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Ask someone to name one perfume by Chanel and you can bet your bottom dollar that No5 will be the first that comes to mind. Immortalized by Marilyn Monroe, who when asked what she wore in bed smiled and said " Number 5". Chanel No5, the grande dame of perfume is well into her 80's now having first been created way back in 1921 by Ernest Beaux. It's hard to imagine that this timeless classic worn by millions of woman in this decade could also be classed as a perfume passed down the generations.How many other perfumes worn by your grandmother generation would you own up to wearing?

Legend has it that on presenting Coco Chanel a range of different perfumes to chose as her first perfume she did not hesitate in picking the perfume known only as perfume number 5. Soon to be immortalized as Chanel No5 and 80 years on still one of the best selling perfumes in this country.

Coco Chanel, created No5, for the sophisticated, classy woman of the 1920's I'm sure even she would have been surprised that her "baby" was still going strong and still sort after by the classy sophisticated women of the 00's! What is the phenomena that makes an 80 year old perfume still appear in the top 5 best selling perfumes? Is it all just mega marketing hype, bought by bored husbands at duty free shops as they can only remember the name of one perfume? Or perhaps it is because this perfume really is a timeless classic?
I'd like to think it was the latter.

Coco Chanel held the maxim "Always remove always strip away, never add" this can be said to be true for the packaging of all Chanel cosmetics and perfumes. What you get is a simple but instantly recognizable, stark but elegant packaging. Heaven forbid that the grande dame of perfume should be relaunched in some Jean Paul Gautier type packaging and bottle. The No5 experience surely starts with the simple understated packaging which just shouts out CLASSY!
No5 is marketed in either a normal bottle or a refillable bottle. I happen to own one of the refillable versions. The refills come in a very sophisticated black container which is reminiscence of an over sized Lipstick, again it is very simple in it's design, with a gold band around the middle and the Chanel logo in gold on the top. The more widely sold bottle is perhaps the most understated of designs it's very reminiscent of an art deco object with it's simple square shape and glass stopper effect top. You can imagine the bottle that is sold today wouldn't have looked out of place on the dressing table of one of the first No5 wearers back in the 20's.

No5 is as a feminine floral perfume. Top notes : Neroli from Grasse (flower of the bitter orange tree), Ylang-Ylang from the Comoros, Aldehydes.Middle notes : Grasse Jasmine, May Rose.Base notes : Sandalwood note, Vetiver from Runion, Vanilla from Runion (Bourbon Vanilla).No5 was the first perfume to blend different notes in such a way. What you get is a very classy feminine perfume more suited for evening wear than day wear. No5 is an instantly recognizable perfume which lingers very subtly and smells just a touch musky. I wish at this point I could say I really love this perfume, but given the choice I'd go for the more lighter Allure or Coco Mademoiselle. It is a lovely perfume, but for me it seems a little mediocre if you compare No5 to her younger slightly more risqu sisters.

As with all Chanel perfumes No5 comes in both an Eau de parfum and an Eau de toilette in a variety of sizes. Along with the associated extras like talc, body lotion, soap and a hair mist!

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