Chanel No 19 Parfum

Today I get play one of my favorite games: a multi format vintage vs. new comparison. The beautiful lady walking arm-in-arm with me today is none other than No. 19. On the back of my left hand and that wrist is an EdC from probably the late 1970s/early 80s, on the upper part of that arm is a new EdP, and on my right hand and arm is an extrait from the early 1990s. Sometimes I feel like the luckiest guy in the world. Curiously, No. 19 doesn't get much love, in fact it seems to get quite a bit of hate. I've heard some people say that if No. 19 was a woman, she would be a frigid "b" with no friends. Though I understand what they're saying, I think that's overly harsh and a classic case of being misunderstood. To me this character is more prim and proper rather than cold and mean; it's the difference between us loud and brash Americans versus British royalty, let's say: just because the Brit royalty is typical stiff-upper-lip and very proper doesn't make them cold and mean. This difference of character perception can also be seen across the formats and vintages I'm wearing today. Take my very old EdC vs. the new EdP as an example: though age has most assuredly tempered Ms. 19 in the EdC format, that hyper green claw-like galbanum top note is far smoother and well-rounded in the EdC than the EdP. The EdP is claws out, right from the get-go, and, as you would expect, those claws stay out for longer. Rather quickly, the EdC dries down to a very pleasant and soft powdery woody floral chock full of iris, lily, sandalwood, and oakmoss (real oakmoss - have I mentioned how much I love opportunities to smell real oakmoss?) - making this the easiest of the No. 19s to wear, and that's really the whole story of the EdC beyond this point. The EdC is desperately pretty, calm, and friendly after the last dry down and for the few hours beyond. After about an hour after application, the EdP's claws are still out but they've been filed down, and it's definitely more apparent that the use of synthetics is more prominent in this new EdP versus the old EdC. This is as you would expect, but I must emphasize that the "synthetic" quality of the EdP is more than you would expect. Now, I have a different frame of reference here because I'm smelling a very old EdC side-by-side with the new EdP, so don't take my comments to mean that the new EdP has an offputting fake quality to it, because it still smells amazing; if you don't have an old formulation to compare it to, you are likely not going to notice the synthetics much. The filed-down claws of the EdP that I mentioned are no longer in the form of a sharp green galbanum, but vivid, saturated, thorny florals. The EdP is all about the heart notes of rose, a rooty iris, jasmine, lily, and ylang ylang - but, again, be careful when you go in for a sniff or you reach your hand into that bouquet because there are thorns there. These aren't gentle florals by any means; they aren't going to actively scratch you, but they are fully capable of defending themselves if needed. Ms. 19 is no longer in fight-or-flight mode, but she still has her guard up. Those ylang-ylang and jasmine notes in the EdP are a tour de force team, all vivid and saturated colors of white, green, and yellow. But what about the extrait?! Yes, I know you want to know what the extrait is doing. Frankly, I'm at a loss for words with the extrait, but I shall try. It is just so, so, so good. Absolutely stunning. The extrait opened with the same hyper green galbanum note of the others - the EdP more specifically - but the galbanum is not claws-out like it is in the EdP. There are no claws here. The galbanum's personality is softened and gentrified by some of the most beautiful jasmine, iris, ylang-ylang and rose notes you will ever smell. Every note of the EdP (and EdC for that matter) are presented and accounted for in the extrait, but if I were to rate the materials/accords on realism, quality, and execution, the extrait would be 10 out of 10 while the EdP and EdC make do at 6. I love the EdC and the EdP, so this should hopefully place in understandable context just how good I think the extrait is. While the EdC and the EdP are playing around, drying down and doing there thing, at nearly three hours in the extrait is only just warming up. Remember what I said about No. 19 being prim and proper and not cold and mean? Picture then a beautiful, regal, proud and strong woman in the finest handmade dress and you have the extrait. Monica Belucci in Valentino, basically; the extrait smells the way she looks. It will be a couple hours more even at this point before the extrait begins moving, after the EdC and the EdP have mostly worn themselves out. One curiosity to definitely note, and it should also be mentioned it's quite a hot day here in my part of California, the bergamot and neroli of the extrait have a far greater voice on the blotter than they do on my skin. The same could be said for the EdP as well, but the voices of the bergamot and neroli of the extrait are still greater than that of EdP's. We're going to fast forward to the end of the day, many hours later. The EdC is long gone, the EdP is a very pleasant skin scent of soft sandalwoods and much more pronounced notes of vetiver and animalic musks than the EdC. And the extrait... it's still there. While I'm worn out from an afternoon of running around, this lovely lady on my arm is still there, energized, and ready for an evening soiree. The galbanum and florals are gone, but the vetiver, woods, and mosses are still going. Partly why the extrait is my favorite of the No. 19 formats is because Chanel have made it act like a proper extrait should. While the EdC and EdP tire themselves out in hours, launching themselves into the air and drying-down like they're in a race (a bit exaggerated, but you get my point), the extrait stays close to you. Very close. Insanely powerful, but close. That measured approach to its energy and output, like a real extrait in the classical style should be, is exemplary to the personality I find in Ms. No. 19. She's not cold and mean, she's elegant, proud, strong, and confident - with you for the long haul, so to speak. Those are my favorite kinds of people. And that's why No. 19 is very likely my favorite Chanel perfume.

Hate it or love it, here is my Chanel no 19 rant, talking about vintages and new versions Vintage no 19 edt: Spring Joy Soft greenery, the galbanum and spring florals are gentle and playful compared to the extrait. radiant fresh flower petals, iris, abstract jasmine, lily of the valley, feel refreshing, not soapy, not very powdery but a comforting mustiness, like an old starched shirt. maybe even some hot-iron steam. Then, a warmth manufactured in greens and woods like vetiver and oakmoss invite you in, close and intimate. Perfectly unisex. At once both formal and relaxed. It’s like no 19 was made solely for the wearer’s pleasure. It has this austere side, but only on the surface, it never bores the wearer even when it can be mistaken for being just clean and cool (but still extremely classy nevertheless) for people around and those not willing to spend time with it. I imagine fairies and elves dressed up in formal attire as if trying to hide their playful nature, but only for so long. This perfume lets you dream and get lost in spring fantasies. It invites you into an early spring garden party amongst magical beings hiding in between the flowers and the grasses! 9/10 Vintage no.19 extrait: Dancing greens, gemstone hues and the lightest powders Dazzling verdant light shot through a prism, splitting in all kinds of green tones: Emerald. Peridot. Tsavorite. Chartreuse. It opens with an intense saturated green: Galbanum and tulip stems. Very vegetal, fresh, cool, a bit oily and challenging, freshly cut. Earthy but without any notes of soil. Then the scent softens and lights up with a glowing spring green tone. The most delicate powder, a floral, woody, dry, starchy Iris + Orris note starts diffusing it’s magic powder and is «dusting» you in the finest texture imaginable, ultra-fine grain, light and pure white powder, so refreshing! By refreshing I mean in the same way as dextrose can feel invigorating and cooling almost in those energy tablets you buy at the kiosk. :) No oily or make-up like iris here. It’s just dreamy. The freshness of the powder radiates with hedione and light Lily of the valley notes. Transitioning from this powder to the base, a soft oakmoss dims the green lights down to a darker and more mysterious glow, with hints of leather and woods, super well blended, clean, with nothing ever out of place. I was really lucky to buy an unopened 28 ml bottle pure parfum from the early days of this fragrance, most likely containing that infamous Iranian Galbanum quality. So scared of evaporation, which I have actually noticed. I do my best to preserve it and still enjoy the scent by wearing it. It’s too magical not to wear it. Especially magical on those spring days where the weather is nice, the breeze is mild and gentle, spring flowers have started blooming and the last melting snow in the forest or in the streets and parks of the city, create that significant freshness in the air. For best results, be newly showered and wear completely clean clothes so nothing disturbs your perfumed moment of sheer beauty. 10/10 (Masterpiece - one of the biggest treasures in my collction) Modern no 19 edt and edp: Clean, green-ish, soapy (pre 2023 edition) The modern no 19 EDT can’t live up to it’s vintage version. The modern has a greenish opening with a thin galbanum replacer followed by a very vague and perfume-y profile. The older versions were anything but vague, they were assertive, complex, classy and singular. You feel the lack of presence of the treasures those raw materials used in the past were. It just is not the same product any longer. The edp has a few nice moments of a pretty and luminous rose and lily of the valley. I can see the familiarity to my beloved vintages, but they are so far apart. I can imagine the modern formulation being suitable for a really nice shower gel or a linen spray. This is not about complaining, I understand the market, the need to modernize and re-formulate, for me there is nothing left of interest in the modern versions to talk about, they died a while ago. If you enjoy the current versions, try to get hold of a vintage sample! Wether if you like it or not, you will notice a huge difference, and it is just interesting to study. Of course I mourn the old ones, but I still have quite a bit left in my collection. 3/10 for the EDP and 6/10 EDP

From my experience having used one-fifth of the perfume the fragrance is not best described as appealing. It is quite strong. It has a power to create a space between you and the surrounding air; it is slightly bullying. That is why I only dap once and using its cap put it on my wrists and on the body. Over time the use of the cap on my skin contributed to the appearance of a little haziness of the fragrance inside the bottle, but I found for myself that this isn’t contamination of the liquid, but a different development, which also helps me to be sure I cannot contribute to the development of an allergy to this fragrance in others who use it and forward, to myself. For me the time of year to wear this fragrance is the winter and the early spring, by which use one also helps prepare nature for the development of the rose, the trees with their moss, the herbs. My impression was always for a full fragrance, never for individual notes, but their description on this web page is done, as I just thought, in order to help some consumers orient themselves better in the orientation of the fragrance toward the appearances in nature. I came to the realisation some time ago that fragrances as a market product are very good in their way of creating an air of cleanliness and a mood of well-being, but this is only because they are serving producers and manufacturers in their respective areas, food, sanitation, care for living stock- animals, and their involvement in the production overall. In this way of understanding this fragrance is in some sense also a contribution to the house of Chanel in their possible involvement in other areas of their work, which I found to be what is understood partially as “sustainability”. The fragrance is long-lasting, I am sure, but after half an hour I stop detecting it, and only on occasion it appears again for me to detect. It is definitely very beautiful at that time, gentle, very elegant, like a full undergarment in a transparent grey-green, constantly in a movement with my body and with my state of mind. So, I wrote this different review in an attempt to present my thoughts on why a person could choose to spend quite a bit of money in these difficult times we are in right now, and it is entirely based on my own experiential thinking. I thought at some point in time that if I were to find out that my understanding of all life changing and developing around a certain brand I invest with each purchase of products from this brand not in their stock market, but in their phylosophy and in the phylosophy of their soul, in a way. It may be difficult to understand all the details of a fragrance, or of a type of a clothing, or of a type of a cosmetic product, but if that product could only appeal to my external senses, my sense of smell, my eyes, my mind, it will definitely reveal stages of its nature over the time of its use, and beyond. This is definitely a very beautiful fragrance, but it demands to live in an atmosphere of understanding. That is why, I thought, it is bought mostly from a very upper-class women who also can afford to have clothes of a quality materials and craftsmanship and who live in respected house holds. This description doesn’t fit me, or I cannot fit in such an environment, but I can appreciate it on a different level. Thank you for all your achievements, house of Chanel!

It fascinates me how language, color symbolism, and cultural context shape the way lovers of this “green juice” express their feelings about it. Fragrantica is an international platform, and though most of us describe scents in English, we often mean something entirely different. Take the word green. In my culture, green carries an undertone of affability — approachable, even a touch grandfatherly. So when I hear “green,” there’s a hint of warmth. My own bottle -- which is older than my age — is a deep golden amber, so my first impression of No.19 was certainly not “Green”! Yet I fully understand what you all mean by that capital-G Green in this! So let me describe it in the language and imagery that make sense to me. Do any of you remember the Twilight saga? I know, I know — teenage vampire fantasies, and yes, the plot is... well, the plot. But set that aside. Think about the settings: the deep, foggy forests, the tall, misted evergreens. Aren’t they stunning? And the soundtrack — haunting, melancholy, yet touched with tenderness — perfectly captures the tension the story tries to create. In Stephenie Meyer’s fantasy, vampires are dangerous because they’re alluring — gorgeously sparkling, even fragrant. Yes, I know — nonsense. But if I absolutely had to accept that and assign a scent to Edward, I think he would smell like No.19. That’s how he would smell to Bella, and how he would feel to her: cold, mysterious, incredibly intoxicating, and impossibly charming. And once Bella surrenders to those stone‐cold arms, she finds a quiet tenderness hidden beneath all that aloofness. If you’re a Twilight hater and a No.19 lover, you’ll probably hate me for that comparison. And honestly? That fascinates me even more. 😂 Because so often, we humans don’t fully understand what we’re actually disagreeing with — the object itself, or the associations it carries from our own experiences. One of my friends once told me that No.19 “smells like those girls from the ’80s who weren’t really cool but were trying too hard to be chic.” Which makes me wonder — what happened to him in the ’80s? Who wore this perfume and left such an impression? Clearly, someone wearing this amazing juice managed to disappoint him deeply enough that the memory still lingers in the scent. 😂 And that’s what fascinates me the most about perfumes like this: they’re never just scents. You smell them, and how you feel — even how you talk about them — carries everything you’ve experienced before you met them, shaped by the memories and associations they stir. And yes, I’ll admit it — I’m a little embarrassed by my early-20s self swooning over Edward Cullen. But I still stand by this: Edward should absolutely smell like No.19!!

Imagine my wonder and surprise when I opened a package from another dear member, having asked for a mere sample of Chanel No. 19, and seeing a 1/4 ounce of pure PARFUM!! Wrapped in the signature ribbon of the House and still completely full... Many members do not like to be mentioned or thanked publicly...so, all I will say here is: "Thank you Lady AB for your kindness, generosity and your beautiful gifts, they are nothing compared to the grandeur of your spirit!" Amazing, simply amazing! Amazing for its quality; yes. But, also for its simple elegance. The first time I tried this, I just dabbed a bit on each wrist and sniffed it as I went to sleep. When I woke, it was all but gone...could this be?! Today, on seeing it added here, I decided to try it again and it is obvious that I slept through the "magick"... Three "notes"?? REALLY...I beg to differ! No 19 parfum begins with a chilly cool green (not unlike Cristalle, but smoother) making me think: Galbanum and also lovely daffodils and maybe a bit of dewkissed hyacinth as well. The flowers here are cool and rich, but nowhere near massive (Henri Robert, you are a genius!). White flowers abound, like subtle jasmine and neroli, making this smooth and sexy without getting "carnal". It is obvious there is iris/orris here as well. No19 Parfum may be the strongest concentration of this particular scent, but it is by far the most elegant. There is something here that, upon sniffing your wrist (or wherever you dabbed it!) that is not detectable, but as you move about or catch a whiff of it, indirectly, it's is superb! The drydown is woody but also has a "cleaness" to it. No civet, no patchouli, no tonka; just a clean mean green that is NOT (I repeat) not overly soapy. Somewhere swirling around in this heavenly aroma are lush florals and grand woods, but they are so well blended you have to just sniff and enjoy!! If No 5 is the fragrance for a person dressed up and "out on the town", No 19 is shopping with friends or having lunch at the sidewalk bistro. Do not misunderstand me, No. 19 can (and should) be worn "out", as it has all the qualities of a CHANEL parfum, it is just much more "down to earth" and less "riche" without giving up any luxury. Classic through and through... Sillage: magical Longevity: very good Overall: 4.5/5 Yes yes I know "for women"! *rolls eyes* However, this scent does VERY well on my "manskin", and no one has remarked (as yet) I smelled "perfumey" while I was wearing it. I have smelled the EDT (WOW!), Eau Premiere (very nice) and the EDP (amazing!)...but the Parfum continues to be my favorite No. 19

If you really want to appreciate the best things in life, you better confront yourself with the magisterial Chanel 5 and Chanel 19. In its Parfum concentration; otherwise you won’t really be able to get it as high as it can rise above the mortals. Although these two had the faith to continually be accessible to the entire world, and not only to a limited channel like the other four Chanel’s jewels of very matching majesty – Chanel 22, Cuir de Russie, Bois des Iles and Gardenia – still the two stand high up there as much as the latter four. Clearly these are for me the six that define Chanel before anything when it comes to having a defined perfume signature. From these, only Chanel 19 is born from a different father, and not created by Ernest Beaux, like the mentioned big 5 were (together with many other long vanished). Note – Ernest Beaux has already passed by more than a decade when Chanel 19 is launched Chanel 19 has a poetic, nature-longing, grounded personality. Its virtually immaterial softness is not exactly above the clouds, it is just not heaven sent, it is rooted, earthly. Nowhere else I find the same finesse in dealing with “floral” and “green” without falling to either side? Chanel 19 watches from above, walks on the wire without ever missing a step, and refuses to be too much of anything; it is this finesse that makes it a masterpiece. Let's not forget that it is with Chanel 19 that the holly signature of using May rose and jasmine from GrasseI is kept untouched, in this case by Henri Robert... before him all fragarnces were made by Ernest Beaux alone - all! - so it is this the moment where a second person makes the decision "this is the heart of a Chanel perfume, and should reamain this way". I picture Chanel 19 as a sort of green-mousse-powder being dust over the rose and the jasmine, the sort of material that appears in dreams, looks whiter than green to the eyes, yet feels greener than white to the touch. Just like for Chanel’s style in fashion, no matter how excessively accessorized it might get at times, it is never out of balance. Chanel 19 and Chanel’s fashion are not about less is more. Chanel is not as much about the quantity; as it is about the quality.

The little 7.5 ml parfum bottle is adorable. I was waiting like a kid a Christmas for the postie to get this to me :) I got on this green tip lately after discovering rive gauche and no 19 poudre, both are scrummy. So naturally no 19 , chanels personal Fragrance that was apparently named 19 after her birthday, was next on my never ending list :) I've not tried the edt but I do have some EDP , a 2013 batch part bottle I got recently and I think I was expecting the pure parfum to be quite different to that but they are very much sisters. My favourite Fragrance is Chanel no 5 parfum (or edt or EDP or elixir or eau premier as all are amazing :) no 19 is a very different chick. This beauty is soft green & cooling. I have read no 19 is compared to fresh cut flower stems. Definitely true, just freshly chopped,Juice oozing, but also I imagine no 19 as smelling like a summer breeze yet somehow it also brings to mind damp fresh green leaves,just off the trees in a Forest. No 19 is definitely a favourite already,it is such an exquisite composition , never too heavy, soft and dewy perfect on hot days. Also no 19 is good if you want a fragrance that is beautiful but less sexy and more serious than no 5. Sadly there is a down side.The dab on parfum for 2016 is just not as strong or lasting as it could be ("ErinDewan " talks about this a few reviews down and this fragrantican i agree with ) At over £90 a bottle ( 7.5) it's pricey for hourly top ups , olfactory fatigue?? I might replace with EDP spray as to my nose it's very very similar, just a sharper yet drier start, which is incredible , it soon softens to the dusky iris and tender rose leather and musk we all love. That said there is a few deeper notes in parfum that make it sublime and worth owning. Boy oh boy do I wish the bath powder and bath gel etc were still available to layer this luxurious classy scent , and I'd fight you for a no 19 body cream !! Haha :) 11/10 for Fragrance 6/10 for staying power and weakness of newer bottles :( Good job what light scent I can smell is super stunning , an elegant floral-woody-green , cheers Henri Robert for making this !!

I cannot believe I waited to try this so long! I believed the old talk that it's a "bitchy" green fragrance, and I feared that it would be too bitter and grassy, like some challenging green chypres from the same period that I struggle to wear. This is not a bitter grassy galbanum like Weil de Weil, Molinard de Molinard, Bandit, etc. The galbanum is just fresh, accompanied by a stunningly smooth oakmoss, and the best iris in the business. The other Chanel florals are there (rose and jasmine in particular), but the overall impression to me is a gorgeous green iris. To be fair, my bottles are a parfum and EdC that seem to date from the 70s. It's possible they've lost some of the bitter green quality overtime, but they seem to be mostly intact and agree with each other. I was afraid at first that the parfum I received was damaged. It was not sealed and unfortunately, it was delivered to me after being on a truck in 107 degree heat all day. It leaked badly because no care was taken to prevent that. I was so disappointed at first between the leakage and the sort of musty vegetable scent that greeted me at first. I set it aside, feeling irritable about a bad sale. But over the next few days, something remarkable happened. Every time I would go upstairs in my home, I smelled a heavenly fresh green floral. Powdery, but rich. I kept thinking the scent was coming from another sample I'd sprayed on a bit of paper. But when I smelled the paper up close, I realized that scent didn't have the same character and sillage. I shuffled through the box the No 19 came in thinking, "There's no way." But the incredible scent was coming from the bag where the parfum had leaked and dried a bit. It was radiating throughout my upper landing and office and it was just the most gorgeous iris I've ever smelled. I placed that bag in my lingerie drawer as a sachet. The parfum in the bottle recovered as well, and it is a revelation.

IMHO,this is for someone, who knows: it doesn't always have to be about sex (this being said by a person, who wears Boudoir as the signature scent). Sometimes you just want to rise above it, detach yourself from the carnal and dream through the day about something abstract, lay out some plans for the future, focus on tasks that are hard to accomplish but promise a deserved reward, sort that cluttered wardrobe bursting at the seams, carefully wrap a mountain of Xmas presents, go through the accumulated mail and then enjoy a nice chilled glas of white while observing the restored order around you. Then, a few hous later, you can change into something cosier, let your hair down for the evening and reach for COCO instead. I need these kind of days from time to time, badly. And nr. 19 helps me feel like a grownup, like someone who is in control, like someone who is every day a little better a person that he/she was yesterday. This perfume is highly intellectual, rather minimalistic, demanding high amount of style and understatedness, that usually go hand in hand anyway. It's not icy-green, but rather a chilled green, like a mossy pond in the twilight, and it abandons its sharpness quite quickly, becoming a shimmering green with a whiff of something lilac when you move. A day spent shopping for high end things ( where you need to at least seem confident and qualified enough to bargain ), library events, a job interview, a visit to a gallery/museum on a sunny afternoon, and a classic - a formal sunday brunch/dinner in a casual atmosphere, where something has to keep you from slumping in your chair and crossing legs, which is still considered a pose of familiarity in serious business circles. For a highly sensuous sybaritic person like me it's a must, if you don't have a strict, albeit well-meaning, mother that gives your back a mighty slap when you were just about to slouch.

I managed to acquire several vintage bottles of this parfum. I do not know how to date the ones in the blue plastic purse spray containers of which I have two, one of which is a demo bottle. I have two very old splash bottles as well. These two ancient splash bottles smell the same as each other, they are both fresh without even a hint of agedness. One of the splash bottles is a 1972, 28ml bottle. The original formulation, although around 50 years old, is still good, whole and fresh. I also have a bottle of recent EDP. The oldest one seems to get down to mid and base notes immediately (Maybe a sign of its age?), I personally do not detect any galbanum in an obvious way. It is beautiful to my nose, deep, complex and woodsy-floral and it clearly has strong base notes of civet and musk. I also get very clear Lily of the Valley. There is high quality rose and also jasmine in the mix, aside from a beautiful iris and vetiver. It is more mossy, misty woodland with some flowers with deer running around than freshly-mown lawn. When I smell the modern EDP, I get hit very hard in the face with galbanum, you do not get that with the vintage parfum at all. Perhaps age diminishes the top notes, although I do get neroli absolute in all of the bottles. The younger vintages, which I am going to guess are from the early 1980s, have a much stronger blast of iris and I can detect some galbanum and sandalwood, vetiver and rose. The drydown is different too, more leathery, whereas the older one is more wet, mossy floral and animal maybe it has some ambergris in it, who knows? To me they are entirely unisex. I have not ever tried a contemporary version as I have spent all my budget right now on the older ones, and I am glad I did because they are astonishingly beautiful treasures. Get one if you can!

This isn’t a review yet, but I just purchased a vintage purse spray (7.5 ml) in the silver canister that is mostly full off eBay. Can’t wait to experience this, will update this once it arrives and I get to smell it’s beauty. UPDATE 08/19 - It arrived. Excuse my language but holy shit. This is...this is...a masterpiece. I’m almost speechless but I’ll try to get a hold of myself. I can’t find a lot of information about when the purse spray was discontinued, but I really wish I could buy a backup/refill for this. It almost brought me to tears. This might be THE green fragrance. Not to go into too much description, because I don’t know that I’ll do it justice AND there are others on here that have written more eloquent veering into poetic reviews for this. But it’s amazing. The juice is dark, like cognac. But the scent is like white flowers, and freshly smashed stems from those flowers. Those stems and fragrant flowers were mixed up into a bowl that had been sprinkled with body powder and set out on the porch around 2/3 pm on a sunny day. I used to grow jasmine and I can smell it, but there’s so much more. It’s like the EDT, but absolutely more refined and I don’t know...with a twist. I sprayed it on my wrists several minutes ago, maybe about 20 now. And I can smell it as I type this. Like, really well. I just keep getting strong wafts of it without searching. I’m sad that I won’t be able to wear this much as it’s so gorgeous I’d love this be my signature. But due to its rarity, the cost of a new parfum, and the performance of the newer EDT...I must admire it and only save it for special occasions or when my mood is desperate for it. I’m so happy I took the plunge. I’m only sad that it has to be cherished. But that’s ok, this deserves it. 🥀

Picture it , Vancouver 2010. A young man is saddened by the news of his grandfather's passing. He seeks comfort in the kind hearts of luxury sales people at one boutique and then another. Finally ending his retail therapy session at the Chanel shop on Hastings. At the time I was wearing Miss Dior EDP which I often paired with n19 soap in the bath. I loved the soap so much I figured I should get my hands on some juice. Being bereived at the time I figured I would buy something very special to cheer me up. I purchased the now defunked refillable parfum purse spray. It's an ultra elegant gray and gold spray about the size and shape of a lipstick. At the time I could not of truly respected the timelessness and refinement of this stunning scent and would pair it with Angel (gasp) which was odd to say the least but I thought I was being avant grade. Fast forward to today, almost 8 years have past and my nose has matured. I decided today was the day I was going to rock N19. It's the most stunning Orris dominate scent in my wardrobe. It starts off loud and green with lots of Galbanum, I get rose and tones of Orris in the heart. The base is to die for vetiver and moss and powdery woods it sits so close to the skin, a very private affair. The parfum is worth every penny it smells more natural and full bodied then any other interpretation, magic happens when you start to warm up and you catch a waft from your chest or wrist. I'm not sure what to do when my 7.5mL is finished, I guess I will have to find a refill online of just buy a bottle. I know that I'm going to be wearing this a lot from now on. It's truly Devine!!

I have a vintage bottle from pre-reformation time. This is always the scene that comes to mind when I wear this number: Imagine you are in the seaside in England on a particularly windy day. Not necessarily on the beach; there is no marine water accord. Rather, you are sitting in the small front yard of one of many Victorian terraced houses, a mere 200 meters from the shore. You sit on a bed of fresh cut grass - the greenest grass you can come by, hydrated by the endless British rain. You wear a cashmere jumper, to keep warm in the cool wind, while you sit writing, reading, having a picnic or just watching the seagulls fly over the overcast skies, or the water washing up onto the beach. You sport a brown leather bag, containing scissors ready to cut Irises from this garden, to give to a loved one. The fresh seaside breeze carries with it the smell of grass, the powdery and green floral accords of the irises you are about to cut, the warmth of the cashmere jumper you are wearing, and the faintest whiff of the brown leather bag. And perhaps, a distant Bergamot tree and a rose bush from a neighbouring garden. You are in a beautiful scene, however, a certain sort of sadness lingers in you. Perhaps you are alone, and reminiscing about how things used to be; a byegone era, or a long lost love. Either way, you are happy these things happened, you just wish they could happen again. As you return inside the house, you decide to leave the irises as they are.

I just received my No. 19 Parfum from Chanel yesterday and it is truly magical. I love this. I put dabs in my elbow creases and on my neck when I first opened it in the morning. It was sharp upon application but then it morphed into all its glory. It wore fantastically all day as well. It is of course Green as everyone knows. However the Bergamot and Rose are lovely with the Iris and Oakmoss. I can see why it is so calming as some have said. I found myself shortly after application drawing up some jewelry designs and going through my inventory of gems and metals. Something I had been neglecting for a bit as we have had a family crisis. It actually drew out of me not only motivation but inspiration. I realized this centers me. No wonder my Mum wears this. To smell No.19 on someone else is one thing but to wear it is another matter entirely. My fiance upon coming home from work thought I was burning my oils but when I offered him my arm to sniff and see that it was me he was enraptured at first then alarmed that I had bought yet again another fragrance. He knows of my addiction all too well. We went to dinner. We are both redheads so we are usually bickering back and forth but all was mellow and sweet. So nice! Then upon going to bed he said "I wish I had known you like No.19 because it really suits you." I told him "This is a new and blessed development. Apparently for both of us," I think my mother needs some more now too for Christmas! 10/10+++

I had a little bottle of No.19 pure parfum in the early 90s, and I think it must have been from before they restricted oakmoss, because this version I'm trying now is slightly more floral, and with a bit more vetiver. It does have that slightly haughty and elegant, yet lovely scent, and into dry-down (thanks to the quality of ingredients) it feels natural. I can't remember if it was No.19 Parfum about which someone said 'this is how Galadriel must smell', but that would be a perfect description! The most obvious opening note to my nose is iris, or orris and where the EDP is soft and dewy, the Parfum is more lean in feel, more distant perhaps. I sense more vetiver,, lily of the valley and possibly narcissus. Into drydown that lovely perfumed forest quality that I know and love emerges, No 19 reveals its gentle side at this stage; a gentle mossy quality Anyway, if we must talk elves, I think that where Arwen might wear the EDP, Galadriel would undoubtedly favour the white and green aesthetic of No. 19 parfum - it conjures up morning light filtering through a canopy of trees, the scent of perfumed wood smoke lingering in the ashes of yesterday's fire, lily of the valley beginning to emerge from the mossy roots of an ancient oak..peace and silence reign in the forest

At the end of last year, I purchased a brand new 14ml bottle of Chanel No19, pure parfum/extrait version, probably from the late 80s. In one word? DIVINE. It is very similar to the EDP, but even more lively, intense, concentrated and rich. While the green opening of EDP's galbanum only lasts a few minutes, in the extrait it lasts forever: an extremely green, fresh and cold aroma. It's as if they've condensed all the mountains, valleys and forests of Scotland into a tiny bottle (anyone who's watched 'Outlander' series knows what I mean). The iris here is absurd: I have never felt this note so pure, so intense, it's difficult to even transcribe the sensation. It is dense, powdery, sober, buttery, creamy, and noble. Longevity? Eternal. Even the sillage is good for an Extract, just a few drops and I can feel it emanate its aura. No19 Extract is a work of ART. It's a perfume so majestic, SO RICH that I feel "unworthy" of wearing it. This one lives up to its reputation as the "Ice Queen", "cold heart" perfume, as it conveys that aura of power and wealth. It's the perfume of someone like Miranda Priestly from "The Devil Wears Prada": always impeccable and elegant, never raises her voice, never shouts, but her presence, her authority is unquestionable.

Divine, just impeccable. Nuttier, sappier, warmer, rosier, with a tinge of sweetness. Has the Chanel phlegm. Achingly aristocratic and as I’ve referred to in my review for the vintage edt, nothing comes close. Where the lesser concentrations focus on more vetiver than galbanum, this one (28 ml dab) has the superior grade of balsam not anymore found in the newer iterations. You can also feel the caress of that suede. Iris not anymore wistful but rounds off the composition with its powdery bite. It also has a wonderul soapy facet which I find endearing and maybe some aldehyde kick to it. Bring back the golden colored 19! Edit: I have now a 35ml parfum tester of which is colored green instead of the golden vintage. This reformulation smells soapier, sparklier but not better. It’s also more femme and translates quite in sillage while the resinous vintage prefers to be swayed by the wind for you to smell it. Still beautiful but this seems to be made up to synergize with the Les Exclusif feels in exchange for its original concept. Also stays on clothes longer, I guess it has become more floral than green...

If you like the true earthy smell, try get a vintage (dark brown colour juice) Extrait P. M. Version, the vintage one smells so earthy and charming; while later versions, for example 2000’s yellow juice or today’s light yellow juice version, you got some earthy with more white flowers. It’s like a goddess to a fairy. However, note that vintage Extrait may have some issue about basenote, you may find it lack of that dynamic sweet flower with amber smell after 2 hours of applying. While the newer versions stay on skin and last longer (maybe it is because newer versions' reformulation or simply some of old bottles' ingredient volatilized). Extrait P. M. Pro: truly earthy like goddess. Con: doesn't have newer versions' long lasting flowery amber dry down. Newer version Parfum Pro: emphasis on white flower(Jasmine and Neroli) which make this fragrance more feminine and last on skin longer.(even after you wash the body, the amber scent of the base will still last, which is definitely a magic). Con: it's not coco style.

Oh the green juice! This scent opens up green and quickly dries down to a lovely musky green jasmine. My 87 year old mother always had a bottle on her dresser and would always let me share it. So this is the smell of my first date, my prom, even my wedding. This EDP still smells as fresh and green 45 years later. Number 19 has never had a huge sillage. It sits close to the skin and is intimate. That said, I constantly get asked 'what smells so good?' and I can smell it on my clothes days after. So I have to say this smells like my skin only better. I think that is often the case with Chanel perfumes and that is the beauty. It smells like you only better. This scent is playful, but oh so classy. This is romantic but cold. Friendly but aloof. Earthy but proper. All of this talk of discontinued is silly. Offerings my change, a line may be paired down but the Chanel No19 of today is still the Chanel No19 of yesterday. No need to search out a vintage bottle get it directly online from the source.

@Jacklyn's Perfumery - No.19 is not being discontinued. I spoke to someone at Chanel last week, about something else, but I asked if Poudre was being discontinued because I heard that it was from a Macy's SA a few months ago. I was told Poudre was going to be discontinued but that all the other flankers would still be available but that they were just having production and supply side issues. The same thing is happening with every business right now. I have a friend who is opening a restaurant and can't because she is waiting for one necessary item but can't get it. Someone else I know is waiting for a computer chip for her car for 7 months now. Anyway, this is not the forum, but I just thought that you and everyone else who thinks this perfume is going to be discontinued should know the truth and not worry needlessly. Besides, even if it was discontinued, (which it's not), there are still millions of bottles floating around out there, both new and vintage.

My sister-in-law gave me a mini 1970s pure parfum that was part of a gift set my brother had given to her when they were dating. Prior to this I had tried the vintage edt and wasn't crazy about it. I thought it beautiful and earthy but there was something that I found uncomfortable about it, a soapiness midway through that feels out of place and is like a jolt in the progression of an otherwise smooth fragrance. Now the pure parfum is a different story. This is earthy, mossy, woodsy, subtly floral, lightly powdery, and all smooth as silk. Truly perfection in a bottle that gives me a very serene feeling. Remarkable how perfumes can affect your mood. Edit - the performance of the vintage is phenomenal. 4 dabs and this lasted from early morning until late at night with gorgeous trailing silage. If you are going to get a parfum, try to get a vintage. It is so potent that this little bottle should last me the rest of my life.

~HEAVEN~ in a bottle, iris, neroli & galbanum on steroids... I was gifted a parfum tester from a friend who happened to have owned a parfumerie in Brisbane Australia back in the early to late seventies, the juice was the colour of a deep brassy verdant green and quite oily to the touch also extremely concentrated (1st formula), that 59ml.bottle lasted for about 5 years, not the lime green thin fizzy lolly water on offer now. I was 20 back then and remember visiting the boutique often, sadly my friend relocated back to Sweden, so many bargains to be had, all of those Guerlain extraits with their beige silk sealing cords and plenty of No.22 parfum as well, those were the days to be sure & never to pass this way again. "une telle tragedie" PS. The original formula was much richer, darker & not as cold hearted and sharp as the more modern iterations... My favorite CHANEL in extrait/parfum, absolute perfection

I had the good fortune of scoring a vintage bottle of parfum from the late 70s this past spring, so this review is based on the original formula which incorporates the galbanum from Iran and the original quantity of oakmoss (which is sadly now restricted). So, we're getting that deep, cool, forest-like vibe that is not as prevalent in the current versions (EDP & EDT - I have not smelled the more recent parfum). This is GREEN, but not in the "crushed stems" way that presents in the EDP & EDT. This is dense, lush, and mossy but still registers as dry with touches of leather thanks to the iris, vetiver, and cedar. I don't get much of a floral presence as I do in the current EDP & EDT; it's mainly a tiny bit of rose, neroli & jasmine. This is absolutely a stunning masterpiece and a great addition to the collection for those who love Chanel no. 19, vintage fragrances, and historic perfume references.

The most luscious, gorgeous, opulent use of galbanum or orris or oakmoss you'll ever find. A standout, not just in the Chanel family, but in perfumery in general. Over the 20-plus years that I wore it almost daily, I never once smelled it on anyone else. Unlike the ubiquitous No. 5, No. 19 was for most of its heyday, a beautiful little secret. The parfum has a rich sweetness that is more profound than in the other concentrations - especially in the vintage. A more complete list of notes explains why it is so complex and exquisite: top Bergamot, Galbanum, Hyacinth, Neroli heart Iris, Jasmine, Lily-of-the-valley, Narcissus, Rose,Ylang-ylang base Oakmoss, Leather, Musk, Sandalwood,Cedarwood Even if it's not your cup of tea, for whatever reason, any perfumista whose knowledge of perfume is not just completely pedestrian and common, cannot help but acknowledge the glory that is No. 19.

My incomprensibly kind friend Sarah sent me a dabber of '80s vintage No. 19, and it's sooooo gorgeously green that I want to elope to Ireland with it, or maybe the Hebrides. This is Green! with a capital g, and just about the most elegant chypre-like floral I have ever smelled. The opening galbanum note is a little leathery-mossy, and it must keep the glorious floral midnote section from getting too hysterical. I don't have another perfume that reminds me of this exactly, but vintage Estee and Private Collection seem to be in the same family, with perhaps a frisson of Cacharel Anaïs Anaïs to impart a bit of that mossy forest floor feeling. The narcissus in particular sings on my skin. I wish more contemporary fragrances could smell this beautiful, but I guess IFRA has been hell on the chypres. More's the pity!

This is a review of Vintage Chanel no 19 Perfume from about 1978. I just discover this fragrance in a closet. I was the original owner. it is labeled perfume, not parfum, 1/4 oz, glass bottle, glass stopper, liquid is light tan, not green. Where is the loud green explosion I remember? The opening is mild, just a few seconds of intensity, then a soft green blanket of fresh rain, new grass and spring flowers, supported by soft woods, oakmoss and a bit of leather. Very beautiful comforting and inviting. Very easy to love, nothing the least bit objectionable or exciting. Did this soften over the years, or has it always been this gentle? Or am I remembering the sharp greenness of the EDC version in the square stainless bottle?

when i was in my 20-es i tought its kind of granny-cologne.then few years ago i gave it other try and started to love it-everytime more and more.was just able to get a nice stock of vintage version(allmost 200ml of extrait-lot of litle botles,lol)of it and similar amount of no5 vintage extrait.in my opinion they are distroying perfumery with those silly restrictions allowing only so litle percents of whatever absolue or oil.i think thats also why they made the poudre version-to try to act that its more modern and younger in an atempt to hide that they cant use so much oakmoss anymore.no 19 is great perfume for conneseurs-but only the vintage extrait,still cant get friends with new no19 and no19 poudre...

An absolute mood lifter. One of my favourite scents, if not my favourite, and in a league of its own. If you like oakmoss, earthy iris & galbanum you'll like Number Nineteen. This is the perfume Chanel was wearing when she was stopped by a couple of young American men on leaving the Hotel Ritz in Paris, who asked her what perfume she was wearing...at first she was irritated at having been stopped but then quite glad that she, as an old lady, had drawn the attention of two young men. Number Nineteen always reminds me of a guy I knew who wore this back in 1985. It's class in a bottle...smells completely modern, up-to-date & relevant. Totally fabulous. Totally unisex. Aloof. Chic. Understated. French.

I just searched below and found my first ever review wtitten here on fragrantica, yes, it was about this phenomenal little bottle which I got on 4th Nov 2011. Wow, 9 years ago. Still have that tiny amount on the bottom of the bottle and just decided to finish it off. Same feelings about the scent, maybe with the time it got even stronger. Best ever green chypre fragrance. No need to repeat all the previous comments, they describe it very well, this is stand out beauty. Some people say it is made for cold natured women, no, I would say if you have the courage to wear it, then wear it. No19 in its pure perfume form is a statement, you decide what statement it could be.

An iconic/ aloof/ hissing and venomous green chypre of a fragrance that beckons admiration but only from afar. The anti-thesis of the voluptuously powdery rose-jasmine No. 5, this fragrance is for a woman now characterized by angularity and prismatic sharpness, like a crone, still beautiful but now older and "more handsome" -- even butch. Feminine still, but almost heartless. Ideal for those that want to project elegance tinged with masked steeliness and severity. Ironically, this works as a beautiful masculine scent, once you get past the Chanel DNA. The eau de toilette is greener and less dense, and more suitable for men. Highly recommended and a masterpiece!

Off the top the bitter almost spearimenty green notes swirl around the softest sweetest leather...heaven. I am not familiar with green or leather. Within an hour, a powdery floral sweet wood smell joins in. I don't even know if this is what I'm supposed to smell but this comforts me. It reminds me of my dad, who wore leather jackets and smoked when I was growing up. A rebel at heart but who loved hard and was always there. Yet, I feel feminine and strong when I wear it. I've never smelled anything like it and I LOVE it! I can relate to every reviewer before me. Each commenting on some different aspect, each spot on. This is complex and extremely well crafted.

I bought a nearly full bottle of the vintage 1970s parfum extrait. Oh, it is wonderful! It goes on nicely, maybe slightly more powdery than I would prefer, but very nice. Cool and professional. But then an hour later – the drydown is magical! The perfume melds with the skin and acquires some warmth and a more floral character, while still keeping its “greenness.” It is hard for me to pick out individual notes, it is just a unique, lovely blend. For me, the vintage parfum is much better than the current EDP and EDC formulations, though I like both of those very much. But this one is at another level. It also layers well with simple citrus scents. Excellent.

Anyone who professes any interest in the history of perfumes needs to smell vintage versions of the parfum and the EDT. Both are works of art that disclose slightly changing facets of this masterpiece. For me the green/iris leathery weighting of the EDT wins out most times, but never underestimate the transcendent beauty of the pure parfum designed to be enjoyed by thoses who get close to you. I wear the vintage EDT most of all - sorry to get all YouTubey, but this is the scent that really does turn heads, get compliments, starts conversations. I've not had a single person ever twig that this is "notionally" a women's scent.

I am lucky to find 15ml.parfum version of this, 2019 batch, new and seal for usd 15 from Japanese vintage good shop. I tried this because I tired all other rendition of that “green iris” scent, I end with 28 La Pausa. I buy this because I want to know absolute rendition of no. 19, the ultimate form. God, holy green. This is THE Green fragrance. Strong in Orris but the white flower is also beautiful and Galbanum is fresh green grass. I sad, because this wear very close to the skin. But it is truly separate and cold. And I have to cherish this 15 ml. I do not want it to run out. Don’t brother seeks other rendition. Go parfum.

I have just recently joined Fragrantica. (I don't know what took me so long.) But this is my first review, and I certainly don't have the knowledge and sophistication that so many of you have. I am not going to wax poetic about fragrances too much like some reviewers do. But that doesn't mean I don't, or haven't always, loved them! I have had my Chanel No. 19 (parfum and EDP) for many years and have loved it as one of my absolute favorites. The one thing that sticks in my mind about No. 19 is that men seem to love it. I can't tell you how many compliments I have received from men in elevators. ;-)

Many, many moons ago my boyfriend gifted me a bottle of the parfum for Xmas. It was instantly glorious - galbanum and iris - cool, strong, chypre magnificence, a small amount lasting for 2 days. Always worked better on me than the EdT. At some point I stopped wearing it. Only recently I got myself a small bottle of the vintage stuff. Alas the top notes had turned... not galbanum but more ammoniac civet but the heart and base notes remain intact and riding that magic line between floral and chypre - greenest floral forest - half autumn, half-spring. I don't know why I stopped wearing it!

I love this and I cannot express enough how grounding this is for me as I am a very testy woman. My grandmother wears this and maybe that is the reason I find it calming. Not sure. Like her I only buy the Parfum directly from Chanel which we keep in a very dark cool place. The EDP and EDT are not the best way to get it as they seem to fade rather quickly. I hope this helps some of you who have had issues with it fading. Next time get the Parfum it is $115 for the .25oz at Chanel.com. Enjoy the smell of what is in my opinion Heaven on Earth.

In my youth I was an unabashed naturalistic earth mother tree hugger hiker type and most Chanel fragrances were simply too cerebral for me. My love for No. 19 has come with maturity, the recognition that sometimes you want to smell heavenly green, but in a cool, abstract way that doesn’t invite intimacy. Chanel No. 19 isn’t saying “Snuggle in.” This tree isn’t gonna hug you back. I wear it in summer, especially when I want to brace myself up for an external challenge. It’s the fragrance of the imperturbable and unattainable.

I tried this for the first time ever today. Chanel No. 19 is incredible! This was a blind buy, based on reviews from this community, and the only regret I have is that I did not buy this years ago. It is a little sharp, in a good, clean way, on initial application, but it quickly mellowed into lovely freshness with a hint of beautiful flowers. This scent could become an addiction for me. I am that crazy about it. Thanks Fragrantica, for introducing me to this lovely lady!

Chanel No. 19 Parfum (1970) - green iris - #henrirobert created a perfume for #cocochanel ‘s birthday that is polar opposite vs. No. 5. Whereas, No. 5 is warm and joyous, No. 19 is cold & steely. Cut-grass Galbanum, earthy Iris, Oakmoss supported by white florals and sandalwood. The vintage Parfum is rounded and full-bodied, where I dont get any green sharpness but more Iris on a bed of moss. I also get more complexity ranging from waxy aldehydes until earthy patchouli.

My all time favorite. It’s aloof, austere, and chic. The burst of intoxicating green scents in the opening mixes with a cool, crisp vibe that is brash and divine. As it settles it turns into a classy mix of powder, oakmoss, and light rose. This isn’t for everyone but those who want to experience something different and unique should check this out. It’s elegant, sophisticated, and extremely versatile! Whenever I need to feel like myself, I reach for No. 19 Parfum.

I recently purchased a fairly new bottle bottle of the parfum & I can only imagine how this magisterial fragrance has been modified over the last 5 decades. But nonetheless, I’m certain my “modern version” is for this time just beautiful, lovely & transcendent compared to the banal offerings of todays trends & standards. I pick up the most amazingly dewy, pink & ozonic rose I’ve ever smelled. Boozy, green, fresh. This is how a Goddess smells. Thank you Chanel!

I agree with the previous opinion, this seems more powdery than no 19 poudre. It is actually nicer too. Much less complicated, which I like quite a lot as I don't need my perfumes to be too complex. A lovely, sweet smelling woody floral that has a lovely fresh green note/s to it including a hint of mint, which is very nice. I think this beats no 19 poudre hands down. Maybe not my favourite Chanel, but it is a very appealing perfume.

The scent of springtime green; this embodies all of the bright, dewy, and earthy facets of greenery coming to life in the rising warmth of the spring. Starts off a touch spicy with the galbanum, becomes a spicy green & white floral at the heart, eventually pares down to a woody and lightly earthy base. Not a major projector, really have to lean in to catch a sniff. Lasts for around 8 hrs on my skin. Best suited in the warmer months.

I adore no.19, I think it is far prettier then it's more famous sister no.5. It is green loveliness, smells classy, expensive but in no way offensive. Is it a little dated, yes but a classic, great for the office, lunch, party a versatile scent, some might describe it as a spring scent but I think it can be worn anytime of the year. I am so glad it is back in my collection. Love it.

The parfum is quite brutal. Brilliantly executed cold brutality. There is serious greeness that hits you like a sledgehammer. The edp is gentle in comparison. I have never smelled anything like it, and though i cant inagine an occassion to wear this i think I have to have this in my collection. If serial killers wear Secretions Magnifiques, malignant narcissistic CEOs wear this!

Reviewing a late ‘80’s bottle of Parfum bought on eBay, half an ounce (about 14 mls). Snipped the delicate string and twisted the top off with a slight shudder of trepidation. The box had been sealed, thankfully the Parfum is exquisite, yeasty green, airy, profound...a dab on the hand to quench my intense curiosity has rewarded me with 5 hours of intense pleasure. Just superb.

has someone an opinion about the differences between the EDP and the extrait? it's hard to find a tester of the latter and I guess there are details different?! (I like the EDP actually but extrait is always "calling":-) Edit: It is supergreat! Very fine, much better than the EDP, a bigger iris and all in all softer and round and lively.

I got a No.19 body lotion in store, and wow I'm in love. If an independent woman has a special scent, it is gonna be this one! Very different from any other Chanel perfume that I sniffed before. I was not a Chanel lover until No.19 changed my mind. Modern, urbany, independent, even a little bit stubborn and arrogant. Love,love,love.

I have the extrait. It starts quite sharp. It is an assertive scent with sparkling aldehydes grounded by iris and vetiver. It is beautiful. It is confident. It is crisp with an underlying earthy but not sweet floral loveliness. I wore it the day I paid my property taxes this year! How do you add aldehydes to the notes on this site?