Chanel N°5 (Vintage)

What a beauty this is! Sadly, I can only have the most fleeting time in this. My mom bid on, and won a lot of vintages from a local estate sale, including 4 mini Chanel vintages. All of them open up (Cuir de Russie was stubborn and took some effort), but No.5 WILL. NOT. OPEN. I've tried it all; boiling water and dipping the neck into it, twisting, putting it in the freezer...twisting...trying to pick whatever congealed perfume is gluing the stopper stuck...nothing. My husband has tried as well. Any more force and we're sure to break the glass. As it is, I already feel like a monster for exposing it to so much temperature trauma :( At any rate, there was a fair amount of fragrance transfer onto my fingers as I've attempted to open this b*tch. - The citruses are shot, and it is vinegary. But barely (Shalimar parfum was much moreso), because this opens (maybe the temp had something to do with this admittedly) into such a rich, blended, complex, WALL of iconic scent that it truly is difficult to pick apart facets. I see what people mean by claiming No.5 is hard to explain, because it is. There are aldehydes, and somehow they're indolic. Or, it's merely the civet coming through paired with them...it does verge into fecal territory. Initially, I'm tricked into thinking I dislike this, but I don't, because within minutes it settles down and at that point I begin to get mostly ylang ylang and powdery-orrisy-sandalwoody-amber. Again, it's so blended I don't even feel like these notes should be separated into different words when trying to express this in language. The liquid here is a rich brown, but this fragrance smells like liquefied gold. It's such an oversaturated YELLOW. Everything is dense, and the civet serves to highlight how rich the florals are. Yes...this is an amber, but to me it feels like there's no true vanilla in here. Rather, the vanilla or resinous tones are extensions from an overdose of the florals. Essentially, it's all stemming from a blended reduction of thickly, rich, jam-packed morass of warm, indolic florals. I appreciate current No.5 EDP, I enjoy the EDT, but I am STUNNED into respect by the extrait Now I truly feel like I understand No.5. And this only coming from a microdose of stuck fragrance emanating off the bottle. This stuff is extremely potent. Forgive me for not wearing this for months or even years before reviewing, because this absolutely deserves to be studied over time, but I simply cannot and I hurried to write all of this down before I lose track of it. I'll keep my eye out for another bottle.

To start writing a review on vintage No.5, having recently acquired various iterations smelling different from eachother, yet they are all recognisable as No.5. I would say the same for the modern versions (except L'eau, which doesnt smell like No.5). The oldest is an extrait, from I think the 1950's, EDTs from the 70's/80's, to a previously unopened 1986 EDP. I can testify that they all smell like Chanel No.5., but the differences between extrait, EDP and EDT also make writing a review on "vintage No.5" nigh on impossible. But what I can say about vintage No.5 compared to the modern one, is that from my bottles dating back over the last 70 years, every decade or so, there are alterations that probably are due to tastes/the market and the ingredients themselves having to change. And that EDP has plenty of sandalwood (and ylang ylang) similar to the extrait (and Bois des Iles!). The EDT is more powdery, a bit more skunky (in the vintages I have anyhow), lighter, more soapy and less floral to my nose. My favourite is the oldest version of extrait that I have found. The florals really bloom in the extrait, tempered by the civet, musks and sandalwood. I wonder if it smells as it should, being about 70 years old! The bottle was full, never opened and it is absolutely breathtaking! Lasting a long time, the stages of development are incredible, with a dry down so complex and beautiful. Yes this is a perfume, for a lot of us was worn by our mums and grandmas (actually, my grandma wore 4711!), and I think for that reason I steered clear, thinking I was all too familiar with it. This is my Mum's signature afterall. But this September (after giving her another bottle for her birthday, she likes EDT the best), I thought what the heck and decided to test some. And yes, it does smell totally different on my person than catching my Mum's scent. Chanel No.5 has fast become my favourite, having been collecting for a few years, I am now reaching for a version of it every day. Vintage or modern. This is the quintessential perfume to me, perfection to my nose and having spent a while baffled by my Mum's loyalty to this fragrance, now I understand. Simply put, this certain combination of aldehydes, jasmine, ylang, sandalwood, civet, iris, rose, ambergris, smells so good! And I am in no doubt that this is the reason why it is still so popular 100 years later. I suspect there will be an anniversary edition coming out in 2021!

I have managed to go my whole life without knowingly trying Chanel No.5. I’m a man but still. A couple months ago I purchased a small auction lot of vintage perfumes and among the treasure was a gift set of Chanel (pre 1953) minis in their box with onion skin and cords still intact. I’ve been wearing the Bois Des Iles and Cuir de Russie frequently but saved the aldehydic No.5 and No.22 for a rainy day. Well that rainy day came last week and I am floored by how beautiful this juice is. The opening has been reduced to a short burst of egyptian jasmine and bright white linen because the spicy/sweet base notes have swelled up to gigantic proportions with age. This ancient No.5 has transformed into a sublime floriental with a perfectly balanced clean soapy accord of white flowers, buttery ylang, rose and iris just under the surface of the treacle of amber and spicy woods. It is suitably unisex and perceivably high quality (despite its’ age it retains its’ smoothness and subtlety). While I still can’t say I’ve actually tried No.5 (this must be almost a completely different animal) I can now see the hunt for a larger bottle or bottles of this aged version in the imminent future. Great stuff. In the past couple of years, I have fallen in love with Chanel’s creations time and time again. 5 out of 5.

I am a lucky girl! This past weekend I found a Vintage bottle of No. 5 at an estate sale almost full for $15. It is one of the 1.5 ounce purse sprays from the fifties-sixties that says "Spray Cologne". It has a metal casing actually. So nice. I am super excited! The modern formulation is beautiful but it is not quite the same as this treasure. I applied it to my freshly bathed skin and I am in pure Heaven! I never thought I could wear Miss No. 5 but now I know that I am just fine with this ultra feminine cloud of luxury. I would never be able to describe this gorgeous iconic fragrance's notes so I will leave that up to someone else with a more discerning nose and writing skill set. I will definitely be saving this for some of the most memorable moments of my life. This juice is AMAZING! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! 10/10 for Vintage and 9.5/10 for Modern.

Just received a vintage sample ca late 1930s from a kind friend whose bottle belonged to her grandmother. Sadly, the scent is quite fractured due to age, especially in the topnotes. But wow that base lingers forever in all of its ambery animalic goodness! This led me to considering how all of the recent variations attempt to brighten 5 up and how much I would love a darker, muskier, spicier version instead!

Chanel N5 is a classic masterpiece suitable for the slightly more mature sophisticated woman and something you just have to smell, it's fantastic.

i was lucky enough to find a 40s column tiny bottle! This is my treasure! Nothing smells like no5....

Review for late 40s/early 50s bottle. This is the only iteration of No. 5 that I've tried where I can detect amber in the base. That helped me warm up to it (and all the No 5s) a bit, as I'm not always keen on cold florals such as No. 5. Incidentally it's still the hardest for me to take on a regular basis, but I think that may be due to the age of the bottle and a few kinks you have to work through in the progression. There's simply a lot of iris and ylang-ylang on a foundation of aldehydes. As usual with Chanels I'm not even going to try to describe what I'm smelling too much. It's abstract, intimidating, aloof, sophisticated, and enigmatic. As for whether it's beautiful...that's in the eye of the beholder. I wouldn't call it beautiful, but in a way I love wearing it. Even though it's not a loud fragrance (even less so because it's dabbed from the bottle and not sprayed), it's not for regular wear by any means; for that I pull out the EDP or Eau Premiere for a veil of comforting fragrance appropriate for everything from errands to church. There's something just too antiquated about the vintage that doesn't feel right except when I'm home watching a black-and-white movie. Not that it's a civet bomb or anything, it just seems out of place and it's clear that formulations have changed over the years. To be blunt and honest, I prefer the modern No. 5s. They work better with my skin chemistry. One thing that is evident, this is a luxury item. As old as it is, the sheer perfection of the bottle's glass, attention to detail, and dignity of the scent attest to the legacy of No. 5 as an accessory to the understatedly high-class lifestyle.

Chanel fragrances repell people around you.They are famous because it’s considered classy to own and wear one.Big no for me.

Now this is a challenge! A review of the most known, most popular, most loved and most sold perfume ever. Even in 2012! The most iconic fragrance ever. 'The One' fragrance that is synonymous with 'Perfume'. The one and only 'Madame' Chanel nr 5 EDP! I'm reviewing the vintage EDP with 'real' civet and 'natural' oakmoss that in the most current versions will certainly be replaced due to new regulations by 'artificial' civet and oakmoss. Please keep this in mind while reading. Thank you. What is there left to say about this stuff of legend? The only thing (a few drops of it) that Marilyn Monroe religiously wore in bed during her affairs with her many lovers? Only that all the praise is justified. 'Too Powdery' or not, 'Cat pee' or not, 'not understood' or 'deliberately misunderstood' and vilified... yeah yeay yeah... Like you would say about a Rolls Royce: it feels like a Tata Nano or Mini Cooper, or about a bottle of Chateau Petrus: it tastes like gut rot and bum wine. The Grande Dame simply sniffs and says rightfully: 'F... you'. 'The Five' keeps on selling and selling. It even makes a comeback because people get tired of overpriced generic weak run of the mill celeb scents, despite what showbizz mags want us to believe. People want value for their money in these economic tough times. And you certainly get this with Chanel 5 EDP. Killer sillage, merciless longevity, balanced and mixed to perfection as only 'old school Chanel' could. Anyway crass commercial shenannigans have as result that classics like Chanel 5 simply keep enthralling every new generation of women to apply and men to enjoy this masterpiece of perfumes. You don't get it? 'No problem' says the Grande Dame: 'Move on to another fragrance'. This Grande Dame will not shed a tear and will not sell one drop less. You find it 'Too perfume-y'? Well that's the whole intention of 'a perfume'! It makes you 'sick to your stomach'? Well the Grande Dame says: 'Stay sick and go vomit on somebody else’s lap'. As somebody else here said: this is simply 'The Scent of The Woman'. This is the scent of 'Forever Young, Forever Classy, Forever Fantastic, Forever and Ever Feminine Magic'. Sure it is not for a girl, not for a fickle teenager, not for a fashion follower without an own taste, or the perfume hipster police patroller who follows trends religiously and because Anna Wintour or some paid perfume blogger (or poor old dear me hahaha!) says this hard to find and obscenely priced nicche is top, just buys it blindly. Chanel 5 is for ageless women -with the emphasis on 'Women'- who know what they want and who have their own taste. A woman who maybe reads the reviews descibing the grande Dame as 'musty' 'old lady' 'over fifty', then shrug and just say: 'Et alors?' ('So what') and she moves on from the pimply pre menstrual reviews to test it herself to for her own opinion. There is no cure for difference in tastes. You don't like Chanel 5? Too bad for you! Others will savour the magic for you. And this fragrance doesn't depend on favorable or unfavorable reviews, or big media campaigns, or on girlies whining: 'It smells like my grandma' or 'My boyfriend hates it'. Et alors? Let's move on. This Grande Dame has earned every accolade and praise that has been granted to her. Because she is a one of a kind member of the highest class of classics, together with 'Opium', 'Joy', 'Shalimar', 'Poison', 'Angel', 'Classique Gaultier', 'Obsession', 'Alien'... La Grande Dame has an ego allright. But she is allowed to. Because she is 'It'. She has 'It'. She's not a on hit wonder fickle 'it girl' that's there for a year and then gone. She is 'The Eternal Woman' who was there since 1921, is still here and will be here as long as people use fragrances. Because she is one of the Best. Comparing this Grande Dame with 'soap', 'old lady', 'granny' is so silly frankly, it doesn't need any further comment. Nr 5 haters, please leave the Grande dame alone. Just don't buy the 'old lady catpee'. That leaves more for us, lovers of this eternal timeless fragrance. Please buy the latest one week wonder, advertised by paid bloggers, hipsters and 'beauty editors' with goodie bags. Please buy up all the celeb scents, please indulge yourself in the niches written up by beauty scribblers who always needs a 'next week’s thing' to fill their blank pages. But leave the Grande Dame for us, millions all over the world, who fell in love with her, who will always treat her with the respect she deserves and who say to the 'granny-haters': 'Et alors?' The formidable Chanel nr 5 about which there have been written entire books, is a true phenomenon, whether you like it or not. It is the Classic of the Classics. 90 years young and still so much alive, still capable as a nonagenarian to stir controversy. Some fruity floral girl: 'Ooh: cat pee, ooohhh, dirty underwear, ooh, BO, aargh'... Well sweetie, stick your litchis, kiwis, white chocolate, sugar, vanilla and berries where the sun don't shine. You'll then know what true BO is! Chanel 5 is for women who have at least menstruated once and are older than Justin Biever. It is for the real women and also those girls-of-all-ages that are proud of their womanity. If sniffing a Jessica’s ‘Fancy’ or Katy's 'Pussy Purr' is high school, Chanel nr 5 is a doctorate in proud femininity. If you like Prada's 'Candy' as a sugar lolly for boys to lick you off or a peachy celeb frag that gives you the fantasy that you are 'sexy', while in reality you reek like an opened can of inlaid peaches in heavy syrup and have trouble swatting the bees and the boys away, thenby all means Chanel 5 is definetely NOT for you. 'The Five' doesn’t have time for such trivialities. This is serious business by a serious perfumer who made s seriousy classy and innovative perfume in 1921 for women in all kinds moods, ages, colors and cultures. You can be 21 years young and wear Chanel 5 like Marilyn, you can be 25 or 50 or 90 and create magic in the air around you with Chanel 5. It is not a fragrance, it is a feeling, the feeling of being a vibrant alive woman, not a plasticky doll who blindly follows trends set out by marketing Mad Men. Chanel 5 is about being a woman and liking it a lot. It is about the sensual power of a woman. Beyond the pimples, the puberal tantrums and toilet level insults. Et alors? You're with the real women know. Let the Jessica’s be and let them enjoy their lollipops and their milkshakes and their boy-troubles. Chanel 5 is a very old vivacious lady that still irritates the hell out of the cotton panty brigade with printed figures of Minnie Mouse on their knickers. Chanel 5 is a glass of Veuve Cliquot or Cristal Roederer champagne compared to the cookies and milk of most fruity florals. Chanel 5 is going to a restaurant, not hanging out at the local Dairy Queen with acned Axe boys looking full or repressed desire. This is for women who threw the ‘the Silver Ring Thing’ away, no offense intended, and discovered love, passion and pleasure. Chanel 5 is not a virgin anymore, she is a woman. 'Daddy’s little girl’ from the ‘Little House on the Prairie’ grew up to be a smashing and classy 'femme fatale'. With Chanel nr 5 you have moved from that 'Little house on the Prairie with cow's pee' to the NYC of ‘Sex in the City’. Youngsters, you who sometimes insult this Grande Dame as' old lady', you'll be very happy that this 'old lady frag' will still be around, when you have become an 'old lady' yourself! You know the story of Chanel nr 5. Nose Ernest Beaux had ten numbers perfume samples to present to Madame Coco Chanel. Madame chose the vial with the number five as her favorite and Chanel nr 5 was born. A brave choice of Madame Chanel. We're in 1921 after all, and the serious 'Nr 5' was then not the most commercial choice to make in the roaring twenties after WWI. But on the other hand it was still a time when the artistry and originality of a fragrance played a bigger role than filling market gaps, and when marketing studies hadn't overtaken perfume artistry. So 'Nr 5' it was! And perfume history was written that fifth day of the fifth month of 1921 when the superstitiousGabrielle 'Coco' Chanel presented her new fragrance. The superstition paid off and the rest is perfume history. What makes 'The Five' so special, timeless, ageless, leaps the boundaries of cultures and is the first 'global' fragrance? Top: Aldehydes, neroli, ylang ylang, bergamot, lemon Middle: Iris, orris root, lily or the valley, jasmine, rose Base: Amber, sandalwood, musk, patchouli, civet, vanilla, oak moss, vetiver. Almost everybody concentrates on the aldehydes in the top. 'Nr 5 equals aldehydes'. But the secret to the Nr 5 success IMHO lies not in the aldehydes in the top but in the unsurpassed base! And the notes of that Chanel Nr 5 base have been raised on steroids. OMG! Look at that. AND amber AND sandalwood AND musk AND patchouli AND civet AND vanilla AND oak moss AND vetiver. Eight heavy hitters in the base! With that alone nowadays they fabricate 4 different fragrances. At least. The craftsmanship of nose Beaux was to fuse every of those eight Schwarzenegger juggernaut notes together to a shiny, strong, uncompromising, non sweet machine. Never done before, never done since. It is animalistic (civet, musk), woody-green (sandalwood, oak moss, patchouli, vetiver), creamy-smooth (amber) combined the indescribable smoky smell of non sweetened vanilla. This is like the script of Tarantino's 'Pulp Fiction': whatever happens next, you can't seriously go wrong anymore with that rock solid base. Unless you are an accountant or an ad man or a stockholder instead of a perfumer. Second general observation: no sugar! Nothing artificially sweet. The sweet whiffs are the natural 'sweet' flowers like ylang ylang. But if you want a sugar rush or smell like a lollipop with or without bling bling you have to look up the recent fragrances of chubby but photo shopped-to-death 41 year old Mariah Carey. Not Coco Chanel. Third general observation: the legendary and rich use of aldehydes in the top, that came to define this fragrance. Aldehydes are organic (so originally natural carbon) compounds that are very fragrant. Think about formaldehyde that belongs to the same family. Yes, I’ll pause here to give you the opportunity for some ‘formaldehyde-old lady wisecracks...' OK, let’s continue. Aldehydes produce an orangey, creamy, full and yet sparking fresh smell and ‘feel’ to a fragrance. And you have neroli in the top, made out of sweet orange blossoms. So everything starts with that monolithic base that gives Number 5 its weight. It is not a fresh aquatic for sure. Thankfully! But a full bodied fragrance. Killer longevity, lethal sillage, mixed and balanced like fine tuned dish of a five star chef. Opposite of the killer eight-notes-on-steroids-base, we have the quite fresh and orangey top with the orangey aldehydes, the orangey neroli, the lemon, the bergamot and to break all this too much freshness the sweet, slightly spicy ylang ylang. So we have the two opposites: super solid base versus fresh top. Clever move of nose Beaux: the solid base reinforces the aldehydes, so that the first blast of Number 5 is solid orangey, creamy aldehydes. But the rest of the fresh top chips away at this full bodied base-aldehydes combo. At this point we the accent is still on the dense side. Then the middle comes to the rescue of wearability and is the key to the unsurpassed mass appeal: flowers to brighten the heavy top-base up. Rose, lily, peppery jasmine, the flowery and woody orris root (the root of the iris flower and also used as taste-maker in the alcoholic drink gin), and the delicate lily. These flowers are like the sun that breaks through a dense cloud layer. So that the sun rays are visible but combine with the clouds a stirring combination of light and deep, contrasting colors. Neither light or dense, but in between. Like the sun that breaks through the heavy colored clouds after a rain pour or a lightning and thunder attack. And then: let the games begin! The heavy base tries to tone down the freshness of the top. The orangey aldehydes and neroli in alliance the 'fresh brigade' of bergamot and lemon put up a fierce resistance. The ylang ylang in the top collaborates with his flowery friends in the middle to make a bridge between the two opposites. The jasmine, rose, orris root, iris and lily in collaboration with the ylang ylang are strong enough to hold the base back from overthrowing and swallowing the top whole like Linda Hamilton did with Arnie Schwarzy in the 'Terminator 2' and at the same time manages to put itself between the warring base and top so that the flowery middle is clearly noticed. Killer heavy base, frisky fruity aldehydic top and steadying flowery middle: the key to Chanel 5. All this is careful orchestrated by nose Ernest Beaux. He weights the notes so that all these inner workings come alive to the fullest, but don't degenerate into an all out fight. The result is a full bodied 'weighty' and intricate fragrance that like all great classic evolves on the living skin. It is indeed a man magnet, as MM already knew too well. But because of its peculiar composition, I can imagine that people who are used to flowers-vanilla-sugar-fruit combo's are intimidated by this Grande Dame. It sure weighs in more than your average celeb five-in-a-dime frag. This is no pushover or wallflower. Nr 5 wears you, you don't wear Nr 5. But if it suits you, the result is spectacular and unforgettable. For me, Chanel Number 5 is as alive at 90 as are much younger modern classics like 'Hypnotic Poison', 'Angel' or 'Organza'. Of course it is not a fragrance that is gone after one hour, of course you don't have to reapply after one hour, of course it has balls and an own face and a stubborn personality. That's why it is a perfume benchmark. It is not generic run of the mill, it can't be interchanged with some other fragrance, it isn't cheap. But I bet you do longer with one 50 ml Nr 5 EDP than with several big bottles of fruity floral celeb juice. And that's about the same price. It is also a fragrance that young people who want to stand out from the vanilla-fruit crowd, can wear perfectly. And even more so. The combination of youth with this Grande Dame of 90 is sexy as hell, IMHO. Under 17, I wouldn't wear it, but from 18 on (which is still young in my book) it is perfect. Why don't you try a sample, then you can judge and speak with authority about the most famous and successful fragrance of all times. Dear 20 year old girl: you'll probably even like it. A lot. So live dangerously and try Chanel Nr 5. Those celeb fruity florals are so common, safe and boring! If you are used to contemporary fruit florals, if you want know what blows your socks off, try No 5. And I bet, for a bottle of Chanel nr 5 100 ml EDP, that you'll come back for more...

I remember over 20 years ago, I found a half used bottle of this in the house of a guy I was dating and moved into. It was tucked back in a closet that he said was in the house when he bought it. I was 22 at the time and said, hmmm, this is an old classic. My mom was a Youth Dew fan and I asked and she said, "It's an old lady perfume." Being an antique fan, I tried it one day after putting on St Ives Vanilla lotion (that and cinnamon oil was my scent as I used to try to be simple). Every where I went, men and women would compliment me. Terms like "Exquisite", "Divine", "Lovely", "Delicious" were used. I ended up dumping the guy and keeping the perfume. I horded it not yet able to buy. After that, I used it for special occasions and got into perfumes like Creme Bouquet, Hanoi Morie, etc. A few years later, I had a boyfriend for a few years that indulged me and bought the parfumfor me. After six years, dumped the guy, kept the scent. After that, I became good friends with a gay guy who was into classics. He and his partner purchased me a bottle on a Paris trip. Kept the scent and the guys. Years later, in my 30s, I started a 3 year relationship with a guy who didn't really like this scent so we went on these rounds to find a new scent. In hindsight, I should have known. We checked out Creed scents, Bond, etc. I hit up Sephora and my favorite sales associate, this divine gay guy who I used to lunch with. I explained my predicament. I told him of my scent history and he introduced me to Coco. I didn't like Coco Madamoiselle. I loved the richness of Coco like I did No. 5. It's comical because I ended up in the same house. I told this idiot I found it! This was around Christmas time and he wanted to buy the perfume to make it something between us. Christmastime, I opened my first gift which I knew would be the perfume. It was Coco Madamoiselle. Ugh. I explained I didn't like it. He told me the sales lady said it was more popular and that his 22 year old liked it better! This is the same guy who bought me Fantasy the year before! Then I get to the watch I wanted from Movado and it was a cheaper version. The final blow, a hot pink robe! I don't wear pink, his ex did though. To risk sounding like a snob, I spent a lot of money on this guy and his girls. That Christmas I spent over $4K on him and $500 on each of his two girls. I exchanged the perfume for Coco, he gave me $300 after returning the watch and went to Movado and spent an extra $600 on the watch I wanted. Also, I bought myself a cute ring on sale there. I wear it now stacked with the ring my hubby bought me when courting. Six months later, he gave me a necklace. Before opening, he told me he had it made and personalized. It was personalized alright...it was a name plate...with another woman's name. He tried to blame the jeweler but the woman who got my necklace contacted me. Interestingly enough, she was upset he gave her Coco instead of Coco Madamoiselle. She was the sales associate. Dumped the guy, kept the perfume. My now husband had entered the picture as a friend. He was the boy next door when I was in my early teens. When we met up, I wore No 5 on some days and Coco on the others. He loved both. He said No 5 smelled classy and said he always wants me to have both. A new description was "Intoxicating". I have the parfum, the EdP, the Eau, vintage versions, the cologne. He doesn't buy the whole daytime/nighttime/season thing either. I'm in my forties now. My nieces always tell me I smell wonderful. My stepdaughter who graduated college recently says when she gets a job, she's going to make this her signature scent. I think I'm going to get her the eau premiere this Christmas and the original next Christmas. The guy kept me and my sisters! It is a rich, deep, timeless scent. Every time I wear it, I think of my journey and how I came out on top. I feel powerful, sexy, and constant. I feel hugged by a warmth. I still get crazy compliments and love to let her play with Coco. These are my girls who stood by me through the thick and thin. I take her and Coco, scent up a paper towel and stick under my fitted sheets. Depending on which side I sleep on, she frames my dreams. I literally have the best "How do you like me now" dreams. She'll forever be in my life and my dreams.

Happy Birthday Norma Jeane AKA Marilyn Monroe I Wanna Be Loved By You No. 5 opens like a bubbly champagne at the Ritz in Paris in the 1920's. A lounge singer in a champagne colored sequined evening gown and diamond jewelry is singing by the piano. It opens as glamorous as can be. Those fizzy aldehydes go straight to your head. Neroli or orange blossom, citruses or sweet lemon juice. Delicious orange drink. There is also a brilliant golden lustre, like beads, sparkling little sequins. No wonder this was Marilyn Monroe's perfume. It suits her. The orange flower embraces a very feminine pink rose and French jasmine. That's as far as the flowers go but then the iris in a powder comes through. Now it smells exactly like talc dusting powder in Marilyn Monroe's dressing room! The kind of dressing room with her name in a star on the door, adorned with roses and where she keeps her toiletries, hand soaps powder make-up (rouge) and perfume. A floral juice for sure, but not too floral or excessive. It's elegance owes to it's simplicity. Soap does come to mind. It's a flowery soap with a sweetness and a sexiness which develops in the green and musky dry notes. As it concludes the fragrance is a bit darker with civet musk, (fear not, this is a faux fur) and an Evernia prunastri AKA oak moss. This is an herbal green dry down, soothing, soft, subtle. The perfect finale to a classic fragrance. So ultimately I will say that this is a sophisticated floral woodsy musk with soapy and powdery 'boudoir' nuances. This has been called 'mature' and your 'grandmother's' perfume but this is so classy, so beautiful, so timeless that it just has no age. You can't label this baby. To call it old means nothing. The Mona Lisa is old and it's still an icon and the most loved painting of a woman ever. She gets more visitors at the Louvre than anyone would ever want to visit you! This is the same with No. 5 it is the definition of a perfume. If you are a perfume lover especially of vintages, you cannot pass up the opportunity of at least smelling this perfume. Wearing it is like nothing else. It is a high priced Chanel fragrance so this means that as it always has been, it's an upscale, high-end well-composed perfume. This is perfection. This perfume is millions of dollars in it's aura. You made it. You're in the big leagues. You are a wealthy Cinderella, a princess, with the most beautiful gowns and jewelry. It does feel like a perfume made just for a movie star like Marilyn Monroe. It contains notes that I like and don't like but for the most part I like it. The new formula has less of the patchouli green moss stuff and the musky civet, and recreates the orignal in smaller doses. The rose and iris are the star here with a soft and very womanly embrace of flowers. I am wearing the new formula because the old one my mother used to wear was too musky and too green for me. Too strong. They have made No. 5 more of a modernized updated scent to wear as often as you like without it being too excessive. Available at every Macy's store too. It is said that Marilyn Monroe made this perfume famous although to be fair it was already well-known before she even wore it. This was a fragrance that WW 2 soldiers brought back to the US with them from Paris where it had been selling at the Chanel boutique since 1921. When Marilyn Monroe did an interview and was asked what she wore to bed, she cleverly insinuated that she went to bed in the nude but she wore a splash of perfume Chanel No. 5. This was no lie. It was confirmed when she was photographed splashing No. 5 into her bosom in front of her mirror. The perfume, like Marilyn Monroe, is an icon. As a professional Marilyn Monroe impersonator in Florida, I am proud to wear her perfume today and I will honor her as I pay tribute to her on her birthday today through song in my "Happy Birthday Mr President" flesh colored gown and lovely jewelry. My audience appreciates that I bring Marilyn Monroe back. We love you Norma and we love your perfume.

What a nice surprise this perfume suddenly is! To start with, I have never been a big Chanel fan, I never bought into the Chanel hype, I am not particularly a fan of the person of Coco Chanel because of her implications in the historical situation of her time, but I recognize her innovative thinking in terms of fashion and women emancipation. I also have to say that none in my family or circle of relatives used to wear N5, so I have no "old lady" association with this scent. This to say that I'm not biased, for me it has always been a question of I like it or I don't. First I didn't. When I was a girl, and then a young woman, I came across some samples that I tried on myself. I didn't like it – I guess it was the aldehydes, to me it smelled like Elnett hairspray, something that I still despise. I didn't understand it. But back then I also didn't appreciate good wines or double malt whiskey, which I started doing in my thirties. When I was about thirty, sitting on the motorbike behind a girl friend and holding tight on her while she drove, I smelled the most heavenly, feminine, mesmerizing scent. Once arrived the first thing I asked was what perfume was she wearing, and with my greatest surprise she replied Chanel N5. This revelation made me understand that N5 was that kind of perfumes that depend a lot on your chemistry and chemistry changes among people and it changes along the years, sometimes of days. The second step to appreciation was ten years ago when the first Eau Premiere came out. I sprayed it on my wrists and it was nice but still not irresistible enough to splurge on that. Fast forward, I don't know why I tried it again recently, first the new Eau Premiere and a week later the EDP, both times on the nape of my neck and on my wrists and so it happened. I've fallen in love and had to have it. Yes, it still has that vintage vibe, this is undeniable, but it really is extremely feminine, elegant and abstract at the same time. It is hard to describe as I really can't pick single flower notes, only the aldehydes in the beginning and then something really beautiful, warm and alluring in the following hours. In the dry down I can smell the woods, the amber and a hint of vanilla. The secret is in the dosage. Less is more. It has to be a skin scent, something that only people very close to you can perceive, other than that it can be obnoxious and repel people, especially men. My first complain is the longevity: the Eau Premiere is a bit too weak, beautiful and soft, less spicy and more vanilla, it is great in the warm weather. The Hair Mist is also very very nice, with less aldehydes but still that alluring je ne sais quoi. The bottle is also cute and it costs much less, so it is worth buying this if you are not sure yet. The EDT is sparkly and I wanted more the caress effect than the sparkle. At the end I bought the EDP for the longevity and because I wanted the original iconic bottle, although I have to say that even if the design is timeless and classy, in the hand it feels flimsy and a bit cheap, especially compared to some of my Bvulgari bottles with their heavy metallic caps. I have also tried the Parfum and although it seemed to last longer, it is really expensive. And this is my major complain, yes, the very inflated prices, and I guess that what you pay for is the image and the prestige. To conclude, I don't know if it is my taste that has developed and I have started appreciating aldehydes, or if it is something hormonal that changed with the years, or if it is that through the many reformulations the scent has been adapted to a more contemporary taste, or a little bit of everything, anyway I like it now and I very much enjoy wearing it when I feel like. But out there there are some other masterpieces that I love, older or more recent and maybe less famous, so I don't want to give N5 alone that kind of iconographical value which, in my opinion, is in big part the result of a legend, extremely good brand marketing and PR.

i have just repurchased another bottle since i was sold fakes on ebay...anyways..can i tell you how much Chanel No5 has changed in its formulation...when i was in New York and went to 34th street Macy's i believe they had an older tester..which i hate..the SA's or the Managers should know to change the testers its like lying to those buying future fragrances...so when i tried the tester No5 was enormous in scent it was 100 and i mean 100x's amplified! I couldn't swing it..i tried a resniff and still..i couldn't swing it.. It was the same scent for the most part but to a point that you couldn't wear it it was the most extreme scent i have tried in my whole life it was that strong.So it was a darker browner color believe it or not back in the day and it was stronger it was almost unbearable yet it was so unique i said ok i don't care how strong it is i want that bottle because i will work myself up to it someday because i love Chanel and the quality will be worth it...come to find out when i bought this new bottle it was closer to the fake i have..it is completely changed...it is definately more modern hence the color is wayyyy lighter and a more wearable No5.. I actually love it but can its quality compare with longevity and strength it was before?..hell no! Chanel No5 use to be a BEAST! Now it's likeable..which is ok but i don't know how you can call something the same thing if it is not even what it use to be by an extreme long run...to everyone who loves it this is no dis to you because i love it but i tell you if you find a vintage of this stuff you will see this is NOTHING like what it use to be...Most people probably wouldn't want to wear the older one which i believe is why they changed it but there is something special about leaving a classic alone..i want to enjoy the experience of another era and that's how i feel No5 is..another era..but its slowly loosing that uniqueness but maybe that is what needs to happen to get in with the times? I don't know...now i wonder will this one be even stronger then my beloved Coco...i sprayed it almost an hour ago and it already seems to be fading..i would love to buy vintage but i don't know the bottle well to ever want to go vintage because its soo duped i am afraid i would buy a fake...long live No 5 but good bye to the beast No5 use to be! Now on the flip note..is it purchase worthy? Yes..i love it..this fragrance smells amazing than before...its all about the aldehydes..its powdery..it smells like vintage soap...its floral and citrus with amber.. you can smell the cedar and cedar in this makes it smell amazing when done right it doesn't make it masculine at all...and i love the cloud i smell around me of the aldehydes with that soapy smell..when it hits my nose it feels really nice...it is really special for a night out on the town..or something extremely serious..or if daring enough for the serious business woman who doesn't care...or if you don't care period..to lavish yourself when you are at home or wherever you want..she is bold and daring and definitely in your face..you can't work No5 she works you...

Chanel No 5 is actually one of the perfumes which open up the door to the world of perfumes to me. Glad that I started with this perfume, and I’ve got the Parfum version (because I find the edt or edp quite different), and it’s an instant “wow, it’s intriguing, and not bad or old-lady smell at all”, despite the fact that floral aldehyde isn’t my usual taste. The bergamot blended so well with sensual ylang ylang and many other notes, with a touch of ylang infused, relaxed-in-luxuary feel of aldehyde. Later on, it gets rounder; the citrusy begarmont combo gradually wears off, and left a more relaxed, and self-assured concoction on me, it feel like been wrapped around by white chiffon clothes, not exactly cuddly or cozy (like some of the vanilla perfumes evoke), but comfy enough to make me feel like a carefree teenager princess in the 17th or 18th; yet still with a touch of elegance and a low-key beauty, like some little piece of gorgeous renaissance arty accessories/deco in a modern day study. Then the warm, cosy, slightly velvet feel of musk and other ingredients combo kicks in, and it feels like a pair of nice soft vintage gloves. While I generally hate the presence of leather in my perfumes, the leather here, along with other “animal” notes which I don’t normally like, just blended in a lovely fashion and I simply adore it out of half craving for nostalgic comfy scent, and half just the enjoyment of the scent itself. Every now and then, from the cozy animal nots combo, there’s a certain kind of ivory soap smell becomes relatively more dominant, but it’s quite shy and hides for a bit, then comes back. Somehow, despite the conventional ‘heavy’ and glamorous associations I have with Chanel No 5, I find somehow from another point of view, it’s just like a nice blanket perfume, or a supportive friend there for you. No wonder I read it somewhere, something like this: “in the turning point of a woman’s life, when she doesn’t know what to wear, she can always turn to Chanel No 5...”. Since I’ve tried a bit of those big scents with similar feel to Chanel No.5, I once thought No.5 is just a “yes that’s nice”, but somewhat when I come back and rediscover it, I find that there’s a certain character inside No.5, which is so gracefully there, while absent in some other big guns like Fracas, Tobacco Blond, Trouble...(not saying these are not nice scents). Maybe it’s the inner strength of No.5 makes it a legendary perfume which is still popular today. From my heart, I would recommend everyone Chanel No.5 Parfum; but my logic tells me, well, I hate to say this, but...maybe, in public, not those under 25 (yes it includes me, I feel the strange looks when once I was wearing No.5 to uni, I guess nowadays people expect certain group of people to smell like certain things), and this is purely because the certain social association with Chanel No.5 is mainly made up of imagines of those more mature woman and mostly quite successful in some way. Highly recommend to try the Parfum :-)

I was at the mall today and I decided to set myself to the daunting task that every perfume lover must do at least once in her or his life: try Chanel N°5. For it is daunting indeed, because what do you do if you happen to dislike her? Ignore her and carry on? Really? She is History! She is the true start of western perfumery AND she is still as popular as she was when she was released, if not more. No, I think everyone should at least try to appreciate her. If the combination of notes doesn't suit you, that's fine, you can't help it, but look at the artistry of the perfume, at the craftsmanship, the sheer COMPLEXITY of this fragrance. N°5 must have been reformulated a thousand times and she's probably just a pale shadow of her former glory, but she's still one of the most unique and complex non-niche fragrances out there. What does that say about the fragrance market nowadays...? So, here's my impression of the great Classic (FYI, I'm 20 and Thierry Muglers Alien is my favourite scent) Chanel N°5 opens with her famous sparkly aldehydes, so fresh and feminine at the same time. After some time she becomes very very soapy, but in a luxurious soap way. She also has some creamy undertones and this scent, ladies and gentlemen, is an "old lady scent". Oh yes it is, and rightly so. N°5 is a classic that can be worn be women of all ages. Women who were young when this perfume was released, women, who grew up in the years after her release, those women chose to wear Chanel N°5 and kept doing so as they grew older, because she never gets boring, and you never grow too old to wear her. So yes, when you go to the doctor and happen to sit next to an elder lady in the waiting room who has just doused herself in N°5 before she went out the door, this luxurious soapy floral scent with creamy tones is what you will smell. But this is not the whole story of Chanel N°5. The creamy undertones slowly turn slightly dirty, quite animalic because of the civet and the soapy florals become creamy, so creamy, soft and powdery at the same time. The scent of class. I love this scent, she's rather naughty I think. She's clean and feminine, powdery and elegant, but she also has a very distinctive "raunch" to her. She is not just an elegant lady, no, she is a lady who knows the ways of this world. Chanel N°5 is undeniably old fashioned. She just reeks of vintage. She even smells of vintage stores without the dusty smell, of clean yet dirty clothes. One day, this beautiful, elegant flacon will be mine, but right now, I'm not ready yet. N°5 overwhelms me with her history and memories and seems to wear me, rather than I'm wearing her.

This should be the ultimate classic,vintage perfume of all time. I don't understand the term ''old-lady'' that many of you characterize this perfume. Well... If ''old-lady''means something old,tacky,gross,banal this perfume is no way old-lady. But... If when you say''old-lady'' you think of a woman in her 50's,elegant,feminine,sophisticated,classy,well- educated,with refined jewlerry,red lipstick,medium blonde hair, pencil black skirt and tight white shirt with black heels, hell yes, this could mean ''old-lady''!! Although I am not a lover or hater of this scent, I recognize its value and uniqueness. It's timeless, sophisticated,feminine, clean,unique and aristocratic. You should not be in a specific age to love this. I have a friend who is 19 and dies for Chanel 5. As the time goes by, this is not going to lose its value. It is different from the modern gourmands, that's the reason that many young women finds this dated and old-fashioned. But the fact that it's old- fashioned makes it outstanding and different. There is no way for you to wear this and not get compliments or feel invisible. This perfume makes a statement and makes you appear serious to the others,yet feminine and charming. The smell: I basically smell soap. Pure soap. A soap which can be found at the bathroom of a luxurious hotel. The aldheydes play a big role for this smell. Flowers are also recongnizable. It's undoubtedly well -blended and refined. Of course it has been reformulated and lost a little of its longevity but it still has a very godd projection. The bottle is simple yet aristocatic. The price however,it's hight but I think it deserves every penny.Do not blindbuy cause it reacts differently to each skin. The aldheydes are amplified at specific skin types. The season/occassion: I find it more appropriate for fall and winter wear,especially for nightime. But I would still rock it daytime sprayed always with moderation. It would be perfect for special occassions,nights out, dates,e.t.c. To conclude... Personally, I think this scent it's not for me(yet!). I am 24 and I think this would not fit my style, I can't support the magnificent which this perfumes gives. Also, the scent is too soapy for me(I mostly prefer sweet gourmands or vanilla orientals). But I do love Coco Mademoiselle as it's a crowd pleaser and more wearable for most women. However, I do appreciate this classic masterpiece and I recommend everywoman-if not buy- at least smell this masterpiece!!!I now understand why the legendary lady Marilyn Monroe wore this!!!That's how the scent of a real lady should be :)

Personal story: I was a child in the 80s (born 1980), and my mother had Chanel no. 5 on her vanity along with Oscar by Oscar de La Renta. By the time she ran out of Oscar and we bought her a bottle of Amarige, the Chanel had disappeared. Funny thing though, I don't remember my mother wearing it or smelling like it. I always stole her Oscar to sniff and spray, but I never sprayed Chanel no. 5. I remember being too scared to spray it - I'm not sure why. I had acquired a miniature of Shalimar when I was 8 or 9, and I never wore that either, but its scent from the bottle held the promise of a romantic adventure I couldn't yet anticipate. Chanel 5, too, was a bit of a mystery, but it was also austere, slightly condescending. Recently, I tested Chanel no. 5 EDT and EDP at The Bay. It seemed to be the very same perfume as long ago, and I felt unbelievably comforted by the scent. The condescension is gone; in its place is warmth and earthly delight. I'm saving my pennies for the largest bottle of the EDP. Comparison of Chanel 5 Parfum, with Vintage Extrait: There seems to be more sillage and strength in the vintage. There are far more aldehydes - the opening is filled with fuzz and fizz. The rose is dominant, smoothed out by ylang ylang and iris. The citrus accord in the vintage doesn't diminish quickly and still provides a sweet contrast to the animalic civet that warms throughout the heart. The aldehydes create a very "clean" impression, which in turn require the civet to bring it back to earth. Sweetpea1616 has also reviewed the vintage extrait and explains the performance perfectly. The Parfum is slightly vanillic right off the top. The aldehydes fade quicker and ylang ylang dominates instead of rose. While the amber and jasmine play throughout the heart, there is a woody depth. The vintage is sweeter, brighter, airier, stronger, and has a stronger animalic accord. The Parfum is woody and smooth. It's aldehydes are faint compared to the vintage, which is saying something. Consequently it seems more dense - darker but still polite. I'm surprised by the amount of vanilla, now, in comparison, but not put off. They are both among the most beautiful and dreamy perfumes I've ever smelled. After this comparison, I still prefer Chanel EDP *and* EDT to the parfum because they both deliver the goods at a lower price. (I don't care for Chanel 5 Elixir Sensuelle because to me it smells and behaves just like the Chanel 5 body cream, and Eau Premiere doesn't have the animalic note or the strength I want. I haven't tried the EDC but I'm not interested.)

I first closely encountered Chanel No5 a few years ago, when my husband gave me a big bottle of it for my birthday as a surprise present. As soon as I sprayed, I found myself running to the bathroom, soaping and scrubbing away...I could not believe that this was the most famous perfume in the world!(?) And how could Marylin Monroe wear this impossible stink ..to bed and literally bathe in it?? "Ah, well, silly me - I was 21 at the time", I thought to myself recently and decided to give it a try again as I was growing older. I was very lucky to get myself a bottle of an EDT by an accident and here's where the major revelation came... The first bottle which sent me in shock was an EDP! I could remember its aroma of staleness very well, a clumsy artificial monster crawling out of the old closet. Perfumes: The Guide reassured my guess that these two perfumes ARE different. As my tastes and life experience is growing, I do still think that edp is a mishap. NOW, EDT is a milky-powdery peachy aldehydic heaven, a beautiful abstract bouquet of anonymous luxurious flowers - according to Gabrielle Chanel - a fragrance which is "artificial" and feels like a dress you can actually wear, a separate entity. It's earthy but doesn't smell like anything on earth. Verdict: Even though I feel like something is missing in this particular perfume, overall roundness maybe, depth? - I can still call Chanel No5 EDT the timeless epitome of class and femininity. UPDATE: Ladies, before dissmissing # 5 altogether, please try to test it in a pure parfum concentration. I am now a proud owner of a few bottles from different ages and the vintage stuff is especially GRAND. I'm almost ready to toss my entire collection for this absolutely perfect piece of ART. I won't write anything about it, as it is impossible to describe - you have to experience it for yourself. If you wish to know what is finest of the finest in the world, this is class in the bottle if you ever wondered how to jump up the social ladder at least in your imagination... I believe N5 was originally meant to be enjoyed as PP. As a matter of fact, it was composed by a Frenchman Beaux born and raised in Moscow, Imperial Russia and is a remake of his first perfume composition "Buket Ekateriny" - "Bouquet de Catherine" 1913 - another true fit for an Empress. It was meant to be worn by the queens, but thanks to Coco we can have it too 97 years later.

I've been holding off with writing this review. There isn't much to add. But I've decided to do it anyway, especially as the EDP variant seems to get less love than the others. It's said to be a fairly new concentration and formulation that falls short of the "original". I had no negative associations or prejudices like some who have been converted to No 5. But I did think it couldn't possibly be as grand as its reputation. Sampling it proved me very wrong. I fell for it completely at the first test. I can't really single out any notes, after all it's created in such a way that you shouldn't. I would now describe it as the artistic fragrant rendition of bitter orange marmalade enhanced with deeper notes and dark vanilla in the base. It is easily suitable for the most glamourous events as well as the perfect comfort scent. The sales assistants weren't very helpful when I bought it. I simply settled for the EDP (which I had tested) thinking it was better value than EDT and more affordable than parfum. Nobody wasted a word on possible differences. After reading many comments here, I had to start a study of my own. The glowing recommendations made me quite keen to know the EDT. It's strange that two scents can be so similar and still have such different personalities. Unlike the darker richness of the EDP, the EDT is far more floral and prim. Despite my dislike of prejudice it's very obvious why it might be associated with older or uptight women or innocent girls. With all due respect, thank you, but no thank you. The parfum starts similar to the EDP but with a strong "chemical" artificial quality that I really like. The problem is that it doesn't settle into the warmer base notes properly, it stays fairly clinical. For me a fragrance has to fade out with warm comfortable notes, just like the comfortable tiredness after a great evening out. The result of my study is that the EDP is not only the best for me, it's the only version of No 5 I need. I can appreciate the love of vintages when something has such an impressive history. But as I've learned with other perfumes, hunting for vintages can be frustrating and stressful. So I'm delighted to find that what I have is the best possible match for me.

If you're looking for the No. 5 that Marilyn Monroe wore you need to look for the EAU DE COLOGNE vintage original formula which was big on civet. This new version has been reformulated for today's crowd of soft inoffensive fragrances with - yes you guessed it, either a lot of amber or vanilla. The original was very musky. Its flowers were faint and mostly had iris jasmine and rose but it never became a floral fragrance. This new one wears more like a floral-amber and they at least kept the strong aldehyde opening. It's the aldehydes that make you feel like you're wearing a Chanel perfume, but don't think that for one moment that means you're classy or you know something about perfume because all fragrances ranging from cheap to expensive have alcohol in it. The Chanel aldehydes s aren't really any different from the Avon aldehydes. The difference is in the heart to base notes as it starts to dry down. Usually a very expensive Chanel has a woodsy amber dry down. But the original No. 5 was an animal that you found in the forest and took home with you. It's a sexy little creature that takes over your bedroom. I find this new version as more of a lingerie fragrance or even a foreplay fragrance. A lot of guys don't know anything about fragrances so they assume that because you're wearing No. 5 you're classy and smell great and so they'll want to have sex with you? LOL..This isn't even romantic to me. The new version is not a gourmand either but it is one of these new type of clean smelling amber fragrances with aldehyde start. I'm on to you Chanel! And this new version is just so unlike the original that it makes me sick. You need to get the EAU DE COLOGNE. And you have to be ok with civet. Please try the original civet perfume from the 1940s 1950's thats the one Marilyn was wearing. If you truly want to be as sexy as Marilyn Monroe that is.

What can I say about Chanel no 5? First of all- I used to hate it so much few years ago and had no idea what people find in it. Of course, I made biggest mistake spraying it on blotter in store. First impression- what a repulsive smell! So I bought Coco Mademoiselle instead. After finishing 100 ml bottle of it, I was sick and tired of it, and was in mood for something refined, classy, but with character. I decided to give Number 5 another chance, but this time, instead of spraying edp, I used a tiniest dap of pure parfum. I tried not to smell it right away and waited for some time for scent to diffuse. When I finally decided to smell it, I fall in love with it! That I instantly bought it in extrait form. I wear it all the time. I don't believe that this scent is only for special occasions, or one must be dressed up to wear it. Nonsense! I'm wearing it everywhere, even to gym. Of course dosage is very important, so less is more. After wearing Chanel 5 in pure parfum, I bought it in edp and edt. And I love each and every concentration of it, but my favorite will always be pure parfum one. It's so gentle, buttery, flowery, soft and intelligent fragrance! But it does take time to learn to appreciate it. Little tip for Chanel lovers- it is possible to find vintage Chanel 5 at Antique shops and malls. Also estate sales. It's the only reason I go there just to look for vintage Chanel 5. I do believe vintage concentration is little different from current one, I have both, and I love them both equally. What else can I say? I put tiny dab of it on my wrists before I go to sleep. It's so peaceful and beautiful, and I want to smell it all the time. Also, I don't believe it's for some specific age groups, I just turned 30 and I love it. It's about how one feels in a given moment. If you feel like wearing it, just wear.

Chanel 5 like many other fragrances has had the same destiny: many ingredients no more available, many restrictions a lot of human greediness money, money, money... Unlike many other masterpieces from the past, Chanel 5 - according to me - has not been destroyed completely. Yes, Midnight50 you are right "go to the Osmoteque" and open your nostrils (this is mine!) but when talking about fragrances especially the oldest one (Bois, de l'Ile; Femme; the more recent Diorissimo or Habanita) it is a scott we have to pay. I used to use Loulou by Cacharel in '87 but, the one I have had the silly idea to smell recently was.... what? A ... but NOT my Loulou and I'm not talking about Shalimar or l'Heure Bleu being them so old it is impossible to have them as they used to (for me, despite all the reformulations are still beautiful!) unless you take your risk and go looking for any "vintage". After some years - especially - more "commercial" fragrances are all reformulated: do you remember Giorgio Beverly Hills? Same sad destiny, but Giorgio is very cheap now (I recognize honesty after all!) whereas it was really expensive in Europe many years ago when it was my signature frag! C.5, after all, has been reformulated while using great ingredients, it's a "subject" in its "camaleontic" aspect which can still communicate with the market, and despite old aunts, Marilyn, or "Sex in the city" I consider it a good quality fragrance. Yes, there is also a lot of persuasion but...when your fragrance is done with first rate materials there is a chance also to educate even the most careless nose only asking for food, in disguise, as gourmand, yummy yummy, fatty-fatty would-be-so-called perfume! And please leave Mr Turin (and his wife) alone: he/them is/are not God! ;)

This review is for the vintage 1970's pure parfum. I was so excited to open my bottle and as soon as I cracked the seal and opened the stopper, there was a huge blast of scent coming from the bottle and I knew I had something strong and powerful! A couple drops is all I needed. I wanted to compare the vintage with something modern but all I had was the current formula of the EDP. With the vintage on one wrist and the current formula EDP on the other, the vintage was by far the clear winner. The modern version seemed very bright, aldehydic, a bit screechy even, and although the drydown was nice and still had the same "feeling", it just seemed so inadequate in comparison. The vintage was so much deeper, richer, and fuller, and blended better with my natural skin scent. The progression was smoother and it took quite some time to get to the drydown. Once the base notes really emerged, hours later, the scent was still very strong but so soft, warm, skin-like, a bit earthy and with a slight sandalwood and vanilla feel, although you can't really pick out individual notes, as the blending is impeccable. Just gorgeous. I really never liked this scent, to be honest, but I realized that the reason was I did not like the current formula and I had no idea the vintage would be so much better. I also think the vintage is more versatile and doesn't smell quite as "mature" as the current formula. Therefore, if you feel that this scent feels too "old" for you, you might try the vintage. It's more sexy and classy, and less "classy grandma", IMO. Overall I am VERY pleased with the scent. Sillage is only moderate, but that's probably because I just dabbed it on. Longevity, however, is phenomenal! What a great buy. I am very lucky to have found this bottle.

I wasn't ever going to review this because there are already tons of reviews, lots of contention, and really what hasn't already been said? But whatever, I've been wearing this alot lately and here's my take. I wish Fragrantica would change the write up for this, because, the classic bottle withstanding, Chanel No 5 EDP was created in 1986 by Jacques Polge. It is a super faithful rendition, respectful formulation of No 5 for sure (the whole--'smells like a woman thing'--indeed I have smelled the extrait, not vintage though) but to me it is still a child of the 80s, if perhaps Coco Chanel had lived that long. No 5 in EDP to me reminds me of the smell of every grooming product a woman could possibly use. I remember watching my friends cousins beauty rituals in askance, back in 1984, when I was 6 or 7 years old, thinking...Oh my is this what I'm going to have to do every day when I turn 18? The hair curling irons, the hair spray, the scented lotions, the skin toners, the tons of makeup, the copious sprays of perfume, and when they were finally done with it all (it seemed to take forever) they would go out on the back deck and smoke a Parliament cigarette. So that's what it smells like...hairspray, soaps, floral lotions, jasmine face creams, lipstick and face powder, musk, the intense, excited scent of 3 people getting ready in a small bathroom, a hint of skank and musk (hence why you need to smoke a cigarette when you've finished with your coiffure & makeup.) On my skin the base notes are a beautiful sandalwood, musk, and a kind of soapy amber... I like this a lot. My bottle is from the early 90's, I think, and it is a lot richer, denser, and has a much better drydown than what is on the shelf today.

Well I just have been doing some experimenting with various iterations of Chanel #5, a longtime favorite of mine and definitely one of my signatures- so I’m very familiar with its progression, initial blast and drydown. This website informed me about the 2010 reformulation requirements, and I’m very dismayed. Anyway I have tried it recently at the department store and picked up some samples. Then I ordered an EDP from ebay that was only $34- I may return it because it smells off and not what I remember. I also ordered a super vintage (80’s?) EDT still new in its box and sealed. ANYWAY THIS is the shit. It is simply heavenly and tugs at my heart strings. I can’t describe it but it’s quite strong- stronger than the current EDP’s which also didn’t give me the familiar 5 kick! Other people write so eloquently about perfumes here at fragrantica- picking out notes etc- I only know what I like and a few essential oil notes are familiar to me- but I don’t know what oakmoss or galbanum smell like for example.. I know rose, vetiver, violet, cedar, sandalwood.. I have an idea what oudh and amber and tonka smell like but really not sure. All I know is certain compositions really move me, and I thank God for ebay! It is so fun I was able to score a pristine vintage # 5 for 1/3 the price of a new, more mediocre bottle! Ok- I’m obsessed! Well at least I have a new project- to do paintings of the perfume bottles I am collecting! Anyway I now have received a 60’s unopened parfum extrait, from Ebay of course, and I just encourage anyone to try to find some- it’s pretty easy and not that expensive! Ancient bottles of liquid gold for $35-$70 and I didn’t encounter a fight for it.

Many reviews that say you need to wait for the dry down to get the real beauty of this and I agree. That being said, I personally have never really been bothered by it, and after wearing it for so long, I have actually come to really enjoy that smell, but most other people aren’t into the initial blast of aldehydes, so if you can, I’d recommend waiting till people aren’t around to spritz yourself. When I’m home alone I practically bath myself in it just so I can get a super strong dry down faze (totally unnecessary since 1 spray blasts people away :p but it’s just for me). My clothes will smell like No5 until I get around to washing them, even if it’s a garment that has gotten lost under the bed for months. The dry down is exactly like what people say it is: Old fashion Victorian era soap, but the best one imaginable, like that, but seriously at least 3X as good. The best way I can describe it is talcy, musky, floral, classy, elegant, clean skin. The first time I smelled No5 was from a vintage soap bar I had found, when I was in High School, at my boyfriend’s grandma’s house that we were cleaning out after she had died. I loved collecting floral European bar soaps and putting them in my clothing drawers to scent my clothing, and this was by far the best one I’d ever smelled, so I asked if I could have it, and soon after, I went out and bought a full bottle of it. It’s in a tie for my favorite perfume of all time with Portrait of a Lady.

I have smelled the spray version and thought yuck, what is all the fuss about?? Until now... My Mum has an old stash of pure perfume rollerballs bought by my Dad in either the late 80's to early 90's including Poison, Lou Lou, Knowing and a dozen other classics which I asked her to bring out of the cupboard so I could have a sniff. I put this on myself today and I literally swooned, this is absolutely exquisite and to be honest, this pure vintage perfume is the ONLY way I could wear this. Absolutely sensational perfume! As someone else mentioned, this can only be worn by a certain individual as I am sure this would not smell could on everybody due to it's complex composition and due to people's different chemistry I think it's a real hit-or-miss perfume . Like I said above, the perfume spray on me is horrible, but the pure perfume is perfection. I don't find this old-lady in any way, is has tremendous staying power and this perfume screams I'm classy without even trying. I wish my mum would pass this on to me, but alas she is keen on keeping them (as she also wears the Chanel no5 perfume spray). I was so surprised how much I enjoyed the soapy fresh-floralness of this perfume, I couldn't stop sniffing my wrist thinking every time :Is this really me wearing Chanel no5??" :D (this coming from someone who tends to always gravitate towards overly sweet scents haha)

Ok, it's not that I'm not discerning or just can't afford it. I just don't find No. 5 THAT appealing. I like aldehydes but not in mass like this. Why would I pay that much for a frag that I think is just so-so? I probably wouldn't even use it much as is, I would layer it. It's true I like "cheap" perfume because I am a hopeless artist and love to mess with stuff. I do buy crazy expensive scents but it's always something I can work with. Recently I've spent a small fortune on a collection of raw ambergris, real natural essential oils like rose otto, sandalwood, oud and more. Also tinctures of castoreum, civet, ambergris and musk. This collection is frivolous at best because I'm not a REAL perfumer! (yet... maybe) Anyway I wouldn't mind having the vintage No. 5 just to say I have it but as you can see I would rather spend on other things. As for keeping my nose up-to-date well that's what testers and samples are for! I have a theory as to why so many hate this. There isn't just one reason. This perfume is famous and I read that so many people say they "WANT" to or "HAVE" to love this and upon trying or buying it discover they: 1. are unhappy with the staying power on the reformulation 2. are sensitive to the subtle differences in the reformulation 3. hate aldehydes 4. don't hate it but don't love it and are offended by the price of a "just okay" perfume.

I've noticed such variations in scents for the same concentration. In particular, with the eau de parfum sometimes the scent varies in sweetness and musk - this can make or break your decision. The same is true regardless of the similar year of production. Enough for me to have sold a couple of bottles as the muskiness was too much for me. I never forget the one i had a few years ago which was cakey powdery and recently managed to get hold of the similar scent but its weaker (due to the reformulations). The eau de toilette has also variations bearing in mind that this applies with batches of the past 5 years. I have an amazing smelling bottle from 2013 versus the same year of another bottle. The latter is colder and lacks the golden warmth of the former one. The parfum has never worked for me - i only tried in the department stores about 9yrs, 5yrs and 2 yrs ago. One of them were amazing but the other two were cold and just didnt appeal nor work magic on my skin. The scent of the eau de parfum and if its that lovely sweeter batch, is my holy grail of all powder scents. Just wish it had mega sillage and am curious to compare with all versions in the vintage formulation. Would love to hear your thoughts which vintage version is the sweetest powder scent.

Chanel No5 is a "classic" smell, no doubt about it. Smelling it now in 2014, I am impressed with how "wintry" it smells, and I literally think that it had more allure before the days of air-conditioning. It was a way for a woman to suddenly feel all cool and composed... when temperatures around her were hot, humid and stifling. (READ: it spelled a welcome moment when a woman was NOT working). With the advent of air-conditioning, I'm not sure we quite get why that snowy, artificial sheen was so winning. It also must be said, as others have pointed out here, that the pure parfum (and also the vintage formulations of EDT and EDP) were richer and warmer, not nearly so powdery/chilly/aldehyded as current versions are. The vintage EDT actually has a whole life of wood, smoke, fruit and flower before the aldehydes even kick in. Me, I use No. 5 today when I want to wear something which smells like NOTHING in nature quite does; Mme. Chanel said she wanted No.5 to smell "Artificial, yes! As artificial as a new dress!", and synthetics smelled dazzlingly new in 1921. Maybe less so today. I think my favorite moment in No.5's development... is when the lemon note in the head segues down into that accord of ylang-ylang and an indolic jasmin.

No idea who's review offended you so much balzac lol.. But I have to agree with the person a tiny bit. To me it smells like an old lady living in her old attic apartment. It reeks vintage. I'm not saying its a bad frag. I like it on my gran, it will always remind me of her, of the grey hair and red lipstick and china porcelain. But I also think its quite overrated. Is a timeless classic, BUT... I would never buy this for myself unless in 50+ ish... 100 people will like 100 diff fragrances. I am a fashion addict and adore Chanel, i also love their other fragrances, but not this... I understand why it's so popular, as there wasn't that much to choose from in the past, but nowadays, many fragrances are being developed that are better in my opinion than the old originals. Many fashion conscious people buy this only because its the original Chanel, and they are trying to like it... And that's the truth about all things style.. Many things depend on people's memories as well. I personally wouldn't want to smell like an old lady that used this all her life but its just my subconsciousness. Can't help it. But I can definitely see why so many adore this. But it's also not for everyone.

This current version makes me sad. The current Eau de Parfum. I do love the older version-but sadly this modern one just doesn't bear all that much in memory to its predecessor. I bought the Eau de Parfum at Macy's, only to sell it within six months. I remember that in my youth that it evoked to those "Circus Peanuts" -do they still make those? These candies were large, peanut-shaped and colored a bright orange My take at the time was like so many-I wanted a bottle only because of it's storied history. It simply couldn't be THAT bad since it had been in production since the early part of the 20th century. Then it happende. I went from simply appreaciating it to straight loving it. Chanel is just terrible at reformulating their masterpieces. Like another fragrantican said about Coco becoming a hollowed out shell,the same can be said about #5 and probably the rest. Just another reminder of what a lousy time it is to be a classics loving perfumista Somtime I will repurchase, but it will be the Parfum or the vintage version of it. Until then, I will buy the ParfumsBelcam version of it, which is deeper and richer than the current Chanel version for um, peanuts.

This has been reformulated far too many times (I despise the EU and IFRA interfering with masterpieces and memories!). It is still a classic and very gorgeous. The EDT had better lasting power on me personally but I am going to test the EDP again. It does have a shaving soap dry down mixed with a powdery quality (on moi). I enjoyed that aroma but some ladies may not appreciate that metrosexual quality. I do not mean that I smell masculine or even want (no!) just that there is an undefinable gentleman/lady quality. A very Victor/Victoria fragrance! I immediately think of Catherine Deneuve and her gorgeous hair and perfect beauty. So French and so effortlessly chic. Just like the indomitable perfume. The fragrance is warm yet not approachably so...not as warm as Coco but much more mature than Chanel's recent offerings. Very powdery and animalistic but not bold. The florals and sweeter notes seemed faded. It still has a vintage makeup smell that is delightful to me. This perfume really chooses whom it shall wear and may turn unsavory with the wrong chemistry. On the right lady it is tres chic and as gorgeous as a carousel in the snow.

During a clear out of my parents house recently I found a small glass miniature bottle of Chanel No 5 that I had 30 years ago, still in its little white and black box. I was so excited to find this especially because there was still some perfume in it. Either it had been preserved in perfect conditions or the recipe back then was so sublime it stood the test of time. I opened it and smelled liquid heaven. This is best of the super league scents and nothing I have ever had since can beat this. Some have come close but this finds another gear to push it above the rest. Although it has always been my favourite scent I didn't really appreciate how perfect it was until I 'matured'. My current bottle of modern Chanel No5 is definitely missing a certain 'je ne sais quoi' that has been removed in its reformulation. Vintage No5 grabs you at first sniff, the modern version takes a few minutes to find itself. Vintage stays around forever, modern stays for a good while but then decides to leave earlier than its older relation. Vintage has more kick to it. Modern floats a bit lighter. I will have to treasure the few drops I have left.

One word, classic. This is the smell of a classic lady, and by classic I do not mean old. I am 22 and adore this fragrance. I received the 1.7 ounce EDP for my birthday in August and fell in love. It works perfectly with my chemistry. It also changes with body temperature, and oddly enough smells amazing when I sweat. Kind of gross I know. As much as I love the modern version of Chanel no 5, I craved to know what a vintage smells like. I began searching ebay for an authentic classic and ended up getting a wonderful deal. I won a bid on an almost full perfume from what I can tell if from the 60's or 70's. I received it today and wow, it is amazing! It smells slightly different that the modern. Softer, yet stronger at the same time. One drop surrounded me with an intoxicating fragrance that is perfectly timeless. My mother who is sensitive to perfume instantly commented on how nice I smell as soon I saw her, which never really happens. I recommend finding a vintage if you can, especially if you don't like the modern. For me I'm using my EDP for almost everyday use, and my vintage for special occasion.

This USED to be a stunningly beautiful, timeless, classic fragrance. And it still is, if you buy a vintage bottle. Do not bother buying a new bottle dated from the year 2015 or onward. It is a shadowy ghost of its former self, devoid of all luxury and the rich, sparkling expansiveness it used the possess. Basically, it smells like someone took the old no. 5 formula and added straight up tap water to it. Longevity and sillage are both abysmal. I truly advise people not to judge this scent based on the newer bottles available, but to instead buy an older miniature bottle to test. I still believe no. 5 is an elegant and classy scent. I just no longer believe it is worth the money that Chanel is demanding for it-- not until they come up with a reformulation that at least approximates what the vintages smell like and performs adequately. Honestly, I can say this about basically every post 2015 Chanel scent, and it is a damn shame. Note- I will repost this if it is deleted. Just because a review is negative does not mean it does not deserve to be heard.

I know this is such a classic and everybody should like it (at least those with good taste) My mom loves No. 5! But I don't particularly enjoy this perfume. It's very powdery to my nose. The jasmine is very prominent and there's a citrus soap-like smell (maybe the aldehydes?). This is what I imagine "Vintage" to smell like. I prefer the dry down to the opening. However, describing it as a "baby powder" or "granny perfume" is rude! Although I don't like it, I can appreciate its sophistication. This is not your grandma at the family reunion wearing pearls. This is a rich mature lady wearing diamonds at the casino playing poker. It sits very close to the skin. On me, lasts about 3 hours. I prefer to spray it on clothes when they should be washed but I want to get one more wear out of them, haha! I've noticed enhanced longevity and projection when I do that. It's definitely a reference point in the perfume world and whether you like it or not, it will forever reserve its spot.

ok ok ok. I said a lot of mean things about poor old No. 5 recently, like that it smells like a musty old room (which it does) or stale sweat covered in perfume but I got to smell my grandmother's vintage bottle today and WOW WOW WOW, THAT is what I remember grandma smelling like! There's not much left in her old bottle, the florals seem to have really sweetened over the years and gives it a lovely sweet powdery vanillic effect. The aldehydes also seem to have mellowed with time but are definitely still present, and dare I say pleasant! I dunno what happened but grandma's bottle of eau de parfum was SO much better and sweeter than the new bottle I smelled in the store the other day! I actually thought this to be a pretty, even beautiful scent for the first time in my life today and I will always associate it with my beautiful, glamorous grandmother. Conclusion: GET A VINTAGE. Seriously. I didn't know what I was missing! These new formulas are ghosts of their former selves.

When I was a teen I hated this perfume- to my naive nose it was nasty, cheap and above all "old". Pensioner perfumified. My grandmother passed away in 2004 and I inherited more or less a wholesale lot of No 5. EDT, EDP and 30ml of Parfum. All unused gifts. I tried desperately to like it but, whatever formulation, I just couldn't stick it and would try (and fail) to scrub it off not an hour after application. Then something happened, at the grand old age of 24 I had a No.5 epiphany. What once seemed musty and ancient now represented a beautiful, complicated, comforting femininity. I'd stop short of saying I have become addicted but I can't get enough. Unfortunately I have no idea of the vintage of the products I have in order to meaningfully review each but the EDT is definitely more "powdery" and softer- as you might expect and the parfum is as exquisite as a No. 5 aficionado might anticipate. In three words- Classy, Feminine, Comforting.

after having some No5 and left them now back to 5 again here is what in my mind: 5 EDT Vintage is more amber in the drydown, reading from an article it's also more about sandalwood. 5 EDT today has a sharp clean undertone, it's like one of my EDP Vintage, they all share the cleanness, my EDP Vintage after that one is more close to today's EDP, beside aldehydes it's tempered by flowers with a hint of tender fruity. I think today's 5 EDT took the idea of one time EDP Vintage, and EDP today changed to be more flowery. 5 Perfum Vintage is darker, impressed by heavy aldehydes with a hint of civet-thing but not very long lasting, among my No5s EDT Vintage has the most lasting power and the drydown is more creamy than clean, like an amber for years on end. seeing the rose is more voted than on the other No5 pages I think it's for yesterday 5's vivid untamedness. so end my 5 story, I can leave it to time again.

An iconic perfume, right down to the legendary "ƆC" wax seal. Potent in the most feminine of ways. Though the fragrance still confuses me-- it reminisces a vintage aura, something we might call "grandmothery". However, when mixed with the right chemistry, on the right occasion, a woman might feel drenched in naked sophistication and sexiness. Good in the bedroom or for a classy Monroe-esque sleep in the sack, if you're unsure a larger audience will take to it. ON SCENT: The first thing you'll smell is a case-full of baby powder. It's intensely powdery and dry. Then it's musky and floral, but not very citrus-ey in my opinion. ON THE BOTTLE: Iconic, simple. ON PRICE: It's Chanel...about $65.00-$130.00 for a 1.2 Fl. OZ to 3.4 Fl. OZ. bottle. Cream, powder, soap, and cleanser run $25-$80. BOTTOM LINE: A perfume staple in French and American collections alike. For older ladies or sophisticated youth.

Chanel no5 has travelled a long way with me. She's been there in laughter and in tears, in good times when she's complimented the moment and in bad times when she's lifted me from the floor and given me the strength to continue! I wear her as does my drag alter ego ... she's as familiar as a comfortable pair of suede stiletto's and many times more elegant. She can be fun and tomboyish ... and equally easily play the cold hearted bitch. Please ladies, don't harbour the disillusion that she belongs to you ... take it from a guy ... there are many of us (and some a lot more masculine than I ... LOL) who wear this with great success! I personally prefer the EDP but have recently afforded myself the opportunity of stepping up to the plate and purchasing the vintage extrait formulation. I can't wait for it to arrive. I've been working up to this for 25 years :o) ... it's gonna be MAGNIFI-SCENT!!!

Chanel No. 5 was Marilyn Monroe's favorite perfume. Chanel makes this fragrance with jasmine flowers from their own jasmine fields. Coco Chanel took great pride and care in creating this fragrance. Others are right to call it a masterpiece. It is artfully made, sophisticated, and, yes, a feminine classic. I find no noticeable decline in the current version of this fragrance when compared to a vintage bottle. Remember that older bottles of any fragrance may degrade due to exposure and chemical changes that come with age. It opens clean and citrusy. Then comes the bouquet of florals all beautifully balanced and sublime. All this on a woody base (vetiver, amber, patchouli, sandalwood, vanilla). Chanel No. 5 is an experience. It's okay to not like to wear it. But it does command respect from anyone who truly loves and appreciates the fine art of fragrance making.

I finally bought a Chanel No. 5 eau de parfum 100ml last week after viewing many of reviews in Frangratica.com and I do love love love the opening and when the scents transform to middle and base notes it was lovely, soft, comforting and powdery. This is not an old lady scent as what most of the reviewers descriped here for me this is a ladylike, feminine and a beautiful young woman can wear it. Unfortunately Chanel No. 5 doesn't hold more than 3 hours for my body chemistry it water downed so quickly and turned it to my skin scent and I even hardly can smelled it after 3 hours (4 srpayed in once). That's radiculous I need to put my nose very close to my skin or cloths to detect the scent...I was sad and disapponted to what I got and why such a pricey vintage perfume but the quality of longevity is not there. I am definately not going to repurchase it.

Do not judge No. 5 by its current formulation. Get the vintage! It's much softer and feminine and elegant. Perfectly balanced. I don't buy the myth that Ernst Beaux's assistant added too much aldehyde. Beaux was a perfectionist as was Mme. Chanel. The vintage is exactly what I picture Marilyn to have worn. It just gets better as the day goes on. If you can, get the EDP or parfum as this does fade in its other incarnations. I can pick out the rose, the jasmine, the spicy base and of course the aldehydes but could not have done so had I not read about it. It is truly the pinnacle of femininity, warm, sensual, delicate and comforting. Thankfully there are vintage bottles to be had on eBay. Get a mini and try it again - you'll be pleasantly surprised as I was and feel as glamorous as Marilyn. It's also beautiful to wake up to it on your bedsheets.

My family is used to having me stick my wrist under their noses and demanding that they smell, and over the past few years they have experienced all kinds of loveliness this way - from wonderful vintage to exciting modern nische. Today I came home with Chanel no 5 pure perfume. The reaction I got from my husband was that he liked the high quality ingredients, but didn't like the aldehydes." But my son, a 16 years old hard rock drummer, went: "Wow! Magic! Can I wear it?" He has never reacted this way to any fragrance before, and this tells me something important about Chanel no 5: no matter how you feel about aldehydes, or any other aspects of this scent, this is a true masterpiece, and Chanel has done a fabulous job preserving and adapting this classic to regulatory demands and modern times. Of course he can wear it.

Very similar to Clair de Musc, or rather, Clair de Musc is similar to Chanel no. 5. This is the OG buttery soap fragrance, and smelling it now, it's clear no. 5 set a precedence for soap fragrances that many have attempted to surpass since then. First I get clean, Dove soap aldehydes, smooth, creamy ylang ylang, and a gorgeous silky powder from iris and orris root, in that order. Musk, amber, and sandalwood linger in the background, providing a solid but light base to the soapy overtones. It's utterly beautiful. I'm unable to perceive this as old fashioned or granny-like, especially compared to other vintages. Maybe that's from smelling other, heavier vintages ala Salvador Dali and Quadrille, but Chanel no 5. is far, far from smelling musty or old, so I find the comparison strange.

This EDP has been reformulated from the original, and though I don't have any vintage No 5, I remember distinctly my mother wearing it. I actually like this one better - it's basically the same - just as beautiful, but a little softer, doesn't stay in the room 5 minutes after you've left it, and I don't sense as strong of a powdery dry down which I wasn't crazy about in the original. Give it a try, you just might like. She is the queen, after all. I have tried other scents from this era, some lovely, but it was obvious that they were from a by-gone era - like appreciating the beauty of vintage clothing but having no desire to wear it. This one is timeless for me, which is why it is the ultimate classic - it never goes out of style.

I love vintage perfumes and I’ve always been surprised this one never meshed very well with me, at least to the extent it meshes with its admirers. To my nose, Chanel No. 5 is metallic, hard-edged, and cold as steel. I can appreciate it as an audacious, modern statement for its time, since I tend to embrace bold concept perfumes as a general rule. Chanel No. 5 has an evocative quality to it; it smells very much of its era. But as a scent and not just a concept, there’s too much aldehyde in the otherwise careful blend for me, and that transforms it into what I can only describe as baby powder for cyborgs. Which is actually kind of cool when you think about it. Maybe I should try this parfum again, as I do every few years.