Chanel N°5 L'Eau fragrance thoughts + review

There is nothing quite like Chanel...

Gabrielle Coco Chanel's origin and history is inspiring (check out a timeline here), the simplicity of black in contrast with white is timeless, and Marilyn Monroe's deep and genuine devotion to the classic N°5 fragrance (check out a short film here) makes me feel as if I could close my eyes, breathe in deeply, and step into the world of a woman who has been my muse for as long as I can remember...

As many of you may know, N°5 is perhaps the most well-known and frequently purchased fragrance, sitting atop vanities since 1921. It is a powerful scent that is so unique to Chanel, and to be honest, doesn't really smell all that lovely on everyone. As any collector of fragrance would admit, however, it is a must-have, even if you seldom wear it...

Enter The New N°5.

This year, Lily-Rose Depp, daughter of icons Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis (and an enigmatic icon in her own right), was revealed as the face of the newest iteration of the classic N°5.

Inspired by l'eau (the French word for water), this fragrance is described as a sort of paradox...
Old, yet new.
Familiar, yet mysterious.
Rich, yet fresh.
Sexy, yet soft.

Here are my thoughts.

​+ My biggest piece of advice? Give L'Eau an honest chance. I've found that in any store with a million fragrances, your nose can be really overwhelmed and "turned off" by the clashing aromas.
Ask for a sample, go home, shower to refresh your "palette," and spritz a bit on warm, clean skin that's still steamy. Allow the fragrance to work (or not work) with your skin's chemistry. Sleep with the fragrance. Wake up. See if the fragrance has changed. Apply more. See how it layers...
In the Chanel store, I thought I wouldn't love the fragrance - but I was completely wrong.

+ With Chanel, expect the packaging to be stunningly chic and impossibly perfect. L'Eau is no exception. It truly is elegance and sophistication in a glass bottle.

+ Yes, it still smells like the classic Chanel N°5 that MM once wore... but with a fresh twist. On my skin, it's subtle yet intoxicating, with particular scents I can't quite pin. The first aroma I breathe in is a youthful citrus, but beneath that initial fragrance, there is a subtly sexy musk (which is one of my fave notes) complimenting a bouquet of seemingly exotic florals. It is nostalgic, but feels so ethereal and new.

+ This fragrance is an eau de toilette, which means it is a lot lighter and is typically meant to be worn in the daytime (as opposed to a heavier eau de parfum). I can definitely see myself wearing this fragrance as an everyday signature, and perhaps layered with something a bit richer (I'm thinking paired with velvety vanilla, bourbon, or amber) at night.

+ Because this fragrance is an eau de toilette, don't exactly expect this fragrance to be powerful, and therefore, super long-lasting. While it does last the majority of the day, the fragrance becomes more of a whisper than a statement. At most, I have reapplied once throughout the day - which isn't too much of a burden, considering it makes my day all the sweeter when I pull that gorgeous bottle out of my purse.

+ For extra relaxation, I have taken some tips from Marilyn herself...
Run a hot bath, drop a bit of L'Eau in the water, add a bath bomb if you'd like, maybe treat yourself to a glass of champagne, and just close your eyes and imagine you are soaking in a sweet little loft in Paris.
Hmmm... a girl can dream...

I may have found my new signature scent.
What's your go-to fragrance?