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I Sniffed and Reviewed Every Single Chanel Perfume—Here’s My Full Ranking of the Most Timeless Scents
I now have a vanity filled with Chanel to prove it.
Arguably the most famous perfume in the world, Chanel No. 5 holds a space in every fragrance lovers' collection, whether they love it or hate it. What other scents have that kind of pull on people? The beautiful, timeless bottles adorned with the pervasive Chanel branding—all rooted in the brand's long history—make for a classic, even without smelling the juice. But I have a secret: No. 5 isn't even close to being the best Chanel perfume. You've probably not even smelled their best scents yet.
A few of my Cosmo colleagues and I took our noses on a scent journey through all of Chanel’s perfumes—literally, every single one—to come up with the ultimate Chanel perfume ranking below. Read all of our thoughts on the classics, like Coco Mademoiselle and Bleu de Chanel as well as our reviews of a few hidden gems (ahem, my new favorite spring fragrance). Here’s a sneak peek:
The best Chanel perfumes, sniffed by Cosmo editors:
Now, scroll on for all of our top favorites, starting with our number one pick of all. And keep reading for the need-to-know info on choosing the best Chanel perfume for your vanity.
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Pros
- The top-rated perfume that our editors tested
- Smells very clean and simple, according to reviewers
Cons
- Some testers find the patchouli overpowering
One Cosmo editor says: "At first spritz, it’s fresh and a little fruity without being cloying. Hours later, it settles into a warm, sensual vanilla with slight traces of floral. I’m pretty picky about vanilla perfumes (they can oftentimes veer too salty and skin-like for me), but here, the vanilla blends perfectly with the citruses and florals. I know some people may associate Chanel with older, powdery scents—like Chanel No. 5—but Mademoiselle feels ageless.”—JASMINE HYMAN, ASSISTANT BEAUTY EDITOR
| Notes | Orange, patchouli, turkish rose |
| Type | Eau de parfum |
Pros
- Extremely juicy scent that feels youthful and fun
- Has an impressive wear time at around eight or nine hours
Cons
- I don't pick up on the cedar note at all (on me, it really just smells fruity with a bit of powdered florals)
One Cosmo editor says: "This fruity scent really smells like the pick-me-up I need as we're finally moving into spring after this long (annoying) winter. It's so bright and playful, packed with yummy red fruits and powdery florals. It's youthful but sophisticated, combining vibrant fruity notes with the standard Chanel Chance DNA."—BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR
Features at a Glance
| Notes | Red fruits, raspberry, rose, violet, peach, iris, white musk, cedar |
| Type | Eau de parfum |
Pros
- Testers (and I) *love* the fruity, citrus scent
Cons
- The scent doesn’t last very long on skin, according to testers
One Cosmo editor says: "The best compliment I could ever possibly receive? 'You smell good.' Which is the very first thing someone said to me on a date while wearing this perfume last week. Then, a random person in line at the grocery store. And then my Uber driver. Then my coworker. The compliments kept coming. And I totally get why. This fresh, citrus perfume is the epitome of summertime. It smells bright and happy—and my fellow New Yorkers apparently agreed."—BG
| Notes | Lemon, pink pepper, jasmine, iris, patchouli |
| Type | Eau de parfum |
Pros
- Reviewers loved how light and airy it smells
- I loved how prominent the rose notes were
Cons
- Not as long lasting as original Coco Mademoiselle, per testing
One Cosmo editor says: "I get it: Not everyone is into a spicy, earthy patchouli perfume. (Can’t relate tho!) If that sounds like you, then you should def try this Coco Mademoiselle flanker, L’Eau Privée, which was loved overall by our testers. It has a delicate, floral scent that doesn’t smell powdery or like a grandma (no offense grandma). Instead, it goes sweet rose, thanks to the warm white musk notes. Just keep in mind that this perfume doesn’t project a ton and sits really close to your skin, so don’t expect for everyone in the room to get a whiff when you walk in. But they will smell you when they’re close, like in a hug or handshake."—BG
| Notes | Mandarin orange, rose, white musk, jasmine |
| Type | Eau de parfum |
Pros
- Testers loved how nostalgic it smells
- The bottle is truly iconic, IMO
Cons
- Definitely on the strong side
One Cosmo editor says: "Arguably the most iconic fragrance of all time, Chanel No. 5 is a frickin’ classic—and it smells like it too. Yes, it’s very strong and powdery and reminded every single tester in our office of their grandmother. But (!) upon learning it was Chanel No. 5, everyone said they felt a pang of nostalgia, knowing a sister, aunt, cousin, or family member who wore this and was immediately transported to another time.
IMO, the best way to wear this Chanel perfume is mixing it with other scents to give it a fresher, lighter feel. My personal favorite combo? A tiny dab of Chanel No. 5 underneath a spritz of Chanel Chance—they bring out the best in each other, and I get compliments every single time I layer them together. "—BG
| Notes | Aldehydes, jasmine, neroli, sandalwood |
| Type | Eau de parfum |
Pros
- Testers loved how prominent the grapefruit notes were
Cons
- Can smell a little powdery to some noses
One Cosmo editor says: "If the thought of dousing yourself in a powerful perfume is making your head hurt a lil bit, lemme intro you to Chance Eau Tendre. It’s basically Chanel’s most citrusy, fresh scent, per our testing. But don’t let the fruitiness fool you—this could so easily be worn year-round, for either day or night. The added musk and rose really balances it all out and leaves you smelling like you just took the best everything shower."—BG
| Notes | Grapefruit, quince, rose, white musk |
| Type | Eau de parfum |
Pros
- Reviewers loved the mix of woody and fresh notes
- Doesn’t smell *too* intense, per my testing
Cons
- Most expensive Chanel perfume on this list
One Cosmo editor says: "So, technically, this is often described as a men’s cologne, but obviously, gendered fragrance is so not 2023. It definitely does smell like how I imagine spokesman Timothee Chalamet smells though—woodsy, spicy, warm, sexy, IDK! Hot tip: Pair it with a lil spritz of a vanilla perfume (I love Dedcool Milk, a musky layering fragrance) to bring out some of the sweetness and depth."—BG
| Notes | Pink pepper, jasmine, cedar, sandalwood, patchouli |
| Type | Eau de parfum |
Pros
- Longest-lasting Chanel perfume I tried
Cons
- I wished it had a bit more sweetness from the vanilla note
One Cosmo editor says: "If you like the vibe of Chanel No. 5 but feel like it leans a bit too powdery and ~mature~, I highly recommend trying try Coco Noir. It has a similar patchouli-based, floral DNA but with vanilla and white musk that gives it a more sexy, going-out vibe. Pair it with diamonds, faux fur, and a classic Chanel flap for ultimate rich person energy."—BG
| Notes | Orange, geranium, jasmine, patchouli, white musk, vanilla |
| Type | Eau de parfum |
Pros
- I loved how prominent the cloves note was
- Testers love the warm, amber-y scent
Cons
- Some reviewers wished it lasted a bit longer
One Cosmo editor says: "I sniffed this and immediately stuffed it in my bag to bring home because I already know I’ll be wearing this all fall and winter. It’s warm and woodsy, which I love when the weather cools down, but it still has that fresh, clean vibe Chanel is known for that makes it feel more sophisticated and unique. I can’t really pinpoint the floral notes necessarily but can tell that this is more refined than my typical sandalwood-esque fall perfumes."—BG
| Notes | Amber, cloves, orange blossom, sandalwood, tonka bean, rose |
| Type | Eau de parfum |
Pros
- Reviewers said it’s a major compliment-getter
- I loved that nothing overpowers the floral notes
Cons
- A few testers found it smelled a bit immature
One Cosmo editor says: "Wondering what springtime in Paris smells like? I’m pretty sure it’s Gabrielle by Chanel. This fragrance is chock-full of varying floral notes that combine really seamlessly to make a soft, gardeny scent. I’m officially keeping this perfume at my desk at the office because it’s not overpowering or headache-inducing in the slightest (you’re so welcome to everyone who sits around me!)."—BG
| Notes | Jasmine, orange blossom, ylang ylang, tuberose, musk |
| Type | Eau de parfum |
Pros
- Doesn’t cloy or make my nose itch
- Reviewers love that the patchouli is softened by florals and pineapple
Cons
- A couple of testers found it a bit generic
One Cosmo editor says: "Did you also have this perfume in high school/college or were you ~not like the others~? Immediately upon smelling this again for the first time in nearly a decade, I knew what it was. It smells quite herbal and green—thanks to patchouli, jasmine, hyacinth, and iris—but has a slight hint of sweetness from pineapple. If you like a fresh scent but aren’t a big fan of dainty florals, this is def the Chanel perfume for you."—BG
| Notes | Patchouli, hyacinth, iris, jasmine, vanilla, pineapple, rose |
| Type | Eau de toilette |
How to choose the best Chanel perfume for you:
Decide on a scent family.
There’s definitely an option for everyone in Chanel’s perfume lineup. If you want a floral scent, I suggest trying Gabrielle. But if you want something more fruity and summery, you can opt for Chance Eau Fraîche, which features a mix of citrus notes that smell very fresh. Or if you want a blended, light scent, the best Chanel perfume we tested was Coco Mademoiselle, a very clean, simple fragrance.
Consider the intensity level.
Make sure you choose an eau de parfum (as opposed to an eau de toilette) if you want your scent to have a strong projection and last hours upon hours. Remember: Eau de parfums (or EDPs) have a stronger concentration of perfume oils than eau de toilettes (EDTs), which make them more powerful.
FWIW, most of my favorite Chanel perfumes were EDPs because I loved not having to worry about reapplying throughout the day. But if you prefer a lighter scent, you might like the EDT options a little bit more.
Why trust ‘Cosmopolitan’?
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with nearly eight years of experience researching, writing, and editing fragrance stories.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
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