What It Actually Smells Like
Chanel No. 5 was released in 1921 and created by Ernest Beaux. The story that made it famous: a laboratory assistant, mistaking a full-strength mixture for a ten percent dilution, added a quantity of aldehydes never used before, and Coco Chanel chose sample number five from the vials she was shown. Aldehydes give it the sparkling, soapy lift it is known for.
A major retailer's listing for the eau de parfum describes bright citrus top notes, May rose and Grasse jasmine at the heart, and a base of Bourbon vanilla, sandalwood and vetiver. The result is powdery, bright and very polished — an abstract floral rather than a single flower.
| Version | What to know |
|---|---|
| Eau de Parfum | Created in 1986; the most widely sold version |
| Parfum | The most concentrated form |
| Eau de Toilette | A lighter version of the original |
| L'Eau and Eau Première | Later, lighter interpretations |
What the Price Buys
- History. It is one of the most influential fragrances ever made, and the reference for the aldehydic floral style.
- Polish. It is carefully made and consistent in character across its versions.
- The name. Much of the price is Chanel's brand, which a cheaper aldehydic floral does not carry.
The alternative, Estée Lauder White Linen, was created in 1978 by Sophia Grojsman and is widely described as one of the most distinctly aldehydic florals ever made, in a lineage that includes No. 5. It costs a fraction as much, and Estée Lauder sells through its own Amazon store. For more classics, see best for women and floral perfumes.
