A small yet unmissable handful of brands have elevated perfume production to a fine art form in the wide and varied world of fragrances. When it comes to timelessly classic and luxuriant perfumes, there’s no other brand on the market quite like Chanel. For almost a century, they’ve defined and redefined what a luxury perfume can and should be, and their output remains today every bit as popular as it ever was
From sophisticated ladies perfumes to bold and audacious men’s colognes, Chanel fragrances are widely agreed to be among the best. Crafted with peerless savoir-faire, they have what it takes to establish a signature scent that never fails to boost one’s confidence and make a lasting impression.
Chanel Perfume Top Picks
- Most popular and best seller: Chanel No. 5
- Best Chanel perfume for women: Chanel Coco Mademoiselle
- Best Chanel perfume for men: Bleu de Chanel
- Best smelling Chanel perfume: Chanel Chance
- Newest Chanel perfume: Chanel Gabrielle
With their array of rare and precious ingredients, balanced and contrasted to produce the most beautiful results, Chanel perfume never fails to go above and beyond the everyday. Today, we’re taking a look at the ten best Chanel perfumes available to buy, and diving into the glamorous world of this famous and popular brand. Whittling such an iconic range down to just ten favorites was no easy task.
Top List of 10 Best Chanel Perfumes
With a hundred years of expertise under their belt, it should come as no surprise to discover that Chanel perfumes cover a lot of ground when it comes to style and character, as well as the personality types with which they fit best. As such, making the right choice for you can be a little tricky, especially if you’re not already familiar with the range available. Below, you’ll discover our ten favorites and best reviewed fragrances from the Chanel perfume collection.
1. Chanel Coco
Chanel Coco was the signature Chanel perfume of the 1980s, and was launched in 1984 designed by world-beating perfumer Jacques Polge. Despite being rather typical of the decade – it’s big, bold, and allows the wearer to make a dramatic entrance – its appeal hasn’t faded one iota in the 21st century.
This perfume boasts blends of fruit, floral, and spice notes, with a stunning opening of mandarin being followed by coriander, cloves, and a big floral bouquet of rose, jasmine, and ylang ylang. The base of patchouli and tonka provides retro glamour and timeless charm, and there’s simply no other perfume quite like it. Perfect for evening wear and formal wear, Chanel Coco rightly deserves its place in the Chanel hall of fame.
2. Chanel Chance Eau Tendre
Modern perfumes of distinction in the fruity-floral genre are few and far between these days, making Chanel Chance Tendre something of an anomaly on the high-end perfume store shelves of this year. Released in 2019, it’s the latest addition to the Chance collection, and it has quickly become a firm favorite with younger women seeking out a luxury perfume that manages to be feminine and fun, yet also utterly romantic and whimsical, too.
The fruit notes of this elegant perfume come from an opening of grapefruit and quince, backed up by a beautifully dreamy heart of rose and jasmine. The base notes of musk dial up the romantic allure, and ensure that this beautiful fragrance doesn’t end up being too sweet or girlish. With impressive sillage and longevity, it’s the ideal scent for a first date.
3. Chanel Allure
If you’re on the hunt for an elegant perfume that’s perfect for the workplace, then Chanel Allure is possibly the best choice on the market right now. Launched in 1999, Chanel Allure hits the perfect balance between subtlety and audaciousness, a real recipe for success for modern go-getting women looking for a signature scent.
Allure opens with citrus notes – namely lemon and mandarin – which are softened ever so slightly by peach. These fruity highlights are given a floral-oriental twist with the addition of jasmine, freesia, and honeysuckle, which are heightened by the addition of vanilla and sandalwood. This perfume is absolutely ideal for business meetings, day to day wear, and for establishing a signature fragrance for the woman who knows what she wants from life.
4. Chanel No. 5
No list of the best Chanel perfumes for women would be complete with mention of Chanel No. 5 – arguably the most iconic perfume of all time, and the one which spawned a million imitations following its launch in 1921.
The fragrance brings together an opening of bergamot and neroli, which gives way to the floral decadence of ylang ylang, iris, rose, lily of the valley and jasmine. The signature Chanel base of vanilla and sandalwood seal the deal with effortless charm and sophistication, and lends this scent its air of classic elegance and sensuality. Chanel No. 5 is, at its heart, a perfume for more mature ladies looking to highlight their flawless taste and sense of style.
5. Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel
Another huge hit for the French perfume brand, Coco Mademoiselle, was launched in 2001 and quickly made a considerable impact upon a whole generation of younger Chanel fans. Its blend of contrasting citrus and patchouli notes proved to be both a winning combination and a marked departure from Chanel’s house style, while maintaining the brand values of excellence, attention to detail, and timeless savoir-faire.
Sensual, bold, and perfect for nights out, intimate dates, and special occasions alike, Coco Mademoiselle is a beautiful fragrance with real versatility and broad appeal. Thanks to its unusual combination of powerful notes and high concentration of oils, it’s a long-lasting perfume with great sillage, and one which won’t let you down.
6. Chance by Chanel
The first Chanel perfume in a round bottle made real waves upon its release back in 2003. It isn’t difficult to see why: Chance provides a stunning combination of fresh, floral, and spicy notes in a masterclass of perfumery and balance, making this a brilliantly versatile fragrance for women of all ages, and for a wide array of occasions.
In Chance by Chanel, you’ll uncover tempting top notes of lemon, exotic pineapple, and piquant pink pepper, followed by a heart of luxurious floral accords. The base dials up the sensuality and warmth, offering an alluring blend of amber, patchouli, and white musk. The result is a perfume that is at once seductive yet not overpowering or heady, and which is ideal for both hot dates and daily wear.
7. Chanel Gabrielle
Chanel Gabrielle was created by Olivier Polge and was envisioned as the fragrance of an imaginary exotic flower; deeply feminine and alluring, and based upon an awe-inspiring combination of grasse tuberose, orange blossom, jasmine, and ylang ylang. The end result is breathtakingly romantic and more than a little seductive, with the base of sandalwood and musk providing all the sensual warmth a woman could wish for.
The moderate sillage and longevity of Gabrielle has made it hugely popular for women who apply this fragrance daily as a signature scent. It is, at heart, a summer perfume. However, the spicy and woodsy base allows it to be worn in the cooler seasons and the evenings, and it is a perfect choice for lunch dates, cocktail parties, and professional settings alike.
8. Bleu de Chanel
Bleu de Chanel is one of the most popular and best-selling men’s colognes to come out of the French luxury perfume house. Woodsy, aromatic, and beautifully balanced, it was released in 2010 and quickly became a must-have fragrance for sophisticated gents everywhere.
The perfume showcases a stunning array of exotic, spicy, and unusual notes. Nutmeg and ginger meet sandalwood, vetiver, cedar, patchouli, jasmine and more, resulting in a fragrance which is piled high with mystique and a sensual, alluring, and thoroughly modern essence of masculinity. Long-lasting and effortlessly cool, it’s a popular choice for both professional wear and parties, as it never fails to make an enduring and positive impact.
9. Chanel Allure Homme Sport
The success of Allure Homme led to the launch of Allure Homme Sport just a few years later; one of Chanel’s most popular men’s colognes released in the 21st century. Dynamic, thrilling, and beautifully fresh and sharp, it combines notes of vetiver, white musk, amber, and tonka bean to stunning effect.
The appeal of Allure Homme Sport lies in the fact that this perfume is both light yet impactful, spicy and woodsy, yet by no means overbearing. As such, it’s enormously versatile – this scent works just as well with a business suit as it does a date at a beach bar, and reflects the multi-faceted reality of the modern urbane gentleman. Very long-lasting with moderate sillage, this is a men’s scent from Chanel that really hits the high notes when it comes to quality and distinction.
10. Chanel Chance Eau Fraiche
2005’s big Chanel release was another Jacques Pole number: Chanel Chance Eau Fraiche, the next perfume in the hugely popular Chance collection. Floral yet with a seductively earthy undercurrent, it boasts delightful top notes of jasmine and iris, followed by a sensual base of musk and patchouli.
Designed as a lighter, brighter version of the original Chance fragrance, Chance Eau Fraiche is a beautiful summery scent that’s sure to appeal to a younger, more outdoorsy audience. It features fantastic longevity and moderate sillage, which also makes it appropriate for the workplace, and which goes a long way towards explaining its enduring appeal.
A Guide on How to Choose Your Chanel Perfume
With an extensive range of perfumes covering a century of innovation, selecting the Chanel fragrance that matches your personality, preferences, and sense of style is easier said than done. However, by considering the following pointers, you should be able to figure out which Chanel perfume for women is the best fit for you.
Perfume Types and Strengths
As with almost all luxury perfume brands, Chanel offers most of its quality fragrances in a range of types. These include:
● Parfum: the strongest and most concentrated perfume type. Parfum tends to have a denser, oilier consistency as a result of its high concentration of precious ingredients, and as such, it’s the one that lasts the longest when applied on the skin. For the same reasons, parfum is almost without exception the most expensive type of perfume.
● Eau de Parfum: unlike parfum, which typically comes in a stoppered bottle to be dabbed on the skin, Eau de Parfum will usually come in a bottle fitted with a spray nozzle (or the atomizer), due to its slightly thinner consistency. Heavy, concentrated, and long-lasting, you can expect Eau de Parfum to have a longevity of up to eight hours or more, making it excellent value for money.
● Eau de Toilette: This perfume type is generally the more affordable iteration of your Chanel perfume of choice, and they tend to be lighter, fresher versions with more versatility for daily wear. Consisting of a lower concentration of aromatic oils, they won’t be able to match the longevity of Eau de Parfum, but their lower price lends itself to reapplication and regular spritzing.
Fragrance Categories
As well as perfume type, you can use the key categories of fragrance to help you make your choice. Chanel is best known for elegant floral scents, but like all major brands, they have plenty of perfumes which cover all bases for a wide and dedicated following. The main fragrance categories include:
● Floral Scents: Based upon aromatic oils extracted from flower petals, these fragrances imbue the wearer with the scent of elegant, feminine floral bouquets. Examples of Chanel perfumes in this category would include Chanel Coco Mademoiselle, Chanel No. 5, and Chanel Allure.
● Fresh Scents: Bright, zesty, and refreshing, fresh perfumes are uplifting, optimistic, and outdoorsy. They tend to be highly versatile – even to the point of being unisex – and suitable for a number of personality types and occasions. Chanel Chance would be a good example of a fresher perfume in this range.
● Woody Scents: Utilising exotic woods, incenses, and rare and precious ingredients (often with ancient and spiritual origins), woody scents bring warmth and sensuality to a perfume. The woodiest Chanel perfumes are those in the Les Exclusifs de Chanel collection – a range of limited edition and exclusive fragrances by the brand – such as Sycomore and Coromandel.
● Oriental Scents: Rich, exotic, and including powdery, spicy, and resin-based notes, oriental scents are a joy to behold. Amber – the gorgeously sensual and heady resin used in the base of many Chanel perfumes – is perhaps the quintessential ingredient of oriental perfumes. Coco Eau de Parfum and Chanel No.5 both have recognizable oriental characteristics.
Frequently Asked Questions on Chanel Perfumes
How many Chanel perfumes are there?
As one might expect from such a historic perfume house, Chanel has launched many fragrances over the past one hundred years. So far, there have been 122 Chanel perfumes designed and released to the general public.
Which Chanel perfume is the best?
Depending on your personal preferences, this question could be answered in dozens of different ways. However, most people would recognize Chanel no. 5 as the best perfume; it’s a fragrance with an iconic appeal, and which has withstood the test of time.
Which Chanel perfume is the most popular?
As one might expect, Chanel no. 5 is by some distance the most popular fragrance in the extensive Chanel range, and is a bonafide worldwide best-seller. The second most popular Chanel fragrance is Coco Mademoiselle.
How much does Chanel perfume cost?
A 1.7oz bottle of Chanel perfume will typically cost between $130 – $190, depending on the product in question. As such, it’s fair to say that Chanel is one of the more expensive mainstream perfume brands on the market today.
Where is Chanel perfume made?
Chanel perfume is made today, as it always has been, in France. Indeed, Chanel has a long and profound relationship with Paris, and is widely considered to be among the nation’s most iconic brands.
How to check Chanel perfume authenticity
Fake Chanel perfumes are becoming more and more convincing year on year. However, you can spot a real Chanel perfume by checking the bottle’s base – the information will be embossed in the glass, not printed on a label. Also, the lettering on the bottle’s front will be slightly raised rather than simply printed on.
How long does Chanel perfume last?
Chanel perfumes should last between three to five years.
Is Chanel perfume cruelty-free perfume?
At present, Chanel perfumes are not listed as cruelty-free.
The Story of Chanel
Few perfume brands, if any at all, possess the sheer clout, fame, and peerless reputation enjoyed by Chanel over the past hundred years. The story of the brand is, in essence, the story of 20th century parfumerie – from the enduring and global appeal of its first release, right up to the popular bottles of the present day.
When Chanel’s debut perfume – the world-renowned No. 5 – first hit the shelves of fashionable Parisian boutiques in 1921, the world of fragrances would never be the same again. Legend tells us that the iconic name of the fragrance came about after Perfumer Ernst Beaux presented Coco Chanel with a broad portfolio of perfumes. It was the fifth scent that took her fancy, and with that, Chanel No. 5 was born. The rest, as they say, is history.
It isn’t difficult to understand why Chanel no. 5 set the world ablaze in the 1920s, and established a legacy for itself which endures to this day. In the early 20th century, women’s perfumes were decidedly one-note, and were based upon simple floral scents which would seem extremely direct and simplistic to a 21st century audience. Chanel no. 5, on the other hand, was abstract, complex, and multi-layered. The generous use of aldehydes (known for giving a unique ‘sparkle’ effect upon smelling) made Chanel no. 5 seem like nothing else on the market… and if it was good enough for Coco Chanel, it was more than good enough for her ever-expanding clientele.
Ernst Beaux, the genius behind that first world-altering fragrance, remained with the Chanel brand until 1952, and created many more landmark scents throughout his career, including Chanel no. 22 and Bois des Iles.
Upon Beaux’s departure, and following Coco’s death in Paris in 1971, the Chanel brand underwent something of a renaissance. The launch of Cristalle, Chanel’s freshest fragrance yet, attracted a broader and younger audience than ever before, preceding the arrival of Jacques Polge. His creations included several Chanel perfumes, which to this day, remain popular. Namely, Coco, Allure, and Coco Mademoiselle have become (at least in the US) even more widely worn than No. 5.
It wasn’t until the 1990s that the Chanel brand began to really expand beyond the realm of ladies perfumes directly inspired by No. 5. The year 1995 saw the launch of the first Chanel men’s fragrance – Chanel Pour Monsieur – which was received to widespread acclaim. This was the beginning of a hugely successful foray into quality gentleman’s cologne, which spanned an array of styles ranging from leathery and masculine Antaeus, right the way through to the world-beating aromatic wonder that is Bleu de Chanel. The brand successfully navigated the tricky waters of marketing men’s fragrances from a brand deeply associated with feminine products. Chanel proved that their brand values and identity were strong enough to make such a crossover appear effortless.
Final thoughts on Chanel perfume
That’s it – our list of the ten best Chanel perfumes and what makes them the world-famous favorites they undoubtedly are. Whether you love the iconic timelessness of Chanel No. 5, or fell for one of the newer releases from this peerless brand, there’s undoubtedly a Chanel perfume out there that’s perfect for your preferences.
