N°5 Eau Première 2008

Ranked 38 in Women's Perfume
8.2 / 10 657 Ratings
A popular perfume by Chanel for women, released in 2008. The scent is floral-powdery. It is still in production.
Pronunciation
Layers well with N°5 L'Eau (Eau de Toilette)

Main accords

Floral
Powdery
Fresh
Sweet
Citrus

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes Top Notes
AldehydesAldehydes NeroliNeroli Ylang-ylangYlang-ylang
Heart Notes Heart Notes
JasmineJasmine May roseMay rose
Base Notes Base Notes
Bourbon vanillaBourbon vanilla SandalwoodSandalwood VetiverVetiver

Perfumer

Ratings
Scent
8.2657 Ratings
Longevity
7.6517 Ratings
Sillage
6.7497 Ratings
Bottle
8.6488 Ratings
Value for money
7.3118 Ratings
Submitted by DonVanVliet, last update on 07.04.2024.

Reviews

21 in-depth fragrance descriptions
Anosmia

11 Reviews
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Anosmia
Anosmia
Top Review 69  
Elegance is a steel bath
Completely contrary to the fashion line of the company which has got a clear twist by Lagerfeld towards punk and has made itself popular with the young audience, the No 5 is modernized in the sense of the inventor and has kept its classic, elegant appearance, so I hear anyway.
When I had it new, I "shared" it with a friend and my mother, so to speak, and up and down the country, the eau was praised enthusiastically: Flowery, fresh, powdery, noble, elegant, classic, feminine, incomparable, not to be sated, suitable for around the clock, the office, the first date, the theatre, a fantastic, unsurpassable fragrance.
By the way, these storms of enthusiasm came almost exclusively from women. As if he would embody something that almost all women want to radiate - self-confidence and a sense of style presumably.
Eau Premiere sometimes had quite strange effects on the wearers: My girlfriend for example, until then rather from the leather jackets&Boots Fraktion suddenly walked around with a trench coat and a plain light leather bag and tried French Manicure. And my mother had me sew piles of black longsleeves with inserted white shirt collars and cuffs which always had to be worn with Eau Premiere. Surely the name (CHANEL!) contributed a lot to this change of mind, but it was not the decisive point at all.
The first prophecies of doom came from the guys my girlfriend and I had a relationship with. They found the scent old-fashioned, bland, penetrating and absolutely unsexy. Probably it was too perfumed for them, perhaps they also disturbed the aldehydes and the often described soapiness. And I'm sure she was disturbed by what this fragrance expresses. Elegance and understatement were not their thing and under eroticism they imagined fishnet pantyhose, suspenders, tube jeans with boots or hotpants but certainly no silk blouses and trench coats.
And then it happened:
My mother and my girlfriend were tired of the Eau premiere almost overnight: they couldn't stand it anymore and found it exhausting. At the same time, the nude nails and the penchant for selected elegant clothing disappeared, which had to be worn at home until late at night.
What happened?

Perfect elegance is something wonderful. Whenever I see a woman with a full-day perfectly lying short hairstyle or an artistically attached chignon, in a perfectly pale blue crease-free silk blouse that perfectly fits the at least almost perfect figure, in addition a pencil skirt and a casually blowing trench coat - not to forget perfect make-up and perfectly manicured fingernails - then I stop and marvel and swarm.
Elegance as a consistent lifestyle is also something very rare. I think you can see if someone has styled themselves for an event or is on the move every day.
And last but not least (Chanel once said so similarly) elegance is something timeless: Individual accessories may change, a certain attitude, a certain basic style seem to remain. And so No 5 became No 5 Eau Premiere.

BUT: For myself I find elegance a steel bath and I have the impression that I am not alone with it. There are girls who insist as children on being schooled completely in white lace, but forget themselves after the first piece of cake and come back in the evening - as if all the big ones had not suspected it - with torn tights, mud on their dress and leaves in their hair. These girls may then grow up to be women who lay down trench coats and eau premieres to realize after 3 months that this ensemble is not made for their everyday life.
Just as this fragrance gives posture, so it demands it. In the long run he may be too much for robber princesses, even if they find themselves in his self-confidence and determination for the time being.

Which - in the end - doesn't change the fact that a very large perfume was successfully modernised here.
23 Comments
10
Bottle
8
Sillage
8
Longevity
10
Scent
Neroline

23 Reviews
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Neroline
Neroline
Top Review 36  
Happy birthday, Mr. President...
...breathed Miss Monroe into the mike for J.F. Kennedy's birthday in 1962, wearing probably
Chanel N°5.
Her dress, the cake and the affair with J.F. Kennedy are legend. Since she told a magazine in an interview that she only wore a drop of Chanel N°5 as her nightdress, the success of this fragrance was unstoppable.
The fantasy of millions of women was stimulated and each one wanted to be as sexy as Miss Monroe and smell the same. Chanel N°5 - that was a little piece of luck
I have no idea what the original scent from 1921 smelled like, but today's Chanel No5 is too strong for me. Yeah, and a little old-fashioned in a way, too. But since I was fascinated by the history of fragrance, I decided to look into it to find out what the scent was all about. After all, next year he celebrates his 100th birthday and that has to be appreciated.

In the late summer of 192o, Ernest Beaux began to develop the first perfume for Mademoiselle Chanel. It was intended as a gift for Chanel's clients. It was to be a perfume for a woman with the scent of a woman.
It is still suspected today that he used the perfume he originally created for Tsarina Katharina as the origin of his developments. Mrs. Chanel herself had probably not correctly assessed the perfume business and therefore ceded all rights very early on. It cost her a lot of time and effort to get back into the business. With none of her fragrances she ever achieved such success again.

The aldehydes, which were new to the world of fragrances at the time, are said to be responsible for the radiant freshness of the fragrance. "Radiant freshness" I ask myself now, I cannot recognize it. But then find out that aldehydes above a certain concentration, or when aging, are often perceived as rancid, fishy or old. The dosage in the laboratory must therefore be done with care. The perfume itself must not only be stored in the dark, but should also not get too old. And this is probably where the problem lies: the bottle, which was almost unaffordable at the time, was only used on special occasions and then changed over the years. Exactly then the "Oma Helga" impression is created.

N°5 contains vetiver as one of the first women's fragrances. The sweet grass is usually used in men's perfumes. Like oakmoss, it is found in many Chanel fragrances and is partly responsible for the tart sweetness typical of Chanel. Vetiver is also found in Coco Mademoiselle. Originally this was probably the handwriting of the perfumer Ernest Beaux. It's probably this charm between the many sweet and floral components and the more masculine and tart ingredients that make up the fascination of N°5.

For our noses used to sweet cake smells this is very difficult to understand at first.

For reasons of species protection as well as for reasons of oxidation of various ingredients, the original scent has been adapted again and again and adapted to the standards. These include civet, musk, jasmine or oakmoss. Even if the many so-called reformulations are a thorn in the side of many, I welcome the fact that no animal products such as musk or civet are used any more.
Many people react very strongly to oakmoss and jasmine, and here too, reworking was necessary, which certainly changed the fragrance
Chanel N°5 celebrates its 100th birthday next year. Surely the house of Chanel will celebrate the big birthday in a proper way. Because in spite of the 100 years, N°5 is still at the forefront, and many people associate perfume with this very fragrance.

I have now tested the various N°5 and have actually fallen in love with one: The No5 Eau Premiere. It's not dewy anymore either, but somehow passed me by. For me this is really a fragrance that is out of this world:

The radiant freshness of the aldehydes with the typical hints of orange peel is much more apparent here than in the original. It possesses the lightness that I had wished for. Maybe it was already like this in 1921? Who knows.

N°5 Eau Premiere unmistakably a granddaughter of the famous great grandmother. But it is softer and gentler than its famous ancestor. Therefore it is also much younger and more modern. It's as if a thick layer of the fragrance has been taken.
Somehow I actually have an idea here of what fascinated Ernest Beaux so much: the tingling freshness of the aldhyde at the beginning. It's like carbon dioxide in water.

On the skin, Eau Premiere develops into a fragrance that after a while reminds me of human skin. The way we smelled as children, when we rode our bikes home from the swimming pool, or the smell of a freshly bathed baby. Also to the fresh air at 5.30am when camping in summer or the fresh breeze on our skin after a boat trip. Fresh, warm and soft and after a lot of sunshine. Eau Premiere hardly changes either. After the initial freshness it becomes warm and soft. It remains on the skin like a delicate veil of scent for many hours. Not spectacular, not erotic or oriental heavy. But so good and so beautiful - or as my husband says: It smells of love
12 Comments
6
Bottle
5
Sillage
5
Longevity
9
Scent
First

87 Reviews
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First
First
Top Review 32  
Keeping calm with care - Martha's scent
Martha is an employee in the FBI. She is the secretary to the head of the Counterintelligence Division. Every day she goes to work carefully dressed and coiffed, performs it conscientiously and with the composure of those who know their job as a matter of course. She is a most valued employee.

Martha is not attractive in the conventional sense, but she is good looking, has a reserved cordial manner and a very winning smile. After an abortion at a young age, she is very cautious about romantic relationships. She does not want to be jilted again. Since she would like to start a family and in the meantime the biological clock is ticking faster and faster, she is privately a little unhappy, but does not wear this to the show.
So she is just predestined to become a victim of a spy from the other side.

And so it happens. Clark, whose real name is something else, cleverly makes a pass at her and wins her love. He pretends to also work for the FBI, partly undercover, and asks her for assistance. At first it's just minor things, like looking up a piece of information, later she's asked to position a bug hidden in a ballpoint pen in her boss's office. Martha, who at first assumes her lover is as loyal to the state and conscientious as she is, just perhaps a little hapless in his job, is happy to lend him a hand with a piece of information or two. But soon she realizes that some things around her Clark are strange. He takes the wind out of her sails, first with made-up explanations, later with a marriage proposal. The two marry, even though Clark already has another family and is leading a double life. Martha is happy with Clark and looks after him a lot, and Clark has even discovered a little bit of his heart for the friendly Martha as well.

But Martha is also intelligent: she can no longer avoid exposing Clark's double life and thus her own role, now as a traitor to the country. And, of course, the pen is eventually revealed to be a bug, too. The noose tightens around Martha.
Still, she keeps her composure and continues to go to work each day carefully dressed and coiffed, performing her duties conscientiously and with the composure of those who know their jobs as a matter of course.
She continues to love Clark.

In the series in question, a great many spies and recruited helpers like Martha die. Usually they are killed, by the other side, but also by their own people. I trembled a lot for Martha because of that.
But Martha has three qualities that, taken together, might save her life: First, she could win Clark's heart enough for him to want to save her. Second, she's intelligent and knows not to do certain things, because then she'll have to be virtually killed, by her side or by the other. And third, she agrees to be flown out to a completely foreign country whose language she doesn't speak, on the understanding that she will never again have contact with anyone she has known in her previous life.
Martha is a heroine. She bears her fate with dignity, with earnestness, with all the emotion that entails, but also with the wisdom to continue to act rationally.

If I were to assign Martha a fragrance for her workplace in the FBI, it would be Chanel No 5 Eau Première. In the evenings with Clark, she'll wear something else, something warmer, more sensual.

Now I have described the atmosphere that I think No 5 Eau Première stands for. Conscientiousness, friendliness, restraint, seriousness, genuineness, a certain dignity coupled with warmth, but also with distance. And not least for the ability to keep calm in extreme situations with deliberation.

In the opening, I smell the aldehydes. I find it very interesting that the modern aldehydes seem quite different to my nose than the old Seventies aldehydes. The modern ones, including the ones in No 5 Eau Première, are a bit stuffy for me at first, and if the note is very strong, it also makes me a bit nauseous. That is also the case here in a short, first top note moment. But then a very delicate, powdery floral note takes over, which I find wonderfully mild and friendly, but from which I don't recognize jasmine, neroli, rose or ylang ylang from the pyramid. Without knowing the pyramid, I would guess very well-dosed heliotrope and some iris, yes, maybe I would even think of YlangYlang after all, as it contributes a bit of joie de vivre - always subtle - and cheerfulness. As the fragrance progresses it becomes more powdery and also a tiny bit woody, there also remains a delicate hint of vanilla. The longevity is relatively short, maybe 5-6 hours, with the intensity dropping quite a bit after three hours. The sillage is also moderate, just well suited for an office.
Maybe this all sounds a bit boring and been there before. I can only say, the balance of this fragrance, its friendly, bright and dignified hovering between closeness and distance is unique.
Unique - like Martha.

P.S. The series is called The Americans and you have to get over the first season first, I think it has such some flaws. So far, the series only gets better after that. I'm on season 5 of 6 now.
Thank you, Blauemaus, for the wonderful sample No 5 Eau Première and thank you, Conchi2019, for the tip to watch "The Americans".
16 Comments
8
Bottle
8
Sillage
8
Longevity
9
Scent
Tradescantia

53 Reviews
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Tradescantia
Tradescantia
Top Review 27  
A special perfume - modern and yet minimally dusty interpretation of the classic par excellence
With this fragrance you do nothing wrong.

The austerity of the "real" No. 5 is just a hint.
This great Eau Premiere is like a good day, packed schedule, yet without sacrificing mood.
Low-key citricity. Tamed aldehydes, but they should not have been missing. So the character of the origin is still there. Neroli makes even the top note cuddly. Jasmine gives sweetness, but not too much of the sweetness.
May rose does not let the florality become expansive and somehow a gentle powderiness sets in the heart note. Subtle and fabulous.

Vetiver does not let the whole thing seem too young. Some woodiness must be.

The vanilla has been a little experiment here, but not too big or progressive. Tradition and light modernity. Understatement in top form.
Simple elegance.

C'est la vie.
3 Comments
8
Bottle
6
Sillage
7
Longevity
8.5
Scent
DonJuanDeCat

657 Reviews
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DonJuanDeCat
DonJuanDeCat
Top Review 19  
Modern-powdery premiere of a classic
Hello, you fragrance-loving creatures (which is actually just a nicer term for "perfume-addicted noses" :D). Welcome to a new comment from me. I'm writing about a fragrance tonight where I've surprised myself that I'm even commenting on it... I kept thinking that I'd already tested and described the Eau Premiere version of Chanel No5, but apparently it's one of the few fragrances that I haven't even released my mustard for.

But you won't get away from me just like that, mu ha haha, after all I have discovered that I haven't written anything here yet, so I'll now hand in my commi on the fragrance, whether you like it or not!
Wait... that sounds really psychopathic! And I'm so nice, you idiots! D

Be that as it may. No5 by Chanel is a worldwide known classic, which you either like or not. I personally think No5 is great (especially the EDP and L'Eau), even if it sometimes seems a bit mature and old-fashioned, depending on the fragrance version. But either way, I would still recommend every lady to try the No5 fragrances, just to test them. Especially for fragrance-enthusiastic creatures (above just perfume-addicted olfactory bulbs :D) No5 is almost a must read... uh... or rather a must read? Whoa, that sounds stupid, but you know what I mean. Well then, I'll get started and tell you if this fragrance is also a success or just a quickly created new version or flanker.

A little later the fragrance continues to smell nice powdery soft and sweetish. There is also some Ylang-Ylang, which goes well with the aldehydes and both of them are a bit more smelling from the background in terms of intensity. The sweet is a mix of vanilla and jasmine, and there is also a nice floral note with the May rose (which, by the way, seems like a normal rose to me).
In the base the Ylang-Ylang seems to get through a little better. Although this flower is not my cup of tea, as so often, I find the fragrance here generally quite okay, since everything else here still smells very nice, like vanilla, some neroli (although quite weak), rose and jasmine and everything just harmonizes very well. All in all, the fragrance is very successful, smells pleasantly soft and beautiful and is generally highly recommended for a test!

The silage and durability:*
In contrast to the "normal" No5 scents, the Sillage is somewhat weaker, so that it would have to be perceived best from a closer distance. Also the durability seemed to me compared to the other No5 fragrances significantly shorter, but is still good. One can calculate seven to eight hours here.



Since the intensity of this fragrance is noticeably lower and all the sultry flowers don't come across as soo sultry or heavy, I think this No5 is even an all-rounder that could be worn on warmer days in spring and summer. As an occasion, it has a fragrance that is mainly good for going out, but since it doesn't last very long (or lose its intensity quickly), it might be better to use it for the day after all. Well, like I said, he's an all-rounder, just use him for everything :)

Well, that's it. I should check if there are any other No5 variants that I haven't described yet, so that I can continue to annoy you with these scents (and I can just see that there are actually a few more versions that I still have to comment on, hey he :D)! Otherwise I wish you a nice evening, see you :)
2 Comments
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Statements

6 short views on the fragrance
Bcars10Bcars10 6 years ago
6
Bottle
7
Sillage
6.5
Scent
This is the Chanel No. 5 for people who can't/won't wear the original. I prefer this because it is lighter and fresher but still nostalgic.
0 Comments
LillibetLillibet 6 years ago
7
Bottle
6
Sillage
7
Longevity
8.5
Scent
A very wearable variation on Chanel's iconic No. 5. A lovely soft chiffon aura. Somehow bracing and comforting at the same time.
0 Comments
ElysiumElysium 4 years ago
The aldehydes affirm a unique presence, while vanilla and musky notes give an infinitely feminine memory. Brighter and more delicate than 5°
0 Comments
Jazzy76Jazzy76 5 years ago
10
Bottle
8
Sillage
9
Longevity
10
Scent
Feminity at its top : all the charm and the class of the legendary n.5 in a soapy edt to wear manily by day in every season. Wonderful on me
0 Comments
Sterben9225Sterben9225 25 days ago
7.5
Scent
Neutered/muted version of the original. A soapier, sweeter, more modern take that in my opinion is not as good as the original.
0 Comments
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