Pros: Light, modern, timeless fragrance
Cons: Scent doesn't last as long as I would like it to
The bottom line: Great to give or receive! A fragrance that will please most women (and men!)
My husband is a huge fan of Nicole Kidman. So when he started seeing her in Chanel No. 5 commercials during the holiday season, I could see his mind working and I predicted to myself that I would find a bottle of this classic fragrance under the Christmas tree. Well, good news for Chanel! Their marketing dollars were well spent for there was my bottle of Chanel No. 5 on Christmas day!

About the product

My 1.7 ounce bottle of No. 5 Eau de Toilette spray is slightly different than the one pictured here, which is a refillable spray container. The bottle I received is a simple rectangular shaped glass spray bottle with a black top and elegant gold spray dispenser. Unlike any spray I have, No. 5 does not actually have a cap covering the bottle. This took me a few days to get used to as I am so used to pulling off the cap to a fragrance before I spray it on. Now I rather like this simple fuss-free design. I am also quite pleased with the ease of spraying as well. It doesn't blast or drench me with fragrance, but provides a nice even spray that makes it easy to spritz several different pulse point, such as behind my ears and my wrists.

Besides the 1.7 ounce bottle, No. 5 Eau de Toilette Spray comes in 1.2 ounce and 3.4 ounce bottles. Standard pricing for the Eau de Toilette Spray is as follows:

1.2 ounce ~ $42
1.7 ounce ~ $55
3.4 ounce ~ $82

History of Chanel No. 5

The history of Chanel No. 5 is quite interesting and deserving of a section unto itself. Coco Chanel actually stated that she wanted to develop an "artificial perfume", a composition that didn't have distinct floral notes such as Lily of the Valley or Rose. To achieve this, Ernest Beaux, for the first time ever, used aldehydes or synthetic substances, in the composition of this fragrance for Coco in 1920. He reportedly stated that he was inspired by a special scent given off by the rivers and lakes of the Article Circle during the season of the Midnight Sun.

While Nichole Kidman may be the spokesperson now for this legendary fragrance, it was of course Marilyn Monroe who helped it gain this status when she stated to reporters in Japan that all she wore to bed was a few drops of Chanel No. 5.

(historical information from www.chanel.com)

The Fragrance itself

I have to admit that I never had actually tested Chanel No. 5. I associated it too much as a fragrance of my mother's generation and not modern enough for my standards. But I was pleasantly surprised by the softness and enduring quality of this fragrance.

Chanel does still market this as abstract bouquet of flowers and I find that is a very accurate representation of the scent as I find it very difficult, if not impossible to isolate any one particular note in this fragrance. However, I was curious to find out the exact composition, and according to the Chanel website, No. 5 "launches with bewitching notes of Ylang-Ylang and Neroli, then unfolds with Grasse Jasmine and May Rose. Sandalwood and Vanilla round out the fabled composition with unforgettable woody notes."

When I first applied this on Christmas Day my husband was actually a little turned off by the fragrance. Indeed, I was, too, as I found the initial notes somewhat soapy smelling and not too pleasant. Definitely this was not a fragrance to be judged by its first whiff. However, as it settled onto to my skin the floral notes become apparent, and finally the delightful woody and vanilla notes that Chanel describes take over. While sandalwood may not sound feminine, combined with vanilla this scent is not only that, but also quite modern by today's standards. I was quite pleasantly surprised.

Chanel No. 5 is definitely not overpowering once it passes its initial application stage. I had imagined it to be something stuffy older women wore and quite imagined younger women thinking the same thoughts of me that I had had when I smelled some over-perfumed women in the elevator during my younger years. But this is not the case. It's light and pleasant and definitely appropriate for work and everyday wear. However, as a fragrance for a night out on the town I'm actually going to say it's perhaps not daring enough. Another Chanel fragrance, Allure, would be much more appropriate for such an occasion.

I do have one issue with Chanel No. 5 in the Eau de Toilette spray formulation. I find that I have to reapply it quite often, as much as every 2 hours. True, Eau de Toilette is designed to be a lighter concentration of fragrance, but I have other fragrances in Eau de Toilette formulation that give me a good 4 hours worth of scent.

Nonetheless, I am quite pleased Chanel No. 5 and definitely recommend it. It has withstood the test of time and is still a modern, feminine fragrance appropriate for all ages.

Chanel No. 5 is available also as Parfum, Eau de Parfum, Sensual Elixir, as well as a complete collection of bath and body products and gift sets.