Chanel

N°5 Eau Première

N°5 Eau Première by Chanel is a feminine-leaning eau de parfum from 2007 in the premium price tier. It opens with aldehydes, lemon, neroli and ylang-ylang, moves into jasmine, rose, lily of the valley and iris and dries down to vanilla, sandalwood, vetiver and musk. Expect around 8 hours of wear, and it projects at a moderate level.

Notes, explained

Opening

• Aldehydes Fizzy, soapy, slightly waxy. The 'sparkle' at the top of Chanel No. 5.
• Lemon Clean, sour, instantly recognisable. Bright but burns off fast.
• Neroli Distilled orange blossom. Green, soapy and elegant.
• Ylang-Ylang Banana-custard floral. Rich, tropical and slightly rubbery.

Heart

• Jasmine Heady, sweet and slightly animal underneath. Rarely subtle.
• Rose Can be jammy, green, peppery or soapy depending on the type. Not one smell.
• Lily of the Valley Clean, green, dewy floral. Reads as 'fresh laundry' to most people.
• Iris Cool, powdery, slightly carroty and expensive. The luxury note.

Dry-down

• Vanilla Sweet, creamy and warm. The most comforting note in perfumery.
• Sandalwood Creamy, milky wood. Soft and almost edible.
• Vetiver Dry, earthy, smoky grass root. Smells like soil and citrus peel.
• Musk Warm, skin-like and slightly sweet. Makes a fragrance feel like you.

Smells like this

• Chanel N°5
• Lanvin Arpege
• Donna Karan Cashmere Mist
• Paco Rabanne Calandre
• Le Labo Neroli 36
• Chanel N°22

Cheaper alternatives

• Lanvin Arpege
• Donna Karan Cashmere Mist
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