N°5 Chanel 1921 Eau de Toilette

Bottle Design:
Jean Helleau

8.2 / 10 293 Ratings

A popular perfume by Chanel for women, released in 1921. The scent is floral-powdery. It is still in production.
Pronunciation

Main accords

Floral

Powdery

Woody

Spicy

Chypre

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Aldehydes

Bergamot

Lemon

Neroli

Heart Notes

Grasse jasmine Iris

Iris

Lily of the valley

May rose

Base Notes

Sandalwood Vanilla

Vanilla

Amber

Vetiver

Perfumer

Ernest Beaux

Ratings

Scent

8.2293 Ratings

Longevity

7.7249 Ratings

Sillage

7.3246 Ratings

Bottle

7.8251 Ratings

Value for money

7.3103 Ratings

Submitted by Estate, last update on 07/22/2025.

Variant of the fragrance concentration

This is a variant of the perfume N°5 (Parfum) by Chanel, which differs in concentration.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to

N°5 Eau de Parfum

N°5 Parfum

N°5 Eau de Cologne

Chatte

Suddenly Woman I

French Bouquet

Reviews

19 in-depth fragrance descriptions

12/03/2020

10
Bottle 7
Sillage 7
Longevity 10
Scent

INDIGOSPHINX
53 Reviews

INDIGOSPHINX

Helpful Review 6

It's not about underlining your gender

So.
The stigma around No5 is.. its marketed to women.

I was kinda concerned about that when I blind bought this. What if somebody smells this and it smells feminine?

Upon the first spray, I was no longer concerned. If you tried 1725 by HDP or Chanel Allure Homme, and you think those fragrances are wearable by a straight dude, there is no way you can think of this as a feminine only fragrance.

When Brad Pitt became the face of No5 few years ago, it seems to be confusing. And too bad Chanel canceled that whole campaign.

IMO, Chanel No5 is really one of the most luxurious soapy smell I've ever experienced. The EDT especially is beautiful.
In comparison, the EDP is more vulgar, with that incredibly lush and full ylang-ylang. But the EDT is more soulful, soft, and soapy.

Yes, as a 22-year old I can confidently wear this without feeling self-conscious. In fact, I think us men would actually turn more heads with this one. If anyone can recognize this scent by name, you will not be forgotten.

Gentlemen, let's not be bound by macho insecurities anymore and enjoy this beauty of a scent.

PS: Some short comparisons
vs DHI= 5 is less sweet and more floral
vs Allure Homme line= 5 is less sweet and more floral
vs 1725 by HDP= 5 is less sweet and more floral
Seriously, if you don't mind florals, please go rock this

01/26/2016

6
Bottle 7
Sillage 6
Longevity 6
Scent

Sorceress
213 Reviews

Sorceress

Helpful Review 1

Vintage No. 5 = A Fine Wine

Smelling vintage No. 5 is like sniffing a fine wine to me. I'm not a fan of aldehydes and never have been, we don't get along too well, nor am I particularly fond of a perfume that is too heavy on the florals. But sniffing No. 5 is a whole new ballgame.
I was introduced to it as a child by my mother, and it wasn't my favorite. As a young adult, I was gifted it, and again, I just put it aside, not really appreciating it. I just have always leaned towards the oriental or gourmand side. I knew this was a hugely popular perfume and there had to be something to it, so why didn't I enjoy it?
A few years ago, a neighbor's mother passed away. She was in her 80's. One day, he handed me a carton of her perfumes, telling me he didn't know what to do with them. I took them, thanking him, not knowing what I would find in the box. After all, his mom was an older woman, so I knew there would be some interesting choices in there.
Lo and behold, there it was. Chanel No. 5, staring me in the face. Again. Daring me to pick it up and smell it. But this time, when I uncapped the Edt, something miraculous happened. The vintage inside that I swirled around was captivating. It had matured like a fine wine. It had such a heady aroma, I couldn't stop sniffing. This stuff smelled good.
The aldehydes have muted somewhat, allowing the civet to come to the forefront along with the vetiver. There's more earthiness to it that wraps around the florals too, but those florals will always be strong. There's also a muskiness that seems to overwrap the whole perfume. The woods come into play in the last phases along with a mild vanilla that surprises. It strong with the real civet. And, you have to be a civet lover to understand the beauty of it.
It's not a perfume to be taken lightly, it's one to be revered and worn at the pulse points. It's not a body spray or a fragrance mist. Chanel No. 5 is a mature perfume that warrants a mature nose that appreciates it.
How does it compare to today's? If anyone has sampled the formulations of today, they know it is a far cry from the vintage. More like an empty room missing pieces of its furniture.
If you're not an aldehydes or floral fan, this one's not for you. Pass go, keep your $200 and buy something else. There are plenty of perfumes in our world to sample and enjoy. But most definitely, if you do want to try it, stick to the vintage.

09/12/2023

10
Pricing 10
Bottle 7
Sillage 9
Longevity 9.5
Scent

MrsGuerlain
442 Reviews

MrsGuerlain

2

Cozy when cold

I am not sure when I first met No5… I have probably met it several times without knowing that it was the one. But when I finally did, all the pieces fell into place. Of course this is how the iconic No5 smells like: gorgeous, divine, extraordinary, outofthisworld-ish. To me.
I am sure, that some people may find it old fashioned. Well, it is from 1921, but at that time this was really innovative and modern. I have heard that some people say it smells like an old lady’s scent. Well, a lot of today’s elderly women may have loved it for decades and still wear it, being from a time when a woman did not have 20 fragrances to chose from. I admire the way this has become an icon; a symbol of great perfumes; a scent loved by so many, that it is still made today. I admire the way that this perfume has become a scent that is worn by all ages. To me it is timeless. Everybody has heard of No5.
I wear it when I put on a knitted sweater on a winter’s day. The scent stays in the yarn the whole day. I wear it when I wear a silk scarf. The scarf still caries the smell next time I use it. There is something cozy about No5. “Sitting by the fire, drinking tea”-cozy. “Wearing a heavy winter coat”-cozy. “Walking through the snow in the forest”-cozy. This may not have been the original thought behind No5 but it works for me. There will always be a No5 edt on my shelf.
62/365

04/15/2021

MrLimuzin
20 Reviews

MrLimuzin

Less helpful Review 2

Unfashionably dated

To say that this is an old lady perfume would be trite and doesn't even begin to describe things.

This is for a mature woman 200+ years old, and I doubt you'll ever live that long. Or like an avant garde outfit at a fashion show, hideous, something you'd see on the runway but never actually wear out in public.

Ladies it's okay to not buy into the Chanel hype, it's okay to go against the grain.

But if you've somehow managed to live past 200 years (please do share your secrets for longevity of life) & genuinely like this stuff, please keep a 10-foot radius from me at all times while wearing chanel no 5.

The formula for this one should've been the only thing to perish with the Titanic on that fateful night..

08/20/2024

6
Pricing 9
Bottle 8
Sillage 9
Longevity 7.5
Scent

Czarcasm
71 Reviews

Czarcasm

1

A true classic.

They don't make scents like this anymore! This perfume reminds me of the dressing rooms and make up of old, 40's Hollywood. No. 5 Edt is vintage, classy, sparkly and sophisticated. It's a grown-up, timeless classic. This is what I imagine perfumes smelled like when my grandma was young. Despite it being a classic, it's not for everyone. Then again it's not as heavy as the Edp version.

Overspraying is a little dangerous when wearing this fragrance, so apply with a moderate hand. Too heavy for summer and warm spring days. I find the sillage quite good for an Edt and it's not invasive for people around you. I would not call this fragrance weak by any means. A clean, soapy scent, yet still with character to it.

More reviews