Chanel No 5 Parfum by Chanel is a Floral Aldehyde fragrance for women launched in 1921. The nose behind this fragrance is legendary perfumer. Ernest Beaux.
This is an absolutely iconic perfume that was a hit when it was released and still remains one of the most well-known scents in the world today. Chanel released Chanel No 5 Eau Premiere in 2015 and another flanker in 2016 called Chanel No 5 L’eau. It’s said to have been done to appeal to younger audiences.
The keynotes of this Floral Aldehyde are Aldehydes, rose, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sandalwood, and musk.
A note from Chanel:
N°5, the very essence of femininity. An aldehyde floral bouquet housed in an iconic bottle with a minimalist design. A timeless, legendary fragrance. The eau de parfum draws inspiration from the parfum with which it shares its floral aldehyde signature. This floral bouquet composed around May Rose and Jasmine features bright citrus top notes. Aldehydes create a unique presence, and the smooth touch of Vanilla an incredibly sensual trail.
| Perfurme Name | Chanel No 5 |
| Brand | Chanel |
| Year Released | 1921 |
| Concentration | Parfum |
| Scent Family | Floral Aldehyde |
| Gender | women |
Chanel No 5 used to be my grandma’s signature scent, and I still have an old bottle of hers. This is what I think about this classic Chanel scent.
What does Chanel No 5 by Chanel smell like?
The scent smells powdery, musky, and woody and is dominated by the Aldehyde notes. Chanel No. 5 makes me think of a classy and successful businesswoman in a classic Chanel suit or even in a Chanel little black dress. A woman that’s powerful and in control.
Chanel No. 5 reminds me of Hermes Kelly Caleche, which is also a floral aldehyde with notes of lemon, bergamot, orange blossom, and cypress. So it has a bit more of a citrusy feel than Chanel No. 5. It also makes me think of Lanvin Arpege, that’s also an aldehyde. Although Lanvin Arpege has more woody notes.
| Top Notes | Aldehydes, Ylang-Ylang, Neroli, Bergamot and Lemon |
| Middle Notes | iris, Jasmine, Rose, Orris Root and Lily-of-the-Valley |
| Base Notes | Civet, Sandalwood, Amber, Musk, Moss, Vetiver, Vanilla and Patchouli |
My Experience
As I sprayed the perfume I immediately notice the strong, almost overwhelming Aldehydes note. I really want to love this perfume because it’s so classy and timeless, but it’s so different than what I’m used to wearing that I don’t think I truly understand and appreciate this note.
After about a few minutes, the scent dried down to its powdery heart. This is where the rose and jasmine became more noticeable. The ylang-ylang dominates the rest of the flowers in this scent.
I found the dry down to be warm, woody and musky. Even in the dry down I could still distinctly notice that powderiness from the heart notes. Funnily, I could not pick up many of the other base notes. I never smelled any patchouli, vetiver, or vanilla. Although I think if I continue to wear this scent more, I’d learn to fully appreciate its complexity.
Sillage & Projection
The sillage and projection of Chanel No 5 is fantastic on my skin. I would describe the sillage as being strong, and it radiates within 6 feet. People will definitely smell it when you enter a room.
Longevity & Versatility
You can wear this classic perfume all year round, but personally, I’d keep it for the colder months. It feels quite heavy to me, so it would feel out of place in the hotter months.
This is great for daytime wear, but since it’s pretty strong and can last a really long time – caution is advised with how much you spray. The longevity of this scent is fantastic, and it easily lasts around 12 hours on my skin.
Closing thoughts
If you’re looking for a classic, then this is the best option, as it is the world’s best-selling scent. However, on the flip side, it does mean that it’s not very unique anymore in that sense. It’s worth noting that it is very unique if you compare it to most of the scents on the market today.
The scent feels like it’s more for someone that appreciates mature scents. Personally, it feels a bit dated, and I think it’s because of the strong Aldehyde note that is less common in the 21st century. This scent also performs wildly differently depending on your skin, so it’s definitely not a safe blind buy.
Then again, if you do like the Aldehyde, then this is absolutely a scent that you need to try. The performance of this perfume is fantastic, so if you like this scent, it’s absolutely worth the money. But on the flip side, if you dislike aldehydes and animalic notes, particularly civet, then this is definitely not the scent for you.