Chanel No 19 Parfum Chanel for women

My incomprensibly kind friend Sarah sent me a dabber of '80s vintage No. 19, and it's sooooo gorgeously green that I want to elope to Ireland with it, or maybe the Hebrides. This is Green! with a capital g, and just about the most elegant chypre-like floral I have ever smelled. The opening galbanum note is a little leathery-mossy, and it must keep the glorious floral midnote section from getting too hysterical. I don't have another perfume that reminds me of this exactly, but vintage Estee and Private Collection seem to be in the same family, with perhaps a frisson of Cacharel Anaïs Anaïs to impart a bit of that mossy forest floor feeling. The narcissus in particular sings on my skin. I wish more contemporary fragrances could smell this beautiful, but I guess IFRA has been hell on the chypres. More's the pity!

At the end of last year, I purchased a brand new 14ml bottle of Chanel Nº19, pure parfum/extrait version, probably from the late 80s.

In one word? DIVINE.

It is very similar to the EDP, but even more lively, intense, concentrated and rich.

While the green opening of EDP's galbanum only lasts a few minutes, in the extrait it lasts forever: an extremely green, fresh and cold aroma. It's as if they've condensed all the mountains, valleys and forests of Scotland into a tiny bottle (anyone who's watched 'Outlander' series knows what I mean).

The iris here is absurd: I have never felt this note so pure, so intense, it's difficult to even transcribe the sensation. It is dense, powdery, sober, buttery, creamy, and noble.

Longevity? Eternal. Even the sillage is good for an Extract, just a few drops and I can feel it emanate its aura.

Nº19 Extract is a work of ART.
It's a perfume so majestic, SO RICH that I feel "unworthy" of wearing it. This one lives up to its reputation as the "Ice Queen", "cold heart" perfume, as it conveys that aura of power and wealth. It's the perfume of someone like Miranda Priestly from "The Devil Wears Prada": always impeccable and elegant, never raises her voice, never shouts, but her presence, her authority is unquestionable.

So elegant, last so long and smells fresh. Must try, really like wearing it!

I cannot believe I waited to try this so long! I believed the old talk that it's a "bitchy" green fragrance, and I feared that it would be too bitter and grassy, like some challenging green chypres from the same period that I struggle to wear. This is not a bitter grassy galbanum like Weil de Weil, Molinard de Molinard, Bandit, etc. The galbanum is just fresh, accompanied by a stunningly smooth oakmoss, and the best iris in the business. The other Chanel florals are there (rose and jasmine in particular), but the overall impression to me is a gorgeous green iris.

To be fair, my bottles are a parfum and EdC that seem to date from the 70s. It's possible they've lost some of the bitter green quality overtime, but they seem to be mostly intact and agree with each other. I was afraid at first that the parfum I received was damaged. It was not sealed and unfortunately, it was delivered to me after being on a truck in 107 degree heat all day. It leaked badly because no care was taken to prevent that. I was so disappointed at first between the leakage and the sort of musty vegetable scent that greeted me at first. I set it aside, feeling irritable about a bad sale.

But over the next few days, something remarkable happened. Every time I would go upstairs in my home, I smelled a heavenly fresh green floral. Powdery, but rich. I kept thinking the scent was coming from another sample I'd sprayed on a bit of paper. But when I smelled the paper up close, I realized that scent didn't have the same character and sillage. I shuffled through the box the No 19 came in thinking, "There's no way." But the incredible scent was coming from the bag where the parfum had leaked and dried a bit. It was radiating throughout my upper landing and office and it was just the most gorgeous iris I've ever smelled. I placed that bag in my lingerie drawer as a sachet. The parfum in the bottle recovered as well, and it is a revelation.

I am lucky to find 15ml.parfum version of this,
2019 batch, new and seal for usd 15 from Japanese vintage good shop.

I tried this because I tired all other rendition of that “green iris” scent, I end with 28 La Pausa. I buy this because I want to know absolute rendition of no. 19, the ultimate form.

God, holy green. This is THE Green fragrance.
Strong in Orris but the white flower is also beautiful and Galbanum is fresh green grass.

I sad, because this wear very close to the skin.
But it is truly separate and cold.
And I have to cherish this 15 ml.
I do not want it to run out.

Don’t brother seeks other rendition.
Go parfum.

My all time favorite. It’s aloof, austere, and chic. The burst of intoxicating green scents in the opening mixes with a cool, crisp vibe that is brash and divine. As it settles it turns into a classy mix of powder, oakmoss, and light rose. This isn’t for everyone but those who want to experience something different and unique should check this out. It’s elegant, sophisticated, and extremely versatile! Whenever I need to feel like myself, I reach for No. 19 Parfum.

The scent of springtime green; this embodies all of the bright, dewy, and earthy facets of greenery coming to life in the rising warmth of the spring.
Starts off a touch spicy with the galbanum, becomes a spicy green & white floral at the heart, eventually pares down to a woody and lightly earthy base.
Not a major projector, really have to lean in to catch a sniff. Lasts for around 8 hrs on my skin.
Best suited in the warmer months.

I adore no.19, I think it is far prettier then it's more famous sister no.5. It is green loveliness, smells classy, expensive but in no way offensive. Is it a little dated, yes but a classic, great for the office, lunch, party a versatile scent, some might describe it as a spring scent but I think it can be worn anytime of the year. I am so glad it is back in my collection. Love it.

One of my favourite scents, if not my favourite, and in a league of its own. If you like oakmoss, earthy iris & galbanum you'll like Number Nineteen. This is the perfume Chanel was wearing when she was stopped by a couple of young American men on leaving the Hotel Ritz in Paris, who asked her what perfume she was wearing...at first she was irritated at having been stopped but then quite glad that she, as an old lady, had drawn the attention of two young men.

Number Nineteen always reminds me of a guy I knew who wore this back in 1985. It's class in a bottle...smells completely modern, up-to-date & relevant. Totally fabulous. Totally unisex. Aloof. Chic. Understated. French.

Many, many moons ago my boyfriend gifted me a bottle of the parfum for Xmas. It was instantly glorious - galbanum and iris - cool, strong, chypre magnificence, a small amount lasting for 2 days. Always worked better on me than the EdT. At some point I stopped wearing it. Only recently I got myself a small bottle of the vintage stuff. Alas the top notes had turned... not galbanum but more ammoniac civet but the heart and base notes remain intact and riding that magic line between floral and chypre - greenest floral forest - half autumn, half-spring. I don't know why I stopped wearing it!

This is what I imagine visiting an arboretum with a botanical garden nearby in the morning after rainfall smells like. It’s this dewy, green, woodsy, earthy, white floral smell that I’m enchanted by. Although it says for women I feel like this could also be worn by a man. I don’t think I could pull this off for an everyday wear, so not sure if I’ll get a full bottle but I’m very tempted !

Oh the green juice! This scent opens up green and quickly dries down to a lovely musky green jasmine. My 87 year old mother always had a bottle on her dresser and would always let me share it. So this is the smell of my first date, my prom, even my wedding. This EDP still smells as fresh and green 45 years later. Number 19 has never had a huge sillage. It sits close to the skin and is intimate. That said, I constantly get asked 'what smells so good?' and I can smell it on my clothes days after. So I have to say this smells like my skin only better. I think that is often the case with Chanel perfumes and that is the beauty. It smells like you only better. This scent is playful, but oh so classy. This is romantic but cold. Friendly but aloof. Earthy but proper. All of this talk of discontinued is silly. Offerings my change, a line may be paired down but the Chanel No19 of today is still the Chanel No19 of yesterday. No need to search out a vintage bottle get it directly online from the source.

@Jacklyn's Perfumery - No.19 is not being discontinued. I spoke to someone at Chanel last week, about something else, but I asked if Poudre was being discontinued because I heard that it was from a Macy's SA a few months ago. I was told Poudre was going to be discontinued but that all the other flankers would still be available but that they were just having production and supply side issues. The same thing is happening with every business right now. I have a friend who is opening a restaurant and can't because she is waiting for one necessary item but can't get it. Someone else I know is waiting for a computer chip for her car for 7 months now. Anyway, this is not the forum, but I just thought that you and everyone else who thinks this perfume is going to be discontinued should know the truth and not worry needlessly. Besides, even if it was discontinued, (which it's not), there are still millions of bottles floating around out there, both new and vintage.

In my youth I was an unabashed naturalistic earth mother tree hugger hiker type and most Chanel fragrances were simply too cerebral for me. My love for No. 19 has come with maturity, the recognition that sometimes you want to smell heavenly green, but in a cool, abstract way that doesn’t invite intimacy. Chanel No. 19 isn’t saying “Snuggle in.” This tree isn’t gonna hug you back. I wear it in summer, especially when I want to brace myself up for an external challenge. It’s the fragrance of the imperturbable and unattainable.

I recently purchased a fairly new bottle bottle of the parfum & I can only imagine how this magisterial fragrance has been modified over the last 5 decades. But nonetheless, I’m certain my “modern version” is for this time just beautiful, lovely & transcendent compared to the banal offerings of todays trends & standards. I pick up the most amazingly dewy, pink & ozonic rose I’ve ever smelled. Boozy, green, fresh. This is how a Goddess smells. Thank you Chanel!

want this so bad

Chanel No. 19 Parfum (1970) - green iris - #henrirobert created a perfume for #cocochanel ‘s birthday that is polar opposite vs. No. 5. Whereas, No. 5 is warm and joyous, No. 19 is cold & steely. Cut-grass Galbanum, earthy Iris, Oakmoss supported by white florals and sandalwood. The vintage Parfum is rounded and full-bodied, where I dont get any green sharpness but more Iris on a bed of moss. I also get more complexity ranging from waxy aldehydes until earthy patchouli.

I bought an almost empty bottle of the pure perfume. I am not sure how to tell old it is, but it’s certainly not new. The liquid is amber colored, not green.

Boy, this is the green fragrance to end all green fragrances. I inhale deeply at the drop on my wrists and I feel like I’ve just cut a bunch of stems off of a white bouquet. Lovely.

This isn’t a review yet, but I just purchased a vintage purse spray (7.5 ml) in the silver canister that is mostly full off eBay. Can’t wait to experience this, will update this once it arrives and I get to smell it’s beauty.

UPDATE 08/19 - It arrived. Excuse my language but holy shit.

This is...this is...a masterpiece. I’m almost speechless but I’ll try to get a hold of myself. I can’t find a lot of information about when the purse spray was discontinued, but I really wish I could buy a backup/refill for this. It almost brought me to tears. This might be THE green fragrance. Not to go into too much description, because I don’t know that I’ll do it justice AND there are others on here that have written more eloquent veering into poetic reviews for this. But it’s amazing.

The juice is dark, like cognac. But the scent is like white flowers, and freshly smashed stems from those flowers. Those stems and fragrant flowers were mixed up into a bowl that had been sprinkled with body powder and set out on the porch around 2/3 pm on a sunny day.

I used to grow jasmine and I can smell it, but there’s so much more. It’s like the EDT, but absolutely more refined and I don’t know...with a twist.

I sprayed it on my wrists several minutes ago, maybe about 20 now. And I can smell it as I type this. Like, really well. I just keep getting strong wafts of it without searching.

I’m sad that I won’t be able to wear this much as it’s so gorgeous I’d love this be my signature. But due to its rarity, the cost of a new parfum, and the performance of the newer EDT...I must admire it and only save it for special occasions or when my mood is desperate for it.

I’m so happy I took the plunge. I’m only sad that it has to be cherished. But that’s ok, this deserves it.

🥀

Agree with L'Homme Vert -- Heaven, masterpiece, lovely, romantic.... words can't describe... just beautitul.
If you haven't tried this - do it. It's amazing. I can't even put into words how gorgeous this is.....

~HEAVEN~ in a bottle, iris, neroli & galbanum on steroids... I was gifted a parfum tester from a friend who happened to have owned a parfumerie in Brisbane Australia back in the early to late seventies, the juice was the colour of a deep brassy verdant green and quite oily to the touch also extremely concentrated (1st formula), that 59ml.bottle lasted for about 5 years, not the lime green thin fizzy lolly water on offer now. I was 20 back then and remember visiting the boutique often, sadly my friend relocated back to Sweden, so many bargains to be had, all of those Guerlain extraits with their beige silk sealing cords and plenty of No.22 parfum as well, those were the days to be sure & never to pass this way again. "une telle tragedie"
PS.
The original formula was much richer, darker & not as cold hearted and sharp as the more modern iterations... My favorite CHANEL in extrait/parfum, absolute perfection

An iconic/ aloof/ hissing and venomous green chypre of a fragrance that beckons admiration but only from afar. The anti-thesis of the voluptuously powdery rose-jasmine No. 5, this fragrance is for a woman now characterized by angularity and prismatic sharpness, like a crone, still beautiful but now older and "more handsome" -- even butch. Feminine still, but almost heartless.

Ideal for those that want to project elegance tinged with masked steeliness and severity.

Ironically, this works as a beautiful masculine scent, once you get past the Chanel DNA. The eau de toilette is greener and less dense, and more suitable for men.

Highly recommended and a masterpiece!

The parfum is quite brutal. Brilliantly executed cold brutality. There is serious greeness that hits you like a sledgehammer. The edp is gentle in comparison. I have never smelled anything like it, and though i cant inagine an occassion to wear this i think I have to have this in my collection.

If serial killers wear Secretions Magnifiques, malignant narcissistic CEOs wear this!

Vintage 80's bottle. The severe galbanum opening, the warmth of the flowers, the vetiver and moss combo with the soapy powdery musk; this is not a crowd pleaser but to me, a masterpiece.
It evokes a strong and assertive character, austere and distant yet there is a human side, like someone that is thinking and contemplating life.

Reviewing a late ‘80’s bottle of Parfum bought on eBay, half an ounce (about 14 mls). Snipped the delicate string and twisted the top off with a slight shudder of trepidation. The box had been sealed, thankfully the Parfum is exquisite, yeasty green, airy, profound...a dab on the hand to quench my intense curiosity has rewarded me with 5 hours of intense pleasure. Just superb.

mon préféré c'est l'extrait de parfum, très concentré, tenue impeccable, classic, frais, classe, chic, mixte; cher mais en vaut la peine; n'incommode aucunement

So if you look up old advertisements some of the bottles say perfume and some say parfum. My question is does any one know if the bottled labeled perfume are the samw juice as the parfum extrait? Thanks

I managed to acquire several vintage bottles of this parfum. I do not know how to date the ones in the blue plastic purse spray containers of which I have two, one of which is a demo bottle. I have two very old splash bottles as well. These two ancient splash bottles smell the same as each other, they are both fresh without even a hint of agedness. One of the splash bottles is a 1972, 28ml bottle. The original formulation, although around 50 years old, is still good, whole and fresh. I also have a bottle of recent EDP. The oldest one seems to get down to mid and base notes immediately (Maybe a sign of its age?), I personally do not detect any galbanum in an obvious way. It is beautiful to my nose, deep, complex and woodsy-floral and it clearly has strong base notes of civet and musk. I also get very clear Lily of the Valley. There is high quality rose and also jasmine in the mix, aside from a beautiful iris and vetiver. It is more mossy, misty woodland with some flowers with deer running around than freshly-mown lawn.

When I smell the modern EDP, I get hit very hard in the face with galbanum, you do not get that with the vintage parfum at all. Perhaps age diminishes the top notes, although I do get neroli absolute in all of the bottles. The younger vintages, which I am going to guess are from the early 1980s, have a much stronger blast of iris and I can detect some galbanum and sandalwood, vetiver and rose. The drydown is different too, more leathery, whereas the older one is more wet, mossy floral and animal maybe it has some ambergris in it, who knows? To me they are entirely unisex. I have not ever tried a contemporary version as I have spent all my budget right now on the older ones, and I am glad I did because they are astonishingly beautiful treasures. Get one if you can!

I just searched below and found my first ever review wtitten here on fragrantica, yes, it was about this phenomenal little bottle which I got on 4th Nov 2011. Wow, 9 years ago. Still have that tiny amount on the bottom of the bottle and just decided to finish it off. Same feelings about the scent, maybe with the time it got even stronger. Best ever green chypre fragrance. No need to repeat all the previous comments, they describe it very well, this is stand out beauty. Some people say it is made for cold natured women, no, I would say if you have the courage to wear it, then wear it. No19 in its pure perfume form is a statement, you decide what statement it could be.

Divine, just impeccable.

Nuttier, sappier, warmer, rosier, with a tinge of sweetness. Has the Chanel phlegm. Achingly aristocratic and as I’ve referred to in my review for the vintage edt, nothing comes close.

Where the lesser concentrations focus on more vetiver than galbanum, this one (28 ml dab) has the superior grade of balsam not anymore found in the newer iterations. You can also feel the caress of that suede. Iris not anymore wistful but rounds off the composition with its powdery bite.

It also has a wonderul soapy facet which I find endearing and maybe some aldehyde kick to it.

Bring back the golden colored 19!

Edit: I have now a 35ml parfum tester of which is colored green instead of the golden vintage. This reformulation smells soapier, sparklier but not better. It’s also more femme and translates quite in sillage while the resinous vintage prefers to be swayed by the wind for you to smell it. Still beautiful but this seems to be made up to synergize with the Les Exclusif feels in exchange for its original concept. Also stays on clothes longer, I guess it has become more floral than green…

Very green very green chypre, may lead people to think of Pierre Balmain in 1947, produced Vent Vert. This is a similar personality and CoCo Chanel perfume, people Nanyijiejin. It is not heartless, but alienated, which is bitter as she grew up in aubazine those days, that was cold. I carefully smell No.19, then I found daffodils, what a coincidence! The story of Narcissus, almost made me believe No.19 is the incarnation of Coco Chanel, her love yourself. No.5 was perfect, I never would associate it with Coco, No. 5 is the dream of the perfect woman, No.19 is Gabrielle, is that sharp, arrogant girl. I felt a little tenderness in Base notes, is real .

If you really want to appreciate the best things in life, you better confront yourself with the magisterial Chanel 5 and Chanel 19. In its Parfum concentration; otherwise you won’t really be able to get it as high as it can rise above the mortals.
Although these two had the faith to continually be accessible to the entire world, and not only to a limited channel like the other four Chanel’s jewels of very matching majesty – Chanel 22, Cuir de Russie, Bois des Iles and Gardenia – still the two stand high up there as much as the latter four. Clearly these are for me the six that define Chanel before anything when it comes to having a defined perfume signature. From these, only Chanel 19 is born from a different father, and not created by Ernest Beaux, like the mentioned big 5 were (together with many other long vanished). Note – Ernest Beaux has already passed by more than a decade when Chanel 19 is launched
Chanel 19 has a poetic, nature-longing, grounded personality. Its virtually immaterial softness is not exactly above the clouds, it is just not heaven sent, it is rooted, earthly. Nowhere else I find the same finesse in dealing with “floral” and “green” without falling to either side? Chanel 19 watches from above, walks on the wire without ever missing a step, and refuses to be too much of anything; it is this finesse that makes it a masterpiece. Let's not forget that it is with Chanel 19 that the holly signature of using May rose and jasmine from GrasseI is kept untouched, in this case by Henri Robert... before him all fragarnces were made by Ernest Beaux alone - all! - so it is this the moment where a second person makes the decision "this is the heart of a Chanel perfume, and should reamain this way".
I picture Chanel 19 as a sort of green-mousse-powder being dust over the rose and the jasmine, the sort of material that appears in dreams, looks whiter than green to the eyes, yet feels greener than white to the touch.
Just like for Chanel’s style in fashion, no matter how excessively accessorized it might get at times, it is never out of balance.
Chanel 19 and Chanel’s fashion are not about less is more. Chanel is not as much about the quantity; as it is about the quality.

My sister-in-law gave me a mini 1970s pure parfum that was part of a gift set my brother had given to her when they were dating. Prior to this I had tried the vintage edt and wasn't crazy about it. I thought it beautiful and earthy but there was something that I found uncomfortable about it, a soapiness midway through that feels out of place and is like a jolt in the progression of an otherwise smooth fragrance.
Now the pure parfum is a different story. This is earthy, mossy, woodsy, subtly floral, lightly powdery, and all smooth as silk. Truly perfection in a bottle that gives me a very serene feeling. Remarkable how perfumes can affect your mood.

Edit - the performance of the vintage is phenomenal. 4 dabs and this lasted from early morning until late at night with gorgeous trailing silage. If you are going to get a parfum, try to get a vintage. It is so potent that this little bottle should last me the rest of my life.

If you like the true earthy smell, try get a vintage (dark brown colour juice) Extrait P. M. Version, the vintage one smells so earthy and charming; while later versions, for example 2000’s yellow juice or today’s light yellow juice version, you got some earthy with more white flowers. It’s like a goddess to a fairy.

However, note that vintage Extrait may have some issue about basenote, you may find it lack of that dynamic sweet flower with amber smell after 2 hours of applying. While the newer versions stay on skin and last longer (maybe it is because newer versions' reformulation or simply some of old bottles' ingredient volatilized).

Extrait P. M.
Pro: truly earthy like goddess.
Con: doesn't have newer versions' long lasting flowery amber dry down.

Newer version Parfum
Pro: emphasis on white flower(Jasmine and Neroli) which make this fragrance more feminine and last on skin longer.(even after you wash the body, the amber scent of the base will still last, which is definitely a magic).
Con: it's not coco style.

Chanel No. 19 reminds me of a woody-green version of Gres Cabochard; one without the deeper tabac wood. . . more floral greenery. . more sparkly and fresh, but familiar all the same.

While finding it harder to acquire an authentic, reasonably priced No. 19 on Ebay, I am content with Cabocard, which comes so close to No. 19 when combined/layered with a citrus/lime-based fragrance.

wendyladywj, I've never seen aldehydes included for No. 19 on any site,, including Chanel. The combination of notes does certainly have an aldehydic vibe, but that's just the magic of perfumery.

I have the extrait. It starts quite sharp. It is an assertive scent with sparkling aldehydes grounded by iris and vetiver. It is beautiful. It is confident. It is crisp with an underlying earthy but not sweet floral loveliness. I wore it the day I paid my property taxes this year! How do you add aldehydes to the notes on this site?

Chanel no 19 is a true Emerald Dream, a jewel in a dark forest, resting on a bed of the softest moss, shimmering in the sunlight that filters through leafy branches and fragrant pine trees. It is everything I want in a perfume, mouthwatering galbanum that smells of spring, vetiver that fills your lungs with cool air fresh from the woods, and iris… soft, powdery iris. 

This review is for the vintage extract, and for me it is also a nostalgic blast from the 70s past. I was a little girl and the aloof and fascinating scent of Chanel no 19 enveloped some of my mother's friends (she herself was surrounded by a golden cloud of Joy). 

So what about the current formulation? On the surface it is a lot like the vintage versions, and still very good. I wouldn’t be unhappy if somebody gifted me a bottle. (My husband gave me the current no 19 EdP for my birthday, and it is a very good companion for a busy day on the run.) 

But for the pure transformative beauty of an enchanted forest, or (slightly more prosaically) for a sophisticated, powdery, warm and magical perfume, the vintage extrait is the one.

Anyone who professes any interest in the history of perfumes needs to smell vintage versions of the parfum and the EDT. Both are works of art that disclose slightly changing facets of this masterpiece. For me the green/iris leathery weighting of the EDT wins out most times, but never underestimate the transcendent beauty of the pure parfum designed to be enjoyed by thoses who get close to you. I wear the vintage EDT most of all - sorry to get all YouTubey, but this is the scent that really does turn heads, get compliments, starts conversations. I've not had a single person ever twig that this is "notionally" a women's scent.

From my experience having used one-fifth of the perfume the fragrance is not best described as appealing. It is quite strong. It has a power to create a space between you and the surrounding air; it is slightly bullying. That is why I only dap once and using its cap put it on my wrists and on the body. Over time the use of the cap on my skin contributed to the appearance of a little haziness of the fragrance inside the bottle, but I found for myself that this isn’t contamination of the liquid, but a different development, which also helps me to be sure I cannot contribute to the development of an allergy to this fragrance in others who use it and forward, to myself.
For me the time of year to wear this fragrance is the winter and the early spring, by which use one also helps prepare nature for the development of the rose, the trees with their moss, the herbs. My impression was always for a full fragrance, never for individual notes, but their description on this web page is done, as I just thought, in order to help some consumers orient themselves better in the orientation of the fragrance toward the appearances in nature. I came to the realisation some time ago that fragrances as a market product are very good in their way of creating an air of cleanliness and a mood of well-being, but this is only because they are serving producers and manufacturers in their respective areas, food, sanitation, care for living stock- animals, and their involvement in the production overall. In this way of understanding this fragrance is in some sense also a contribution to the house of Chanel in their possible involvement in other areas of their work, which I found to be what is understood partially as “sustainability”.
The fragrance is long-lasting, I am sure, but after half an hour I stop detecting it, and only on occasion it appears again for me to detect. It is definitely very beautiful at that time, gentle, very elegant, like a full undergarment in a transparent grey-green, constantly in a movement with my body and with my state of mind.

So, I wrote this different review in an attempt to present my thoughts on why a person could choose to spend quite a bit of money in these difficult times we are in right now, and it is entirely based on my own experiential thinking. I thought at some point in time that if I were to find out that my understanding of all life changing and developing around a certain brand I invest with each purchase of products from this brand not in their stock market, but in their phylosophy and in the phylosophy of their soul, in a way. It may be difficult to understand all the details of a fragrance, or of a type of a clothing, or of a type of a cosmetic product, but if that product could only appeal to my external senses, my sense of smell, my eyes, my mind, it will definitely reveal stages of its nature over the time of its use, and beyond.

This is definitely a very beautiful fragrance, but it demands to live in an atmosphere of understanding. That is why, I thought, it is bought mostly from a very upper-class women who also can afford to have clothes of a quality materials and craftsmanship and who live in respected house holds. This description doesn’t fit me, or I cannot fit in such an environment, but I can appreciate it on a different level.

Thank you for all your achievements, house of Chanel!

If anyone buys a new bottle of this pure parfum, from a reputable company , please let me know what you think of the strength /lasting power etc. Is it oily on the skin etc ?
I'd like to compare my new parfum with yours to c if it's genuine etc.

Inbox me please :) thanks !

I wore No19 EDT all through the 80's while my kids were growing up and loved it. Sometime around 2000 after not wearing it for years, I was shopping and sprayed some on my wrist. When my grown son got home after his class he came in the kitchen and grabbed my arm and inhaled. He closed his eyes and said he just got a rush of childhood memories and asked what I was wearing because it was a smell he remembered and loved and associated as his mom. How awesome that a fragrance can become that much a part of a person.

Fast forward to 2018 when I found an EDT sample, wearing it until every last drop is gone. Then decide to order a bottle of EDT from Chanel only to be so dissapointed that I sent it back the next day. So, a few days later after realizing how much I missed my signature scent, I found an older parfum on e-bay. I won't go into notes since that's been done many times, but for those who are searching for a scent of your own, or like the new version, try to find at least a sample of pre-reformulated No19 to compare. I'm sad that I don't get along with the new but happy the original is still around to treasure.

Edit: moved to EDT.

The little 7.5 ml parfum bottle is adorable.
I was waiting like a kid a Christmas for the postie to get this to me :)
I got on this green tip lately after discovering rive gauche and no 19 poudre, both are scrummy.
So naturally no 19 , chanels personal Fragrance that was apparently named 19 after her birthday, was next on my never ending list :)

I've not tried the edt but I do have some EDP , a 2013 batch part bottle I got recently and I think I was expecting the pure parfum to be quite different to that but they are very much sisters.
My favourite Fragrance is Chanel no 5 parfum (or edt or EDP or elixir or eau premier as all are amazing :) no 19 is a very different chick.

This beauty is soft green & cooling.
I have read no 19 is compared to fresh cut flower stems. Definitely true, just freshly chopped,Juice oozing, but also I imagine no 19 as smelling like a summer breeze yet somehow it also brings to mind damp fresh green leaves,just off the trees in a Forest.

No 19 is definitely a favourite already,it is such an exquisite composition , never too heavy, soft and dewy perfect on hot days.
Also no 19 is good if you want a fragrance that is beautiful but less sexy and more serious than no 5.

Sadly there is a down side.The dab on parfum for 2016 is just not as strong or lasting as it could be ("ErinDewan " talks about this a few reviews down and this fragrantican i agree with )

At over £90 a bottle ( 7.5) it's pricey for hourly top ups , olfactory fatigue??
I might replace with EDP spray as to my nose it's very very similar, just a sharper yet drier start, which is incredible , it soon softens to the dusky iris and tender rose leather and musk we all love.
That said there is a few deeper notes in parfum that make it sublime and worth owning.

Boy oh boy do I wish the bath powder and bath gel etc were still available to layer this luxurious classy scent , and I'd fight you for a no 19 body cream !! Haha :)

11/10 for Fragrance
6/10 for staying power and weakness of newer bottles :(
Good job what light scent I can smell is super stunning , an elegant floral-woody-green , cheers Henri Robert for making this !!

vivien leigh ( Blanche DuBois ) : A Streetcar named Desire
++++

Once again, just like with Coco extrait, I was lucky at my local mall. In 2017 I found a bottle from 2001 of this juice! Later this year I bought the version made in 2007. I also tried the current extrait in a Chanel boutique.
So here are my impressions:
To my nose, version 2001 and 2007 are very similar, the juice being brownish rather than green. It is potent, 20 hours minimum on me, sillage is medium. This one is more woody and intense on me, makes me think of damp forests.
The newer version produced in the 2010s is green colored and more flowery to my nose. Its longevity is very good, 10 hours on me, sillage medium.
I have to say, I love both equally but they are rather different.
If you seek out the earlier version, check online tutorials, how to define the age based on the batch code and other signs.

Picture it , Vancouver 2010. A young man is saddened by the news of his grandfather's passing. He seeks comfort in the kind hearts of luxury sales people at one boutique and then another. Finally ending his retail therapy session at the Chanel shop on Hastings.

At the time I was wearing Miss Dior EDP which I often paired with n19 soap in the bath. I loved the soap so much I figured I should get my hands on some juice. Being bereived at the time I figured I would buy something very special to cheer me up. I purchased the now defunked refillable parfum purse spray. It's an ultra elegant gray and gold spray about the size and shape of a lipstick.

At the time I could not of truly respected the timelessness and refinement of this stunning scent and would pair it with Angel (gasp) which was odd to say the least but I thought I was being avant grade.

Fast forward to today, almost 8 years have past and my nose has matured. I decided today was the day I was going to rock N19. It's the most stunning Orris dominate scent in my wardrobe. It starts off loud and green with lots of Galbanum, I get rose and tones of Orris in the heart. The base is to die for vetiver and moss and powdery woods it sits so close to the skin, a very private affair. The parfum is worth every penny it smells more natural and full bodied then any other interpretation, magic happens when you start to warm up and you catch a waft from your chest or wrist. I'm not sure what to do when my 7.5mL is finished, I guess I will have to find a refill online of just buy a bottle. I know that I'm going to be wearing this a lot from now on. It's truly Devine!!

I'm sorry but I would not recommend this to anyone, ever.
Buy the Edp or Edt. The parfum is not strong. No great projection or longevity. It's a beautiful skin scent in the worlds smallest, most expensive bottle.
What a disappointment.
My first foray into pure parfum will probably be my last.
It feels like the tiny bottle is filled with edp.

THE BEST IRIS. So yummy. Despite being the parfum, the impression of this scent is somewhere between No. 19 EDP and Poudre. There is less oakmoss than in the EDP; though it shares a ton of iris and galbanum with Poudre, the parfum is more buttery. Overall it is soapy in a smooth, luxurious sense.

It's unnerving when you find the essence of yourself in a perfume;
"Wait one minute, feminine with an edge of masculinity, beautiful in a aloof way, classic, born in the 1970s ....shit, this is a perfume version of me!, emotionally repressed, seems stand offish but is actually rather lovely"

Yes, it is true. Like me, too much can be a bit over-whelming, but just the right amount is divine.

Would love to meet the vintage version.

I agree with the previous opinion, this seems more powdery than no 19 poudre. It is actually nicer too. Much less complicated, which I like quite a lot as I don't need my perfumes to be too complex. A lovely, sweet smelling woody floral that has a lovely fresh green note/s to it including a hint of mint, which is very nice. I think this beats no 19 poudre hands down. Maybe not my favourite Chanel, but it is a very appealing perfume.

Just picked up a bottle of the current formulation. Intense rich green galbanum, torn green leaves, bitter green roots, fresh, sharp bergamot. This is both more powdery and more intense than the poudre, which I also have. Gorgeous, like pale cold early spring. And not for the faint of heart. LOVE.

I have a vintage bottle from pre-reformation time. This is always the scene that comes to mind when I wear this number:

Imagine you are in the seaside in England on a particularly windy day. Not necessarily on the beach; there is no marine water accord. Rather, you are sitting in the small front yard of one of many Victorian terraced houses, a mere 200 meters from the shore. You sit on a bed of fresh cut grass - the greenest grass you can come by, hydrated by the endless British rain. You wear a cashmere jumper, to keep warm in the cool wind, while you sit writing, reading, having a picnic or just watching the seagulls fly over the overcast skies, or the water washing up onto the beach. You sport a brown leather bag, containing scissors ready to cut Irises from this garden, to give to a loved one. The fresh seaside breeze carries with it the smell of grass, the powdery and green floral accords of the irises you are about to cut, the warmth of the cashmere jumper you are wearing, and the faintest whiff of the brown leather bag. And perhaps, a distant Bergamot tree and a rose bush from a neighbouring garden. You are in a beautiful scene, however, a certain sort of sadness lingers in you. Perhaps you are alone, and reminiscing about how things used to be; a byegone era, or a long lost love. Either way, you are happy these things happened, you just wish they could happen again. As you return inside the house, you decide to leave the irises as they are.

The most luscious, gorgeous, opulent use of galbanum or orris or oakmoss you'll ever find. A standout, not just in the Chanel family, but in perfumery in general. Over the 20-plus years that I wore it almost daily, I never once smelled it on anyone else. Unlike the ubiquitous No. 5, No. 19 was for most of its heyday, a beautiful little secret. The parfum has a rich sweetness that is more profound than in the other concentrations - especially in the vintage.

A more complete list of notes explains why it is so complex and exquisite:
top
Bergamot, Galbanum, Hyacinth, Neroli
heart
Iris, Jasmine, Lily-of-the-valley, Narcissus, Rose,Ylang-ylang
base
Oakmoss, Leather, Musk, Sandalwood,Cedarwood

Even if it's not your cup of tea, for whatever reason, any perfumista whose knowledge of perfume is not just completely pedestrian and common, cannot help but acknowledge the glory that is No. 19.

It was a gift, and I was 19 at the time, long time ago. I still have it. I like it, but find it a little heavy for day use or if you are too young. For me it represents someone mature. Not really my style but I use it from time to time.

The thing about chanel fragrances is that the edt, edp, pure parfum always are different in character. In my opinion the parfum of no 19 is the best version. It is extremely feminine, soft flowery. Realistic flowers. I am already wearing a scent today, but tomorrow I'll put on all three (edt/edp/parfum).
Well, next day: I've tested all three of them (luckily I have looooong arms). Even asked a friend to tell what she thought about them (she previously believed that they only would differ in strength).
Here we go: The edt and edp are close to each other: fresh flowery scents, but not really special. The parfum on the other hand is the queen supreme. it is deep, sensual and "warmer'" than the other two. It has a fullness like vanilla (without actually being vanilla). It is not smokier, not more leathery, but deeper, absolutely. It has an almost real flower-scent, and is an absolute need-to-try scent.
For the ones complaining about the tiny splashbottle it comes in: try to get a tester bottle: 35ml of pure heaven in a spraybottle. Yumm.
So in short: very best: parfum, first runner up: edt, last: edp.

Can anyone please explain the difference between the edp and the pure parfum? I love the edp but I want to know if the parfum is deeper, smokier, more leather, etc. Chanel employees tend to be vague. "Yes, this is just the same scent except more intense" And I disagree. My No 22 parfum smells much different than the edp or edt.

I got a small bottle of the pure perfume back in the early 80's. Liquid was tan, not green. Smelled like a mix of cut grass, leather and tobacco. I loved it. Smells lighter now. Does anyone know where I can buy vintage, and what year the formula changed? Thanx.

N°19 Parfum is the forbidding queen,
a cold enchantress, with the charm within,
bitter, unrelenting and everything in between,
yet so forever,
her beauty reigns supreme,
for she is the greenest of the evergreens.

I bought a nearly full bottle of the vintage 1970s parfum extrait. Oh, it is wonderful! It goes on nicely, maybe slightly more powdery than I would prefer, but very nice. Cool and professional. But then an hour later – the drydown is magical! The perfume melds with the skin and acquires some warmth and a more floral character, while still keeping its “greenness.” It is hard for me to pick out individual notes, it is just a unique, lovely blend. For me, the vintage parfum is much better than the current EDP and EDC formulations, though I like both of those very much. But this one is at another level. It also layers well with simple citrus scents. Excellent.

Pretty! Feminine and green. Fresh as a Spring day in the sunshine.

For me, this is the best "green" scent with honourable mentions going to Lauder for Men and Xeryus. It really makes me wonder if I live long enough to see men's perfumery at least approximate the women's. No other "green" can compare to this. Enough said.
----------------------------
Btw, this is for the late 80's version. I haven't tried Polge's reformulation yet.

I tried this for the first time ever today.
Chanel No. 19 is incredible! This was a blind buy, based on reviews from this community, and the only regret I have is that I did not buy this years ago. It is a little sharp, in a good, clean way, on initial application, but it quickly mellowed into lovely freshness with a hint of beautiful flowers. This scent could become an addiction for me. I am that crazy about it. Thanks Fragrantica, for introducing me to this lovely lady!

Someone else wrote that this is what" Galadriel would smell like" ,and I agree...green obviously but elegant ,complex...on me there are distinct floral notes...unusual,confident ,female, rich.....love it ..will be buying the pure perfume if I can...as longevity on me is about 4 to 5 hrs with EDP....

Why is it CC perfumes are so little understood?
Maybe that's the basis for their "exclusifs" line.

19 is in no way evil. How sad it is misunderstood
this way :(. Witches would never touch this. Too
refined. Witches wear Paloma Picasso, Opium, &
Poison. They also wear Knowing by Estée Lauder
and "Joop!". I know that bc I know witches. This?
Intelligence in a bottle if it can be bottled would be
CC19 most definitely. Introspective but not somber.
Self-aware but not self absorbed. Smart but NOT(!)
cunning, conning (pun!), calculating or manipulative
in any way shape or form. Contemplative. Reflective

I can't say I 'like' wearing this. CC19 makes me feel
like I have to straighten my posture, watch my words
and mannerisms, control my gestures and strive to be
alot better than I am. A more prim, proper, eloquent &
highly (here's that word again) REFINED version of me.
I won't say we clash, but she sure is watchful, and her
Standards high as a kite. Not totalitarian at all. Because
it is you who WANTS to rise up. CC19 doesn't demand
anything. (Even as I write this I'm minding my posture,
and CC19 isnt even anywhere in my vicinity right now.).

Stop misclassifying CC's perfumes! It's a huge world
out there, and by 'out there' I mean outside of the CC
hemisphere. Remember that before classifying these
exceptionally well made excellent perfumes! ...Peace...

I really used to like Chanel 19 and haven't used it for many years (last use was in the late 1980's to early 1990's) so it concerns me that some reviewers have commented that the formula has changed. The very tiny amount left in my bottle of it still smells the same on me, when sprayed on yes, there is the slight grassy scent that quickly blooms to a tuberose with almost velvety suede like scent that is 'warm' and pleasant that has often garnered compliments.
Next time I'm at the mall I will try it again and if it has changed and smells noticeably different from what is left in my bottle I'll add another comment on it!
PS: Fragrance is definitely affected by individual chemistry and this is why if anyone asks me what I'm wearing I'll gladly tell them but let them know that they should try it at the perfume counter first to see if it smells the same because there's always the chance it might not be the same for you all because of unique body chemistry!

My mother loves this one and it's the only Chanel fragrance she wears. I bought one for her and one for me, but it was a blind buy for me. I realize how very important this fragrance is. Chanel wore it herself at the time of her death. It was made for her to wear. So when you wear this you get what Chanel liked, and what she liked was woodsy chypre fragrances. She said "women should not smell of flowers". Her idea was that a woman's scent should be more earthy, woodsy, natural. This fragrance does have some typical white floral scents of jasmine and lily of the valley. But the green notes and the oak and sandalwood are dominant. It smells like having been sleeping on grass on a warm summer's day. This is beautiful and I would add it's also melancholy. It has that funereal quality because we know that this was the last fragrance Chanel wore. It also reminds me of a very sedate pensive dignified woman who is very much alone and lives within her own world where there is no noise, no struggles, no having to commute through traffic to work, a woman who is retired and basically living in her garden. It totally reminds me of Ivoire de Balmain the vintage original by Pierre Balmain. I wear this in autum months and winter months as it's very warm and woodsy. I also wear it to bed sometimes. I wore it to bed at the Chanel Suite at the Ritz Hotel in Paris, trying to summon the spirit of Chanel. This was during a Paris Fashion Week about 2 years ago. She came to me in a dream. She touched my face and looked into my eyes and sat down with me on a bench in a beautiful wooded park. This is where this fragrance takes me, it takes me to where Coco Chanel is in an afterlife, where she is at peace. I love this perfume and I love you Coco Chanel.

My thoughts while trying it: "What is this? Who wants to buy this? So many plain green notes, it's almost pure grass in a bottle. Concentrated grass."

One of my friends tried it and said it smelled like used cigaretts.

I would Never pay for this, not even if it was the cheapest Chanel of all times.

I got a No.19 body lotion in store, and wow I'm in love. If an independent woman has a special scent, it is gonna be this one! Very different from any other Chanel perfume that I sniffed before. I was not a Chanel lover until No.19 changed my mind. Modern, urbany, independent, even a little bit stubborn and arrogant. Love,love,love.

it was a blind buy. And I went with vintage one- if to experience, experience the best. What can I say? I'm deeply in love. And this is very expensive love since it's hard to find vintage Chanel 19. I'm so disappointed with most mainstream perfumes they make nowadays (and I'm 31 years old)), but every time I want to try anything new, I smell strong alcohol smell with chemicals. I realized all these spray bottles of edt or edp are not for me and the only choice is pure parfum concentrations and it's the only form I can tolerate. Chanel 19 is most beautiful rose I ever smelled. I have So Pretty de Cartier, it's little bit similar, but Chanel 19 in pure parfum is superior. I want to wear it all the time, it doesn't give me headache or allergies (like many reformulated fragrances because of IRFA). I love this parfum and will search for more bottles. I believe one can't have too many of favorite fragrance)). Highly recommend.

I am in love. I purchased a sealed bottle of vintage Chanel No 19 perfume, and made the purchase completely blind. All I knew from all the reviews was that it was very similar to Annick Goutal Heure Exquise, which I adore. I knew I was taking an incredible risk, because perfume is so subjective, and I hate, for example, Prada infusion de Iris . I opened the sealed bottle, applied some, and was ecstatic to find that it is absolutely beautiful. It's such a warm, feminine, soft fragrance; it's perfect. I can't even remotely understand the reviews that say its a "cold, masculine fragrance". Hello? Have they ever actually tested this beauty??!? I don't get it. The reviews contained so many off-putting similar comments, it's taken me years to finally try it. What a colossal waste of time I could have spent wearing this gorgeous, gorgeous perfume! I LOVE it. This is my Holy Grail perfume, ladies and gentlemen!

woodlandwalk, if this one makes you think about Elves, I totally have to try it! I am a huge Tolkien fan, especially the books. "Hail and well met!" Too bad my local department store doesn't carry it. Will have to do a bit of driving. Not a bad thing!

I am very intrigued by this perfume. I think I tested it a year or two ago. Very green. I'm into sweeter at the moment (but not cloying or cupcake) so I kind of mentally filed it away for later.

I had a little bottle of No.19 pure parfum in the early 90s, and I think it must have been from before they restricted oakmoss, because this version I'm trying now is slightly more floral, and with a bit more vetiver.

It does have that slightly haughty and elegant, yet lovely scent, and into dry-down (thanks to the quality of ingredients) it feels natural.

I can't remember if it was No.19 Parfum about which someone said 'this is how Galadriel must smell', but that would be a perfect description! The most obvious opening note to my nose is iris, or orris and where the EDP is soft and dewy, the Parfum is more lean in feel, more distant perhaps.

I sense more vetiver,, lily of the valley and possibly narcissus. Into drydown that lovely perfumed forest quality that I know and love emerges, No 19 reveals its gentle side at this stage; a gentle mossy quality

Anyway, if we must talk elves, I think that where Arwen might wear the EDP, Galadriel would undoubtedly favour the white and green aesthetic of No. 19 parfum - it conjures up morning light filtering through a canopy of trees, the scent of perfumed wood smoke lingering in the ashes of yesterday's fire, lily of the valley beginning to emerge from the mossy roots of an ancient oak..peace and silence reign in the forest

Yes! Had no 19 in EDT and EDP. Liked, but never loved. EDT felt too "cold", EDP kind of stuffy.

But the pure perfume...

Modest sillage. Wears much closer to the skin than EDT or EDP. An intimate "secret". Something quite different from the other concentrations. This is warmer, cozier. Can´t stop smelling my wrist!

Actually, I suspected it might turn out like this... In some cases it really makes a LOT of difference what concentration the juice is. Like with Chanel no 5, for me the vintage EDC and pure perfume is wonderful stuff, EDT is nice too (but don´t care for the EDP at all). Shalimar EDC is equally heavenly (and Shalimar EDP is just too much).

I just received my No. 19 Parfum from Chanel yesterday and it is truly magical. I love this. I put dabs in my elbow creases and on my neck when I first opened it in the morning.

It was sharp upon application but then it morphed into all its glory. It wore fantastically all day as well. It is of course Green as everyone knows. However the Bergamot and Rose are lovely with the Iris and Oakmoss.

I can see why it is so calming as some have said. I found myself shortly after application drawing up some jewelry designs and going through my inventory of gems and metals. Something I had been neglecting for a bit as we have had a family crisis. It actually drew out of me not only motivation but inspiration. I realized this centers me. No wonder my Mum wears this. To smell No.19 on someone else is one thing but to wear it is another matter entirely.

My fiance upon coming home from work thought I was burning my oils but when I offered him my arm to sniff and see that it was me he was enraptured at first then alarmed that I had bought yet again another fragrance. He knows of my addiction all too well. We went to dinner. We are both redheads so we are usually bickering back and forth but all was mellow and sweet. So nice! Then upon going to bed he said "I wish I had known you like No.19 because it really suits you." I told him "This is a new and blessed development. Apparently for both of us," I think my mother needs some more now too for Christmas!
10/10+++

I love this and I cannot express enough how grounding this is for me as I am a very testy woman. My grandmother wears this and maybe that is the reason I find it calming. Not sure. Like her I only buy the Parfum directly from Chanel which we keep in a very dark cool place. The EDP and EDT are not the best way to get it as they seem to fade rather quickly. I hope this helps some of you who have had issues with it fading. Next time get the Parfum it is $115 for the .25oz at Chanel.com. Enjoy the smell of what is in my opinion Heaven on Earth.

I am sure, pretty sure anyways, that my chemistry has changed over my 65 years on this planet...Chanel # 5 does not smell as good as it used to on me. I would hate to think some bean-counter has changed the formulae, or that some components are no longer available. I loved both the #19 and # 22, also.

#22 is not available exept at a Chanel boutique or Chanel online. I want a sample first!

loving it, got the bottle with a refill as concentrated perfume (eau de parfum). It's great, a classic. Once I wore it at an important meeting, guess what, all went well...
Fresh, new, but soft, elegant (!), always pleasant, I chose it many years ago, it took a while to find out it is one of my favourites!!!

@Indorm : Yes , it has happened to me with current Chanel 19 . A dislike! But I' m in love with the vintage version , big love . After the bitter green opening which intrigues the nose ( nothing nasty like in the current version ) the heart is extremely elegant and smooth . It is a Ladies' perfume but I do not find it cold and distant .

What a shame Chanel 19 is not as it used to be :-(

Doing my usual trick of adding this and Allure parfum as a mix, I am again reminded of what a beautiful perfume house Chanel can be. Despite the fact that my husband did not like this, I think I added more no 19 this time, did not detract from my enjoyment. I think he found it too tart or sour. I guess it is all in the mix, as last time he did like it.

To me this is what perfume is all about, making something mainstream, personal. Perfume should be about self expression and not following a trend. After all we all like to feel unique. By taking one of the older perfumes and adding it to something newer allows me to create a little magic that works for me.

Although I do not layer perfumes routinely, this mix really works for me, and I think the use of quality parfum as a base was the key.

Try mixing some of your own choices, you may find a winning combination too.

I really want this one but I am known for putting on too much. So personally I would run out within the first month of owing it or get griped at for having on too much.



How long will a .25 OZ Parfum bottle last me if I put on 2 drops?

This is a review of Vintage Chanel no 19 Perfume from about 1978.

I just discover this fragrance in a closet. I was the original owner. it is labeled perfume, not parfum, 1/4 oz, glass bottle, glass stopper, liquid is light tan, not green.

Where is the loud green explosion I remember? The opening is mild, just a few seconds of intensity, then a soft green blanket of fresh rain, new grass and spring flowers, supported by soft woods, oakmoss and a bit of leather. Very beautiful comforting and inviting. Very easy to love, nothing the least bit objectionable or exciting.

Did this soften over the years, or has it always been this gentle? Or am I remembering the sharp greenness of the EDC version in the square stainless bottle?

I don't know... Does nobody else get that incredibly weird, sharp, bitter opening I get? Or is everybody too scared to say something negative about such a famous perfume? Maybe it is just my own chemistry... I've tried it at a counter several times, but each time it took quite a while to settle into something more agreeable.

Earthy, grounded, cool as a cucumber. Love this. Love the edp also, but this is in a league of its own - less affable than the powdery edp, but the same unforgettable greenness.

Just love this fragrance. Makes me feel happy, sexy and expensive. Always complimented every time I wear it. Sharp, Cool then creamy. Love it!

I have just recently joined Fragrantica. (I don't know what took me so long.) But this is my first review, and I certainly don't have the knowledge and sophistication that so many of you have. I am not going to wax poetic about fragrances too much like some reviewers do. But that doesn't mean I don't, or haven't always, loved them! I have had my Chanel No. 19 (parfum and EDP) for many years and have loved it as one of my absolute favorites. The one thing that sticks in my mind about No. 19 is that men seem to love it. I can't tell you how many compliments I have received from men in elevators. ;-)

I'm so disappointed....after all the reviews and accolades...I'm not having the same experience with No. 19. I adore the complexity of Chanel fragrances and expect something different from them. Unfortunately this doesn't mesh well with my chemistry. It starts out odd smelling and dries down to musty dirt. No floral....no pleasant green...just dirt. It makes me sad... :(

Thanks to a good friend,SoniaMclear I was gifted this gem. I love it!! I disagree about the seasons of wear,tho.Here in the south,we went from winter to summer overnite!! The days r already hot but,the spring flowers are blooming. This morning,I was stuffy and too warm. I thought Id give the 19 a chance. What a surprise!!! Beautiful,,green,woody scent with just a hint of flower nectar in the air. REFRESHING> Like a long cool drink of water on a hot summer day. Its scent was like going outside in the early morning and taking in, the new leaves, buds,and white jonquils that are starting to bloom. I have a unique redbud tree (that I found and planted from deep in our woods) that is covered with fushia buds. Beneath it,jonquils and tulips r blooming. That lovely picture in my mind is what the scent of 19 is like.
She is modest tho. She doesn't overpower the other beautiful smells.She doesn't compete.She just stays with you a long time,making you remember the rebirth of the world outside in getting warm weather and how lucky you are to have her as your friend!

No 19 is my favourite fragrance of all time, the dry down is nearly magical and the complexity of the fragrance a delight. My mum bought me my first bottle of the parfum extrait on my 18th birthday in 1971 and I have worn it all my adult life. The vintage formulation, which I have been lucky enough to find. I recently acquired one of what might be a very early 70's issue, prior to the Iranian revolution and the first change of formula to a lesser quality galbanum. Got it on eBay as an estate piece, 90% full, 1/2 oz for only $40 - I was so afraid it was a rip, but when it arrived it was in the original box, obviously old, and yet exactly like the one I had way back in 1971. And it smells divine! For me, finding the extrait at a price this small, the original too, was like winning the lottery. I shall treasure it and dole it out sparingly.

But that's the pure perfume. I actually LOVE the modern No 19 EDT and on me it smells terrific. It is "louder" than the pure parfum, but it's dry down is lovely. I can't praise No. 19 enough and everyone who loves it should try and get at least one bottle of the 70's vintage, it is truly sublime!

Chanel #19, you made me into the cool girl I was in college. Nobody could guess who you were, but everyone loved you. When I was asked for your name, I got to share a cool, unknown, rare and retro Chanel for its time. For me, you were always the most grown-up Chanel. The rebel in a sharp 80s feminine power suit with a busting bank account. The Chanel who could help me rock my business meetings in a structured Armani dress, then help me chill it out with a cocktail and appear sensual and ethereal in a DVF retro wrap dress in the evenings (even though I couldn't relax at all back in those days).

So, #19, thanks for turning up my feminine power all those years. You were my go-to girl when I needed to feel my very strongest in any given situation.

Girl, you know that I still have your treasured first bottle, with just a tiny hint of you left inside. You're a treasure on my dressing table. I love to open up the cap and take a tiny whiff of you, but I don't want you to run out. I want to keep you exactly as you are, in the exact bottle I took with me around the world back in the day when liquids were allowed on planes.

I love 19 in the fall and winter.......perfect for work or snuggled up in a big cashmere sweater. Not too much at work and like other reviewers, i agree it does not enter room before you do! Seems a bit heavy or wooden for summer.....often switch to Chanel Gardenia or Une Fleur for that.

This is a very unusual perfume - not a perfume at all but more of a feeling to me - straight up forest and somewhat dry. I like to mix it with allure to round it out, but I am a chyphre floral girl so what would you expect!

tried it on it's own, the dry down was fascinating, very crisp almost tangy. brilliant

IMHO,this is for someone, who knows: it doesn't always have to be about sex (this being said by a person, who wears Boudoir as the signature scent). Sometimes you just want to rise above it, detach yourself from the carnal and dream through the day about something abstract, lay out some plans for the future, focus on tasks that are hard to accomplish but promise a deserved reward, sort that cluttered wardrobe bursting at the seams, carefully wrap a mountain of Xmas presents, go through the accumulated mail and then enjoy a nice chilled glas of white while observing the restored order around you. Then, a few hous later, you can change into something cosier, let your hair down for the evening and reach for COCO instead.
I need these kind of days from time to time, badly. And nr. 19 helps me feel like a grownup, like someone who is in control, like someone who is every day a little better a person that he/she was yesterday.
This perfume is highly intellectual, rather minimalistic, demanding high amount of style and understatedness, that usually go hand in hand anyway. It's not icy-green, but rather a chilled green, like a mossy pond in the twilight, and it abandons its sharpness quite quickly, becoming a shimmering green with a whiff of something lilac when you move. A day spent shopping for high end things ( where you need to at least seem confident and qualified enough to bargain ), library events, a job interview, a visit to a gallery/museum on a sunny afternoon, and a classic - a formal sunday brunch/dinner in a casual atmosphere, where something has to keep you from slumping in your chair and crossing legs, which is still considered a pose of familiarity in serious business circles. For a highly sensuous sybaritic person like me it's a must, if you don't have a strict, albeit well-meaning, mother that gives your back a mighty slap when you were just about to slouch.

That Make Scents: For parfum, you don't apply by just splash. It's very concentrate, you just apply with the bottle cap. With that, a 7.5ml parfum can last more than a year.

I fell in love with the EDT over a year ago but was uncomfortable about wearing a woman's perfume...I know I know...anyways rest assured that No. 19 IS UNISEX. Even in the parfum version. I recently asked the help of several women who verified this for me.

I have tried all versions of this minus the EDP. I haven't seen a tester for the EDP and reviews are varied regarding longevity. So until I get a free whiff I have no interest in the EDP. The Poudre version was a joke...lasted for less than 15 minutes.

THE PARFUM is the EDT but more condensed. Unfortunately though the "white wine booziness" that I get from the EDT is rather muted in the parfum version. Otherwise the parfum is a sweeter condensed stanky *floral over greens rendition of the EDT. It is exactly what you would expect a parfum version to be.

Sillage is great and so is longevity.

THE BAD :

The parfum is sold in a 7ml splash bottle ($100). It fits neatly in the coin pocket of my jeans. That's cute but I have no use for 7ml of anything. It will last me just a little over 1 week of normal use. So basically you pay $100 to smell good for 1 week or so.

I could justify a purchase like this if I was going on a vacation and wanted to smell nice for my short trip. However for day to day use this equation just doesn't work for me.

The parfum version is very potent but it isn't "DAB" worthy IMO. You still need to spray it through an atomizer which uses up more juice. If the parfum was offered in at least a 50ml bottle for a reasonable price this would be in my heavy rotation.

Glad I tried it but the EDT for $94 french market version is a way better deal for me.

...A REAL BEAUTY THOUGH !

has someone an opinion about the differences between the EDP and the extrait? it's hard to find a tester of the latter and I guess there are details different?! (I like the EDP actually but extrait is always "calling":-)

Edit:
It is supergreat! Very fine, much better than the EDP, a bigger iris and all in all softer and round and lively.

This smells too woody for me.

I wear this fragrance and I would describe it as pretty with a mature sophisticated twist. Stars such as Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly come to mind when wearing this delightful scent.

Chanel No. 19 Parfum can be worn during the day as well as the evening; it is not overpowering and does not "enter" a room before you do. Just good stuff!

Enjoy and wear with confidence,
HaleKoa73

I put on this perfume this morning and loved the evolving notes. I got the green and clean and love the wonderful Chanel harmony of notes, which are all beautifully in tune. But most of all I got a feeling, an image from the No. 19. This is not a warm, fuzzy perfume. This is a perfume I would wear for a board meeting where I wanted to be taken very seriously as someone to be reckoned with. This perfume exudes power and says "I am confident and I have edges, watch out." Before the days of women in the boardroom, I can imagine an aristocratic mother putting this on, giving her offspring a peck on the cheek and a 'caress' with a gloved hand and then trotting off to the opera or wherever leaving the dear child with her nanny for days possibly. Not warm or lush, but not icy either, but individualistic. I like it for summer because it has a coolness to it generally.

yuck; all I smell is chemicals

Simple yet elegant.Chanel was never my fav.But must admit no.19 amazed me by its good quality

when i was in my 20-es i tought its kind of granny-cologne.then few years ago i gave it other try and started to love it-everytime more and more.was just able to get a nice stock of vintage version(allmost 200ml of extrait-lot of litle botles,lol)of it and similar amount of no5 vintage extrait.in my opinion they are distroying perfumery with those silly restrictions allowing only so litle percents of whatever absolue or oil.i think thats also why they made the poudre version-to try to act that its more modern and younger in an atempt to hide that they cant use so much oakmoss anymore.no 19 is great perfume for conneseurs-but only the vintage extrait,still cant get friends with new no19 and no19 poudre...

Off the top the bitter almost spearimenty green notes swirl around the softest sweetest leather...heaven. I am not familiar with green or leather. Within an hour, a powdery floral sweet wood smell joins in.
I don't even know if this is what I'm supposed to smell but this comforts me. It reminds me of my dad, who wore leather jackets and smoked when I was growing up. A rebel at heart but who loved hard and was always there. Yet, I feel feminine and strong when I wear it. I've never smelled anything like it and I LOVE it!
I can relate to every reviewer before me. Each commenting on some different aspect, each spot on.
This is complex and extremely well crafted.

I would say 'This is it'. I am just sitting here at home, reading all the comments and really wondering - Why I haven't tried it and worn it earlier on at some point in my life??? It is absolutly wonderful. In the category "my signature one ".

I love this perfum .... as an equestrian, I totally get the leathery, outdoor, quality that some have spoken of. I find Chanel No 19 warm, earthy, and chameleon-like.

So far this is the only perfum my Husband likes ... he pretty much loathes most perfumes so I am glad we agree on this smell!

N°19 parfum is like a walk in the forest in the autumn. The ground is damp and covered with leafs in red, yellow and brown colours. Mushrooms are growing on mouldering wood. A soft cracking sound from your footsteps. Silence. A lonley crow croaks from a distance. A little chilly misty air, but the air tastes good and you inhale deeply.

Relax, enjoy your walk and feel the presence from the forest slowly falling asleep before the winter.

This fragrance centers and calms me. Its one of the most chameleon-like scents I've smelled yet. Sometimes I get frankincense, somtimes orange zest, sometimes oak, sometimes rose, sometimes pine, sometimes honey. Maybe its Titania's perfume :)

Imagine my wonder and surprise when I opened a package from another dear member, having asked for a mere sample of Chanel No. 19, and seeing a 1/4 ounce of pure PARFUM!! Wrapped in the signature ribbon of the House and still completely full...

Many members do not like to be mentioned or thanked publicly...so, all I will say here is: "Thank you Lady AB for your kindness, generosity and your beautiful gifts, they are nothing compared to the grandeur of your spirit!"

Amazing, simply amazing! Amazing for its quality; yes. But, also for its simple elegance. The first time I tried this, I just dabbed a bit on each wrist and sniffed it as I went to sleep. When I woke, it was all but gone...could this be?! Today, on seeing it added here, I decided to try it again and it is obvious that I slept through the "magick"...

Three "notes"?? REALLY...I beg to differ! No 19 parfum begins with a chilly cool green (not unlike Cristalle, but smoother) making me think: Galbanum and also lovely daffodils and maybe a bit of dewkissed hyacinth as well. The flowers here are cool and rich, but nowhere near massive (Henri Robert, you are a genius!). White flowers abound, like subtle jasmine and neroli, making this smooth and sexy without getting "carnal". It is obvious there is iris/orris here as well. No19 Parfum may be the strongest concentration of this particular scent, but it is by far the most elegant. There is something here that, upon sniffing your wrist (or wherever you dabbed it!) that is not detectable, but as you move about or catch a whiff of it, indirectly, it's is superb! The drydown is woody but also has a "cleaness" to it. No civet, no patchouli, no tonka; just a clean mean green that is NOT (I repeat) not overly soapy. Somewhere swirling around in this heavenly aroma are lush florals and grand woods, but they are so well blended you have to just sniff and enjoy!! If No 5 is the fragrance for a person dressed up and "out on the town", No 19 is shopping with friends or having lunch at the sidewalk bistro. Do not misunderstand me, No. 19 can (and should) be worn "out", as it has all the qualities of a CHANEL parfum, it is just much more "down to earth" and less "riche" without giving up any luxury. Classic through and through...

Sillage: magical
Longevity: very good
Overall: 4.5/5

Yes yes I know "for women"! *rolls eyes* However, this scent does VERY well on my "manskin", and no one has remarked (as yet) I smelled "perfumey" while I was wearing it. I have smelled the EDT (WOW!), Eau Premiere (very nice) and the EDP (amazing!)...but the Parfum continues to be my favorite No. 19