12 Fragrances Similar to Chanel No. 5

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Chanel No. 5 has been around now for about 100 years. It’s basically the most famous perfume on the planet and is still going strong in sales, all these years later. With its popularity, have come similar scents, cheaper comparable smells, and other perfumes which are alike. In this post, I want to cover these fragrances , as potential alternatives to buying Chanel No. 5. I’ll keep it updated, as I come across more options.

Perfumes that Smell Similar to Chanel No. 5

The First Inspiration

Floral Aldehydes by Dossier– The name itself gets right to the point, about what this one is. Floral Aldehydes by Dossier is the brand’s inspired take on the classic formula.

A big blast of cooling aldehydes up top, with the light citrus, floral heart, and the powdery aspects like the Chanel has.

An eau de parfum, the performance holds up well, at least to the standards of No. 5 EDP. Perhaps not the extrait.

Does it do a good job at matching the aroma? Pretty much. Sometimes the weighting of some of the notes can be slightly off versus the designer perfume. However, at slightly less than $30 per bottle (as of posting), it’s not going to be noticeable enough to complain much.

Another Number

Antica di Roma by Fragrenza– This is another inspired take on the No. 5 style. Fragrenza is a brand that has some good offerings, and I’ve tried many of their scents, from their designer based perfumes.

However, I haven’t given Antica di Roma a go, as of yet. But, I figured that I’d put it on the list in order to present another alternative, for those who want it.

The good news is, that you can buy a 3ml sample size of this and the other perfumes that they carry, so that you can give them a full test without committing to the full bottle.

Grand Similarities

Ruby 34 by Oakcha– I’m adding this one to the list, because it is one of the more interesting inspired takes I’ve seen on a designer perfume.

Ruby 34 is based on the limited edition Baccarat Grand Extrait version of Chanel No. 5 that the brand put out for the 100th anniversary of No.5. Which, sold for tens of thousands of dollars, by the way.

Ruby 34 gives you a chance to (in theory) have a very similar experience to what you would have gotten, if you could have grabbed one of those limited edition Chanel’s.

So, this might be one to go with for a lot of people who want an updated take on the classic style.

Similar Profile, Differing Strengths

Dune By Christian Dior For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces

This Christian Dior offering, isn’t an exact match of our Chanel. It actually shares many of the same notes, but, the strength of each, is almost inverted in comparison. The floral notes are much lighter and Dune is a woodier fragrance.

Like, take the notes, and flip them around.

A lovely and elegant scent dating back to the early 1990s. It is fresh, sensual, and great for the warmer months. Dune is dry and woody with sandalwood, rosewood, and amber being the main highlights. There are spiced notes and undertones of vanilla, which keep it sweet.

Dune is a very smooth and a pretty low key scent. It doesn’t have the same intense sillage as Hypnotic Poison, but is still solid throughout. This one could be a unisex fragrance, with its woody tones, and serves as a great change of pace from the usual popular fare.

dune

Another Similar Classic from that Era

Lanvȋn Arpége Pẻrfume For Women 3.4 oz Eau De Parfum Spray – This one dates back to the earlier decades of the last century, but it has been updated and reformulated, a few times since then. The current version is a lot of floral notes, with a powdery aroma from the iris, sitting on top of sandalwood.

It’s actually kind of a powerhouse, when compared to the others on this list, and while it is pretty heavy it does have a certain cleanliness about it. Since this dates back to around the same era, as No.5, it does have a very similar classic feel. Add to the fact, that there are many of the same notes, and you’ve got a potential alternative.

You get a good amount of jasmine and ylang-ylang, but Arpege is pretty well mixed. Maybe not the most universally appealing scent on the list, but one that ranks up near the top, for a selection of the population.

Lighter, Woodier, and Still Classic

Rive Gauche By Yves Saint Laurent For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Oz
A blast from the past, this 1970s fragrance is a sure fire classic. Notes of sandalwood, oak moss, honeysuckle, gardenia, and others form an intense, clean, and powdery scent. Unique, inspiring, and long-lasting.

Aldehydes, florals, and a drier profile allow Rive Gauche to be in the approximate family of our target.

Rive Gauche has more oak moss and vetiver freshness, the same type of floral notes, just in a much lighter application.

It blends together as a powdery smell, but underneath you can pick out the floral notes such as rose and gardenia. Plus, the fresh oak moss, vetiver, and other woody elements come together to create a clean and simply sophisticated perfume. Rive Gauche Review

rivegauchew

Aldehydes with More Iris 

Hermes – Caleche – Edt Spray 1.6 Oz (New Packaging)– An aldehyde floral with a nice powdery iris note, taking the lead, within the composition. It has a powerful opening, with the iris and a nice neroli note, for a clean touch.

It softens up, as it dries down, and you’re left with an elegant vintage perfume aroma. At times, its more of a woody fragrance. Then, it will feel creamy. Then, a dry powdery scent. It’s got depth and lots in common with Chanel No. 5, though, not an exact copy. They are, close relatives, however.

Modern with a Similar Style

TOM FORD METALLIQUE 3.4oz 100ml EAU DE PERFUME– This one is different, its a floral aldehyde, with a sweeter and creamier disposition. Vanilla, sandalwood, and ambrette provide that lovely finish following the aldehyde opening act.

The floral notes are toned down and quite subtle. This Tom Ford, does have an interesting metallic finish, as the name suggests. It’s not really a one to one match at all of Chanel No. 5, but one that kind of gives you a updated twist, to this style of fragrance.

Resinous and Smoky

AMOUAGE Gold Women’s Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 Fl Oz– A smoky and resinous oriental fragrance, featuring: rose, lily, and jasmine notes. Close to Caleche, listed above, in smell.

Amouage Gold is an expensive designer fragrance, that dries down with a musky, and powdery aroma. Gets quite rosy, no aldehydes, but plenty of jasmine and some orris to add to its depth. Like a smokier and more exotic take, on Chanel No. 5.

A bit of 19, a bit of 5

Annick Goutal Heure Exquise Women’s Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce– Ok, so this Annick Goutal scent, is probably closer to Chanel No. 19. However, it’s also somewhat like No.5, as well. I’m adding this, just to give one more option. Plus, on its own, this is a gorgeous fragrance.

It’s a great vintage fragrance with hyacinth, rose, and mostly iris holding things together. It’s powdery with a fresh greeness, to its smell. Very clean with a light touch of sweetness, provided by vanilla, and sitting on top of a sandalwood base.

Old School Lancome

Climat By Lancome For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 2.5 Ounces– Another older fragrance, that I’ve only recently come across, and the resemblance to No.5 was there to my nose.

To me, this one has a soapier aroma versus being a match of our target. It’s clean and upbeat, with a muskier finish versus the same aldehydes found in Chanel. The main floral is the Lily of the Valley in comparison, but you get a bouquet and fresh woodsiness also.

I don’t think that this is the exact formulation of the older bottles, I wasn’t around in the 60s. However, this one isn’t very expensive and still has a nice quality fragrance, striking close to what we want here.

An Inexpensive Option

Nude By Bill Blass For Women. Cologne Spray 3.4 Ounces– This is an interesting one, that usually costs around $20 per bottle nowadays (though, I believe it’s out of production….so that may not last). It has elements of Chanel No.5 (I’d say closer to the EDP, than anything).

The commonalities are the aldehydes and the floral notes. Jasmine, rose, and ylang-ylang. The jasmine is noticeably toned down in the mix versus our target, while the ylang-ylang is ratcheted up. It also has a colder and sterile feeling at times.

The rosemary note is what I think separates it, in the early stages. It’s much more green/herbal than Chanel and dries down with more of a powdery aroma. Not my favorite, but certainly an option to try for cheap.

Omnia Indian Garnet by Bvlgari

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Still making my way through a bunch of sample fragrances that I have stashed around my house. For this entry, I’m going to take a closer look at a Bvlgari perfume, Omnia Indian Garnet. This was released in 2014.

Note: I have updated this page, a few times over the years.

Now, this is of course, another flanker scent from the Omnia lineup that has been so popular for this brand. How does it smell? How does it perform? Is it worth a purchase?

What does Omnia Indian Garnet Smell Like?

Notes include: tuberose, osmanthus, orange, amber, and saffron

Click here to try: Bvlgari Omnia Indian Garnet EDT Spray for Women, 2.2 Ounce

First, let’s begin with how Bvlgari describes this perfume in the sample card’s text:

Inspired by one of the world’s most magnificent gems: the Indian Mandarin Garnet. The new Omnia eau de toilette captures the magic and the sensuality of tuberose and osmanthus flowers.

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Indian Garnet is led by the osmanthus flower with support from the familiar tuberose note. I feel that this perfume is the most flower at the start and then it becomes more infused by the orange and amber.

However, before those two notes come in there is a strong saffron, which I don’t particularly enjoy in this perfume, but it is subdued after ten minutes or so of wear. It’s sort of strange because I do usually like saffron, but the mix seems off to my nose.

This Omnia scent is quite light on the skin, airy, and just sort of floats like vapor when it is worn. The dry down adds more of that citrus aroma, but it never gets super sugary or fruity sweet.

Instead, the amber and osmanthus combination keeps it interesting and unique, while feeling completely familiar. It is a pretty neat experience.

The amber and saffron keep it warm and super clean with the orange influence. If left to it’s own devices, I think that the orange note would evaporate completely, but with the amber the citrus is kept grounded.

The citrus isn’t super juicy or sweet, just that clean and bright feeling, with a really good amber note. Orange is the main attraction throughout, but the pairings with other notes sort of rotate, as it moves itself along.

Omnia Indian Garnet isn’t the typical citrus fragrance. You get a distinct warmth, periods of soapiness, creaminess, and some woodsy spice. It isn’t an overly complicated or deep scent, but it does have enough personality to be rather distinct.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, this is a very soft fragrance. I don’t think that it’s weak per se, rather, just not heavy and as I wrote above, airy.

It’s got a soapy quality to it. You’ll notice that it is still on the skin, but it isn’t going to fill up a room, or be a consistent powerhouse.

The longevity is by no means amazing but it is solid, in the 5-7 hour range, on my skin. Good, but not great. Still, if you’re looking for a beast, this isn’t going to be the one.

A lot of Bvlgari scents seem to fall into this category, with their performances. This doesn’t change that trend.

Seasonally, I’d say that Omnia Indian Garnet is best used in the warmer months of the year. Not that it’d be bad in the cold weather, but it would really shine when the temperatures rise.

Which is odd, because it does have that warm feeling to it, but its lightness, doesn’t let it get bogged down in the heat. It’s a decent change of pace from many other aquatic or super fruity perfumes that get brought out in the summer.

I’d call this a casual or everyday fragrance. It smells nice but isn’t particularly sexy to me. It’s something to be worn at work or just around town on a sunny day. Casual to semi-formal.

Overall Impressions of Indian Garnet

Overall, do I like Indian Garnet? It’s nice, but I’m not blown away by it. This is one for those who love orange based perfumes with florals. This is a very clean fragrance, non-offensive, and has some nice daily versatility.

Omnia Indian Garnet is a good addition to the Bvlgari lineup and has a pleasant and sort of soapy aroma, that is a solid choice for plenty of women. There are definitely better options from Bvlgari and from the Omnia line, as well.

The citrus and amber is usually a nice combination and it does work here. I don’t know what the deal with the saffron is, but it’s not too distracting.

However, just for what it is, this is a solid wear. If it sounds appealing to you and you can get a good price, Indian Garnet, would be a fine buy. Not a total mass appeal scent, though, it doesn’t offend either.

Update: I’m pretty sure that this perfume is discontinued. It’s even not widely available at the moment, on the secondary market. So, I don’t think most people will be getting an amazing deal, if they want to try Indian Garnet.

Toy Boy by Moschino

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Toy Boy has been gaining popularity since its release back in 2019, as such it’s time for a full testing and review by me. Honestly, I was kind of put off by the dumb name, and the fragrance contained in the little bear bottle.

Nevertheless, it was time to give it a go. As usual, I will cover how it smells, performs, when it can be worn, and if this Moschino fragrance is worth a purchase.

What does Moschino Toy Boy Smell Like?

Notes include: pear, nutmeg, bergamot, rose, clove, magnolia, pink pepper, vetiver, sandalwood, musk, and more

Click here to try: MOSCHINO Toy Boy Eau De Parfume Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

After the initial spray, I was struck by how different this fragrance felt versus the typical men’s cologne. I pick up on a light bergamot note and very nice pear. It feels juicy and has that citrus touch, which gives Toy Boy a bit of vibrance.

All of this is contained within, the embrace of the rose, magnolia, and pink pepper notes. I’m not a big fan of rose, so I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this all that much, but I do.

The rose here is very different than what is found in something like Dunhill Desire, it’s got a ‘green’ aroma, is flanked by magnolia and the growing presence of vetiver.

The rose is closer to that found in Burberry Brit, though, that’s where the comparisons between these two fragrances ends.

The spice in the Burberry is more pronounced than in this Moschino.

It’s got a light spiciness lurking in the background throughout the wear, but never really hits you over the head with it. Pink pepper and some nutmeg. I don’t personally detect the supposed clove note, that’s in here.

There’s not too much change on my skin from this Moschino cologne. It really blends together well. I’d say, that I get more musk and vetiver, as it dries down. Those are joined by pear and this greenish wild rose. A bit of wood sprinkled in there, with the other notes seeming like one mass.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Toy Boy doesn’t have massive sillage. Though, I think that it sneaks up on you. Initially, I thought this was a lighter fragrance, but I kept getting strong whiffs from it throughout the day. It’s not a monster, but you could potentially overspray it.

Update: The more that I wear Toy Boy and also applying it to clothes/fabrics, the strong that I think the sillage is. I’ve bumped it up a few points on my scoring.

On my skin, it lasts right around 8 hours. Not elite, but for the price, this stuff delivers some great value. No real complaints with how this scent performs.

Update: I can sometimes get this EDP to stretch out to 9 hours of wear, but it’s pretty consistent with that 8 hour mark. 

Seasonally, I think that I’d like to wear it more in the springtime. However, I wore it outside on a chilly winter day, and it was actually extremely pleasant. I probably wouldn’t go with this during the summer, but any other time is fine.

 

I know the bottle and the name scares some people off from trying this, but it really isn’t a teenager’s sort of fragrance. Yes, younger guys can absolutely wear this, but it would fit well with any age group.

It does have a unisex and floral aroma, so, it’s not going to be for everyone. To me, the floral notes are great and don’t distract at all. Toy Boy is an attractive aroma that will probably draw plenty of complements. It’s safe for work, casual, dates, semi-formal occasions, etc. 

Really, it’ll come down to how you feel about the smell, as this one has plenty of performance and versatility. It does stand out from the crowd and I’ve been loving using this one as a change of pace versus my other fragrances.

Overall Impressions of Toy Boy by Moschino

Do I like this scent? Yes, I do. The more that I wear it, the more that my esteem for it grows. I’m not that impressed with it, if I press my nose closer to my skin. It’s just the aroma cloud that surrounds me, smells really good. 

The performance is solid, the price is right, and it brings something different to the table in a world of Sauvage knock-offs.

Again, not everyone is going to like this nor will it fit with the style of every man. Toy Boy is a scent that you’ve got to try out before you commit. 

I was skeptical going in, but I thoroughly enjoyed wearing this fragrance. I’m for sure going to finish out this mini bottle and decide whether or not I want a full one.  

I’m not sure that I’d call this one a safe blind buy, as it such a floral scent. But, it does certainly seem to have a mass appeal and isn’t all that pricey, so I can’t imagine being super bummed out by it. This is a great release from Moschino, after so many that were just ‘decent’. 

Curve Crush for Men by Liz Claiborne

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In this review, I want to take a closer look at Curve Crush for Men by Liz Claiborne. I recently picked up a mini bottle with an order, to give it a fair shot, and see how it stacked up versus the other Curve fragrances.

I didn’t know that there was also a women’s version available also. But, this men’s cologne was released by the brand in 2004.

Note: I’ve updated this page since the initial posting.

I’ve worn it around, for a few days, and collected my thoughts about this scent. How does is smell? What’re the notes? How does it perform? Is it actually worth a purchase?

What does Curve Crush Smell Like?

Notes include: apple, mandarin, cedar, geranium, and amber

Click here to try: Curve Crush for Men Cologne Spray, 4.2 Fl. Oz.

My Full Review

Curve Crush opens up with a fruity presentation of orange and apple notes at the top. These two are given the shine for about 10 minutes or so before the cedar really starts to come on strong and assert itself.

That opening ten minutes brings to mind the style of Nautica Blue, with a detergent/shower gel clean, but that fragrance is much sharper and harsh than is Crush. It clear early on, that this isn’t a higher end cologne, but it does a better job than many others at this price.

The wood note is what brings this cologne together and kind of dominates. It’s pretty unusual to have cedar be this dominant of a note, in most fragrances, particularly those designed for young men. But, it isn’t that uncommon in freshie body washes and the like.

Beyond that, Crush stays fairly linear and simple. However, there is a sweet and warm amber note, that surrounds the main ingredients. There is also a earthy and spicy geranium, that really makes itself apparent for the first hour or so, and kind of fades thereafter.

Again, very simple scent. What you get is cedar with mandarin orange and a lighter apple. Plus, the amber. Very clean, with a shower gel vibe. This one is woody with citrus undertones, when these will usually be flipped the other way.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage is moderate for a bit, then quite airy and light. This one only projects itself a few feet from the skin, it’s very low key. I didn’t expect this to be a powerhouse based on the notes and the other offerings by Liz Claiborne.

The power that it does have, will fall of usually in 30 minutes or so after application. After that, it’s a pretty intimate scent bubble.

The longevity, however, is pretty darn good for how inexpensive Crush is. I can get it to last 6-7 hours on my skin, at times. Others, it’ll go for about 5. Not bad. There are plenty of higher end designer scents that don’t last as long as this one.

Seasonally, Curve Crush seems to fit in the mild to warmer temperatures. It doesn’t feel at all like a wintertime scent, but it’d still perform just fine. This is a fragrance for teenage boys.

I liked the smell well enough, but it doesn’t fit me at all, in my early 30s. It’s one of those inexpensive starter colognes, that young guys can wear on a daily basis. Maybe up to college age, if you need something super affordable, but you can do better than this.

Not professional or a nightlife wear, pretty much just casual or something to wear to class, and skews to the younger crowd.

Overall Impressions of Curve Crush

Overall, do I like Curve Crush? It’s okay. I mean, barely okay, but I can tolerate it for a while.

I still like the original Curve, much better than this one. It’s a clean and inoffensive scent, that has good performance for cheap. The cedar and fruit mix is pretty good, but not amazing.

There’s nothing really that stands out about Crush. It’ll give you a very workmanlike performance and a decent, though mostly forgettable aroma.

However, this Liz Claiborne scent, wouldn’t be a bad choice for middle or high school aged young men. It’s wearable and not going to dominate a room.

There’s plenty of colognes worse than this, but also others that are much better at the same time. It’s not one of the best inexpensive men’s fragrances. The most positive thing about it, is the price level. But, all Claiborne offerings are like this, and many are better.

Eros Pour Femme EDT by Versace

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Going through the samples of many different fragrance to do a review on, I have today, another entry from Versace. This is one for women, named, Eros Pour Femme Eau de Toilette. It was released in 2016.

As usual, I will cover how it smells, what’s inside, how it performs, when it should be worn, and even if it’s worth a purchase. Please continue below for my full wear take on this edition of Eros.

What does Eros Pour Femme EDT Smell Like?

Notes include: lemon, mandarin, raspberry sorbet, white currant, freesia, magnolia, jasmine, orange blossom, ambrox, wood, patchouli, and musk

Click here to try: Versace Eros Pour Femme Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounce

Full Wear Review

This is a review of the eau de toilette version of Eros which was released after the popular EDP and so it’s quite a different composition. This Eros Pour Femme opens with a sharp lemon and orange which pairs with a cold raspberry sorbet.

The iciness of the sorbet reminds me of the cold lemon note in the men’s Versace cologne, Eau Fraiche. It is a very fresh and crisp aroma that has an underlying floral accord playing a support role to those three fruits.

After about 10 minutes, the citrus tartness drops significantly, and the perfume is solely headed by the raspberry sorbet. It’s sweet and sugary and the floral notes that I pick up are mainly the freesia and jasmine.

Musk and patchouli are there but along with the wood, serve merely as a base to hold things together.

Later, magnolia makes a stronger appearance and I can also get the impression of orange blossom, but it’s kind of hidden underneath the raspberry and lemon aroma.

In the end, you’re going to be left with a raspberry-centered perfume with citrus flanking it while sitting on a bed of flowers. It’s cheerful and uplifting.

It can be an experience like a cold lemonade blend at times, with a sugar rush, but then the layers of floral, ambroxan, and wood notes hold the hold thing together.

The base notes give Eros EDT some actual substance. That icy raspberry is definitely my favorite part. Definitely a pleasant experience and one that really works well, within this sort of sweet summertime scent context.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it can be strong in the right climate, more so when the humidity is low. To me, it’s not a sillage bomb, but it could easily be over-sprayed. It really doesn’t take that much to be effective. This is true for the first couple of hours with Eros EDT.

While it has a rather strong sillage, I didn’t find the longevity to be all that great. Not that it was poor, but I think I got about 5-6 solid hours out of it, and maybe a little bit longer as a weakened skin scent.

It was kind of strange to start with that kind of power, and then peter out, but it could’ve just been my chemistry with it. ( update: I’ve tried it out again, after this initial review posted, and same results).

The men’s Eros releases have been such beasts when they were brought to market, that I would’ve thought you would’ve gotten the same with Pour Femme. But, nope.

Seasonally, Eros Pour Femme just screams sunny days and warm weather. Late spring into the summertime, is when this feels most at home. It is also a versatile fragrance that can be worn casually, at the office (if lightly sprayed), and even for more formal occasions.

Mostly, it’s a daily wear with a bit more personality than the usual fare, that gets sprayed on.

Is it sexy? As a man, I find it really attractive, not in a seductive way…but I think it’s really ‘pretty’ and would definitely love smelling this on a lady. Because of that, Eros could venture into the nightlife, and garner plenty of complements.

The freshness and sweetness of the fruity notes, really do draw you in, and are a joy to be around. It’s a very upbeat and just generally lovely perfume to smell in the air.

Overall Impressions of Eros Pour Femme

Overall, do I like Eros Pour Femme Eau de Toilette? Yes, I like it a lot. The raspberry and lemon combo is great, like, I cannot get enough of that aroma. The floral notes are great as supporting elements, but never take over the composition as a whole.

I’ve also reviewed Eros EDP, but I like this one a lot more.

It is versatile and gives a good enough performance to make it a decent value. Eros is balanced, has a sunny presentation, and just puts out a positive vibe.

It’s a very nice fragrance. Eros gives you a candy-like scent, without going overboard with a sugary heaviness/stickiness feeling.

This is a really good choice for women, who live in a tropical climate, or just want something seasonally that will smell fantastic.

The longevity could be better, but isn’t terrible, especially for a fruity summer wear. If you’re not into fruity/citrus fragrances with a big dose of sweetness, this one won’t be for you.