N°5 (Vintage) Chanel
“Chanel N°5 (Vintage) by Chanel is a Floral Aldehyde fragrance for women”
The Quick Read
Respected, if divisive — a aldehydic, powdery composition with a woody undertone. Voted best for fall and winter wear, leaning feminine.
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Launched in 1921, Chanel N°5 (Vintage) by Ernest Beaux is a groundbreaking aldehydic fragrance that redefined women's perfumery. The composition opens with bright aldehydes and citrus notes before evolving into a heart of ylang-ylang, neroli, rose, jasmine, and lily-of-the-valley. A rich base of iris, civet, amber, sandalwood, musk, vanilla, oakmoss, patchouli, and vetiver rounds out the scent with warmth and depth. N°5 was revolutionary in its time, offering a fresh departure from traditional floral fragrances and setting the standard for modern perfumery.
Composition & Character
Notes Pyramid
Top
Opening
Heart
The Soul
Main Accords
When to Wear
Who Wears It
How It Wears
Application Tips
Apply one to two sprays — the aldehydic top notes are bright but fade quickly, giving way to the rich base notes. Best for cooler evenings or layered under a jacket during warmer days.
Ernest Beaux
Founding perfumer · 18 fragrances · b. 1881 · French
“I presented Mademoiselle Chanel with samples numbered one through five, and twenty through twenty-four. She chose number five.”
Ernest Beaux is the perfumer who changed everything. Born in Moscow to a Franco-Russian family, he served as an officer in World War I before entering the laboratories of A. Rallet & Co. in Grasse. In 1921, he presented Coco Chanel with a series of experimental samples — and sample number five became Chanel No. 5, arguably the most famous fragrance ever created. By boldly incorporating synthetic aldehydes into a floral bouquet, Beaux shattered the conventions of natural perfumery and ushered in the modern age. His legacy is not merely a fragrance but an entirely new way of thinking about scent.
Also created
About the Brand
Chanel
The epitome of French elegance and timeless sophistication
Founded by Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel, the house has defined luxury perfumery through restraint, precision, and abstract elegance. From the revolutionary No. 5 to modern classics like Bleu de Chanel, Chanel fragrances are known for their refined, wearable luxury.
Designer Chanel
More from Chanel
Edited by Scentsation Editorial
The story behind the bottle.
A Parisian boudoir in the roaring twenties, where a blend of aldehydes and white florals creates an atmosphere of modern sophistication.
Fig. 01 — N°5 (Vintage) Chanel, Chanel
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