Alana Estelle

Chanel No5 L’Eau was launched in 2016, with the goal to have a version of the original and iconic Chanel No5 appeal to younger generations. It’s appropriately called the “Water of No5,” bringing to mind a fresher, airier twist to the original. I’m a fan of the original Chanel No5, it just really works with my body chemistry, so I snatched this one up immediately after it launched. 

Notes:

• Top: Aldehydes, Lemon, Neroli, Mandarin Orange, Orange, Bergamot, Lime
• Middle: Ylang-Ylang, Jasmine, May Rose
• Base: White Musk, Orris Root, Cedar, Vanilla 

The aldehydes and citrus notes at the top are vibrant, light, effervescent, airy, youthful and sparkling. The aldehydes, which are artificially formulated fragrance notes, combined with the citrus notes are bubbly, reminiscent of champagne bubbles. The citrus fruits here are sophisticated and do not remind one of household cleaners, but rather fruits that are slightly sweet, bright and clean. Think of the dried rind of an orange, rather than fresh zest. The middle florals are not overly heavy or cloying, rather they are soft and a touch powdery. It’s hard to decipher which floral is which, as they are blended together well. Lastly, the base notes are smooth; a little musky and a touch warm, almost skin-like Again, the bottom notes are very balanced and one isn’t over powering the other. Like the original Chanel No5, it’s a bit difficult to describe this scent, because it has so many notes and everything is so well layered and balanced. No5 L’Eau is soft, sophisticated, luxurious, elegant and feminine. If you know what the original Chanel No5 smells like, take that and water it down, but place an emphasis on the lighter, brighter qualities of it. Musks and florals dominate the original, where citrus leads the way with L’Eau. 

Season: Chanel No5 L’Eau is one of those fragrances that can be worn all year round. It’s light and airy enough to not be cloying during the spring or summer. I do feel this would be a bit more appropriate to wear on summer evenings, perhaps in a more formal setting, due to the musks in the base notes. If this is applied with a slightly heavier hand, it’s a warm and cozy fragrance for fall and winter. Even though it has a “lightness” to it, it’s present and won’t get lost in layers of clothing. In fact, this scent frequently reminds me of a soft, ivory cashmere turtleneck - soft, luxurious and effortless. 

Sillage & Wear Time: Chanel No5 has a low to medium projection from the body, depending on how heavy it’s applied. Because it’s not loud and in your face, it’s appropriate for office settings. It creates a soft, clean cloud of scent around the body, that again, isn’t overpowering or cloying. This is the type of scent that will make people say, “You smell nice” VS “Your fragrance smells nice.” I find that the wear time of this fragrance is decent. I can definitely smell it lingering on clothes for hours and hours. It fades on the skin a bit after maybe 5-hours (on my skin, anyway), but I don’t mind topping this up midway through the day.

Recommended for: This is definitely a feminine fragrance, so if you are a fan of soft, delicate, extremely feminine scents, this may be for you. If you are a fan of the original Chanel No5, and want to a version that can be worn more versatilely, then this may interest you. If you don’t like the original Chanel No5, but like lighter musks, this may work for you. Also, people who are a fan of aldehydic scents - this one is definitely for you. At the risk of sounding pretentious - if you like to smell elegant, sophisticated, dainty, and luxurious and dare I say, expensive, this has you name written all over it. Pair this with a soft ivory cashmere turtleneck, a pair of black or grey slacks, a pair of velvet smoking slippers and a long camel-colored wool coat and … *chefs kiss* you’ve stepped right out of a Vogue spread. Hmmm, may need to actually wear this outfit … This is one of my favorite scents and I will always have it in my collection, along with the original Chanel No5. 

1. Chanel No.5 L’Eau. This is a fragrance I always pull out when the seasons are transitioning. It seems to get lost in all the layers of my clothing when the weather is freezing, and it leans a little too musky on my skin in the summer when it’s blazing hot. However, in mild, cool weather, this fragrance shines. It is a light, citrus take on the original Chanel No.5. There is an airy quality to this fragrance that reminds me of a lightweight cashmere sweater. It’s cozy, but fresh. Fragrance notes: Lemon, mandarin, orange, rose, jasmine, ylang ylang, and musk notes. 

2. Essence Satin Touch Blush in Satin Love. This is my first experience with an essence makeup product and it was actually given to me by a coworker (if you’re reading this, Hi Jacqui!). I reached for this blush the most this past month because it’s so effortless. It’s a mauve shade, with the slightest sheen. It’s not too pigmented, so it never looks overdone. Wearing this blush makes my skin look healthy and flushed. It really doesn’t look like I have blush on at all. It’s also extremely affordable. Win. 

3. Chanel Glossimer in Giggle. First, let us have a moment of silence for this discontinued gem. My makeup was more on the side of minimalism this last month. I gravitated towards this gloss, mainly because I was reaching for the aforementioned blush constantly and it complimented the mauve tones in my makeup. Giggle is a nude-mauve shade with just the subtlest hint of purple, that makes the lips look full, healthy and slightly tinted. It’s an easy-to-wear shade that I don’t need a mirror to apply. It’s not sticky and its relatively long-lasting and hydrating. I just have to come to terms with the fact that it is no more. Anyone know of any dupes?!

4. OPI My Vampire is Buff. Every time I wear this polish, I remember how much I like it. This is also one of those shades, where every time I have it only nails, people compliment it. It’s an off-white, beige shade with a hint of pink. Most white-based polishes have horrible formulas and tend to be extremely streaky. For as light as this is, this polish is fairly easy to work with. It is a little streaky, but not horrible and is fully opaque in three coats. This polish is flattering and makes my hands look clean. If you are a fan of shades like this, do yourself a favor and snatch one of these up. Try Amazon of eBay if you’re having a difficult time finding it. You’re welcome. 

5. Kate Spade Fontana Too Flats. Let me get this part out of the way; these flats HURT to break in. I have two other pairs; one in calf hair and the other in suede, that did not have a break-in period. I expected these patent leather versions to be a little painful, as patent leather is stiffer and takes a little longer to mold to the foot. However, after two days of wearing these for a full work day (and a little blister…) I can’t get enough of these flats. I like that the shade of nude has pink undertones. I also like that when the weather is being complicated, I can wear these shoes in the rain and they won’t get ruined. These were my most worn shoes of March. They just go with everything. 

6. Chanel Ballet Flats. These shoes are my first experience with Chanel footwear. Everything about these shoes is well done, from the perfect stitching, lambskin leather and the metal heel. These took quite a bit of time to break in, and they still aren’t quite there yet. I did have to go up half a size, as Chanel runs small. Again, these did hurt when I first got them, and I was expecting that as the quilted leather takes longer to break in. These shoes were worth the painful first few days, as they go with everything. I also like how the grey is a little different, while still being versatile and neutral. Other than the aforementioned Kate Spade Fontanas, I wore these shoes the most. Perhaps, March was also the month of briefly suffering for a good pair of shoes. As my mother says, “Beauty knows no pain…”