthday. To me, it smells like a powerful, rich old lady. Which is a good thing! Someone who really has control over their situation. I used to wear it a lot when I went to college and internships, but these days it's just not helping me communicate myself. That being said, very beautiful and it really is lovely and timeless.

When I wear this I swear people take me more seriously. I'm in insurance sales and this is one of my secret weapons when out cold calling. A nice pair of trousers, quality blouse, pearl earrings and necklace, two toned watch, and leather flats with this spritzed on. It's a "demand your attention and respect" ensemble and fragrance for sure. It's classic, timeless, sophisticated, chic.

The opening and base are beautiful, I do struggle with the heart notes because of the rose, which is not for me. Ofc you can smell it’s dated, but it’s still a gorgeous scent and a classic.

Chanel No. 5, what else can I say... It encapsules class and elegance, brings back splendid memories. I just love it. Some gentlemen will go crazy if you wear this, specially if you're all dressed up with a captivating makeup on.

I’m a guy and this is one of the fragrances I currently use in rotation. Since it’s one of the most iconic fragrances there ever was, I need to have it in my collection. One person who smelled it said it smelled like soap so I use it without worry.

The other day my dad complimented me on this scent, and said "it really suits you". I'm 23. I'm writing this to offset some of the "grandma" comments Chanel reviews are plagued with. This goes to show that a majority of people aren't fragrance freaks like us, and will most likely just think you smell nice. Over the winter this smelled only of powder, I prefer it in the warmer months

This perfume could be the star of a juicy sociology experiment. For the better part of a century this fragrance was basically worshiped. Nearly every soap, creme, ointment, or powder attempted to emulate this. It was innovative and intriguing in the 20s. Considered youthful well into Golden Age Hollywood. Things turned more matronly in the 80s? What happened. It had survived a world war, and several generations, but didn't come to be considered 'stuffy' until recently. What changed. I will always love it and its sparkly, powdery, warm sandalwoody embrace. My sympathy is with the kids who can't seem to appreciate it.

For me this is definitive proof that however good a perfume is, it might not work for you. Probably the most famous and well loved perfume of the last 100 years, but on my skin it smells very strongly of cat pee. If you left a cat litter box out in the sun for a week, this is what it would smell like. Utterly foul.

This is timeless, sophisticated and different It’s not for every women 💜 every time I wear chanel No5 i get so many compliments especially from men !! Maybe it reminds them of there mother’s idk 🤷🏼♀️and I don’t have any problem with that 🌸

This perfume is iconic just from its history and I just adore Marilyn Monroe. I would love to smell the formulation that Marilyn wore. That being said I have tried on multiple occasions to get this to work on my chemistry but sadly it just doesn't. On other people it's warm, woody, rosy and just elegant. On me its cat piss. I'm so disappointed this doesn't work on me so I live vicariously through other people who wear this beautifully. Love it or hate this is THE legendary perfume.

I’ve been trying this many times, the familiarity of the scent still leading me to my Iris 39, Ylang 49 and Labdanum 18.


This is a great perfume and it’s not for me.

I love the current EDP and wear it to bed a couple of times a month. It smells clean and soapy, ylang-ylang-forward, and I especially like the drydown which always reminds of fine stationery paper (?) somehow. Or of cool stone or seashells?

I am familiar with this icon, but I wanted to know, how it smells on me..
Well, in my opinion, it should be admired in a museum. It is classy, elegant, but a bit formal and antiquated. Where is the esprit, energy and joy?
The scent is well-balanced, masterly artificial, but sorry: wearable for mature ladies which have a charm, only sparkle anymore...

I kind of feel like this is my blue jeans perfume. It smells lovely, but doesn't give me enough to make me think it should be a signature. But if I need to go on a trip where I don't know what to expect and I can take one perfume along, this is the one I pack.

It's timeless and elegant and just works regardless of what I throw at it. Formal dinner? Number 5 is classy enough, and you add a spritz or two to make it heavy enough (though you don't have to). Breakfast with colleagues? Number 5 is inoffensive enough. Quick lunch date with friends? It's light and pretty enough to go.

It's quite a powdery scent, so not recommended if you don't like that, but otherwise, I've never met someone that Chanel No 5 doesn't smell nice on. Which I suppose is why it's such a classic.

For a vintage smell it’s pretty good, because it’s not aggressive or overpowering like some can be. This perfume is very soft, gentle with that classy, luxurious, luminous, candle light aldehydes.

I am a firm believer that perfume is genderless and one should be free to express yourself. Today I sprayed Chanel no 5 EDP on my skin and what developed is nothing short of art! The smell reminded me of Tabac aftershave - a very masculine scent, but mixed with a soapy clean smell similar to J&J Baby Shampoo. An absolute delight. I cannot wait to layer this with Les Exclusives Boy Chanel EDP- I am sure it will give a slightly warmer touch to the cool and slightly clinical lavender egde of Boy. 5/5 for me.

I wanted to like this perfume, I really did. But I hate it. It is a really unpleasant scent. It smells like a dead grandma to be honest. Probably one of my least favorite fragrances. I like CoCo Chanel madmoiselle much better than this one.

This is definitely a 'love it or hate it' fragrance. And I hate it. I tried to like it, but that's just not my type of perfume, and I blame it on me... I bought it just because it's the most famous perfume in the planet, but I didn't search the notes on advance. It smells like a rich grandma. In fact, in the first day I wore this perfume, one of my fifth-grader students told me I was smelling like her grandma. She was correct, I don't blame her. It's probably the perfume her grandma wears. My husband told me I was smelling like a mall restroom. He was also correct. From now on, I'm just going to spray it on my bedroom sheets and on my bathroom towels, cause the smell is too soapy to me. I don't feel like a human being when I'm wearing it.

Was honestly quite discouraged by the bad reviews on here but I finally tried both the EDT and the EDP on skin over the weekend. I was hoping to like the EDT more since people have said that it is the closest to the original EDT by Ernest Beaux but alas, it was not to be.

The woodier, richer EDP retained its aldehydic bouquet on my skin much longer and remained bright and perceptible well over 10h up till I showered. The EDT on the other hand dried down very peach-forward on my skin and was barely perceptible after 3h.

This reminds me of bubble baths, fresh laundry that's warm to the touch, and elaborate floral arrangements. Not everyone's cup of tea but I think it's absolutely magical.

I really wanted to love this perfume because I love the Chanel brand. My mother actually named me after it (but we won’t talk about that). It smells dated, clean, and soapy, but it does improve a little bit on the dry down. For a classic sophisticated scent, there are other perfumes I find more appealing. I will have to pass on this one.

This is one of the most horrific perfumes I've ever smelled. I was extremely shocked that it's held in such high regard. Maybe my nose just isn't experienced enough to appreciate it but this was a complete and utter no for me. It smelled old, dated and absolutely horrible. The epitome of a grandma perfume.

A few days ago I was testing the present version of this edp now into shops (Ive got vintage edt).. after a while I felt a sort of lily of the valley in the air. I thought was some lady around me.
Well, no, it was N5.
I noticed a much more muguet presence in this N5 EdP, and a sort of almondy taste also.
Did you?

Absolute stank bomb🤢

I wonder how many people that claim to love Chanel No. 5 have actually caught a whiff of her? I don't smell May rose, jasmine, or citrus. All I'm getting is Ivory soap and hairspray, citronella on the side. I tested her last night, I wore her to bed. I thought maybe I'd dream of Marilyn Monroe... It's a little heartbreaking, that this grandma broth was supposedly her signature scent. First spritz at 1:00 am, strong and unpleasant. Up at 7:00, no sign that she was ever here. I feel like I should give her credit for tranquilizing me. I slept six straight hours without waking up even once. This never happens! I must've been comforted by the familiarity. We all remember her from somewhere. Some slight variation of this lady has been all over town since 1921. I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings because either you or your Granny Smith adore her. Live and let... die. 🤧🤢

This is a treasure to own, if you do! Loved it so much that I always get a replacement bottle when one runs out. I’ll always have it in my collection.

Beautiful, clean, classic scent but it lasts about an hour on me, with very little sillage.

My story with this scent is a rollercoaster. I smelled ( did never tried it on my skin) Chanel no5 when I was 18-19 years old and did not like it at all. I also do not like Coco , Coco noir and mademoiselle the bitterness in them just makes me nauseous. I always liked nice ,easy ,fresh aldehydeik and woody fragrances, nothing sweet nothing powdery.Everithing turns sweet on my skin, so heavy flowery perfumes are not my thing. Musk is also a big no no for me. So I never wanted to trie or sample it again, because I remembered that I do not liked it back than. As I got much much older and falling it love with Shalimar and the vintage powderiness I said I will give it a try. So I bought a small version of the perfume,and oh man oh man, the dementia.It was nothing like what I remembered It was not old lady like.It was fresh like a spring breeze.It opens up with a very aldehideik soft citrusy scent, nothing overwhelming, just fresh, flowery, clean, little bit soapy. It dries down quite fast, and it leaves a fresh, feminine, clean powdery, soapy , woody scent. Extremely clean and refreshing, at least in my skin.it instantly became my personal scent. As a huge perfume lover i tried a lot of different nieshe perfume, but somehow I was never drawn to these vintage classics. But I have to say Shalimar and Chanel no 5 are the two huge representatives for a reason. They have been never discontinued for a good reason.These are so well put together the different notes blend so good together, it is an olfactory miracle.

Interesting! I don't recall it being so waxy when I first smelled it (more than 10 years ago, as a teenager) - back then it was a heavy punchy floral - nor when I sprayed it on my hand in an airport duty-free shop a couple of years ago, when it was a soapy, floral, civet-dominant musk (Starting to wonder if I picked up the "Parfum" by accident).

Regardless, now, having tried the decants and finally having purchased one full bottle, it's a bit waxy and fatty on my skin, and gives the impression of a white, finely milled soap, wrapped in wax-coated paper. Not my favourite No. 5, but still pretty nice.
Unfortunately, the longevity isn't as impressive as I remember (?reformulations?), on my skin about 3 hours (my skin devours perfumes), slightly longer on my clothes, with moderate projection.

Compared with the other No. 5 range:
No. 5 EDP: 7/10. Pleasant and strangely addictive, but still a little heavy and too waxy for my taste.
No. 5 Eau Premiere: 9.5/10. Creamy version of the EDP, very strong resemblance with an obvious Chanel DNA (heavy aldehydes). I sprayed it on before going to bed and woke with the most GORGEOUS slightly soapy, creamy, skin scent of florals the next day. Would be perfect if the longevity and projection were better, but what can I say. Still my favourite.
No. 5 L'eau: 9/10. Very similar to Eau Premiere. But instead of the creaminess, I get more citrus in the opening. A slightly fresher (not masculine by any means), "brighter" iteration. Better for hot days. But still gorrrrgeous.
I've heard comments about the L'eau being the weakest, but to be honest, they're all pretty weak to me.

The iconic Chanel No. 5. The fragrance that defined the 20th century, embodied Old Hollywood glamor. Celebrities past and present swear by it, Marilyn Monroe went to bed wearing it.

It's OK. I don't hate, but definitely not in love. And this is coming from someone with an unhealthy love of aldehydes. I love fresh, powdery fragrances. I love clean white florals. I love most of those floral notes mentioned. But for some reason, Chanel No. 5 just doesn't do it for me.

Upon first spray, there is this almost medicinal soapy scent that comes across as very obviously artificial. Even after the floral and powder smells started to emerge, the fake soap smell remained. This didn't change either on the paper or my skin. While enjoyed the smell more as it settled, the squeeze just wasn't worth the juice, especially at the price tag.

I do see the appeal of this scent, both for its nostalgic factor as well as its timeless classiness. It does smell elegant, mature and confident–but for me, and on my skin, it came across as artificial and chemical. I really wanted to love it, but alas, not meant to be.

If i wasn't gifted this, I'd probably be a hater too. But, since I've had the pleasure of owning it and testing it out as much as I want, I've come to appreciate its elegance. It's mostly just a clean, powdery, soapy scent. I don't know how true this is, but I've heard that soaps were at one point scented to smell like No.5., hence the associations to soap. Definitely a stand out in my collection. Grateful to have it.

I heard about it all the time as a child. It was so hyped in Vietnam where I came from. When i actually got the chance to try it, my first thought was " Er...". I find it smells obsolete and although so many people loved it, it is not for me. I feel like you either love it or hate it.

This indeed smells like cat pee 100%.

the main reason I adore this fragrance is the aldehydes. anything with aldehydes is an instant love for me. no5 also heavily smells of johnsons baby shampoo. which, I can understand is something you do not want to be reminded of considering the price point. but... I love the smell of johnsons baby shampoo so it's a win-win. besides that comparison, chanel no5 is effortlessly luxurious and glamorous. the accords of yellow florals and woody notes go so well together. I will always love this fragrance. ❤

For a long time, I used to think of Chanel #5 as of this retro scent that feels almost like time travel. This year, I tried it again and suddenly decided that I like it quite a lot. It's timeless, elegant, non-trivial and nothing like most modern perfumes. It definitely has this strong first note that smells very retro, which I actually kind of like, it literally feels like you travelled in time. But the deepest note is certainly my favorite, it literally smells clean and soapy, just like baby powder or baby shampoo, but not too sweet. Unfortunately, on my skin the only note you smell most of the time is that really strong first retro note, and this clear baby shampoo-like note is almost unnoticeable. I would still consider buying a bottle of #5, but probably after I add a few other Chanel fragrances into my collection.

I did not expect to enjoy No. 5 as much as I do… although I prefer the Eau de Toilette, I love them both. Yes, it reminds me of my grandmother (who was classy AF btw), but I don’t find it dated. No. 5 opens with a citrusy aldehyde blast and slowly settles into warm, lipsticky, powdery goodness. I don’t find it loud, unless oversprayed, but its fragrance wafts in and out for hours. I sometimes still subtly smell it on my skin the next morning! It is “ladylike”, but has undeniable sensuality and a dirtiness (civeta?). Of course folks of any gender or age can enjoy any damn perfume they want, but I associate this fragrance with a mature feminine person who knows who they are, and what they want in life. If applied with a light hand, it is appropriate for any season or situation. A lot of people don’t wear this in my neck of the woods, so I enjoy that I smell somewhat unique. People say it smells like soap, but if you read the article, “Is Chanel No. 5 Obsolete ?” you’ll find that soap actually smells like Chanel No. 5, not the other way around! Just goes to show what an influence this scent has had, and continues to have on society as a whole.

My second time trying No 5 knowing it's supposed to be something special and trying to open my mind to it but it is NOT happening.

When I really breathe it in hard, I can pick up what's pretty and floral to it and I almost begin to appreciate it. But in the ordinary passing sniff of it there's always something of a flushed potty funk that I just cannot get past. It calls to mind that particular public restroom hand soap smell that seems to match the fluorescent overhead light in abrasiveness. Musty, unsettling. I can't do it.

i love chanel no.5, and will never be without it. Its a classic and one thing i appreciate much about it is that it will probably never be discontinued, i think this and shalimar is the only two perfumes we can trust to be around forever😅 i hate it when i find a signature scent and then it disappears from the shelfs and i cant get it anymore.

Chanel no.5 is also the one perfume i have recieved most compliments for. I have over 100 perfumes and rarely recieve compliments, i know that i never overspray and put maximum two sprays on, this is probably a good reason for the lack of attention around my scent but i usually just put perfume on for myself to enjoy and most of the time i dont want anybody else to smell it but this one always get attention in a good way, mostly from my children and the rest of my family. I guess it just goes well with my body chemistry.

To me it smells like a bar of sandalwood soap drizzled with golden ylang and iris powder, i really smell the texture of a soap bar but in a buttery and creamy way. Its so beautiful and clean but also extremely elegant, the colour of the scent is golden, like the perfume itself. Absolutely LOVE it!

My first bottle of Chanel No 5 (EDT with the powder) was gifted to me for Xmas by my dearly departed dad when I was about 18 years old. I had requested it without ever having smelled it. To my relief I liked it. I wouldn’t say it’s a love but a strong like. It’s a bubbly (aldehydes), soapy flower bomb! If you’ve never smelled anything with aldehydes think of champagne or seltzer bubbles & what they do to your nose when you drink it! I had wanted it because I was fascinated at the time with Marilyn Monroe & as everyone knows it was one of her favorite fragrances. Years later I realized the version around today probably smells quite different than back in the 50’s-60’s. As I’m a mature woman, I think I can pull off the fragrance much better than when I was a teenager. Some call this a granny scent, but I believe younger women (although I am old enough to be a Gigi) such as myself like it because it’s a sophisticated scent! It’s not one I use all the time, but it’s one I gravitate to on special occasions! It also helps the aldehydes in it don’t give me a headache like Coco, Coco Noir, or Coco Mademoiselle (God knows what ingredients make me suffer). Obviously, I’ve learned to stay clear of those fragrances! Definitely sample No 5. It’s not a safe blind buy!

I have a full 6.8 ounce bottle. I love this fragrance but it does not last. They just raised the price again. I don't feel Chanel fragrances are worth the $160.00 per 3.4 ounce bottles.
I love the dossier dupe for thus. It is stronger and last twice as long.. it's also $30.00.
Unfortunately. Chanel isn't worth the money anymore ......

Elegant and unique

If there is one perfume that i wanted with all my heart to love, it must be No.5… When i first sampled it, i was fascinated. It was strong and enigmatic truly emblematic. Then, something happened and i couldn’t stand the smell without my stomach fighting on itself. The first impression i get is “clean laundry” with “the flowers we used to bring to our teacher at the beginning of fourth grade” and a bit of “antique shop” vibes. It’s probably the combination of aldehydes with citruses, which i am not a great fan of. I simply can’t get myself to use it so the bottle sits on my nightstand almost full…

On the good side, i use it when i have to dress business. It helps me feel serious, strong, imposing. It’s a very powerful perfume that demands respect.

Apart from personal preferences, it is a very strong scent. It stays (to my despair) on my clothes even after i washed them. I can smell it on my wrists 8-9 hours after i sprayed it. It also has good projection.

I dont blame people not liking the current 5. Truth is, first formula 5 was heavily dependent on animalic civet to pop its amazing floral absolutes. The aldehydes balanced this heaviness that gave it its magic. I diddnt "get" 5 until I got my nose on some vintage extrait. In current times, civet is frowned upon and synthetics are replacing natural absolutes dramatically changing the appearance of Chanel 5. I have a 1985 edp and that still has the animalic component. In 2023, 5 finds herself thinner, sharper and base rearranged. It took the magic out of 5. I feel Premiere or edt is the stronger version of 5 in the current market than the edp. The edp isnt bad, but it can be a lot better. Sample first to find your 5.

An absolutely amazing fragrance smells soapy and clean and cozy and classy at the same time I absolutely love it 😍

This was my first Chanel fragrance and I love it! I bought it without smelling it first and was surprised that it was everything I had hoped it would be and more!

The first thing I noticed was the thick ozone that quickly mixed into a somewhat powdery garden full of early spring flowers after a soft shower. It reminds me of walking though a garden after a soft rain, and has a magnetic fairy-tale feel. It can really transport you to a vintage spring day, draped on a lounge chair, your hand swishing the grasses and cloudless skies with a hint of rainbows after the rain fades into the sun. Big brimmed hats with vintage ribbons and cottage-core dresses, bare feet grasping toes full of grass as the fireflies come out to play.
I honestly feel like a 1950's fairy or princess when wearing it. It is so magical!

It lingers for days if sprayed on clothing in the most appealing way and the scent comes and goes throughout the day and night.
I would love to have it be more long lasting on my skin and cannot understand how anyone with a love of perfume could not appreciate this beautiful scent as it is one of the most complex and alluring I have ever tried. Some have a very negative take on this scent but I find this scent is one that has to be worn several times to truly appreciate.

One spray and springtime bathes you in its warmth even on the coldest autumn day. It has a very comforting vibe that just envelops you in silky hug. No wonder Marilyn wore only this to bed, and I will admit so have I ;) I would recommend trying it this way before writing it off. Marilyn was really onto something.

Old Hollywood Vibes in every bottle!

Oh Chanel No 5, how do i love thee?
Let me count the ways! 😍
I just totally scored! Found a full 200ml lotion for 20$. I messaged the girl, she said she also had an almost full 100ml bottle of edp, she would sell them both for 30$ if I wanted, apologized because she lost the lid and said she could deliver it today.... WHAAAT?!? YES PLEASE! TAKE MY MONEY! (She just dropped off and I am in my heavenly cloud).
This is the first time I'm wearing the perfume over the lotion and I must say, it certainly adds even more depth to this already so deep perfume. Highly recommend getting your hands on the lotion if you can! Oh how I've missed this perfume, and the lotion is making it that much more enjoyable.

The funny thing is I almost spent 80$ on a 35ml bottle of edp, and now I don't know if I should just get that 2nd bottle anyway and consider it a win overall, or tell that woman no thank you now...? Ahhh, the dilemmas of a perfume addict. I want all the Chanel No 5 and never want to be without again.

I bought this for nostalgia’s sake: it was my second perfume. My first perfume was Dior Poison. I had asked my parents for No5 for Christmas aged 13 because I believed Marilyn Monroe had worn it.

At that time, aged 13, I learned that some perfumes are disappointing because of their lack of sillage and longevity. No5 lacked both. So I never bought it again.

Recently, I tried it in the shop for nostalgia’s sake and I was pleasantly surprised! The formula has been updated and it now radiated from my wrist - powder, Hollywood’s golden age, glamour. So I bought it.

Thank you, Chanel. Thank you.

Please fix the performance of No19 Poudre and I will be over the moon.

For my 18th birthday, I asked my parents to buy this not knowing what it smelled like (I just wanted a Chanel perfume lol). I absolutely hated it and couldn’t believe this was what people were raving about, so I didn’t use it for a good few months until I ran out of my other perfume and used this and oh my word - it smelled so good. I don’t know what changed, but I really liked it. It smells very soapy, but in a chic and expensive kind of way. I can see why people would call this a grandma perfume, but to me it’s very elegant and cosy. Would I buy this for myself? Probably not, because of the price and it’s not my usual taste but I will always cherish this smell.

I never liked Chanel no 5 but now I wonder if they updated their formula because it smells even more animalic or indolic. I asked my boyfriend to smell the sample and he agreed that it had some kind of animal smell. It has a really poopy note that smells like Wild Boar / Hog scent from National Scent Company, Inc. that I bought when I attempted to train my dogs to track wild hogs. I made one of my dogs sniff the Chanel No 5 sample and his eyes widened like he unlocked a memory of something.

The last time I sprayed this in store I was 19 and thought what a horrible fragrance. I didn’t understand the popularity and resembled the smell with an old vintage store. Years later and my growing high end perfume collection later, I’ve learned to appreciate this. And I think people need to smell every perfume there is to really see the niche in this. I know there’s many over 80 new formulations but I totally get the DNA of this that Marilyn Monroe loved. It’s sensual, classy and timeless. I wouldn't see a teenager wear this but I also don’t see a very old lady wearing this. The face should be Marilyn because she’s exactly who I imagine this scent would smell like. All the other flankers and EDT are meh, the original Parfum is the best most iconic of all.

Classic yet timeless, there's such a warm woody and sweet quality in this scent and it holds forever. Unique, it truly is in a league of its own.

Love this fragrance. It’s very fresh and soapy on me and does not come across old, but I think it really depends on how it interacts with your skin. I’ve had people who hate the perfume itself tell me it is amazing on me, which was nice.

Scents take us on emotional rollercoasters because we associate them to memories and experiences, so I understand why so many people view it as posh and elitist - but I must say that, as I didn’t have this bias when I first tried it, I smell it for what it is and don’t have those uncomfortable feelings :) it is really a lovely fragrance that makes me feel confident.
I don’t think the projection is so strong that people around me notice it enough to say “that one is wearing Chanel No.5”. At this point, I think the average person (in my country of residence at least) doesn’t even know what the perfume itself smells like, so there is little association with snobbery.

The only perfume I hate. Even if a fragrance is not for me, I can accept it’ll be nice for someone else. This is the exception. It smells like urine. Very strong and offensive. My mom thinks it smells like a cheap prostitute. disgusting public bathroom

Clean, incensey, soap. Elegant, chic, and classic, but not youthful.

I love Chanel No°5 it smells gorgeous on my skin, on me I smell a soapy, sandalwood and patchouli incense and clean scent which is lovely. I find it very comforting and the smell does last for a good 2 hours +, I do get constant whiffs of the perfume which is great as some perfumes you would quite literally have to smell your wrist to even get a faint smell of perfume but no with this one I can smell it radiating off me and yes love love love it ! It’s definitely not for everyone but if you can pull it off - Wear it! I am in my early twenties and I don’t find the smell particularly “old lady” at least on my skin… 9/10

One of my favorites... will never be without a bottle. I prefer this to the edt

I respect this perfume (not as much as Arpege, which is moreso the unsung hero of this style and deserves grand recognition beyond what No.5 receives), but I don't love it. It is...*itself*. And much of what I'm trying to explain is a challenge because of it. Maybe that makes sense? Maybe not.

As I've sniffed this on people or at the counter throughout my life, I've had various impressions, or I'll recognize different elements here. I think it largely is dependant on how I feel, or how the weather is. This really is complex...but yet...somehow not. It's nuanced, but in a brilliant way, reads as one identifiable *scent*...and that scent is overwhelmingly iconic. It really deserves credit for being so immediately recognizable. There's no mistaking it, and everyone knows what No.5 is.

Is iris-leaning to my nose, and this has been my prevailing takeaway. It's densely powdery. That of course, being the bulk of the wear time after the half hour or so of aldehydes that absolutely dominate the opening. After reformulations, they still remain a formidable fleet of sparkling aromachemicals. It's quite soapy, bracing in it's cleanness, and does indeed smell of upscale body care products (or...are many products based off of this iconic 'fume?! You be the judge).

There are other florals here, and sometimes I get rose alongside patchouli. Though, that could be because that pairing is so popular in the fragrance game that it's easiest for me to identify it. I've never thought that this is particularly "woody" though, I think it would lean more unisex if it was.

This feels very warm, and despite some of it's prickly corners, it's still smooth overall because of the ylang ylang. Yet, for something so warm, it manages to retain a highfalutin, uppity aura. I don't understand how, but I guess that's part of it's mystique. It's warm and cozy on the wearer, but smells unapproachable from the outside. If I were trying to seem elitist and intimidating, I'd reach for No.5. It's composed, put-together, very *present*, polite, but not necessarily *nice*. It's akin to an accomplished person who does everything correctly, but remains overly formal and has difficult tendencies to deal with.

Longevity and sillage are pretty good. Not nuclear, but decent. I think people think this is stronger than it actually is because they either hate it (and hated scents always seem larger) or No.5 enthusiasts are oversprayers. Or both. At any rate, I find it only to be about a 6.5/10 in potency. Maybe it was stronger pre-reform, I don't recall.

This isn't intended to be a comparison review, but I can't help but hype Arpege instead! Everything No. 5 offers is similar to it, but Arpege is more inviting, comforting, less bracing, and more soulful (to me, everyone has a different idea of things). And no, not because it's cheaper and I can afford it 😂

I actually enjoy rocking No.5 sometimes when I visit the fragrance counter, and maybe I'll get a decant or something for occasional use, but this isn't *me* at all. It's taken me years to figure out how to review it, and I'm unsure that I even managed.

TLDR:
It's iconic. Soapy. Stiff. Blended well. Warm in tone, yet pretentious in vibe. Not my thing, I only wear it in the spirit of "playing dress-up".