Chanel No 5 Eau de Toilette Chanel for women

This isn't bad, but I just don't like it. Its not my scent I guess. For me it just smells like soap.

This used to be such a naughty perfume, smelling of morning after, of male cologne on sheets to be changed, of pheromones and lust, illicit affair, all true to the pitch and the name. It smelled of sex.
Now it has lost its male half I mourn the celibacy wows it took. Nice spices, dusty finish and all that, but real sweetness is gone.

@misschic: the edt is the closest you can get to the classic, even if it was sadly reformulated. The edp is actually a less lively recreation by Jacques Polge, launched in 1986 and less faithful to the original. It's also a wonderful fragrance, though, very rich and elegant. What they both do have in common is their very poor longevity, I'm afraid.

Last Christmas I asked for Chanel No 5 EDP but got this instead. I actually ended up liking this more. I'm 29 so its a more fresh version of the classic.

“The smell of a woman”, as Coco Chanel commissioned to Ernest Beaux. Surely she meant a new woman, like she herself was, an instance of the emerging sophisticated urban woman, the vivacious, independent female go-getter, enjoying more social acceptance than ever so far in the Roaring Twenties. And Nº 5 was designed to scent her new glamorous aura. This accounted for the huge success of the fragrance together with the olfactory revelation that came with it: vibrant, sparkling aldehydes! Yes, revolution has always been in fashion. By the way, I think this scent is still revolutionary, since most of the perfumistas I know that are not into Nº 5, body chemistry issues aside, are the ones that tend to be more conservative in their choice of fragrance, regardless of their age.

If this was the perfume of the polarized woman, torn between her social role and her newly vindicated right not only for independence from her domestic obligations, but also for pleasure and frivolousness, this scent is as polarizing among us users as it is within itself. Indeed, Nº 5 can be perceived as translucently clean but impure and animalic, vigorously fresh and aldehydic but warmly ambery, old-fashioned but innovatively groundbreaking, skanky but refined, elegant but casual, “synthetic” but organic, fresh but warm, opulent but dry, down-to-earth but heavenly, sour but sweet, luminous but mysteriously dark, deep but nonchalantly shallow, balanced, in the perfect blend of its almost indistinguishable notes, but shamelessly unbalanced in the symphony of its animalic notes, strongly alluring to our senses: the civet, the exuberant but clean soapy floweriness, the musky earthiness, the woodsiness.

Does all this mean that this is a contradictory fragrance, an olfactory mess? On the contrary: this shows that Chanel Nº 5 is and can be everything, and embodies our own contradictions and wishes as perfectly as any other timeless masterpiece in the history of the arts. Even if the fragrance is now but a reformulated shadow of itself, you can tell it’s a classic because ever since its creation it has managed to smell eternally shocking and original. It was meant to be brutally feminine, the scent of the untamed new woman flaunting her carefree, uninhibited sensuality, fighting against conventions and clichés restricting her freedom. By the way, just like the fragrance itself is still fighting today against (too) basic big words like “cat pee”, “old lady”, “musty wardrobe”, "toilet cleaner", etc., mostly brandished, with an unexplainable, unnecessary belligerency, by young die-hard lovers of modern edible frags, the new custodians of “good”, and tasty, taste in perfume.

What is an "old lady" perfume? I'll answer this definitively: it's whatever the adults were wearing when you were a kid. So you date yourself very accurately by what you consider "old lady." One day, sooner than you think, fruit-chouli and marshmallows will be the new "old-lady."

However if you are a person that categorizes fragrances in this manner, you've made a choice. You can't have your cake and eat it, too; either you can tap into the cachet of a classic or you can worry about offending the 18-25 demographic. There are many inoffensive scents available today, some even with the Chanel label; but they won't cut it as a classic and aren't capable of signaling style and confidence.

I had a great-aunt that wore No. 5. She smoked a lot, and her apartment didn't smell right. She must have sprayed this liberally as this was before it ever occurred to anyone to be a prissy perfume-phobic. No. 5 also has a noticeable civet note which I often have a problem with. I've learned to appreciate No. 5, along with a lot of other things since then, but still I prefer No. 22 and Bois des Iles for adding warmth to this chilly composition.

Although I enjoy wearing this privately, I rarely wear it out. It is just too recognizable and people have too many associations with it. I don't want to trigger people's associations with whatever person in their life had this as a signature scent.

However, if you work with a bunch of uptight puritans, you might get some satisfaction replying to their complaints that you're wearing No. 5. If people don't feel like dorks for wrinkling their noses at the perfume of Marilyn Monroe, well..they should. Some fragrances are only for the grownups.

I like it a lot. I don't wear it much. I think I overdid it in college. Love the lotion. Kind of an interesting scent. Great bottle.

Parfums de Coeur made an imitation of this in the early 90's, called Goddess. It came in a black and blue can. They now have a version of Vera Wang Princess, called Goddess.. but that's irrelevant. I loved the imitation, and wish I it were still available. The real thing is just a touch too gaudy for me to truly enjoy, but it will have to do.

I was laughed at for admitting to loving this, as it is "an old woman's perfume". What rubbish. A classic,although I'm sure it is too sophisticated for a lot of teenagers,aldehydes don't seem to gel with them. (I do try to steer them away from the Britney stuff though to Calvin Klein One and Anais Anais depending on their taste.)
It smells wonderful. I love the house of Chanel and have never smelt a duff fragrance from them.
Gorgeous.

This was my first french perfume. I wore it every day. Comfortable and elegant.

Strange, i consider this EDT version much more similar to Eau Premiere (that should be based on EDP), they almost smell the same to me! And i like them both much more than the EDP, for the lack of kind of rubberry and a little bit frigid ylang. There still is ylang of course, but not so dominant. EDP is just colder, more slick than soft. Like an icicle vs cottonwool. EDT is elegant and cosy fluffy stuff, and nicer flacon. Those aldehydes in EDT smell like old books! Like an ancient library or secondhand bookshop, the slightly dusty moldy paper :D
°~♥~°
edit: pure perfume is made of natural ingredients, the difference between all 3 concentrations is noticable. Perfume is less soapy, less aldehydic, more woodsy-vanillic, super soft.

I wonder if MM wore EDT or pure perfume.

Chanel no 5 is one heckofa special aldehyde blend. It captures the spirit of Chanel uniquely. It has the high-cheeked classic grace and smooth aloof suavity of a cat-walking super model.
I think what's most remarkable about it is that its familiarity doesn't take way from it. Perfumes such as Youth Dew, Aromatics Elixir, Opium and so on, are less attractive for being so instantly recognizable and hence less capable of being a personal signature. But Chanel No 5 somehow always feels to me like its part of my personality in that time and place.

I didn't get this at all. Tried it for the first time today in a department store and, from beginning to end, all I could get was public toilet, complete with urinal deodorizing blocks. I put it down to skin chemistry...

lukkyme, I feel your pain, as do so many other members of Fragrantica. The IFRA is the corporate front of the reformulations. They are impossible to negotiate with and determined to change the classics. The initial excuse was allergy concerns. Now, its to protect corporate interests so mass production can take place globally. Reputation sells...DO NOT BUY NEW-STOCKPILE YOUR VINTAGES AND USE THEM SPARINGLY!!! Sales will slump. Only then will our voices be heard!

Onto Chanel no. 5 EDT. My bottle dates from 1990 and is the original formula. Its notes are not as well blended as earlier examples, which are superior. The formula is rather simple by todays standard. It never required flankers for winter or spring. It was perfect at every minute of every day of our lives.

Its particularly special wearing it on May 5. The florals used are in bloom on that day-iris, lily of the vally, rose de Mai and that fantastic jasmine that you can almost taste. Lay them on a chypre base, sandalwood and vanilla. Oh, just to keep things sexy, dont forget the civet! The original cannot be described in words. I am stockpiling vintages now for the future to experience.

The final battle began in 2010. You can imagine the results!

One of the many controversies of the reformulation is civet of course. Its no longer there. The jasmine which in its purest state from Grasse, is worth more than gold. That jasmine is a luxury good. It is now synthetic. My precious vintage EDC from the 1950s is easy to detect the differences from the current imposter. The aldehydes seem different. They are already synthetic. This updated version is stark, cold and hollow! Its very soul stolen.

Dont believe any report that it is the same. Its not! History has been rewritten. The corporate overlord that bought the empire forged by CoCo herself has destroyed the very element that built its fortune- Chanel No 5 is no more.

how can we make our voice's LOUD enough 2 say . . . PLEASE STOP ruining the original formula's of classic's . . . . it doesnt bother me that they are putting out all these flanker's at all im sure there is a market for them BUT what about the ORIGINALS the classic's even if i was buying a flanker i would want 2 smell the original as a point of refference . . . although i 90%of the time would want the original also if they have not discontinued them they have took it upon themselves 2 re-formulate them with out even leting you know when you go hand over your money for a product i believe you have the right 2 know when its in the same box etc . . .that the company has changed the product & they have ALL done this 2 there original's esetee lauder- channel- christian dior-D&G--Y.S.L . . . . to me this is equivelant 2 going thru a beautiful lil historic town & bulldozing all the victorian & art decco home's down with all there charm & mature tree's & garden's & buliding cheaply made suburban track home's & bulldozing the cafe & boutique to throw down a strip mall & a starbuck's :( . . . . . it destroying HISTORY

This is 'pure class and sophistication in a bottle' and you don't have to be wealthy to wear it. :)

It's funny that this scent is so polarizing, because, whether you like it or not, it must be admitted that this is a quiet and discreet scent. Aside from the first 15 minutes, No 5 EDT wears like a close secret skin scent. I really can't for the life of me imagine upsetting anyone's olfactory sensibilities with No 5.

Anyway, as we all know--the opener are the sweet, soapy, 3D aldehydes. I personally love them. That gives way to the most wonderful, sweet, understated rose I have ever smelled, with floral jasmine and buttery ylang ylang, accented with a slight musk. The base is earthy, full of vetiver woods, dark & mysterious.

Another few things--this goes well with the No 5 Body Creme (as does the Eau Premiere formulation.) It extends it, and brings out the beautiful florals of No 5. Also, if you've tried the EDP formula, but don't like it, know that the EDT is a really different deal. I personally don't like the EDP version.

I've loved this fragrance for about 20 years now. It smells slightly different than the EDP. I find the EDT more soapy, a bit more linear, and the closest to the original Chanel No. 5 I remember from years ago. To me, this fragrance is the ultimate old school glamorous scent, full of vintage chic and feminine strength.

it was definitlely not "love at the first view " ..but at the second smell! :) .. i bought it and i tried ones .. it did not work..it was strange and strong and it was a heavy smell to flowers but also musky.
At the second time (also i have to say it was another season:winter) i had changed my mind. It smells sooo sweet but flowery and a little bit soapy, it smells romantic and lovely. I like it so much altought at the begining i was thinking it was an "old fashioned" perfum, not at all, it smells elegant, romantic, sofisticated, i love it !!

Ah,the battle between the mature women and the young women continues to rage on Fragrantica!! I have encountered it on every review of a fragrance over 20 years old, and it has become tiring. To escape from it, I checked out what I thought was a shoe-in for common ground, Chanel No. 5. Not so!! Honestly, those who label this "cat pee" apparently have never had a deep whiff of the real thing. Coco would roll in her grave if she read these reviews. CN5 is really unlike any other fragrance, then or now, and she knew it instinctively. It is a beautifully amalgamated floral beginning with a brightness that can't be attributed to citrus; it's the amalfi lemon top note but comes across as a cold steel, metallic giving the impression that this is no ordinary bouquet of flowers. This steeliness holds on throughout the dry-down, preventing it from ever becoming too sweet. It's much more apparent in the EDT, which is too synthetic for my taste. I stick to the EP miniatures that are a steal on Ebay. That's where CN5 comes to life as it was intended, in my opinion. This is a city fragrance, the Empire State Building at night, deco moderne sophistication, dry martini and a delivery of a dozen perfect roses with no card. Powdery? Of course! It's always lingering in the background, to give a heavenly touch of soft cashmere. The middle notes bring in a skin muskiness that's very sexy as the aldehydes really kick in. For me, CN5 represents confidence and sophistication. I think this is what Coco intended. Never too sweet, trashy, girly, cheap. Always chic, worldly and yes,French, whether in ripped jeans or little black dress. Black and white is the perfect theme for this fragrance; perfect balance with no interference from single notes that compete for first place. The minimalist packaging says it all; modern then, modern now. References to Chanel as the smell of old ladies drawers break my heart. All that really means is the fragrance was so good, the old lady wore it throughout her life, from a youthful ingenue to her later years. Where's the negative in that?

The EdT is the much better than the EdP.

The EDT is lighter composition, less sweet and more dry than the EDP. It has a soapy powdery feel to it (which is right up my alley). However EDP lasts longer and smells richer. I think both versions are great.

This version of No 5 in particular I fell in love with quicker than EDP because I feel like the opening aldehydes blended together with the composition better. I've always felt like the harsh aldehydic openings of most of the Chanel fragrances are disjointed with the rest of the composition, which I can only appreciate until the alydehydes become softer. The EDT lacks this jarring disjointedness, or rather it blends better with the rest of the notes, and does not make me wait to appreciate the beauty.

My only gripe is that the EDT fades almost to nothing in 3 or 4 hours whereas the EDP is still going strong. But I can't really gripe because it is an EDT.

Dear Chanel N°5,

We've known each other a while, you and I, but I haven't always quite understood or appreciated your beauty. It was only recently that I fully became aware of the depth of your ethereal magnificence. When we are together I am enveloped by a warm, glowing aura that makes me happier than any other fragrance ever has. You make me a better person. You give me, a twenty-one year old who is just about to take her first baby steps into the real world, the confidence and motivation needed to succeed. You are an aromatic goddess. Together, we're going to take New York by storm.

Yours forever,

Me

I love this perfume. I do not understand the negative reviews. Then maybe I do. Fragrances smell so different on different women. Many fragrances I love on others smell like bug spray on me. On me it is a soft floral with a hint of musk. Yummy. I feel warm and sexy. Marvelous fragrance.

I like it upon the initial application. There is no aldehyde blast. Quickly developers into lovely flowers. But...it sits too close to the skin for me to smell in the day. If I apply it more generously, i still can't smell it. Also then my clothes have a weird sour smell at the end of the day.

I will continue to work with it. The opening is so lovely.

Wonder if I apply it over shin lotion if it will hang around longer.

When I first smelled this, only one thing popped into my head: Granny, granny, granny!

This was a total grandma for me. It smells like the cheap powder you get at your local drugstore, only this is more dry, more strong and more long lasting and a million times more expensive.

All the flowers that No 5 has make you expect it to be somewhat like a floral bouquet. However, the huge, pale aldehydes make just a lot of confusion and turn this into baby powder.

I never got the warmth of the woods in the base. I don't even think it has any woods as it does not last very long and woods do provide a base for sillage and longevity.

Definitely not worth the money. The tester smelled good when I smelled the cap, but smelled terrible on my skin.

I have learned that Chanel No 5 is one of those scents that depend entirely on your body chemistry. My experience with this Eau de Toilette was not at all pleasant!

I have had a bottle of No.5 for over 37 years. I am not up to all the jargen of the EDP's and whatever else. I love it and always have. My question is how long does it last, does it go "OFF" at all. I would hate to think I would have to throw it out. I also have Arpege for nearly as long and a bottle of Maroussla, for over 25 years. The reason I have them for so long is I wanted them for really special occasions The maroussla was given to me as a gift, I'm not fussed and I don't think I have ever worn it.
Thanks to anyone who can help me.

Best perfume ever!!!

I tried to love Chanel no. 5 EDP for about three years until I finally gave up, just couldn’t get what the fuss was all about. Then one day while doing my usual testing, I remembered what Luca Turin had said about the superiority of the EDT and thought I’d try it. WOW! Love at first sniff, I had to have it.

The EDT does have aldehydes and chemical civet but they are not obvious and if I can wear something that has anything to do with civet, (albeit chemical) it’s nothing short of a miracle. Oak moss sits so quietly in the background that it’s not the least bit noticeable.

The flowers, vanilla, sandalwood, musk, vetiver, lemon, amber, and bergamot are so well blended that it’s impossible to isolate any one particular note. Being an entire experience all it’s own, it’s no wonder this masterpiece launched in 1921 is still the most popular fragrance in the world. It’s reported by the French government that a bottle is sold every thirty seconds generating sales of $100 million a year.

Long lasting, and developing even more beautifully over the hours as most Chanels do, I never get tired of this little jewel and could wear it everyday if I weren’t such a perfume whore.

No 5 is a graceful, floral classic. It was the only fragrance my ex-husband liked me wearing, so after wearing only that fragrance for like a decade, I can no longer enjoy it! It is floral, but warm probably the patchouli and vanilla. It is sophisticated and can be worn by women of all ages. The newer Premier was created for younger women, but I find that I can wear that one without any problems, because now 5 gives me a headache! Damn my ex-husband! Just kidding. Anyway, the No 5 Premier is a lot softer and more jasmine, so it requires a lot more dipping or spraying, while the original No 5 is stronger and lasts for hours. A timeless scent, hard to go wrong with it.

I am not a fan of the Chanel scents. No5 smells to me as old fashioned hair water that whas availaible in the 60-70s.

Chanel No 5 is my daytime fragrance it is comforting and smells of Mummy, according to my children a classic floral, just beautiful

It totally wears me, and mind you, this is only the Eau de Toilette.
Chanel No 5 is a strong woman, not that I'm weak, but she is just not me. She is a Marilyn Monroe kind of woman, no less, and it's no coincidence that this revolutionary perfume has come to become associated with her. Call it conditioning, but I kinda feel a strong feminine presence around when I wear it, indeed at night, the unmistakeable smell of Chanel No 5 hovering around the room and on my bedsheets, I even had a dream of MM! Eerie, striking experience...
Still when preparing my morning coffee at the kitchen, Chanel No 5 was as quite detectable after all those long hours.
Amazing fragrance...

The remarkable quality of Chanel No. 5 is how it seems to smell different on everyone....no two sniffs are alike. I believe the ylang ylang oil gives it the staying power. It lasts, yet is never overpowering. This perfume revolutionized the perfume world. Hail to Coco!!

Dear meg1969, I couln't agree more. I am 41 years old now and I have just the same feelings about No5, although my really top favourite Chanel is No 19 ( the perfume one ).

I have it because, as a perfume fanatic, I thought I ought to own it. But I don't wear it. Occasionally I spray a little onto my wrist and sniff it on and off over an evening at home. To me No.5 is a bit like going to a gallery and looking at a painting you find ugly but it just sold for $100m so you think you should admire it without really understanding why. I have EDT.

The eau de toilette is so subtle, powdery, a little bit floral, remids me of some soap and clean smell, and somehow of some notes of Sunflowers by Elizabeth Arden.

Francis Bacon (the painter one) said: something immensely ugly can charm as well as a pretty one.
I come to No5 this way; while I can't bear this perfume, I can't stop sniffing it. Ernest Beaux definitely had know what he's doing with the world! A masterpiece that I only can't share pleasure with.
If No5 EDP is too heavy, give it a try. It's little lighter and a little different, yet the label EDT doesn't pin it down and it doesn't lack that ground breaking longevity and sillage.

Encircles with a warm, translucent light. A dry, abstract perfume. Not an instant fave for me. Took a while (and lots of experience smelling and enjoying 100's of perfumes) to fully appreciate. Now, at age 42 I am beginning to get the mystery and magic of this perfume. I always disliked this Chanel before now. I didn't understand it. (And it seemed old fashioned). The thing is, it is actually extremely modern. It's like a shapeshifter. Just when you think you have experienced the full range of its olfactory presence, another dimension opens and reveals itself in an unending wave of new scent.

I love the whole Chanel line though, and especially love aldehydes. If that is not your thing, you won't be persuaded to love this classic.

I am sorry, but equating this perfume to any other (Coty, L'Aimant??) is like saying orange is the new pink. No way!

This EDT is my favorite scent! I don't care for the other formulations of No.5. I wear, own and adore many, many different fragrances, but to me, this is the indisputable leader of them all. Not one can touch it. They are not worthy! LOL

Crisp, clear cut, sharpish florals, mainly Ylang-Ylang that are restrained from shriekery by aldehydes. All this on a clean, American-friendly musk.

No5 is at once sour and sweet, It borders on vile for me, yet is also totally chic, possibly the chic-est of all perfumes and is not only Chanel’s flagship, but is the coca cola of all perfumery. No5 is marketed to death and is THE cliché choice for every budding Perfumista who wants to venture into the classics. I was late in sampling no5 though, Guerlain broke me in! But I remember smelling this before my scent obsession and thinking that it smelt of chemicals and posh old ladies who read Vogue, fast forward to today and it still does, kind of. Maybe I'm not chic enough? I don’t really care tbh but no5 leaves me COLD, she is just a nasty bitch ice queen to me, she lacks warmth and I think the aloof, vacant eyed and slightly frigid Nicole Kidman was PERFECT to promote this. Bring her back.

The Eau de Toilette is definitely superior to the "Eau de Parfum" version. I guess the character of the fragrance lends itself to a lighter formulation.
I believe the "Eau de Parfum" was introduced some time in the 1960's or maybe even early 70's when the actual pure "Parfum" sales were in crisis.
A timeless classic, its bottle design an outstanding icon of the 20th century and, it's not just a perfume, it's a whole institution with a fascinating history.

Like it or hate it, no perfume enthusiast can really be without a bottle of this one!

This edt is simply amazing! Sparkling, happy, sweet fizzy aldehydes with a creamy floral sandalwood backdrop. The scent is absolutely breathtaking reminds me of a delectable glass of champagne with my feet up relaxing after a long day of work. i'm continually amazed with Chanel lately, in the past I completely ignored this house in favor of Dior but now my taste is changing. I'm going to be 25 in a few months and I want tradition back in my fragrance wardrobe. I think loyalty to one house is what i'm striving for and I think Chanel is it for me! Don't waste your money on the edp go for the edt it not only smells better but it's one of the original concentrations.

my mother in law gave me a vintage bottle of chanel n. 5 edt. the bottle was bought in Harrods in London 30 years ago by my husband as a gift for her. the perfume is almost gone, but the bottle is wonderful! I've always loved this perfume and having a vintage perfume is really a privilege for me!

A friend of mine gave me the edt and it just will not last on me. I have the lotion and it lasts all day with that or the lotion on it's own. This is a rare case for me where I will only get the lotion of this because it smells so clean and soft compared the sprays both edt and edp. The other perfumes from Chanel I do buy and wear but No.5 I will just be sticking with the lotion. This is like a smooth silk when it settles it's just lovely. It is not sexy but a confident baby powder smell without smelling like baby products if that makes any sense?

smells like peee to me, must be the civet, I really don't like it, sorry! I think this is kinda overrated, I just don't get it's appeal really! And I do love some orientals and classic fragrances, but to me this just smells FLAT, and well...BAD!

Most certainly, everyone has a little story to tell about this perfume (as it is so old) and while most women agree it smells a little bit "passe'" or a little bit heavy or whatever, they still go out and buy it.
One needs no better example of how manipulative, good marketing can be!
That's not to say No 5 is not a good perfume, to be honest I think it is a great perfume!
In a sea of fragrances with a strong public image, (new, experimental, iconic, promising the sky with the stars) every now and then one comes across a woman wearing this perfume and can't help thinking "Finally, a simple, gloriously pleasant smell!".
I find the shower gel just perfect while the deodorant spray could do better with a more focused spraying angle (I know it, as I happen to use both at the gym).
Chanel No 5 is not only "gloriously pleasant" however.
In my mind it smells comfort and clean.
The "American clean", if you know what I mean!

An advice: avoid the "Eau de Parfum" version. This world can do fine without it.

The scent of heaven.

Since Chanel No.5 is probably considered to be the most famous perfume in the world, I so much want to say that I love it, and wear it, but alas I am so sorry and feel like it is a sin to say this.. but honestly in my opinion, on my skin it smells like cat piddle :(

I asked for a bottle of Chanel No. 5 for Christmas when I was 17. And I got the eau de toilette and the parfum! I guess my parents were feeling generous that year. I wore the EdT more often, as I loved its greater sillage and its sparkly, aldehydic opening. The problem was, it never lasted that long on me. It faded to a whisper within two hours. Still, it was as effervescent and fleeting as a glass of fine champagne that is savored for a moment and then finished all too quickly. That is what Chanel No. 5 EdT is like to me.

This is a beautiful light, fresh, floral, classic perfume. I was bought it as a Christmas present by a work colleague (no, he was happily married!) and I was taken aback by his generosity. I would happily wear it all the time, although as with No.19 (I've had both), this sits on my skin and reacts to something within my chemistry because both fragrances turn into eye-wateringly strong cats urine. I felt awful about my boss spending so much so didn't tell him, I just sprayed it on my clothes for a few months (the smell is gorgeous when it's not on my skin!) before passing it on.

I was given a bottle of this when I was 18 years old - I didn't like it, I found it too old for me and gave it away! Now I am older I thought I would try again and to be honest I can't really say I love this but merely like this.

I don't get on with the aldehydes to start off with and then I get the ylang-ylang and the bergamot but not too much of the neroli (which I love)! Then it's dire of dire for me 'urine' smelling Jasmine!!! Thankfully, this evaporates quickly into a rose/iris/lilly enveloping powdery warmth which has me sniffing away at my wrist for ages! Finally I get the vetiver which I love and thankfully I can hardly detect musk which I am not too keen on to be honest! It sits very close to my skin so disappointing sillage and longevity is not as great as I would like.


Not my favourite of Chanel's perfumes but worth a try no less! Better for the day than the evening I think (maybe the EDP is better for the evening) - but can be worn wether you are dressed up or down!

Chanel No. 5 EDT is an such an elegant, comforting scent with a peachy fizziness. Coco Chanel asked for a parfum that smelled like a woman. She accomplished that with No. 5. There is a "wow factor" in the opening with the blast of aldehydes, but how it moves through to the drydown is just beautiful. On me, it sits very close to the skin and just smells like me. Yes, it does have a soft, powdery drydown and I love it. I like the EDT for evenings layered with the pure parfum. I also layer with just a little bit of the Velvet Body Cream.

Wow, the depth of the scent. I think I am missing out not using this fragrance enough! My gift bottle has to get more use.

I had this one and I finished a bottle which is always a good sign for me ;) After that I didn't buy it again yet because I feel like I need a pause. Also maybe my taste in scent has changed. I find Chanel No.5 a real classic. Nice for going out but also wearable as a day fragrance if you are not a teen. It aims definitely at grown up women. Maybe it's worn a bit too often by people, so one thinks it's not so special anymore. I'm probably more of a rare scent wearer/buyer.

That's really a special one - it suits to any occasion and any clothes, no matter is it jeans with white T-shirt or silk dress. It's transparent, powdery, floral, it's so close to the skin, but each small move make it vibrate.

My favorite of all the Chanel perfumes!

If you don't know the name of any other perfumes, you will know Chanel no.5. It's so iconic it almost doesn't matter whats in the bottle because desperate men who know nothing will buy bottles every birthday or christmas or anniversary, for their wives or girlfriends and think they have made a sophisticated choice, rather than the truth, which is that unless you know your media naranja loves this, it looks like the perfumery equivalent of service station flowers. Some women may love the actual smell of this, but I've never met any. Marilyn saying she wore it alone to bed cannot be the only reason this stuff is still going. CAN IT??

While I do not hate this Chanel, I can't say I like it either. Just not a fan of the aldehydic dominance.

The No 5 EDT has always been part of my permanent, staple wardrobe, since I was young. It remains just as good now as it has been all these years because of its lightness without sacrifice of depth. Indeed, the depth in basenotes is very much discernible, but it seems to float on its topnotes, entirely synthetic, as Coco Chanel had wanted with No 5, and this is its allure. It is mysterious without being coy or secretive, it is assertive without being pushy or uncouth; it is refinement for every season, every hour, every activity, elegance and charm, self-assured and respected, embracing each woman with a uniqueness to match her own. I have had many compliments on this scent through the years, and never leave the house without a small bottle in my purse.

I like the EDP but adore the EDT! It is a lovely powder puff of a scent that fits every occasion. If you like floral aldehydes this is one of the best in the group. I have sniffed many chanel creations over the years... and this beauty still remains a favorite.

Well- this is a whole new review. I always maintained that I hated Chanel No 5. Today, in the interest of seeing how the world of fragrantica has changed my tastes, I doused myself (neck, decolletage, wrists) in this scent. Either my tastes or the formulation has been altered. I dont get an aldehydic floral anymore but a cool amber. I get the ylang ylang and iris but to me it feels like a 'cool' version of my favorite Rochas Femme!! I really like it and will be requesting a bottle forthwith for my Birthday. Only disappointments were the sillage and longevity which were both meek.
PS realised it's the EDP that I still don't like and the EDT that hits my button!

Chanel perfumes are those types of perfume "hate it or love it" I dont think there's a middle passage with these fragrances.
I own a Chanel nr. 5 a few years back and I hated that smell. It was so strong and overpowering. Just not for me.
I also owned a mini Allure and Chance one ....the same result. For me it just didn't work out. Maybe its just me but to they all smell alike. And whenever I am at the mall or somewhere else and I feel someone walking by and they happen to be wearing Chanel I instantly recognize the smell and I really dislike the scent.
I know its quite a famous scent and well known but for my nose its just common and something expensive that is not worth buying.
Why do I want to buy such an expensive perfume and smell like the rest of the world.This perfume is frequently used by a lot of girls who I.m not sure they like it for themselves or they like for its advertisement and popularity through time .
I would rather try something else!

I love the EDT. It's drastically different from the EDP. It doesn't have that sharp, strong, aldehyde opening. The EDT seems to focus mostly on powder. I would imagine that the EDT has the same effect as the dusting powder might have--a light application. I think this is the perfect compromise for a person who likes No.5 but finds the projection to be too strong in EDP formulation. I also ADORE the chic bottle!

I'm digging into Chanel n°5 incredible story thanks to the great book I received! This made me want to wear it again. I have a good big sample of EdT.
This fragrance is a crazy one. Big contrasts! I always thought of Chanel 5 EdT as a weird creature from a different era. IMO it is outdated in years 2000, not because it is bad or old but rather because tastes in perfume has changed so dramatically that true gems are not often understood as they were in their era. Chanel n.5 EdT is not among the favourite in my aftermaths. Among female acquantainces it is known as jasmine deo-loo. They all compare this one to that old typical smell of soap in public restroom mingled with...ehm.. not so soapy smells!
I also have a male friend who hates it at most because it gives him headache and smells like his mother old drawers.
For me it is a dear one, not often worn as personal scent, but often sniffed for private giggling.
There is something really misterious about this perfume, I mean the perfume itself, left aside the intriguing story.
It starts with a brash of cold smelling notes that recall an intensely smelling snow, if it ever existed. Not just snow, rather more than snow, a super-snow! Those opening notes used to burn my nose when I was younger, now I like that feeling and I feel it fades quickly leaving only a trace. The heard is a triumph of the accord jasmine-rose, simply beautiful, even if in the EdT version it is not so glorious as EdP. Then comes the dry-down... well, let me tell you before that the traditional division head, heart and... toes doesn't make justice to this scent. All stuff is so enticely blended that pointing out single notes is a bit of a rational scientifical approach and also a naif one.
That said, the base of n.5 EdT is a very skanky one! Not just skanky, that would have been relatively easy. It is deliciously, sweetly ferocious skanky. Eventually I found the reason for the public restroom soap edge! Is it civet or heavily indolic jasmine or aldehydes or whatever, my poor knowledge of perfume making doesn't allow me to tell, but as for my own opinion, feeling and impression the magical of Chanel n.5 lays in this superbly blended refined, sophisticated jasmine-y skankiness! To die for and drowl like a dog, and I'm not even a fan of skanky fragrances, quite the opposite! If Coco Chanel stated that a woman shouldn't smell like flower, she probably meant "not just flower". She should smell like flower plus her own animalic essence, kindly provided and actually better made than nature in Chanel n.5. It smells like a slightly unwashed delicate lady skin dabbed with jasmine and rose oils and of course the soapy synthetic edge. Soap and dirt together? Yes! I love Chanel n.5 since I was a young girl, very young actually, almost a baby. My mother owned a bottle probably for perfume's sake, because she was not totally convinced about this fragrance yet in '70s few women missed at least one bottle and I'm not talking about grand dames!
I remember that I was given a very small sample of this to play with, strange way of keeping a curious restless babygirl quiet for a while, but it worked! It was a beautiful simple squared micro-bottle and later I got another one for Coco. I wore small drops and when it was nearly over I secretly decanted some from my mother's bottle. When that finished too I poured water into my small bottle and made a very faint eau de l'eau de l'eau de cologne! I still remember that in spite of crazy dilution that typical smell went on lingering! Then I lost that tiny decant somewhere in the mess of my teenage and almost forgot about n.5.
A few years ago I was given a modern spray sample at some counter and I thought: "Look! They still make samples for a fragrance which is not new at all!" I sprayed it and found that daring skanky jasmine again! OMG! I kept that sample very carefully. A few years later I tried the Eau Premiere and it was a lovely discovery! In Eau Premiere the skankiness is very tamed while the odd yellow Baby Shampoo Johnson’s edge is taken higher.
Honestly since now I never bought a full bottle of Chanel n.5 because... I don't know! Any time I had some money to splurge I bought other scents, mainly Guerlain and Givenchy. Besides that, any time I wore n.5 from tester there were always someone saying that it smelled old, granny, banal or annoying among the ones who told me I smelled good.
These odd ones were men, young men around 30. That made a difference for me. So apparently if Chanel n.5 really is the quintessential sexy perfume, there are good amounts of detractors among the gender that it should appeal! Is it a memory trigger for mom’s perfumes?
Now I don't really care. Now I smell myself in the EdT and giggling between me and myself. I like it, I really like it! And still it is a mistery scent to me. I can't really tell why I like it or not completely. Something escapes my understanding.
But.. I still had to test the Eau de Parfum version and that's another story...

i bought in france at the age of 11 and started daily use ever since. classic one, like the way snow flakes would smell mixed up with jasmine and musk. i would keep trying to find out various kinds of frangrances while this one never goes wrong.

Tried this newly reformulated version on my skin (yes I am a man, a gay one, but still a man) and must say that I LOVE IT!
It develops nicely on male skin as well and can definitely be worn by a man as well.

Very warm, vanilla, sandalwood, musky, civet based fragrance with those lovely florals of jasmine, ylang-ylang, rose, lilley of valley, and more....so well orchestrated.

Arguably one of the best fragrances ever concoted in terms of perfect harmony of ingredients: like a well oiled machine or The London Symphonic Orchestra.

This is olfactory anti-depression treatment as it is positively uplifting and ever so sensual and sophisticated.

Nothing can beat this (except maybe "Shalimar" which is raunchier and naughtier)

10/10

Marilyn Monroe when asked what she wears to bed "Why.. Chanel no. 5!"

Just got it and all I have to say is wow!Smells so feminine, clean and sophisticated. I can't believe I didn't smell the EDT until recently! It's soft and sweet not cloying or strong at all! This becomes more of a skin scent. The staying power is not that good on me anyway. I can see using this all year round, perhaps this is more more for warmer weather and the EDP for colder. I think it last longer if sprayed on your clothes.

this is such a wonderfull perfume, 5 stars, very sensualm with a touch of respect and sofistication. the best perfume ever. period.