Chanel No 5 Parfum
“Chanel No 5 Parfum by Chanel is a Floral Aldehyde fragrance for women”
The Quick Read
Respected, if divisive — a powdery, woody composition with a aldehydic undertone. Voted best for fall and winter wear, leaning feminine.
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Launched in 1921 by Chanel and crafted by Ernest Beaux, Chanel No. 5 Parfum is a landmark fragrance that redefined perfumery with its use of aldehydes to create an abstract scent rather than replicating a single flower. Marilyn Monroe's famous quip that she wore 'only Chanel No. 5' to bed became one of the most iconic endorsements in history, cementing its place as a symbol of Hollywood glamour. The composition opens with aldehydes and citrus notes like bergamot and lemon before transitioning into a heart of jasmine, rose, ylang-ylang, and lily-of-the-valley. The base layers of iris, civet, musk, sandalwood, amber, moss, vanilla, vetiver, and patchouli ground the scent with earthy warmth.
Composition & Character
Notes Pyramid
Top
Opening
Heart
The Soul
Main Accords
When to Wear
Who Wears It
How It Wears
Application Tips
One spray to the wrists and neck is sufficient — the aldehydic top notes are immediate but fleeting. The heart and base notes bloom over time, so it's best applied about an hour before you leave. This fragrance reads well close to skin rather than from a distance.
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.
The moment when a crisp evening transitions into a glamorous night out, where understated sophistication meets lasting charm.
Fig. 01 — Chanel No 5 Parfum, Chanel
Where to buy.
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