The original Chanel No.5 is a classic, so much so, that it is still a bestseller despite the various interpretations that have been released in the years.
In the world of fragrances, there is arguably no perfume as universally recognisable as Chanel No.5. The fragrance is so popular that in the world of perfumery, it is referred to as “the monster” due the fact that it remains one of the bestselling fragrances.
In fact, it is estimated that one bottle of the perfume is bought every 30 seconds worldwide. As such, it is safe to assume that the original is still the best fragrance overall in the Chanel No.5 canon.
However, there are four other fragrances in the canon that are considered lighter and more contemporary versions of the original.
Did you know that Gabrielle Chanel did not own Chanel No.5?
In 1924, Gabrielle Chanel signed away her majority control of the fragrance to make a deal with the Wertheim brothers in order to secure the manufacturing, distribution, and marketing services for the fragrance from the brothers.
But in realising the implications, Chanel attempted to regain control of her fragrance, which was an ongoing battle until she signed a deal in 1947 that earned her 10 percent of the profits and two percent from global sales.
Moreover, in the 1950s she signed a deal with the brothers which stated that they would fund her to return to fashion but could not use “No.” in any of her marketing and they would own the fragrance range and fashion house. This deal still stands today.
Which Chanel No.5 is best?
Chanel No.5 Parfum by Chanel has to be the best fragrance from the Chanel No.5 canon. This is as the fragrance is still a staple for any fragrance aficionado that aims to have a comprehensive fragrance collection.
Moreover, it is the story of the fragrance today that not only makes it the best, but one of the fragrances with a deep history filled with mysticism rather than facts.
For instance, the matter of why Chanel decided to name the fragrance the number five is more shrouded in folklore than fact.
One folklore suggests that Chanel decided on the number because it was the sample number that she approved. Another suggests that the number was her favourite number and was related to her zodiac sign, leo, which is the fifth element.
Moreover, the mysticism surrounding the number continued to grow as in the decades that have followed since the popularity of the fragrance, it is believed that Chanel released the fragrance on 5 May, in order to coincide with the No.5 theme.
However, this has been demystified as it is suggested that the fragrance was introduced without the fan fair, quietly appearing on the shelves of Chanel’s store, and was an immediate hit.
A detailed looked at the fragrance includes:
| Nose design | Ernest Beaux with Gabrielle Chanel |
| Year of release | 1921 |
| Classification | Woody spicy fragrance for women |
| Main accords | Woody, powdery, aldehydic, and iris |
| Top notes | Aldehydes, ylang-ylang, neroli, bergamot, and lemon |
| Middle notes | Iris, jasmine, rose, orris root, and lily-of-the-valley |
| Base notes | Civet, sandalwood, amber, musk, moss, vetiver, vanilla, and patchouli |
What is the most recent Chanel No.5 flanker?
The most recent flanker released under the Chanel No.5 canon is the Chanel No.5 L’Eau. This fragrance is considered to be a light and fresh version of the original, borrowing its name from the inspiration of the fragrance as “l’eau” is the French term for water.
A detailed look at the fragrance’s composition reveals:
| Nose design | Olivier Polge |
| Year of release | 2016 |
| Classification | Floral aldehyde fragrance for women |
| Top notes | Aldehydes, lemon, neroli, mandarin orange, orange, bergamot and lime |
| Middle notes | Ylang-Ylang, jasmine, and May rose |
| Base notes | White musk, orris root, cedar, and vanilla |
| Available on Amazon |   |
What was the last Chanel No.5 nose designed by Jacques Polge?
Jacques Polge is one of the most respected perfumers in the world. Before handing over the reins to his son, Olivier, who designed the nose of L’Eau, Jacques was responsible for designing two of the interpretations of the fragrances in the Chanel No.5 canon.
A detailed look at the fragrances in question includes:
| Perfume | Chanel No.5 Eau de Parfum Chanel | Chanel No 5 Eau Premiere |
| Year of release | 1986 | 2015 |
| Classification | Floral aldehyde fragrance for women | |
| Top notes | Aldehydes, ylang-ylang, neroli, bergamot, and peach | Aldehydes, ylang-ylang, and neroli |
| Middle notes | Iris, jasmine, rose, and lily-of-the-valley | Jasmine and rose |
| Base notes | Sandalwood, vanilla, oakmoss, vetiver, and patchouli | Vanilla, sandalwood, and vetiver |
| Available on Amazon | ||
What was the last Chanel No.5 nose designed by Ernest Beaux?
Ernest Beaux is credited to have created the original Chanel No.5 based on the wants and notes shared by Gabrielle Chanel.
Following the creation of the original perfume, Beaux was responsible for designing the first flanker that was aimed at being a lighter, more budget-friendly version as it was an eau de toilette (EDT) spray.
More details on the EDT are as follows:
| Year of release | 1924 |
| Classification | Floral aldehyde fragrance for women |
| Top notes | Aldehydes, ylang-ylang, neroli, Amalfi lemon, and bergamot |
| Middle notes | Iris, jasmine, rose, orris root, and lily-of-the-valley |
| Base notes | Civetta, sandalwood, musk, oakmoss, vetiver, amber, vanille, and patchouli |
| Available on Amazon |   |