Olivier PolgeThe nose · 158 fragrances · also made The One for Men Eau de Parfum (2015)Portrait →Will you like it? Mark a few fragrances you own or love and we'll tell you.
Chanel · Sold as feminine
Chanel No 5 L'Eau
A brisk walk in a city park at dusk, where crisp air meets the subtle glow of streetlights and the soft scent of blooming flowers.
Full bottle: Premium tier, typically $100–250. Links open each seller's own page. We may earn a commission; it never changes the order.
Chanel No 5 L'EauPremium · $100–250
50%Similar accords, often for lessMore · ShiseidoMid-range tier, $40–100 · shares 6 of its 16 notes8 matches →How it wears
From community votes · bars are each option's shareComposition & Character
Notes Pyramid
HeartThe Soul
BaseFoundation
Main Accords
When to Wear
Who Wears It
The story behind the bottle.
Chanel No. 5 L'Eau, launched in 2016 by Chanel and crafted by Olivier Polge, is a deliberate flanker designed to attract younger, millennial consumers to the iconic No. 5 franchise. This fragrance opens with bright citrus notes like lemon and bergamot that give way to aldehydic freshness, creating an immediate sense of crispness and vitality. The heart features white florals such as ylang-ylang and jasmine, balanced by a powdery base of orris root and cedarwood, which adds warmth without heaviness.
Its launch campaign starred then-17-year-old actress Lily-Rose Depp, marking a sharp contrast to No. 5's traditionally mature image. This shift reflects the brand’s intention to modernize while maintaining its signature elegance.
Chanel No. 5 L'Eau blooms best with a moderate spray to the neck and wrists. The citrus top notes are bright but fleeting, so allow it an hour for the white florals and powdery base to fully emerge. It pairs well with warmer evenings or cooler daytime wear.
Fig. 01 — Chanel No 5 L'Eau, Chanel
Where to buy.
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Olivier Polge
Chanel's new chapterOlivier Polge succeeded his father Jacques as the in-house perfumer-creator at Chanel in 2013, becoming only the fourth person to hold this role in the house's history.
“The flowers are never precise. They’re abstract.”
Olivier Polge · AnOther Magazine, September 2017
The Chanel No 5 L'Eau line
2 fragrances, compared side by side
Designer Chanel
More from the house · founded 1921 · France
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Love it, not the $100–250 price?
Matched by accords and notes. Sample first, then decide.
The originalChanel No 5 L'EauChanel · Premium · $100–250Shiseido · 2000MoreShares 6 of its 16 notes$40–100★ 3.85 (33)46%Match
Swiss Arabian · 2019A Whiff of FiveShares 6 of its 15 notesunder $40★ 3.00 (5)
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Adds aromatic, amber and earthy; shares two accords.
Suggested from accords and notes · not yet tried by wearers
What people
are saying.
Well loved by wearers: loved by 43%, disliked or hated by 11%.