According to an oft repeated story, the iconic Chanel No 5 fails miserably in fragrance market tests, with the derived conclusion that the success of this great fragrance is based on the clever marketing strategy and carefully maintained brand image. Considering that today’s market tests have produced some of the worst excuses for perfumes, I do not find this to be the logical inference. Although an elegant brand image is an important part of the story, it is not enough to explain the mystery, the draw and the timeless beauty of Chanel No 5. I realize that trying to write a post of reasonable length on this topic is an ambitious task; after all, Tilar Mazzeo wrote a whole book on No 5 and yet many felt that she missed some important elements. Instead, I would like to describe Chanel No 5 in its different forms as it exists today and to hear your thoughts. I am convinced that the reason for its iconic status, is above all, the impeccable quality and allure of the fragrance itself. Olga: I grew up in the former USSR, so when I was little, I did not know about №5. I don’t remember exactly when and how I learned about the existence of this icon of the perfume world, but it was some time in the 1990s. And that’s when my Mother received her bottle of №5 in EDT. She disliked it, and she did with it what she did with all perfumes she disliked — she passed it on to me. (that’s how I got Poison which is for me now a perfume haunted by memories and Yvresse which is still a love and a staple, by the way. But on to №5) I wore it for confidence. Sometimes in difficult working situation I would think “and I am wearing №5, I can do it” and will get the words out or continue pressing on. When I quit my job, I stopped wearing №5 and for a while a half a bottle was just sitting there (in cold and dark). I tried it again after I got married and absolutely hated it. It did not turn, but maybe it reminded me too much of my job or my chemistry changed, or my tastes, or all of the above. I got rid of the bottle as soon as I can, as if it was burning in my hands. Swapped it away for a newest fragrance around. While the Eau de Toilette is my preferred version after the parfum, the Eau de Parfum created by Jacques Polges in 1986 is the modern twist on the iconic classic. If the parfum juxtaposes elegance with sensuality, and the Eau de Toilette underscores the luminosity and vivacious spirit, the Eau de Parfum exudes confidence and bold beauty. The creamy notes of peach lacing the rose, lily of the valley and jasmine heart are more prominent, while the smooth richness of the amplified sandalwood note replaces the musky darkness of the original. Instead, the Eau de Parfum is subtly colored by the darkness of leather and incense. It is less aldehydic than the Eau de Toilette, yet it is sharper. Overall, I find it more angular, in contrast to the polished smoothness of the original No 5. In 1921, Gabrielle Chanel asked Ernest Beaux to create "a woman's perfume with a woman's scent", rare and powerful. The nose presented her with a visionary composition that made unprecedented use of aldehydes. Mademoiselle chose the fifth sample of the fragrance, and decided to name it simply N°5. In 1924, she launched the N°5 eau de toilette. ART OF PERFUMING

This was about a year ago, in the very very beginning of my perfumista journey (oh yes, I am a newbie). Along the way I discovered that I adore vintage Arpege and №22. Oh well, said I to myself, it is time to try №5 again, dear. So in a mall I filled up the sample vials with №5 EDT and Eau Premiere. When I tried them, I was in awe at how much I loved №5 EDT and how different it smelled from what I remember and used to wear. Someone told me that the formula have been tweaked some time in early 2000s or late nineties, so a reformulation has worked for me. Now, that’s a first. So, №5 EDT is on my list now. I love its tenderness. I won’t wear it as a suit of armor as I did with the my Mom’s bottle, it is a completely different story.Then, full blown perfume onset later, a vintage bottle of extrait at an estate sale, and its beautiful smoothness captivates me, but still rarely. I am happy to have it wear me, but wear me it does, never quite melding. Gorgeous stuff. I felt so ladylike, spraying on that aldehydes bomb which became a bit soapy and floral afterwards! I used it up and actually never thought about it again.

dee: The women that I grew up around are dark, and so were their fragrances—with the exception of my mother’s adoption of Lancome’s Tresor when it came out around the time I was in third-grade; so I had never smelled no. 5 in any incarnation until adulthood. for which you have been paid of have received compensation by a third party not approved by Chanel;

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The contrast first set in place by the interplay between the sparkling aldehydic veil and the honeyed rose and jasmine notes continues as the fragrance moves into its dark base. The timbre of woody notes, including vetiver and sandalwood, gives a surprisingly masculine facet, which offsets the decadent languor of the floral notes. Vanilla and coumarin envelop the base notes, while plush, rich musks further soften the rough edges. The parfum has an alluring radiant quality, and yet, the sensation overall is soft, caressing and gentle. If you are only familiar with Chanel No 5 in other versions, discovering the parfum will be like finding a completely different fragrance. I agree that the Statements made by me may be used in whole or in part and may be shortened and/or otherwise modified as necessary to meet the requirements of copy or layout, provided that the general message is not changed. I further agree that the Statements made by me may be modified and/or altered by Chanel to remove any store names and/or person information or other sensitive information about myself or others.

My own wearing has faded the olfactory distinctness of the memory of my mother in the hallway, bending down, her expression a perfect blend of humor and concentration, the cool touch of the glass stopper, my scent and hers, the same for a moment. For health and hygiene protection, cosmetic products that have been unsealed are not eligible for reimbursement.years ago I became enticed again by No. 5, now being an adult and able to buy the real thing. So I tried the Edp, and BOOM! There I was again, standing in that little shop in Spain, feeling like that little girl again, on holiday. To my surprise, the aldehydes were exactly the same as in that fake version. Of course, the real deal is more complex and extremely balanced. So I liked it even more. The eau de toilette is a vibrant echo of the floral bouquet launched by Gabrielle Chanel in 1921. A warm and bright version of the original fragrance that comes in a refillable travel spray you can take with you anywhere. COMPOSITION What is your Chanel No 5 story? Do you or someone you know wear it? What is associated in your mind with No 5? meg jamieson: My first memory of Chanel#5 is like an ad copy; my mother, preparing to go out with my father, pausing to dab just a little behind my ears. Their nights out were as infrequent as the luxuries my mother afforded herself, and I imagine as highly prized.

N°5 L’EAU is worn freely. With no preconceived ideas. Instinctively. Simply. Lavishly. Day. Night. For you. For others.I have always loved smells, and have very, very few which I am not intrigued by. Smells people find gross or pungent don’t strike me that way, and so the farm I grew up on (cherries and apples), the world of cooking my mother inhabited, all of that is intriguing, but none of it meant what perfume meant. And Chanel #5 was my mothers only perfume. Samples from my personal bottles: extrait de parfum (review mostly focused on 2007 version), Eau de Cologne (1970s), Eau de Toilette (review focused on 2009 version), Eau de Parfum (review focused on 2009 version.) When Chanel and all good perfumes became available, I was already 20 and, of course, I started testing them before I could afford them. At that time, although I loved the scent, I could not wear anything close to Chanel 5, as I felt it was much too strong/ bold for me. I started with more neutral, almost unisex perfumes an slowly grew into something more serious. Every now and then I tried Chanel 5 – and it is the only perfume I was patient with, as I usually give up on trying something I don’t like from the first try. This scent somehow stayed with me but was telling me I was still not prepared for it. Until one day, about 8-9 years ago, when I tried EDT again and we fell for each other! I don’t know if my body chemistry changed or just my mind, or maybe I just grew up into the woman this perfume can dress. I am very particular about the perfumes I wear: I like many of them but I cannot wear but a very-very small number of them, as I need to feel them as part of my skin/ body. I grew up with no knowledge of the Chanel perfumes. Or ads, for that matter. (Chanel fashion was something else, as some would manage to sneak in magazines or even clothes in the country.) So I discovered the Chanel perfumes rather late and had no childhood memories of them. I later realized that my grandmother was wearing something that closely resembles Amouage Beloved Woman and my aunt was wearing Miss Dior. But no Chanel around. Lila: Thank you for your Chanel 5 review. We share the love for EDT, which I find the most wearable and suited to my personality and needs.