Chanel No 5 Parfum

*weeping tears of joy* Every time I open my bottle of No 5 extrait, I am never quite prepared for its exquisite beauty. Simply beguiling. Chanel have made their range of extraits an experience to be had, from holding the glass flacon in your palm feeling it’s cool surfaces and clean cut edges, opening the seal, twisting the stopper to release the breathtaking aroma, with this in particular... the beauty that is No 5 Parfum. Pure artistry. This fragrance has a unique and unforgettable character. Elegant and sensual without being distant, aloof, dirty, slutty or exuding over the top decadence. It is also familiar, a comfort, serene and peaceful. I wear it sometimes for bed, or I dab some on pulse points before or after prayer and meditation, it helps relax me and instils calm within me. It helps me to sleep but also gives me the experience of quiet luxury. She doesn’t scream nor shout. She doesn’t need to. The parfum wears close to the skin but sings for hours and hours. This fragrance is truly timeless and can be worn for many an occasion, a masterpiece that stands the test of time. A fresh out of the shower, damp hair in a towel, robe on for hours while you pamper and self care... or your wedding... or a walk in nature. No 5 parfum is awe-inspiring, versatile and perfection. My first encounter with this fragrance was totally by chance when a lady I purchased a vintage COCO extrait from sent me a partial bottle for free with the package. Yup, free! She explained it was her late mother-in-law’s, preserved properly and well loved but she was more of a Dior girl herself so was selling all the Chanel she had left behind. I’m not kidding I opened it and gasped, there was a stare into space for around 10 seconds before my next whiff. “Where on Earth have you been? Or where have I been?” I would just scroll by this on eBay or walk past it in the boutiques and stores like Selfridges. I don’t know why. Probably a pre-misconception that No 5 smelt musty and dated. My Mom always preferred No 5 EDP on others but hated it on herself so I steered away from ever smelling any of the No 5 line. I’m a COCO girl, so is Mom. The EDP is the 80s iteration of the parfum, the same vein runs through but it is No 5 parfum with shoulder pads and huge hairspray laquered hair, however still unequivocally No 5. I have the vintage EDT from around 70’s, the Jasmine has turned very indolic and there’s almost a honeyed element to the florals in this, the top note citruses seem to almost evaporated but it’s still heavenly nonetheless, I wear this to bed a lot. I haven’t tried the newer formulation of the EDT. But still, No 5 parfum in its current formulation is still exquisite and smells incredible despite ingredients changing and real civet being substituted for synthetic over time. I haven’t yet got my nose on the signature scent of Marilyn Monroe, the EDC either. My husband has always had a very positive reaction every time I wear the parfum, the dry down is delicious and the opening to mid notes are just a wonderful journey. The beauty of No 5 resembles, to me, the flickering and glow of a candle on a chilly evening... where the snow has fallen outside. The notes dancing and flickering to and fro with one another, like the flame — from warm to cold. There is an airy chill to this but it is ever so cosy at the same time. A juxtaposition of notes, a paradox of a perfume. A glorious creation by Ernest Beaux. One I will always, always love.

Perfume has always fascinated me as the perfect intersection of art and science, and as such you'd think No. 5 perfume would've been one of my first purchases when I became an adult. However, despite being (or perhaps because I am) a child of the 70's/80's, I prefer green, citrusy scents and unisex fourgere and cologne fragrances to floral scents, and haven't worn anything with a powdery note since I was 12. Having gotten a sample in the 80's when my mom worked in Hecht's women's department, I associated No. 5 with an almost alcoholic opening and powdery floral dry-down that kept me away for decades. Back around 2009, reading through "Perfumes The Guide", I was surprised to read how different the various incarnations of Chanel No. 5 were formulated, and I resolved one day to revisit the fragrance. Today is the day. My precious .25 bottle arrived an hour ago, and like many others here, I'm shocked how different - favorably - the perfume is from the EDT and EDP (which is what I realize now my mom must've brought home in the mid-80's when it was first released vs. the perfume). It is stunning. It definitely has a powder/iris note, but it keeps changing on my skin in a way that's fascinating me. For me, the scent I get whiffs of is not even the same as when I put my nose close up to my wrist - and while the top notes I wish would persist even a bit longer, I'm enjoying the dry-down, with the citrus and amber and vanilla coming and going, popping up and disappearing. (ETA: 3 hours in, the scent is hitting the base notes, but it's surprisingly different from what I expected and again in a positive way. Sitting very close on the skin now, still periodic flashes of citrus, and the musk is showing itself to be a lovely refined one, melded with the amber and vanilla beautifully. The civet and oakmoss and patchouli feel like the "underpainting" (base layer) of color you apply before painting a picture, that gives tonality and contrast to the final painting you apply on top - you can't see (smell) them, but you know they're there.) I've also ordered a small vintage bottle that hasn't arrived yet, as a comparison. I know the top notes won't likely be intact, but very curious to experience the dry-down which most people seem to agree stays true to form in vintage samples. It's not something that's going to be a go-to for me 'personal scent', but anyone who thinks they don't "get" the appeal of No. 5 and appreciates the art of perfumery should have at least the smallest bottle, just to appreciate the art of the possible. Note: I was surprised to see so many people say "unisex" in the polls above - but then as I hit the base notes, I asked my husband to take a sniff at the 3 hours mark, and he said "woody". I love seeing all the guys on here wearing this phenomenal fragrance, and I can 100% see men wearing this and smelling fantastic... I'm guessing the vintage stuff even moreso.

If this perfume did not have aldehydes, the only No 5 this one would smell like would be the 1921 EDT of No 5, because the EDT and PARFUM are the only ones that contain a noticeable amount of musk/civet in omparrison and contrast to the other No 5 fragrances. The EDP is MUCH more related to Eau Premiere than any other No 5. As I do not smell the musk. If anything, the No 5 EDP has the bright and fizzy citrus effect that Eau Premiere has when you compare the EDP to the EDT or Parfum compares to No 5 So basically, in order to give a visual of what I am trying to say, I say this: 1921 Parfum: Is the No 5 all of the other No 5's are trying to smell like and resemble. Parfum is very heavy with aldehydes, powdery notes, and musk to the point where I believe those are the only true notes I ever detect in the actual pure perfume version. 1921 EDT: Is the No 5 that smells closest to the Parfum where you are able to get the powdery, musky, and aldehydic smell. The main difference is that there is a small burst of "clean and fresh" but NOTHING like in any of the later versions. If anything, the burst of freshness would be more accurately described as sparkling powdery notes, as you never really smell citrus standing out like you do in the later flankers. 1980s EDP: Is the No 5 that smells like a total revision of the Parfum and EDT. Just like the Parfum and EDT, you are able to smell aldehydes and powdery notes, but I don't get the musk/civet accord the same way I do in the originals. In fact, the EDP seemingly dries down with MORE powdery notes, but the musk is so light, you never truly ever get to say that you "for sure" smell musk, because it is disguised in powdery notes. 2015 Premiere: Is the No 5 that is yet another total revision of No 5, but this one is totally based on the 1980s version. You NEVER detect musk or civet. Where you just have powder, powder, and more powder with the 1980s EDP, you have fizzy, sparkling powdery notes in this one. If you can imagine taking the most premium lemon-lime soda in the world, chilling it down to near freezing, and then being able to crazk it open on the hottest of all days and being able to enjoy it..... Well, the way that icy, cold soda would taste on your parched tongue on that hot, summer day, is the same way No 5 Eau Premiere smells to me, as it is the most beautiful, and fizzy, version of No 5 I have ever smelled. No 5 L'eau is barely related to even Eau Premiere. Even though it is refreshing and beautiful, it isn't fizzy like Eau Premiere. It is more just black and white citrus and aldehydes with no powder.

2022 extrait formulation. (Cue Elton John's "I'm Still Standing".) If there's one word that's been used and abused well outside its wheelhouse lately, it's "iconic". Sorry, kids, but Carolina Herrera's dreck in a stiletto-shaped bottle isn't iconic, nor is Marvel's star-of-the-minute during a sassy press conference, nor is Olivia Rodrigo's latest midtempo diary entry, nor is whichever Hadid sister is in the news this week. The Eiffel Tower is iconic. Michelangelo's Pietà is iconic. The martini is iconic. Marilyn Monroe is iconic. And, yes, Chanel No. 5, the perfume that irrevocably changed the fragrance industry, inspired thousands of imitators at every price point, and set millions of hearts ablaze - and counting! - is iconic. Whether you like it or not, whether you think it smells gorgeously lush or old-fashioned and musty (which version are you smelling, exactly, and how well has it been kept?), we should all be familiar with the one perfume that almost everyone on Earth can name. Chanel No. 5 parfum is a marvel. Sparkling, silky, soapy, powdery, flowery, woody, sunlit, musky. It contains literally the highest-quality jasmine and rose in the world, *grown specifically for it*. Can you smell the difference? If, like me, you spent a decade and a half dicking around with lesser fragrant specimens before finally laying a nose on this beauty, yes. You can. The rose jumps out right away, as sonorous and heartbreakingly beautiful as a soprano solo. The well-heeled jasmine is a violin that somehow turns into a cello halfway through the heart, running its hand along your arm, giving you goosebumps. The sandalwood hums a beguiling bass note, with velvety iris and musk adding texture; the civet peeks out at odd intervals, reminding you that No. 5 is a proper perfume, meant to be worn on skin, wafting deliciously from warm flesh. And yet the whole is so much more than the sum of its parts. Its abstract complexity makes No. 5 smell slightly different every time I wear it, but always unmistakably of itself. And it's one of those very rare perfumes that's so rich and well-drawn it seems to be alive, in the room with you, possessing its own personality. Somehow this tiny bottle of scented alcohol feels almost...human. (There's probably a scientific reason for this; I simply chalk it up to the intangible magic of perfume.) Yes, No. 5 extrait is expensive. It's also, like the Pietà , a work of art. But you can't wear the Pietà .

If Chanel No. 5 Parfum (and only the Parfum/Extrait) were materialized into a solid object, it would undoubtedly be a fancy yellow diamond, something like the Tiffany Diamond: a stone forged by nature and cut by mankind to almost absolute perfection... Cold to the first touch, but with an intense solar yellow fire and sparking at any movement... Compact in size, but extremely dense, eternal on its existence. If it were a sound, it would be a symphony orchestra accompanied by a full choir, all perfectly tuned. The Parfum version of No. 5 is magical: the famous aldehydes give an almost icy freshness at the top, a cold air that soon begins to warm up when the flowers appear. And what flowers! The floral absolutes of May Rose, Grasse Jasmine and Ylang-Ylang are in their purest and richest form, yet they are as intertwined as the carbon bonds that make up a diamond. These three flowers sing together to project the image of an abstract, almost cubist, golden flower. Furthermore, the iris absolute is so wonderful, so creamy but at the same time so dry, thick, sober and powdery, that it makes the experience even better if possible. It's a fragrance full of contrasts: it's clean like the finest floral French soap and cold as snow, but it has that skin touch and human warmth (never dirty, fetid); it's smooth in its potency, yet highly dense and consistent in what it delivers. Longevity is good on my skin, but the projection is naturally discreet. Where I live it's hot and humid, but that doesn't stop me from using it, I even think it helps the perfume to develop in an even more beautiful way. The bottle I have was produced in 2021, but I don't feel the need to run after an older version. I could say many other things about Chanel No. 5 Parfum, I could make this review longer than it already is, but I can say that: if you've only tried the Eau de Parfum, Eau de Toilette, Premiére and L'Eau, you DON'T KNOW Chanel No. 5. I like these versions, but none, I repeat, *NONE* comes close to the majesty of the Parfum. If you hate, loathe No. 5, if you think it's something overrated, outdated or tacky based only on these four versions, your opinion may change when you try the Parfum on your skin. Only the Parfum delivers the reason why this perfume deserves the fame it has, the iconic status it has. TRY THE PARFUM, GUYS!!!

It's a Chanel weekend. Yesterday was a day for No. 19, and today is a day for No. 5. Round two of may favorite game of format comparisons: on my left arm and hand is a new EdP, on my right arm and hand is an extrait from the 1980s. Yeah, I smell amazing today, thanks. I'm not going to go into a lot of detail here because I'll just be rehashing things said by millions of others before me. We all know No. 5, so I'm not going to waste my time or yours. The story here is just how much the current EdP formulation has fallen. In good years the EdP and the extrait were different for obvious reasons, but they were close and clearly the same perfume. The new EdP is a mess. This is especially apparent in the opening, where the EdP definitely smells fruity compared to the extrait's massive aldehydes, lemon, and florals. Yes, this is likely my nose playing a trick on me by smelling the EdP and the extrait so soon after each other, but there's more. The EdP is also quite a bit more powdery. The white florals of the extrait are vivid and saturated, like a 4K television to the EdP's old tube box. The EdP is light and soft, the extrait is rich and dense. The EdP almost immediately goes to a skin scent of milky sandalwood and musks, while after three hours the extrait is still warming up and getting into it's stride. The aldehydes - those legendary, gorgeous, sparkling flecks of white light that dance in the air - where are those in the EdP?! In the extrait, even hours after applying it, they're still dancing in the air. No. 5 is supposed to be an "abstract" white floral - smelling floral without smelling like anything in particular - and I've always thought it sort of failed on this vision mandate; I've never not been able to pull specific floral notes - jasmine, ylang ylang, rose, and muguet - from No. 5, but, no matter. I didn't and don't care that, to my nose, it isn't as abstract as it's meant to be. There's nothing abstract or floral about the new EdP. The minimal amount of florals you do get are feeble and wan. I will redo this missive at a later date when I apply my vintage EdP and the vintage extrait for another arm-by-arm comparison. For now though, I'll keep raising my right arm to my nose minute after minute for one more hit of that glorious extrait. This new EdP, yeah, I'm going to ignore it. What a pity.

[600] The word "icon" is overused nowadays, but most would agree that it applies to Chanel No. 5, the most renowned perfume in the world. An objectively excellent scent, groundbreaking at the time of its creation by the pioneering use of aldehydes, No. 5 also is close to my heart, as the EDP has been my mom's signature scent for years. I have previously reviewed the EDT and EDP concentrations of No. 5, but I recently received a 1980s vintage miniature of the parfum version and was very excited to compare them. The parfum is closely related to the EDT - the EDP is a slightly different formula, composed in the 1980s. The parfum is the most powdery of the three, and unsurprisingly the richest iteration. I dabbed on my vintage EDT for comparison, and I think the top notes have expired; its opening being illogically dryer, dustier and less bright than that of the parfum. No. 5 opens with radiant aldehydes, soapy and bright, alongside a squeeze of citrus. Beautiful powdery florals, the backbone of No. 5, follow closely, dense yet distinguishable from each other. Clean, sweet jasmine and powdery rose are instantly recognisable, with the trademark Chanel iris note enhancing the powder. Ylang ylang is more evident in the parfum than the other concentrations, sweet and creamy. There is a beautiful soft musky undertone, becoming more evident as it dries down - this is much more prominent in the parfum than the other concentrations. The musks used in vintage perfumes are far superior to modern musk molecules (ethical issues aside). It adds a soft animalic undertone, a nice counterpoint to the aldehydic florals. The floral chypre stage comes to the fore later, woody and mossy with a hint of animalic amber in the background. The powdery florals remain until final fade, sumptuously rich. A hint of powdery vanilla adds sweetness as it fades, becoming a soft, powdery mossy-amber skin scent. Sillage is moderate and longevity is long-lasting. Rich yet airy, radiant yet densely powdery, No. 5 parfum is a multifaceted, complex scent that is perfectly formed. This parfum concentration is my favourite - the EDP is my mom's, and I prefer the richness here to the EDT. Timeless, ageless elegance in a bottle, it is a masterpiece in the truest sense of the word. The GOAT, as the kids say. 5/5.

If you're deciding between the Parfum and other formulations, the biggest difference in my opinion is one dab of the Parfum goes straight to the dry down without anything sharp in the beginning. But not just that, the texture of the Parfum surrounds the wearer in a cloud of a skin scent. So it smells and is as strong-smelling as a skin scent, yet projects in a bubble around you. Usually if someone wants to be swaddled in a cloud of scent, they have to spray a lot and as a result it presents really strongly. Some people love that, and maybe that could be achieved with the Parfum. But that's not how I wear it. For me, *that* is the magic and purpose of the Parfum formulation. If you just want a similar smell, Premiere is going to get you the closest. Eau de Parfum is a bombastic blast that eventually calms down after a few hours. but the end result is a different "presence" or "texture" than the Parfum. Another unique aspect of the Parfum is that because its such "dry-down" or "base-note" type of scent yet still has such a presence, it layers really well with many different types of scents. Maybe layering this is blasphemy since it is so amazing and multi-dimensional on it's own, but half way through the day, if I'm feeling restless, I can layer my Dior Gris lotion (a minimal boss-lady rose) over it or really anything! The Parfum softens and smooths anything it's up against, which really adds amazing dimension to spicy gourmands, men's fougeres, or tart florals. And something fruity, wow! It's heaven. I've even tried a strawberry-aid lotion that is actually for my son, and I felt like a Summer goddess! Haha! It's like cheating with layering, you can't go wrong! For anyone that is concerned with wanting the most "modern" take, I'd say Parfum > Eau Premiere > L'Eau (more of a powdered sugar lemon facet without being too sweet, and less yellow florals) > EDT > EDP. With the last two falling into the category as "vintage smelling." Which I enjoy when the mood hits, but I know that's not everyone's jam. I tend to reach for L'Eau the least because it tends to be. . . "stuffy" sometimes. I don't mean powdery, they all have powder, maybe it's the combination of the powder and the sweet lemon? So I like to spray that in my bath water instead.

THE GREATEST FRAGRANCE EVER CREATED My story: It's difficult to express in a couple of lines what this iconic perfume evokes for me as a man in my 40s. From the moment I was born and at the first smelled it, it transported me to the glamorous, ultra-luxurious decade of the 80s, a far cry from the more youthful and rebellious trends of the time. It was the perfume of the rich, of those women who spent three hours getting ready for a night at the opera with their husbands. In short, and more accurately: Glamour. In the 90s the perception changes torward old ladys and wealthy families It evokes the "Belle Époque of the 40s"by the Hollywood stars and the extreme glamour of the 80s, when social classes were very clearly defined and practically no one could aspire to buy this perfume—well, almost no one can now either, haha. In these times where women have more power, more presence and social differences are becoming increasingly narrow, Chanel n.5 I think has no place except in the nostalgia of watching Noir films from the 40s/50s admiring the elegance of women like Lauren Bacall or thinking that Cary Grant is going to conquer you on the French Riviera like Grace Kelly in To Catch a Thief. My Thoughts: Ferrari, Louis Vuitton and Chanel, means luxury, extremely luxury. stuff. If you have 700 usd for a 7.5ml means you aren't reading this page coz you don't really care about personal opinions and of course you choice to buy for your high standard, if is not let me tell you that you are going to waste a tons of dolars for something isn't improve your life or give the status you wish to have. Chanel No. 5 not only has a sublime and legendary scent, but I'm convinced it's the greatest icon of perfumery, the beginning of it all, and the one that has captivated us all at some point. To the new generations: YES Verdict: -Longevity: FOR EVER -Projection: +10 -Sillage: +10 -Scent: +10 -Versatile: 1 -Blind buy: NO -Worth value: 0 to 10. If you are a ordinary worker is going to break your bank account while you can't properly wear in almost 363 days a year except in your Bday and New Year, but 10 if you are in love with perfumes, you wanna have the best, the one, the eternal perfume ever. 10

Chanel No. 5 I was a breech baby. It might explain why I seem to always live my life backwards. Most people start their love affair with perfume with something light; something formulated for a tender palate, then progress to more complex compositions like Chanel No. 5. Not me. Chanel No. 5 Pure Parfum was my first perfume. It was a gift from my grandfather to my grandmother when they first got married. As a child, my favorite thing to do was to sit at my grandmother’s vanity while she napped, and put on her jewelry, makeup and perfume. I felt so beautiful, so sophisticated, and so womanly. My grandmother’s best friend wore it. My mother wears it. I naturally assumed that this is what all beautiful, sophisticated women wear, so I did too, for a long time. It wasn’t until almost the end of junior high school that I realized that most of my friends were wearing Love’s Baby Soft or Angel Scent, so I did too. They were fun, but I always went back to my Chanel for special events like birthdays, Christmas, my first date, and my junior high prom. It will be the fragrance I wear when I get married, have my first child, and when I die. When my grandmother passed away, I received that special bottle of hers. To me, it is as sacred as holy water, as precious as gold. It is bottled love. I guard this bottle with my life. I once challenged my students to write an essay on the 5 things they would grab if their house was on fire and they only had time to take 5 things. The answers were surprising, endearing, and hilarious. Most of the essays made us weep, laugh, and applaud wildly. Then my students challenged me to do the same. Not surprisingly, my bottle of Chanel No. 5 made the list. Thank you, Chanel, for this timeless and gorgeous fragrance. It is the fragrance I wear to mark the milestones in my life. It is what the people I love the most in this world smell like. It reminds me of my home, my past, my present, my future, and all of the good things to come. It is sacred, it is perfect, it is a gift of creativity and brilliance.

I am, at last, the proud owner of a 15ml Chanel No 5 Extrait. I say proud but this is very much an understatement as I was very emotional when I bought this, and I also have several bottles of the EDP and the EDT to complete my collection. I watched many of Dacob’s videos on YouTube (Dacob, we love you) and I exactly understand how he feels about being obsessed by Le 5 (as we say in my hometown and also Chanel No 5’s birthplace: Paris). Yes it is expensive, but frankly if you have decided to buy a bottle, it is because you love it. Also the ingredients making this beautiful nectar (I did not say juice because we are at a different level here) are top quality such as jasmine flowers picked at early hours of the morning and May rose, both coming from the Chanel fields in Grasse. The bottle does not have a spray cap and you don’t splash with no 5 Extrait, you dab. You dab on pulse points of your body where the heat will “activate” this beautiful, comforting, classy smell that is so unique to no 5. However, I have my own ritual: EDT or EDP is sprayed on my chest and the extrait is dabbed behind my ears. Also. no 5 is the perfume I wear everyday. You cannot understand and feel it’s presence if it is not part of your everyday routine. Whenever, I wear no 5, even being a guy, I feel safe, comforted, at peace. For me, no 5 is an entire part of my personal space that nobody invades apart from my husband and very close friends. It is my world where I even feel Coco’s presence and connect with her. I know it sounds silly but no 5 is Coco and Coco is no 5 - she fought really hard to keep the brand as hers, probably not in a nice way but business is business. Don’t expect to radiate no 5 when you wear no 5 Extrait. You will experience something personal that is unique and really magic. Finally, anyone who says it smells mature or like granny does not understand no 5. They probably have smelled it on a strip of paper or worn it once in their life. No 5 does not smell mature or like granny. It smells class and sophistication.

Chanel No. 5, an iconic fragrance that has stood the test of time, is a masterpiece that encapsulates elegance and timelessness. My opinion and experience with this legendary scent are nothing short of admiration. The moment I first encountered Chanel No. 5, I was captivated by its intricate blend of floral and aldehydic notes. The top notes, featuring the citrusy burst of neroli and the freshness of ylang-ylang, create a vibrant opening that immediately establishes the fragrance's refined character. The heart of Chanel No. 5, with its classic bouquet of jasmine and rose, adds a layer of femininity and grace. The use of aldehydes imparts a unique quality, giving the fragrance a sparkling and effervescent aura that sets it apart from others. As the scent develops, the base notes of sandalwood, vetiver, and vanilla create a warm and comforting foundation. The interplay of these elements results in a fragrance that is not just a scent but an embodiment of sophistication and luxury. Wearing Chanel No. 5 is more than applying a fragrance; it's an indulgence in a timeless piece of olfactory art. The longevity and sillage of this perfume ensure that its presence lingers throughout the day, leaving an enchanting trail that is both subtle and unforgettable. Chanel No. 5 is not merely a fragrance; it's a symbol of enduring elegance and a testament to the genius of Coco Chanel. It transcends trends, making it a classic that has resonated with generations. My experience with Chanel No. 5 is a journey into the heart of perfumery, where each note tells a story of refinement and sophistication, making it a staple in my fragrance collection.

My first sniff of Chanel no 5 convinced me it was designed for old ladies who liked the smell of soap. It was probably an eau de toilette I smelled years ago at a department store counter. Soap, roses, and musk. That's all I got from it. I couldn't see what anyone liked about it. I was still young enough that most admonitions about what you'll like when you get older suggested you lose your senses, develop untreatable pain, and complain about how technology is ruining the young people nowdays. That sample of Chanel no 5 seemed to fit the idea that nostalgia makes you ignore what the world has to offer. A few years ago, based on a first-hand description of how much better the perfume can be than the weaker concentrations, I decided to give it another try. Wow. I really was missing out! The soapiness is just one note in a field of flowers, with warm woods and resins mixing in, mosses and musk blending with all of it, none demanding your full attention but all of them keeping your nose alert for what might come next. It was the amazing scent people have claimed it has been for a century. Since our senses do dull over time, I can only conclude that the bottle I tried years ago was breaking down from age and was too low in concentration to hold all the scents together. This sample of the perfume to my more mature nose was the right formulation at the right time. I might have liked it when I was younger, but I think it would have been intimidating. You need to know who you are to wear something sophisticated. This is. It'll draw people's attention and hold it, as it did mine when I was ready to revisit it.

My great-grandmother Elizabeth, or 'Lea,' was a woman of indomitable spirit and impeccable taste, and No. 5 Parfum was hers. A beautiful woman with dark hair in an upsweep or in curls along the nape of her neck, deep red lipstick and matching nails, a crisp white blouse and black skirt with hose-- Chanel in her own right. She was born two years before the creation of No. 5, so I rightfully say that she adopted this scent as her own rather than what happens now that the fragrance has become a legend: it is something that must adopt you. If you are not meant for No. 5, it will recoil and become bitter and disagreeable, the "funeral parlor" smell many complain of who have no business using it. If it accepts you, it reveals all of itself as it also becomes part of you. Bear in mind that the Parfum is the original and true form of No. 5 that the glamorous starlets of yesteryear enjoyed; the Eau de Parfum which is most commonly and widely available in department stores is a reiteration which was introduced in 1986. The true Parfum is a product of a bygone age, one of dignity and elegance. It is something that cannot and should not be worn by anyone, especially men. I am not one to segregate men's and women's fragrances usually, but this is one I will not touch as I hold it in reverence as the essence of exclusive femininity. I admire its aloof beauty from a distance, much like a Grecian statue. This is not a beginner's fragrance, nor is it for someone who does not care about their appearance. This is for those who choose to inherit a legacy.

Purchased the Chanel No 5 extrait 7,5ml directly from Chanel. It's the tiny bottle with the Chanel seal that you need to break before being able to dab the very exquisite pure parfum. The Edp has already been part of my collection for years so I've been accustomed to the scent even since childhood as my mom had the pure parfum extract in her collection too. The difference between the pure parfum and the Edp is minor although the pure parfum essence, when smelled directly from the wrist, has a stronger vanilla (which is probably the ylang ylang) and spicy, very musky scent. Ironically the essence feels more masculine but ultimately whether you own the Edt, Edp or parfum you will have the Chanel No 5 experience with almost no big difference except that the parfum feels fuller or more complete because of the strong musk maybe. Interestingly enough when smelling the extrait on one wrist and the Edp on the other they actually do smell different but when wearing one or the other on separate days the aura that will surround you will be the same, so much so that you will be asking yourself whether you applied the extrait or the Edp. I guess this is what makes Chanel No 5 so intriguing. You can't decipher any single separate note. Finally I want to say, that the picture that comes to my mind when experiencing Chanel No 5 is that of a mother holding her baby close to her. Chanel No 5 is the scent of safety and comfort. For me it's not a sexy or seductive perfume. It's the perfume of an elegant, sophisticated person with class.

Excuse me as I gleefully pour an entire bottle of CHANEL No. 5 over my head to drown out the noise in these reviews. Clearly, class isn't for everyone. If you actually appreciate the art of perfumery, you'll see that it's an abstract floral masterpiece, not a synthetic body splash for entrailered gourmand groupies. Unlike the sharper EDT and EDP, the aldehydes in the parfum are more fatty, waxy, and golden. The heart is packed with the absolute highest grade of Grasse jasmine and May rose in existence. It's fleshy, indolic, and deeply rich. The heavy dose of iris root gives it a plush texture that dull noses immediately dismiss as "old lady." It's grounded in real sandalwood, musks, and a touch of civet. With all of that, it's both grace and sensuality. The reason some associate this magnificent creation with baby powder is a testament to its dominance. No. 5 was so universally synonymous with high luxury that, for a FRIGGIN' CENTURY, companies scented their cheap, functional soaps and powders with poor imitations of its structure. No. 5 doesn't smell like baby powder. Baby powder smells like No. 5. If your nose is trained exclusively on burnt sugar and hooker body spray, you'll miss it entirely. While it's definitely not my favorite, you have to respect a fragrance with such a history as Chanel No. 5. I mean, do you really think anyone will be wearing Juicy Couture in 100 years? No my pet, they won't.

Literally just sprayed this on for the first time since receiving it today (it’s the evening so I’m channeling Marilyn right now). I am in LOVE. I love the EDT and EDP, but there’s something about this I love more. I actually find this one to be more unisex than the other two flankers, not that it matters. I’m a gay man, and I’ll wear whatever makes me happy. But something about this screams “a beautiful bouquet of flowers next to the best jar of body powder made.” I don’t know how to describe it other than, and I hope I don’t sound pretentious...ethereal? It must be the aldehydes. It’s been less than a month since I received my vintage EDT, and now I’ve bought a vintage EDP, and this new Parfum. I read somewhere on here that the parfum doesn’t come in a spray, and that if you got a spray bottle, this isn’t what you bought. I can’t say how untrue that is. My version of this is in a black lipstick style spray bottle. Both the glass bottle (replaceable) and the black case say “parfum” not “eau de.” And I know Chanel wouldn’t mislabel something. So if you, for some reason, thought you couldn’t get this in anything other than the dabber bottle...I have good news for you! I’ll come back and update the review once I’ve been able to study how long it stays on my body and if the scent evolves. But honestly, I don’t get that it’s going to. And even if not, I’m still in love. 🥀

The first time I got to try an adult perfume was when I was 15, and it was Chanel No 5. My dad who gave me his permission to wear his bottle before he gifted me my own bottle. It was the eau de parfum so it was strong and it almost kinda killed my aunt and I started to develop a headache from it. I would used it but sparingly and rarely. It always has been a perfume that will give me a headache. Then I got to try a parfum (extrait) version of it, and I found out that I love it a lot. Much better than the eau de parfum. I’m guessing because I have to dab it instead of spraying it, I’m not overwhelm by the instant hit and I didn’t kill anyone along with it. It is powdery fresh, woody, floral and sweet on me. The aldehydes didn’t disappear hence I guess the headache. The dry down is a lot sweeter on me cause of the vanilla but not sugary or sickening but still powdery. Does it smell something of the past? The perfume is a century old therefore, I’m sure everyone associated it with something from the past. For me, it isn’t old nor new. It’s something I’m familiar with. Is it sexy or a date fragrance? No, unless your date likes you powdery fresh. I recommend the parfum over the eau de parfum.

My very first job was working at a department store. Every day, I’d walk past the cosmetics and the perfume counters. I’d spritz my wrist with a different fine fragrance every day when my shift was over, and then take the bus home smelling expensive and absolutely divine while daydreaming of the day when I could finally afford one of them. For many years after, I had to make do with drug store fragrances. (Still love me some Emeraude, though. LOL) About an year ago, it finally happened. I walked right into a department store and bought my first fine fragrance. Such a special occasion deserved nothing less than Chanel No. 5. I now understand why this particular fragrance is so legendary. If I only could use only a single word to describe it, I would call it timeless. It may have a dated feel to it, but it’s done in such a beautiful way that I can appreciate and enjoy. I have since purchased several other fine fragrances, both vintage and contemporary. I’m really enjoying my olfactory journey, and I have Chanel to thank for my introduction into this world. Every woman should have this experience at least once in her life. I just hope they don’t have to wait as long as I did.

My perfume pen pal, Sarah, sent me a generous dabber of this classy lady, a vintage edition of the EDC from the 1940s or 1950s. It is indescribably great, like burying your face into the world's most luxurious leather handbag and taking in the fancy French powders and potions of yore. The civet makes its presence felt, but calling this juice skanky would be preposterous. To me it smells like pure class: the deepest and velvetiest mosses, the finest floral bouquets, swanky furs, fine old leather tack. Saddlesoap and conservatories. Legend has it that when I was a toddler, my mom left me alone in her bedroom for a few minutes, and I took the opportunity to pour out, all over her mattress, her entire precious bottle of Chanel No. 5, a gift from my dad, a poor student at the time. My mom, barely out of her teens and also working-class, had never owned such a nice perfume, and thanks to her toddler perfume enthusiast, she didn't own this perfume for very long. I poured it on the mattress so I could wallow in it, my mom said, and I didn't seem to understand why it was so bad, so she didn't bother to punish me. At least they had a very fragrant mattress for a while!