Firstly, I was so grateful to get the opportunity to trial Chanel No 5 so thank you BR :). From the moment I opened the package, the memories came flooding back. I was transported back to the mid 70-80’s and memories of my Mum, her smell, and my childhood. It actually made me a little teary! I couldn't wait to shower (it was early in the morning), and dab some of this magic on. I distinctly remember the 'powdery' smell which was my first impression. I loved that, but at the same time, I was a little caught up in the fact that it is so vintage and so iconic that it may be dated, too mature and dare I say…cheap smelling, compared with contemporary perfumes. It brought back memories of those less expensive and reputable perfumes, the likes of ‘Tweed’, ‘Panache’ and ‘Tabu’. Although I’m sure that perception is based purely on memory of an era as opposed to quality. I can safely say, I was a little confused and definitely undecided So, on first application, it was very strong and a little overpowering . After about ten minutes the strong scent diminished and left a warm musky smell which undoubtedly resembled talcum powder or soap. As the day progressed however, I found I could barely smell it at all. I’m not convinced I became immune and used to the smell, I think I either put too little on, or the longevity wasn’t great. Tonight, I tried another spritz. This is an account of the the development process from about 2 hours ago. Again, the initial smell was very strong but that has since has since given way to quite a subtle and sophisticated scent which I am growing to like on my skin. It is sweet- but not sickly, strong- but no longer overbearing and musky- but not cheap. It has become a fusion of woody and floral, neither predominant but more a combination. I do think this scent epitomises class and elegance but it is definitely not an everyday perfume. The packaging is simple and elegant but the perfume itself is more complex I think, definitely quite different to the average contemporary scent. Personally, I would tend to wear it more in the winter and stick with my normally preferred crisp, fresh perfumes for the summer. It is maybe more an ‘occasional special occasion ‘perfume, suited to being bold, wearing red lippy and pulling it off like a boss!!
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Chanel No 5
What can be said that hasn't been already? A timeless classic that still is a number one seller over 80 years after its launch in 1921.
Created by Earnest Beaux, No.5 was the first perfume ever created using so much Aldehydes, which gives the fragrance its sparkle.
Legend has is that Beaux presented Chanel with ten fragrances to choose from. (Or so the story goes...) Chanel chose perfume number five, hence the name.
Floral-aldehydic, a bouquet of abstract flowers with an indefinable femininity.
N°5 Eau de Parfum is not simply a different concentration, but an olfactory reinterpretation, which is faithful to the spirit and base notes of the original composition.
The 35 ml spray comes in a flat, rectangular bottle with a black and gold cap. The bottle with a glass cabochon available in 50 and 100 ml sprays.
Website www.chanel.com
Reviews
Tips: Give this perfume time to settle and try it more than once before you decide whether or not you like it. It's like a work in progress.
a timeless classic that seems to smell wonderful on almost everyone, it's lovely to wear all year round. As it's a distinctive & 'grown up' perfume I need to be careful not to use to much for day time wear. It is a complex scent that loses the top notes very quickly when exposed to light.
Firstly - a huge thank you to BR for sending me this to trial. I think I was in love with this perfume before smelling it and now I own it I don't think I could ever go back to my usual fragrances!
Firstly - packaging. Like you'd expect from Chanel it's classy, it's feminine without being girly and it's timeless. The cabochon bottle looks fantastic on my dresser!
As with any perfume I did the air spray test - it was a bit strange, almost like ammonia. I admit I was miffed. But hey it's Chanel No 5 if it's good enough for Marilyn...
Initially the smell is strong, but it's not overly floral or sweet (like say Dior Dolce Vita or J'adore). Once it settles the smell is clean and crisp. You can smell hints of sandalwood and I've always associated sandalwood as a masculine note, but I think that's what makes this work. The hint of masculinity really pushes the feminine nature of the scent.
The scent lasts all day and I received compliments at work and (more importantly) from my husband! I guess 100 years of customers are not wrong - people complimenting me on the first day of wearing it (not knowing what it is) proves that!
Ok - the obvious. Price. Yes it's a pricy scent - but I think (not to sound like a scent-snob) good perfumes are. From the small amount you need to wear this fragrance, I imagine the 50ml bottle will last ages. I'll definitely be buying this again!
Everyone knows fragrances are notoriously hard to describe - how they make you feel is easier. I wear J'Adore usually and it makes me feel empowered and ready to face the world. Every time I've sprayed Chanel No 5 I've stood up more straight and proud than usual. I feel like I'm wearing a long evening gown and I feel confident.
Tips: It would be easy to over do Chanel No 5, so don't go over board. I find a little on my wrists and a dab on my supersternal notch to be the perfect amount for a full day of being a lady!!
It's a little pricey, but well worth the splurge. This is perfect for almost any occasion, a night out with the girls, a fancy dinner, and can even be worn during the day - though make sure to only spritz one or two sprays for the day, otherwise it may be too overpowering. I love the sophisticated, slightly floral scent (that's not too overwhelming). The packaging too will suck you in, it's a classic, it's simply gorgeous, and the scent is on par with the beautiful design.
Tips: A little bit goes a long way. It really lasts, so I just spray once on each wrist, rub the two together and also on the pulse on my neck. Really helps it last all day long! :)
I never grow tired of this perfume! It's timeless, classic perfume that I will continue to wear for the rest of my life.
Perfumes that bring back memories obviously really stick with everybody. This is my all time fav, for peeking back into my past where I stared up in child like wonder at the most glamorous woman in the world: my mother.
This certainly isn't a scent for just anybody. You have to have certain kind of class about you to pull this off these days. Because of it's distinctive sultry musky yet crisp smell, it definitely is better suited for night allure rather than day time wear.
Every girl should try this perfume out at least once.
I got this perfume as a part of a 5 (I think) mini parfume gift set from my momma. I used all the Coco Chanel, and moved on to this one. I must say at first I wasnt too keen, but I have grown to love the smell. Its so classy and elegant and it makes me feel classy! It is quite expensive but well worth the money, as a little goes a long way
I've used Chanel No 5 for about thirty years. In fact for my twenty first birthday my mother gave me the tiny boxed Chanel eau de parfum and I still have this! The scent is still true as well. I keep it away from light in its box. I regularly buy Chanel No 5 EDT for myself. I love this fragrance and never tire of it. Its so grown up and truly makes me feel good. The packaging is also iconic. I was sent an invite by BR for the trial but missed out on a place as too slow getting to emails that day. But I can honestly say this is still my all time favourite and dare I say 'signature ' fragrance. I'm always going to wear this.
Tips: Like Marilyn I like to have a bath, spray it on and then jump into bed. It just about guarantees a good night's sleep.
Such a classic. My gran found a half full bottle in her beauty draw and gave it to me, I was so excited. I now only have a smidgen left in the bottle but i'm too scared to use it all up (because I can't afford a new one) so it's just sitting on my bookshelf amongst all my other perfumes looking pretty. It's such a timeless perfume and can be worn by all ages. Obviously the bottle is quite simple but I think it's so lovely and sophisticated. This perfume doesn't come cheap but if the price doesn't bother you then give this a try for sure!
This really is a timeless classic. Chanel No 5 is a scent that feels miles ahead of it's time. There aren't any really similar smelling scents to this and, unlike most scents from the bygone era, this does not smell like another run off the mill oriental; aldehyde or musk fragrance.
I suppose there are some scents that have a similar "feel" to this, though I wouldn't exactly consider them to be substitutes.
The ones that come to mind are Jean Patou Joy and Lanvin Arpege
No 5 is incredibly wearable as an everyday scent, though it's best suited for fancy occasions and colder nights
Like all other Chanel scents, this has great silliage and lasting power
Everyone knows that Chanel no. 5 is a timeless perfume! This is my favourite number one perfume as it lasts ALL day (or night) the smell sort of reminds me of talcom powder, in a GOOD way though. The initial scent isn't too strong, and just makes you feel very elegant when wearing it.