Our take
What does N°5 Eau Première smell like?
In 2008 Jacques Polge offered a brighter reading of N°5. Eau Première keeps the same materials but shifts the balance. Comoros ylang-ylang is toned down while aldehydes and neroli gain freshness. You notice it right away in a soapy fizz with a slight metallic edge, closer to clean laundry than to rice powder. The heart stays loyal to the house. May rose and Grasse jasmine make a neat bouquet that is less heady than in the original. Vanilla, vetiver and white musks fill the base. This is where the gap is widest, with less animal warmth and more soft woodiness. Next to the N°5 Eau de Parfum, Eau Première feels younger and smoother. Some will call it watered down. We would rather say it makes N°5 wearable at nine in the morning, and that counts for something.
When to wear it
An aldehydic floral that works at the office, which is rare. Two sprays on the neck are enough since it projects more than you’d expect.
It belongs to the Floral, Powdery family. N°5 Eau Première is one of 45 creations by Chanel in our encyclopedia.
