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.
How it wears
Best worn — occasion
Seasons
Audience skew
Aldehydic florals like this used to feel timeless to me, but something about the musk skin notes reads stale now. Still beautiful if you catch it from a distance, and the longevity is respectable. But at this point I'm wearing it for nostalgia more than genuine excitement.
Shares Aldehyde, Neroli, Iris / Orris
Shares Rose Centifolia, Aldehyde, Neroli; Aldehydic, Floral accords; both FLORAL, ALDEHYDIC
Shares Rose Centifolia, Aldehyde, Neroli; Aldehydic, Floral accords; both FLORAL, ALDEHYDIC
Shares Rose Centifolia, Aldehyde, Neroli; Floral accord; both FLORAL
Shares Aldehyde, Neroli, Iris / Orris; Floral accord; both FLORAL
Shares Aldehyde, Ylang-Ylang, Lily Of The Valley; Floral accord
Shares Aldehyde, Neroli, Iris / Orris; Aldehydic, Floral accords
Shares Aldehyde, Iris / Orris, Oakmoss; Floral, Musk Skin accords; both FLORAL
Shares Aldehyde, Oakmoss, Orange Blossom
Shares Aldehyde, Neroli, Ylang-Ylang; Floral, Musk Skin accords
Shares Oakmoss, Aldehyde, Ylang-Ylang; Floral accord; both FLORAL
Shares Aldehyde, Oakmoss, Ylang-Ylang; Aldehydic, Floral accords
Jasmine
Lemon
Rose
Bergamot
Orange Blossom
Ylang-Ylang
Sandalwood
Vanilla
Iris / Orris
Neroli
Aldehyde
Musk
Oakmoss
Vetiver
Amber
Patchouli
Lily Of The Valley
Rose Centifolia
