Chanel No 5 Eau Premiere (2015)

There seemed to have been some controversy/debate/questions round the internets over whether this 2015 version is the same juice in a new bottle or something altogether different. I have been fortunate in obtaining a sample of the new version* and I have a small decant of the older version, so I decided to do a side by side comparison today. *My sample comes from the new shaped bottles now available but does not have the hashtags on the box that have been mentioned in some articles. The box was plain white with a black outline and reminds me of the boxes for the exclusives although it opens at the top like a normal box. The decant comes from an older bottle, the taller thinner one, exact age/batch unknown. I sprayed the older version onto my left wrist, 2 small sprays and (having transferred the dab vial into a small spray vial) sprayed the newer version on the same place on my right wrist, again 2 small sprays. They were applied within 20 seconds of each other, onto freshly showered skin to which no other products had been applied. To me, the scent is the same at the opening. I am struggling to discern any differences to be honest. Maybe the older version is slightly crisper and the new version ever so slightly softer, but that equally could be to do with age and the older sample being, well, older. In the heart, again, there seems to be very little difference - I am searching for differences rather than anything jumping out at me. Possibly the ylang is slightly more dominant in the new version. I think the newer one is projecting slightly more but it is hard to say. [Later]. Ok this could possibly be due to batch variation or related to the age of the older decant, but the newer scent is definitely projecting more and the aldehydes have remained slightly crisper while the scent itself, despite projecting better feels somehow softer in the newer version. I am definitely getting more ylang from the newer one. And the vanilla is slightly more prominent in the new one currently. I will try to come back later and update this review as I move into the drydown so that I can comment on longevity and any differences later on. To me this seems - at the moment anyway - to be the same fragrance. The slight variations I have noticed could be due to age of the juice or batch differences. I don't think (at this point anyway) that I would have known this was 2 allegedly different scents had I not applied them myself. The only real things i can notice as being different are ever so slightly more prominent ylang and vanilla in the newer one, which make it feel slightly more rounded and soft, and the newer one is projecting a little better. This reminds me of Guerlain Liu more than it does of the "standard" no5, of which I have decant of the edp. Either way this a truly beautiful scent and perfect for warm to hot summer days. ETA - I have carried out my experiment twice now and my findings are thus: The scent of both the older version and the 2015 version are extremely similar. If I had owned the previous bottle and finished it then replaced it with this afterwards I honestly doubt I would have noted any real differences. There are slight variations but these could be purely due to batch variance as they did not alter the character or nature of the scent, in my opinion. To me this is essentially the same juice in a different bottle. The differences I did note, both times testing were: The aldehydes in the older sample were perhaps slightly crisper through the opening and heart of the fragrance and slightly softer in the new version. In the heart and early drydown the ylang and the vanilla were a little more prominent in the new version which gave a slightly softer, rounder and creamier feel to it while the older one retained a crisper feel. But I must stress, these were not massive differences to me. The biggest difference between the two versions was that (barring the first 30 minutes) the newer version had better projection which became more pronounced the further we went into the drydown. By bedtime the older one had become a skin scent, detectable only with nose pressed to wrist, while the newer one was still projecting, albeit softly. The following morning, I could still smell a hint of the new version on my skin while the old had left some time in the night. I hope this comparison will be useful to people deliberating over this new version.

[850] Perfume is one of my favourite things, and as a result I have an extensive perfume collection and love perfumes from every scent family. I change up what I'm wearing so frequently that I long have given up on finding a signature scent. However, the closest I'll ever come to a signature scent is this flanker for the classic that is Chanel No. 5 - an icon in the truest sense of the word. I used to spray this in department stores as a teenager, initially falling in love with its 2007 predecessor. Although I have a small bottle of the 2007 Eau Première, it remains sealed so I can't do a proper comparison. My mom's signature scent is No. 5 EDP, and while I adore it, I wouldn't wear it, as it is hers. Instead, EP is the best version of No. 5 for me. It is a wonderful modern update of a classic - lighter, smoother and creamier while retaining the DNA of the original. It is unavailable here in Ireland, so I pick this up at the duty free when travelling. No. 5 L'Eau is advertised as the modern, youthful version of No. 5, but I find it to be inferior to EP - its performance is somewhat lacking and it is less refined and well-rounded. EP opens with the famous bright aldehydes that Chanel is known for. It sparkles like champagne initially, before settling to settling to a smooth soapiness, like the finest milled French soap. The smooth, clean florals follow, with neroli emerging initially, adding green-tinged orange brightness. As it progresses, ylang ylang comes to the fore, smooth and sweet, the dominant note of the opening. The peach of the original is noticeably absent, but the aforementioned tropical florals add fruitiness to the opening. Beautifully balanced, smooth and bright, they pave the way to the powdery floral heart that forms the crux of the No. 5 DNA. Clean, powdery jasmine follows, alongside powdery rose and soft iris. This accord is quintessentially Chanel - utterly elegant and vintage in style - the heart of No. 5. The bouquet is smooth, powdery and clean; still soap-like but lush and well-rounded. It is lighter and airier than No. 5 proper, more youthful and modern. Dry vanilla creeps in as it dries down, complementing the florals to perfection with soft sweetness. Soft sandalwood grounds things here, and vetiver adds a hint of dry grassiness as it fades. It remains clean and powdery until final fade - there is no muskiness in this iteration of No. 5. The chypre base of the original is also missing, making for a simpler, more straightforward but no-less-beautiful drydown (and I am a big fan of chypres). Here, the florals shine until the very end, when it fades to a powdery vanilla skin scent. Sillage is moderate and longevity is long-lasting (the performance here is thankfully much better than Chanel No. 19 or No. 5 L'Eau). A timeless, ageless feminine scent that is utterly elegant and easy to wear, EP pays homage to the original but has its own identity. Naturally, being a Chanel perfume, it is made with high-quality ingredients. Hugely versatile, it is a rare year-round scent. Smooth yet sparkling, rich yet airy, clean yet sweet, it is a perfectly balanced beauty that suits modern tastes while paying homage to a vintage icon. Utterly beautiful, this is a personal favourite. 5/5.

Champagne wishes and caviar dreams! Of all the Chanel No5 concentrations (I love them all) and flankers, Eau Premiere is my very favorite! Only recently did I discover Eau Premiere, as it seemed redundant to add to my already extensive No5 collection... how wrong I was! The fizzy burst of aldehydes mingles with an impressionistic bouquet of Chanel No5 notes modified to create softer, warm, intoxicating bubbles that immediately lure me into the relaxed and giddy state only otherwise achieved after a third glass of champagne. I envision the scene with Daisy Buchanan and Jordan Baker from the 1974 movie rendition of The Great Gatsby, lounging in the sunroom of Daisy’s East Egg mansion in the middle of a sweltering summer day. It is the Roaring 20s and air conditioning has not yet been invented, so the ladies decide to wile away their boredom and cool themselves by sipping champagne until thoroughly exhausted from the decadent frivolity... Lulled into dozing the day away on a pair of white damask sofas with plush white carpet afoot, a sparkling crystal chandelier overhead, abounding bouquets of fragrant white roses, and sheer white curtains swaying lazily in the breeze to reveal the lush green grounds outside. Jordan, a magnetic brunette beauty, wears a tailored, white silk long jacket and gown. She also happens to be a professional golfer, the perfect embodiment of Gabriel Chanel’s chic, trailblazing, modern woman... one who would wear original Chanel No5. Daisy is wearing a flowing, gossamer white and silver gown with strings of pearls and a 20-carat marquis-shaped diamond ring. Married to a wealthy “brut” of a man, she longs for the romance of her youth, her first love Jay Gatsby. An ethereal, blonde beauty, Eau Premier perfectly complements her fragile, hypnotic walk through life. For dreams often end as quickly as they begin, and sadly so does the longevity of this Parfum. Eau Premier is a daydream... a hazy, sparkling platinum golden white, head-in-the-clouds dream of a parfum. Like No5, it is an abstract blend that weaves in white and yellow florals, soft woods, a splash of citrus, puffy powders, and a hint of mystery, transporting you to another time and place... And yet it transcends time altogether. However the intoxicating effect is short-lived and must be reapplied to prevent the bubble from bursting. Eau Premier has a touch more rose and powder, and removes the civet and patchouli notes that I never truly loved in original No5. It is softer, more delicate, less animalic... I have become instantly addicted and enchanted by its spell! Perfect for any and every season and occasion, Eau Premier envelops her wearer with an aura of timeless, classic elegance, feminine beauty, perchance to dream. Scent: 10 out of 10 Projection: low Longevity: low to moderate Price: decent compared to the more expensive Exclusifs

I LOVE this fragrance... it is so classy, sophisticated and understated and something that can be worn during practically all occassions in the day during both the spring and fall. The aldehydes are much more toned down in Chanel N°5 Eau Premiére than in the original Chanel N°5 perfume and this fragrance smells a lot more youthful to me. I also like how there is no dirty smelling oakmoss in the base unlike in the original N°5 and how this particular flanker is much stronger on both the yellow and white florals and isn't as woody as the first fragrance in this line of Chanel perfumes. Everything in this fragrance is perfectly balanced and incredibly feminine smelling, making me think of a classy young woman who is sophisticated, worldly and old money without being stuffy or snobby. It has a certain sparkling quality to it and I'm only getting the soapy quality from aldehydes and not the dirty and oily nuances that aldehydes sometimes unfortunately have. I like how Chanel N°5 Prémiere isn't as citrusy smelling as Chanel N°5 L'eau, has a smaller dosage of aldehydes than N°5 L'eau and lasts longer than that particular flanker too. Less powdery and a bit sweeter too. I got 5 and a half hours from this perfume on my skin and its sillage was the perfect moderate dosage. It's strong enough to smell but not so strong that it would make one's stomach churn or become overwhelmed. For all of the above, I'd give Chanel N°5 Prémiere an excellent 8.3/10 and a thumbs up... definitely by far the best N°5 perfume in my opinion and what Chanel N°5 should have smelled like!

I LOVE this scent! It’s my wear anytime, anywhere, scent. It fits into whatever you are doing. Work? It is beautiful, fresh and clean. Casual? Goes beautifully with jeans and white t shirt. Dressy? Also goes beautifully for even special occasions with its slightly powdery dry down. You can dress it up or down. However you choose, for whatever your mood. I love its versatility. If I was going somewhere and had to choose only one scent, it would be this one. Starts off fresh and citrus-y, nothing too sharp, with clean aldehydes, nothing too harsh, gentle florals, nothing too allergy-inducing, with sandalwood and vanilla dry down, nothing too sweet or powdery. Just a well balanced scent to be enjoyed by everyone. This scent is calming and soothing while also helping me stay focused. It is very classy, yet other people love the scent as well and will linger for a longer time hugging me. I sometimes hear them sigh contently. Beauty is others feeling comfortable around you, and this feels comfortable while being classy, fresh, and clean at the same time. Beautiful signature scent that you and others can enjoy. I can’t imagine anyone being offended by this. Edit to add: Callista25 wrote something in her review above that basically said that this is what the EDP should have been. I totally agree. That is why I own the parfum and Eau Première.