Chanel N°5 Eau Premiere by Chanel

A renewed classic. It feels wonderful to see a woman wearing this scent!

I adore Chanel No 5 and own everything: the old extrait, the current one, an old lotion, an EDT from the 70s, one from the mid-00s, an EDP from the 00s, and a cologne from the 90s. With all this, I can say that Chanel N5 Premiere (2007) is the best reinterpretation of a classic I have tried. There is no doubt that Jacques Polge is a No 5 fanatic; only a nose with so much love can update an untouchable classic. He managed to keep the essence and heart of that mythical fragrance, giving it a modern touch without losing its soul. It launched when Nicole Kidman was the face of Chanel, in a market that felt the iconic No 5 was becoming obsolete for new tastes, despite leading sales. Polge’s work was impeccable: maintaining the spirit of a titan, updating the essence without losing personality, style, or the old fans while attracting new ones. It is clear that for Polge, the answer lay in citrus, which never goes out of fashion; he kept that characteristic lemon and the aldehydes, returned to ylang-ylang but made it creamier and subtler, removing the animal tints, moss, and patchouli. Sandalwood/vetiver and vanilla survived, the former softer and the latter slightly more noticeable. Jasmine and orange blossom also return, but lighter. As soon as you apply it, you feel the freshness of a citrus dew mixed with the sweetness of a soft vanilla and an intense, creamy, vibrant, and romantic ylang-ylang. The white florals begin to stand out and the subtle woods close this outstanding reinterpretation. Over the years, it was minimally reorchestrated with a new bottle (2015), increasing the vanilla slightly and giving more weight to the florals. Then came Leau, returning to the first spirit of Chanel Premiere but leaning more towards musk and a more marked fruity side, becoming a fresher and lighter version for a new generation of young people. I am of the older school, I like intense and complex No 5, but Polge’s work was amazing and I see Oliver’s new version as quite worthy for a well-cared-for and subtle ‘Leau’.

I simply love it; it has the same DNA as Chanel No. 5, you can feel that typical soapy aldehyde smell, but the Premiere has something that makes it feel fresh, youthful, cheerful, ideal for wearing on hot or cold days. I have it in a decant and I am seriously thinking about buying the bottle.

It is soapy, fresh, feminine, and floral; I feel nothing synthetic. At some point, I notice a fresh ‘powdery’ air on my skin, but I do not dislike it because the fragrance is worth its price. Besides, it is long-lasting and has a good trail… and I do not want to finish it, haha. I give it a great 9; Chanel No 5 Eau de Toilette takes the glorious 10.

Everything in life changes, including our tastes; and it could not be the exception. I have always been enamoured with Chanel and faithfully use its elegant perfumes: Chance, my favourite, and Coco Mademoiselle as a complement, very similar, and to complete the trio, Allure. Over the years, now in my forties, my sense of smell and tastes have varied a little. Every time I went for my favourite, someone would call my attention but I left it as an illusion. Until one day its scent intoxicated me and I said: Chanel 5, Premiere, you are coming home with me. It was like that love at first sight I had with the previous ones from the brand; I felt special, sexy, and relaxed. A perfect scent for the Caribbean climate where I live, my daily perfume, my new signature. It is renewed, softer to wear, it is the little black dress we know we wear and must know how to wear. This gem stuck with softer aldehydes, with a spicy and delicious citrus note. You only need the right amount to attract attention without overwhelming, but I am sure that once again the soul of Gabrielle is present in this bottle.

I loved it! I used the complimentary sample for three days and it was enough to fall in love. It is soft, distinguished, clean, slightly citrusy, floral, and powdery. It results in a refreshing change from the sweet; sometimes in tropical climates the intense ones do not look good. It shares the sentiment of Chanel 5, but it is more wearable and modern without losing elegance and charisma. I will gift it for Christmas. It is precious because it becomes part of the skin, blending in by softly aromatising it, very tender, perfect for daily use. Highly recommended for personal enjoyment.

It is a pleasant and clean perfume for daily use. It is a fairly soft and fresh floral where the aldehydes are quite noticeable at the beginning. It has good fixation on the skin, although after a few hours the trail fades and it stays as something more personal; it is not invasive nor very sophisticated, which makes it ideal for daily use at any time. However, it is sophisticated enough to not be suitable for very young girls.

I own the No. 5, the Eau Première, and several Chancels (Coco, 19, 19 Poudre, Cristalle, Allure, Allure Sensuelle, and others I’ve left behind). I have more affection for some than others, but the Eau Première is simply perfect. There is nothing in it that I don’t like. The others are for specific occasions or days, but this one is almost an all-rounder: it suits everything. For the office, for going out to dinner, for heading to the market, for any moment. I love the scent; the sillage is appropriate—it’s not one of those you can smell from miles away—and the longevity is long (on my skin, perfumes usually last quite a while, not just this one). It’s not invasive or ‘atufa’ (overpowering). It is simply perfect.

I’ve been trying to write this review for a long time. I think part of me refused to accept that I didn’t love this fragrance—how can you not like a Chanel? Furthermore, my husband gifted it to me, and I truly tried to make myself like it, but no… the magic didn’t happen. We didn’t click because on my skin it has ZERO longevity and sillage. Not even my husband can detect it… Yes, it is a pleasant, clear, and clean perfume, but I believe the neroli takes a turn too bitter, completely overshadowing the aldehydes. The best part is its opening; there, the aldehydes truly shine, as in those first 5-8 minutes they are sparkling and bubbling like a good champagne… But afterwards, that shadow of neroli clouds everything. Not even the vanilla in the base helps it gain strength and persistence; it simply doesn’t last. I will keep trying, but I really don’t think this flanker and I will click. I just want to add that, despite not loving this Chanel No. 5 flanker, I understand and respect the idea behind it, as it has evidently inherited the DNA of its mother, those dreamy aldehydes… but it lacks the strength and persistence of the mother. Although I’m not crazy about the Chanel No. 5 either, I think unfortunately when you have a mother as beautiful and as diva-like, the daughter simply doesn’t surpass her in beauty.