i love this perfume...first time i bought this was when i was 16 just to own it...it smells divine and seems wearable for all ages...but for me it how it makes me feel...like im somehow sophisticated lolololol

Chanel 5 smells like sophistication.

I love this perfume on everyone usually, but on me it smells like baby powder only, so I do not use it. As much as I do love baby powder, I rather not spend the big bucks on it. ;-) I have a tiny bottle of the actual perfume that i have had for years & years. It is still like brand new, no fading, no evaporation, no sediments. This in itself speaks volumes about it's purity & excellence. I continue to keep it in hopes that someday, I too will be able to wear and enjoy this fragrance on myself as I enjoy it so much on others...well that reason, and also because the actual perfume is soooo very expensive. ;-)
I wear it's sister perfume Coco, and I have worn it for years. It smells divine one me, IMO. I do wish they all lasted longer though. I have never had a real perfume of this, but maybe someday, and it is supposed to last longer.
All in all, I do love the smell of Chanel No. 5 on most people, and I do know it is well worth the $. For all the ladies that can wear this fragrance well, please continue to do so. It is a real pleasure to my senses.

Believe it or not, I have been wearing this since I was 15. My sister- in- law gave me my first bottle and I have never looked back. Pretty classy perfume for a 15 year old who still wore Heaven Scent! (yah, it was the 60's) It is my 'go to' for special occasions in the summer (cuz I use DKCM daily on hot, humid days)....Chanel tends to be too heavy for hot weather, but when winter comes, it is back on top of the vanity! I just LOVE it , my husband loves it, and ladies at work usually ask me if I am wearing Chanel.(and they mean it as a compliment). It is my signature scent. I feel fortunate that I have been able to pull this off for so many years. Perfumes are so delicate and unpredictable from one person to another. During the past decade, I have discovered that the Body Lotion , alone, does the trick just fine. I treat myself to the #5 soap bar and the whole bathroom floats in Chanel. Wish they made it in a deodorant. It would be heaven, if they would.

This perfume is defiantly an acquired taste and is not for every one. I really like Chanel No.5 and it has great staying power it doesn't wear off over a period of time. It does have a heavy scent but I quite like that about it.

This legendary parfum may smell nice overall but it reminds me of an old cakey faced woman dressed in real fur and surrounded by pearls. Too decadent and old fashion for my taste.

As many others have stated before me, there is a big difference between the EdT, the EdP and all the other versions. Take your time and try all of them before you buy or turn away from the fragrance. Your memories (scents that got connected to good or bad memories in your childhood), your age and your chemistry are different, so the versions can have a very different effect on you. I live in Eastern Europe, so I can't connect this fragrance to my grandmas and their friends. In the communist era they had little chance to use it. I don't find this fragrance dated at all. (Same case with Shalimar.)
I'll review the versions in chronological order.
(I haven't had the chance to try the extrait, the original formula, so I can't comment on that.)
EdT: I don't find it 'lighter'. It has excellent staying power. After the extrait this is the version trained noses and perfumistas tend to find the best. It must be a work of art. Unfortunately, what I feel, is the frequently mentioned urine-like component, which fades only after hours, and never leaves completely. If you like relying on professionals' advice, or prefer 'airy' scents (like L'eau d'Issey), try this one first. There is a chance it works with your chemistry or is good according to you taste.
EdP: Comes from the 80s and is a (re)creation of Jacques Polge. Perfumistas hardly ever approve of his perfumes (except for Coco maybe), and his creations are often referred to as inferior ones. However, the crowds just love them (think of Coco Mademoiselle or Chance and its flankers). I find this version really pleasant, just like CM and Chance. But I have to tell you I've always liked fragrances from the 80s. YSL Paris was my first signature. I loved the powdery drydown. If you're above 30 and don't mind being mainstream, or like heavy perfumes from the 80s, try this one first.
Elixir Sensuel: This comes in a gel form, without a pump, so it can be uncomfortable to use for some. However, it has a glorious, comforting scent, which is more modern than the EdP. I use it in the evening, after bath, when I go to bed. If you've had very bad experiences with No 5, give another chance with this one.
Eau Premiere: There is considerably more freshness and citrus in this, so if you're under 30, try this one first. I'm 34, but I love it, and I use it mostly for daytime wear. But I also love Chance, which is also inferior, as I've read. (Well, I also don't listen to Wagner during the day on my iPod.)
What can I say about all the versions? You might like some/one of them, if you like soft, powdery fragrances, which are very feminine. So try them if you have a kind and caring personalty. (I like horoscopes, and I've already reviewed Pleasures as a Virgo fragrance. No 5 is Cancer for me.) What if you're a strong business woman? Start with the elixir, but I suggest you to try it even stronger. It won't harm your professionalism, but people might see a side of your character, they failed to see before.
Forget prejudices, but I can't tell you to forget the marketing just now. Check out the website, and look at at the commercials. They are stupid, but extremely beautiful. After that, forget them as well, and try to value the scent in itself. It is amazing.

I have not been able to be a part of the Chanel 5 craze that continuously sweeps us ladies. Yes, classy it is, no doubt about that, but the scent is so reminiscent of the older females in my family (specially my grandmother <3) that I associate this classic scent with older women. Even my husband agrees. I prefer to stick to Chanel's line of makeup and accessories.

I'm more of a spicy/oriental scent girl and there is nothing I hate more than the old lady floral perfumes ie: FlowerBomb (gags). Florals always give me terrible headaches & nausea. But, No.5 is soooo soft and feminine. This is just like stepping out of the shower (fresh, clean & pretty). This is a perfect workday or weekend scent, not too sophisticated or too sexy. I'm not a fan of Chanel (clothing or beauty) but this I do like and recommend it.

The smell is complex, but I don't enjoy it. I don't see the appeal.