If you like Chanel no.5, what other perfumes do you like?

[YoullLaughAboutItOneDay]

Just that really. I have realised that I don't actually like all those 'fresh', 'fruity', 'floral' perfumes about and which I have worn for 15 years. I do not want to smell of vanilla or lemon.

I have discovered chanel no.5, but feel a bit funny about only having one option and would like some ideas. I am not talking super heavy like Opium, but classic, grown up perfumes.

So, if you like no.5, what else do you wear?

You could try Givenchy III or Caleche by Hermes, both of which are grown up perfumes. Not as powdery but they are elegant and timeless in the same way, though nothing quite beats Chanel 5.

Agree that lots of the other Chanel perfumes are classics and so are the Dior ones.

Coco, and the new Coco Noir are gorgeous. I also love No 19 Poudre (though it sounds like you might not) and Allure.

Non Chanel suggestions:

Estée Lauder Private Collection
YSL Opium (an oldie but a goodie IMO! Spray only once...)
Dior Hypnotic Poison (very sweet but not sickly)

Samsara by Guerlain - same mood to it

Two more great mainstream classics: First by Van Cleef & Arpels and Faubourg 24 by Hermes.

L'instant de Guerlain is lovely but very vanilla (as in, literally 'vanilla'; not as in bland), and so in that sense is quite current and not quite classic.

I love Guerlain, my long-stander being Le Jardins de Bagatelles (which is harder and harder to find these days). You would find it too floral, but they are all very, very distinctive in their own right, so it's a matter of trial and error, really.

Chanel No. 5 is one of my other very few perennials.

Guerlian Shalimar, not the new versions as they are crap. Also Joy by Jean Patou. Avoid ANYTHING by D and G, Marc Jacobs etc. You might like some Tom Fords.

Chanel No 22. You might also like some of the more traditional Guerlain perfumes, such as Vol de Nuit, L'Heure Bleue, or some of the classic Dior perfumes, such as Miss Dior, Diorella (might be a bit lemony for you). Arpege? Givenchy III is also a good "grown up" perfume, as are First by Van Cleef and Ivoire by Balmain.

If you are in London, you could go to Les Senteurs and they can suggest some for you to try.

I love Armani She and I'm also partial to Calvin Klein Obsession. I'm a total creature of habit!

Thanks all! What an amazing lot of suggestions. I am going to have a proper read and work my way through them!

Tom Ford Black Orchid

Hi all, I've just been reading through this thread and was wondering if any of you have heard of fm cosmetics? They're pretty new to the uk, 2006 in fact. They have 150 perfumes in their range and can provide perfumes in all the fragrance families you're all talking about here.
I've just become a rep for them so if you're interested in tryin somethin new at low cost, let me know and I'll send you some samples xx

No 5 is my number one perfume, been wearing it since my twenties, long time ago!

Others I've used & loved, if you can find them, are Arpege, Madame Rochas & Caleche.
I've sniffed just about every new scent out there & hate most of them. The only one I've found to love is Aqua Di Parma Iris Nobile.