¡Ombligo!

French actress Carole Bouquet, the face of Chanel No. 5 perfume, poses in a field of jasmine. Image: © Marianne Rosenstiehl/Sygma/Corbis. Date Photographed: September 1996

I don't know what it is but I always feel a bit fancy when I wear Chanel No. 5. Maybe it's because of the famous Marilyn Monroe quote or the fact that I get this image in my head of dressing up and going out like women did in the '50's. Maybe it's just the aldehydes?

Maybe? I seriously do get an image of dressing up and going out though, dressing up in a lovely black dress and accessorizing myself with pearls. It's a fantasy really because I look quite drab in black and am not really much of a pearl girl but Chanel No. 5 gives me that feeling, like I can pull it off.

Regardless, I do love Chanel No. 5 but don't wear it nearly enough. I don't really know why, it's one I should wear more often but don't. Maybe because it's so common, so easily recognized.

Anyhow, the notes. What are the notes? According to Osmoz the notes in Chanel No. 5 are:

Top: Aldehydes, Bergamot, Lemon, Neroli
Middle: Jasmine, Rose, Lily of the valley, Orris
Bottom: Vetiver, Sandal, Vanilla, Amber

Neroli, really? I didn't know it had neroli! I'm not a big fan of neroli but I can't detect it and honestly who could under the aldehydes? I understand why people don't like this fragrance, because it's heavy in aldehydes but I happen to like aldehydes in fragrances! There is a mere whisper of citrus in this fragrance, which were moredetectablee when I paired it with Bliss Vanilla & Bergamot body butter.

The floral notes are more evident in the heat, at times the rose is a bit stronger than the jasmine on me. I don't get the lily of the valley at all but do get a tinge of the orris. I also can't detect any vetiver and the sandalwood is very soft on me. More vanilla and amber than anything else in the bottom notes, but still rather light.

The staying power is incredible on me, it really clings to fabric as well. The other day I wore it to bed and when I woke up, the scent was all over my body pillow. Such a gorgeous fragrance, I really should wear it more!

This is in reference to the Eau de Parfum which retails for $80/1.7 oz or $110/3.4 oz. I also have the Body Lotion and the Bath Gel which are beyond fabulous.

I've been meaning to buy the After Bath Powder as I'm a powder addict but have yet to cave on it.


I know, I know Nicole Kidman is the new face of Chanel No. 5 but I'm not a big fan of hers and don't you think Carole Bouquet's campaign is much prettier?

Not to mention I'm a huge, huge, huge Baz fan and still chose this one over his.