AldehydesOpens with
RoseHeart
CivetDries down to
Ernest BeauxThe nose · 18 fragrances · also made Cuir de Russie Parfum (1924)Portrait →Will you like it? Mark a few fragrances you own or love and we'll tell you.
Chanel · Sold as feminine
N°5 (Vintage) Chanel
A Parisian boudoir in the roaring twenties, where a blend of aldehydes and white florals creates an atmosphere of modern sophistication.
Full bottle: Premium tier, typically $100–250. Links open each seller's own page. We may earn a commission; it never changes the order.
N°5 (Vintage) ChanelPremium · $100–250
60%Similar accords, often for lessArpège · LanvinMid-range tier, $40–100 · shares 6 of its 21 notes8 matches →How it wears
From community votes · bars are each option's shareComposition & Character
Notes Pyramid
TopOpening
HeartThe Soul
Main Accords
When to Wear
Who Wears It
The story behind the bottle.
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.
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.
Fig. 01 — N°5 (Vintage) Chanel, Chanel
Where to buy.
Wear it for a week first
A decant costs a fraction of a bottle and tells you how it lasts on your skin.
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Ernest Beaux
The man who invented modern perfumeryErnest 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.
“I went to present her with my creations – two series: 1 to 5 and 20 to 24. From these she chose several, including one labelled Number 5.”
Ernest Beaux · Beaux, "Souvenirs d'un parfumeur", Industrie de la Parfumerie, Oct 1946 (trans. via Bois de Jasmin)
Designer Chanel
More from the house · founded 1921 · France
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Chosen from what wearers say it smells like, what its fans also love, and its notes
Love it, not the $100–250 price?
Matched by accords and notes. Sample first, then decide.
The originalN°5 (Vintage) ChanelChanel · Premium · $100–250Lanvin · 1927ArpègeShares 6 of its 21 notes$40–100★ 3.97 (4,760)59%Match
Rochas · 1960Madame RochasShares 6 of its 24 notes$40–100★ 4.08 (2,232)60%Match
Rabanne · 1969Eau de CalandreShares 6 of its 14 notes$40–100★ 4.18 (194)81%Match
Swiss Arabian · 2019A Whiff of FiveShares 6 of its 15 notesunder $40★ 3.00 (5)
With Chanel Allure Homme Edition Blanche Eau de Parfum
Adds aromatic and vanilla; shares lemon and bergamot and 2 more notes.
Suggested from accords and notes · not yet tried by wearers
What people
are saying.
Respected, if divisive: loved by 51%, disliked or hated by 28%.