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 What are my delivery options ? TNT Standard delivery within 6 to 8 business days (15€, complimentary over 70€)

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.

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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.

I loved others, my first being the original Victoria’s Secret (at 13) Lauren, Nina Ricci, but I could not imagine wearing Chanel #5, somewhat the expense, somewhat the idea of myself as not an adult. 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. Today Olivier Polge, CHANEL Perfumer, has reinvented N°5, demonstrating its flawless and inspiring structure. With the subtle touch of a goldsmith, he dissected the original formula and captured each ingredient to understand its true role. Olivier Polge created a new balance with an ideal dose of freshness, capturing in turn the essence of his generation. ART OF PERFUMING 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. Eau Premiere? Are you asking what about Eau Premiere? Mals86 mentioned earlier that it didn’t smell nicely on her Mom and in her blog I read that it smelled like a celeb fruity floral. That’s what it did on me, so that was a no.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. 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.

As a young woman, I never considered wearing it. Who wants to smell like her own mother? no thanks. Also, the bottles I tried at the store smelled cold, aloof, angular: very not my style. That it is so popular, and that it continues to sell so well… let me share a story from my experience.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. mals86: Everyone has an opinion – has to have one! – on No. 5. For many of us perfume fans, it’s where we started. So here’s my get-her-to-the-psychiatrist statement: My mother wore No. 5. As a small child, I was always puzzled at how that nasty stuff in the bottle could turn into the warm smell of my mother.