Chanel no 5

[ThatVikRinA22]

what does it actually smell like?
is it worth the price tag?

Cologne - Thierry Muggler is very nice
It's funny how a perfume can remind you of someone

I adore it. Worn it since my twenties. That, along with Coco, No19 and recent additions of Miss Dior L'eau and the Balenciaga one.

Hate the majority of the overly sweet, sugary, flowery perfumes around (Lola, Daisy, Angel, Jimmy Choo, Addict, Flowerbomb etc) and agree that the Creed and Hermes scents are also beautiful.

i wore No5 for 10 years. I really like it but felt like a change for personal reasons. I've moved onto Jo Malone Black Vetyver Cafe.
I tried loads of perfumes to find one that both DH and I like. I really don't like light, flowery perfumes (on me, they just don't 'work' ).

It is definiteky an acquired taste though and you do need to check how it will smell on you rather than just from the bottle.

I wear No 5 and love it, but I know a lot of people find it old ladyish (and in face reading on here I almost started to wonder whether I should be wearing it if so many people hate it!) But I one read that it "smells of rich people". So a deceptive perfume too! I like it because it's not too girly.

To me Chanel No 5 smells a bit almondy, which I love. I used to wear it about 20 years ago but haven't tried it recently, this thread has made me want to try it again.

I haven't got on with any of the other Chanel ones though, except maybe Cristalle (do they even do that one any more?).

Angel is the weirdest scent ever, tried a sample once and 10 mins later was in the bogs, scrubbing. It's supposed to smell like chocolate isn't it? Not like any chocolate I've ever smelt I guess though like all perfumes it depends how it reacts with your skin.

I have Chanel No 22, which is supposed to smell similar to No 5, but I think it is much fresher and a younger smell. I am always asked what it is when I wear it - and in an "ooh lovely smell" sort of way, not an "oh my christ that stinks and is making me gag" way.

I don't know why people are saying it is an old lady perfume. I love it and I'm 29, started buying it at 25. It's such a beautiful, sexy smell, so much nicer than all the cheap, sweet, acidic smelling perfumes around these days.

Also, if it was good enough for Marilyn...

such mixed reviews!

i am dying to smell it now for myself. it may be a while before i get to a major department store, but when i do i will try it.

also going to take a few of these suggestions with me.

Angel is the work of the devil.

Angel is boakin, it's true. I used to love it when I was about 13 (worked in a chemist shop, used to drench myself in it) and then smelt it as an adult and heaved.

I LOVE it. I have had it for years and years.

I used to save it for best but now I wear it everyday.

I started working with a little boy with very complex needs so I thought it best not to confuse him by wearing different scents.

It is very expensive but it lasts beautifully and makes you smell wonderful.

I really wanted a bottle of Chance (?) by Chanel because it was all pink and girly looking.

It smells like fly spray on me

Coco is wonderful though.

I love No. 5. I'm 33 and have worn it for years. X x

I love Chanel No.5 and Coco, but my favourites are Les Exclusifs by Chanel, especially Gardenia and Beige. You can only buy them in the Bond St boutique, Terminal 5 at heathrow, a couple of boutiques in Paris including the famous one in Rue Cambon which is definitely worth a visit for a walk around inside if nothing else! (

agree SugarSkyHigh I had a whiff of Les Exclusifs and Beige is my favourite.Love all of them though.

Angel is awful, the cleaner at work bathes in it and I boak everytime approaches

To me Chanel 5 will always be an old lady purfum because my Grandmas wore it.

I love Chanel 19. You can't beat it.

Have loved No.5 for enough years to be an old lady, and would suggest trying it - sample-sizes of classics available on ebay for tiny amounts.

Personally loathe it. Very monied old lady aroma.

Mitsouko is lovely.

It does smell like old ladies but in a good way. Like silent film stars from the twenties. Very strong floral talc smell, only it manages to smell expensive and chic at the same time. I love it.

Hermes is a good bet for classic grown up scents. Caleche is gorgeous.

I'm not crazy about no5 because I find it a bit low key - I like a strong pong. I prefer Coco and 19 and Allure. Also Alien, Poison (the original one). But they have all been around a while. Any suggestions for really potent newer scents?

No5 low key???? Really???

I am a fan of a potent whiff too, but they don't make 'em like they used to... Everything is light and fresh and summery these days. Bah.

They're not new, but have you tried 'Knowing' (Estee Lauder), or the classic Youth Dew? If you like Coco, Alien etc you might like those too? Vivienne Westwood 'Boudoir' is strong too, but again not new.

The Stella McCartney perfumes are quite strong pongs too. Lots of folk rave about Viktor & Rolf 'Flowerbomb'.

emysyj, thanks for that. I suppose I mean sweet and sickly with no sharpness for no 5, and ladylike rather than sexy ( though M Monroe obviously did OK with it). Yes, I have some Knowing, that is sweet too but potent sweet. Boudoir sounds certainly worth a sniff, not heard of Flowerbomb but will investigate.

Sugarskyhigh, I am a Chanel girl and have Gardenia, Cuir de Russie and Coromandel as well as 5 and Allure. The coromandel is my favourite, we bought it in Paris on the day we got engaged and I wore it on our wedding day.
OP, you might like Allure - it's sophisticated scent but not as heavy as number 5.