Chanel N°19

As a young girl in the 70's, I remember sampling this at the Broadway's cosmetic counter and thinking it was the most divine fragrance in the world. After dreaming about it for years I recently acquired a decant of a 1979 batch from Vintage Decants and was transported back in time and the world of my 10 year old self came right back to me. Chanel No. 19 is one helluva drug! Its mossy and richly dirty green with a poshness that keeps it from being pure yard clippings. It's a little too on the green nose for me to purchase a full (vintage) bottle, but I'll cherish this decant for the memories. My husband's review was "It smells clean; I like it! - 4 out of 5 stars."

Keen nose @Splashrik! I think you're picking up on the vetiver in both Terre d'Hermès and No. 19. On another note, if you buy vintages, buyer beware of these. Old fragrances, old Chanel's particularly, have a tendency to rot really badly. Particularly the lighter and less base-heavy scents, of which this is one. Definitely smell before you buy if you can get the chance, and I don't just mean smell the new stuff and buy the old stuff based on that. I got a late 70s bottle hoping I would finally get to experience the Iranian galbanum, instead I got to experience a $20 splash bottle of computer dust scented nail polish remover. I don't even know what to do with this other than forcibly keep it. Give it to some hazardous waste center? Resell it as an empty decoration-only bottle? Screw it I'm just gonna chuck it in my fridge to see what happens, I can't picture it getting any worse than it is now.

Came across a vintage edt natural spray and approached the scent slowly by just sniffing the inside of the cap and nozzle for days. It smelled really good; a dirty, earthy scent was hitting my nose and brain. When I finally dared to spray on my arm I was totally overwhelmed by the intense burst of the scent’s bouquet. Mind blowing and extremely pleasurable. After the initial sensation a calmer presence emerged, reminding me of Terre d’Hermès. Am I the only one sensing this similarity? I’m in love with No 19. Completely head to toe.

Anyone wanting a decent version Edt has to get vintage now. I suggest a non spray bottle from the 80's-90's. 100 ml bottles are all over on Ebay (many from Japanese sellers). The propellant in older sprays adds a bitter, acrid hit. I find the splash much softer and sweeter. Just a dab will do.

Wearing this you will feel refined, reserved, like you can meet all challenges with aplomb but you know how to relax after. Be warned, this is extremely green in the opening. Fresh cut, piercing green grass. You feel like you can’t pull this off or that it won’t settle, but you can and it does. You ARE that individual who CAN and DOES. This scent evokes the following. Your day starts by taking a walk through your manicured gardens, having been freshly cut. Next you put on a grey, chic, modern tweed suit but with a slightly relaxed edge. You work in a high stakes environment and can handle anything. You wind down with a Gin and Tonic at Sandringham Estate. Although this iteration is discontinued, thankfully the whole line is very similar so do not despair. Perfect for a sunny, fresh Spring day. The colour of the bottle and cap is this scent. It took three tests, now it’s a love. The extreme green becomes addictive. I believe you need to be at a certain point in life to understand this scent. When you are ready it will find you and you will know. This will challenge you to be the best you. 💚🩶🍃🌳🏰💅🏼🍸🕶️

really disappointing. this is a very dated piece. wonder how chanel sales are doing

I was given this vintage perfume by my parents, because my dad bought a bottle for my mom, but she absolutely despised the smell. I have tried this scent a number of times, and it's just not for me. The way some people SWEAR by it makes me think it comes down to a body chemistry/personal preference. And for better or worse, this fragrance lasts a really long time. I really wanted to get on the vintage Chanel hype train, but I just can't do it.

Upon first spray this fragrance makes me mutter out "M-Mommy..?". Like everyone says: this is a fragrance of a aloof, sophisticated, and cold woman. Someone above you, someone you can't compare to, someone with refinement who demands you to behave your very best in front of them. A very deliberate choice for a woman I'd say, they knew what they were choosing. What a lady... How elegant... How powerful... 90% of men probably don't deserve her.

Aloof, chic, formal, and Professional. The current market version released in 2023 is too friendly and clean for me.

Hate it or love it, here is my Chanel no 19 rant, talking about vintages and new versions Vintage no 19 edt: Spring Joy Soft greenery, the galbanum and spring florals are gentle and playful compared to the extrait. radiant fresh flower petals, iris, abstract jasmine, lily of the valley, feel refreshing, not soapy, not very powdery but a comforting mustiness, like an old starched shirt. maybe even some hot-iron steam. Then, a warmth manufactured in greens and woods like vetiver and oakmoss invite you in, close and intimate. Perfectly unisex. At once both formal and relaxed. It’s like no 19 was made solely for the wearer’s pleasure. It has this austere side, but only on the surface, it never bores the wearer even when it can be mistaken for being just clean and cool (but still extremely classy nevertheless) for people around and those not willing to spend time with it. I imagine fairies and elves dressed up in formal attire as if trying to hide their playful nature, but only for so long. This perfume lets you dream and get lost in spring fantasies. It invites you into an early spring garden party amongst magical beings hiding in between the flowers and the grasses! 9/10 Vintage no.19 extrait: Dancing greens, gemstone hues and the lightest powders Dazzling verdant light shot through a prism, splitting in all kinds of green tones: Emerald. Peridot. Tsavorite. Chartreuse. It opens with an intense saturated green: Galbanum and tulip stems. Very vegetal, fresh, cool, a bit oily and challenging, freshly cut. Earthy but without any notes of soil. Then the scent softens and lights up with a glowing spring green tone. The most delicate powder, a floral, woody, dry, starchy Iris + Orris note starts diffusing it’s magic powder and is «dusting» you in the finest texture imaginable, ultra-fine grain, light and pure white powder, so refreshing! By refreshing I mean in the same way as dextrose can feel invigorating and cooling almost in those energy tablets you buy at the kiosk. :) No oily or make-up like iris here. It’s just dreamy. The freshness of the powder radiates with hedione and light Lily of the valley notes. Transitioning from this powder to the base, a soft oakmoss dims the green lights down to a darker and more mysterious glow, with hints of leather and woods, super well blended, clean, with nothing ever out of place. I was really lucky to buy an unopened 28 ml bottle pure parfum from the early days of this fragrance, most likely containing that infamous Iranian Galbanum quality. So scared of evaporation, which I have actually noticed. I do my best to preserve it and still enjoy the scent by wearing it. It’s too magical not to wear it. Especially magical on those spring days where the weather is nice, the breeze is mild and gentle, spring flowers have started blooming and the last melting snow in the forest or in the streets and parks of the city, create that significant freshness in the air. For best results, be newly showered and wear completely clean clothes so nothing disturbs your perfumed moment of sheer beauty. 10/10 Modern no 19 edt and edp: Clean, green-ish, soapy (pre 2023 edition) The modern no 19 EDT can’t live up to it’s vintage version. The modern has a greenish opening with a thin galbanum replacer followed by a very vague and perfume-y profile. The older versions were anything but vague, they were assertive, complex, classy and singular. You feel the lack of presence of the treasures those raw materials used in the past were. It just is not the same product any longer. The edp has a few nice moments of a pretty and luminous rose and lily of the valley. I can see the familiarity to my beloved vintages, but they are so far apart. I can imagine the modern formulation being suitable for a really nice shower gel or a linen spray. This is not about complaining, I understand the market, the need to modernize and re-formulate, for me there is nothing left of interest in the modern versions to talk about, they died a while ago. If you enjoy the current versions, try to get hold of a vintage sample! Wether if you like it or not, you will notice a huge difference, and it is just interesting to study. Of course I mourn the old ones, but I still have quite a bit left in my collection. 3/10 for the EDP and 6/10 EDP

Will always love this one and have it on my collection, not only it smells amazing but I also share the same birthday with Chanel.

One of the A.I. pros/cons at the top says something like "this is a feminine take on an outdoorsy smell". And you know what? Our evil robot overlords are right. I really get what they mean. If you had to describe this in one sentence then that aint half bad. My bottle was given to me by my mother who bought it in paris on release in the 70's, so i dont know about newer formulations. As a man i actually really enjoy wearing this once it dries down a little. One of the ultimate green scents of all time. Upon first spraying i cannot help but vividly picture dew rolling off the green leaves of flowering plants. Its uncanny. Just not exactly what i wanna smell like lol, at least for the first 30 mins or so. And when i picture dew, dont misunderstand me and think this is "aquatic" at all...the dew is part of how ALIVE, fresh and verdant the greeness is.

The 19 series is probably my favorite from Chanel. This one is no exception, absolutely wonderful scent, the only thing that keeps me from getting a bottle is its longevity, which is practically non-existent. Beware! I do have my Jacomo Silences, which is a great substitute for more than half the price.

Chanel N°19 EDT isn’t just a lighter concentration, it actually smells a bit different. It opens with moss straight away: dry, crisp, almost crunchy, with a green chalkiness that reminds me of fresh air against mossy stone walls. The iris here is thinner, stripped back, less creamy-oily than in the EDP. As it dries, it softens into something a bit soapy. Not fluffy soap, but dry and luminous, with maybe a touch of dried rose petals peeking out. Still powdery, still austere, but more open, less shadowed than the bitterness of the EDP’s peppery edge. Between the two, I lean towards the EDT. It has that same severe beauty, but with more light around it, more air to breathe.

I am obsessed with how this smells on my skin. It becomes so earthy, it downright starts smelling like incense, and I love incense. Its green but in a classy, unannnouncrd way, and powdery (the only one in my collection, I don't do powdery but alas who else but Chanel). It's unique and comforting. It's a classic. I prefer it in humid warm weather, but did excellent in the Mediterranean summer heat. Signature worthy. I keep reaching for it, like for a grounding hug. I like the EdT most, lasted longer on my skin than the EdP on a recent test.

Thanks Kefira for your beautiful review. Strength from the inside, not enforced by the outside. And 'Wear this, freshen up.' The right words at the right moment. I love that and I love Chanel No.19 Eau de Toilette since the day that I knew that I am in charge of my own life. And no one else.

This is another one I’ve been wearing for over a decade — mostly the EdT, then the Parfum Extrait. The EdP… not as much. This EdT concentration feels so special... How do I even put words to it...? It doesn’t declare “I’m clean” the way lavender or sage might. Instead, bluebell softens the sharpness of galbanum, creating a kind of freshness that feels unspoken, self-evident. The iris here doesn’t sparkle like silver or dazzle like diamonds. It carries the quiet beauty of pearls — austere, modest, yet deeply cultivated and nuanced. There is bitterness, yes — but not the sharp, confrontational kind that patchouli often brings to green compositions. Instead, jasmine and ylang-ylang keep their distance, while the dry cedarwood holds the line — not rudely, but with the most refined, elegant, and sophisticated grace. The sandalwood offers only a whisper of sweetness — but never at the heart of the message. You might earn that sweetness if you agree to meet it on its terms. Even then, it lingers beneath a sheer layer of mossy grey, courtesy of the oakmoss. ⸻ My first encounter with this No.19 EdT feels like forever ago… “I don’t think the green juice smells good… I like the pink one on you,” David, my then-fiancé, said. That was 21-year-old me, standing at the counter with him. In the end, we went home with Coco Mademoiselle. That’s how he liked me to be — smelling pretty. And that’s why, at 21, I couldn’t possibly understand No.19. I was fine letting a man decide how I should smell. The next time I encountered that “green juice” was years later — and I didn’t expect to meet it like that. I was about to end my immature marriage — married young, recklessly, without much understanding of what it really meant for either of us. Who gets divorced in their mid-twenties? Well… me. I had been sent to speak with David’s attorney. My very good friend Yvette handed me the green juice: “Wear this. Freshen up.” I wasn’t in my right mind — but whatever. A few spritzes on, and I was on my way to the conversation. At first, it didn’t even smell like perfume. Just… something strange, distant. But as I walked, it began to shift on my skin — the bitterness and the clean freshness weaving in and out, rising to meet me in the air between my wrist and my nose. Puzzling. And yet, irresistibly attractive. That day, I was reintroduced to No.19. On that day, it didn’t help me smell pretty for anyone. It gave me space. Composure. Distance between myself and the chaos. ⸻ At some point after that day, I added No.19 to my tray of staples — and went through bottles. I had married my career, pouring myself into it completely. I was no longer the girl who wanted to smell pretty for her husband. I had become independent and tough. Between 2016 and 2020, a special stage in my career, No.19 became my go-to scent. I was leading complex transformation programs as a program director, where a lot of moderating conversations needed to happen. Stakeholders misaligned. People in chaos. Fingers pointing. Office politics simmering. And there I was — appointed to make sure things got delivered. I’d step in, wearing this green juice. And it delivered the nuance for me. It said: Let me be here. Let me listen to your frustrations, your conflicting interests. I will make sure you are heard — but I will not promise to obey. We have results to deliver and tasks that need to be completed. I will appreciate your perspectives, even if they go against mine. But I will not absorb your opinions of me as a person into my own emotional weight. I know what I am doing.

The first impression is that it’s less sweet and more harshly green. So something like Guerlain’s Herba Fresca or other mints doesn’t quite fit here. We’re rather heading toward some kind of 'walls', clad in modernized suits — toward Flannel, Pour Lui, toward something dry, toward a lineup of herbs standing at attention. It’s not quite French Lover, but probably has something in common with Blue Bottle, maybe Éloge du Vert? It really is dry — it’s possible that only on skin would the modernization become more defined. But there’s definitely a nod toward Flannel here.

Absurdly, obnoxiously green. Sharp and beautiful. I barely get any iris in it, but I was very proud of myself for detecting Lily of the Valley and Galbanum all by myself. Unique, slightly bitter, very strong for EDT and lasts FOREVER (been 10 hours and it's still there).

First impressions after spraying it on paper for the first time: Old lady perfume 😭 That is literally all I get and I can't get past it. So disappointed. All your reviews are so poetically beautiful and making it sound like a masterpiece. I wanted it to be, I really really did... I share a birthday with Coco Chanel and this perfume was named for her birthday!! So I wanted to love this!!! But I don't 😭 If I dare test it on my skin at some point, I'll come back and share if I have anything different to say.

Chanel No. 19's scent profile is not only masculine in overall character, it is DECIDEDLY masculine. Only the marketing and history of Chanel sway perceptions. Reality is much different. When you have the predominant accords being Green, Earthy, and Woody, with Mossy not far behind, it's almost certain to have a masculine leaning. Bitter, earthy, green. The floral, white or otherwise, are subdued and don't manifest much. A two-dimensional reading of the note list suggests a very floral and feminine scent, but its not. Many people invoke "cut grass" as a descriptor, but I'd point to a mossy forest floor as a closer association. The mossy accord can't be short changed in this scent. It should be listed higher in the accord stack above, probably above Woody, certainly above Floral. It pairs with the galbanum well to impart the bitter green effect. It's an interesting artistic scent. It had been on my radar for a few years because of the reputation as a green scent, but I'm just now test wearing it from a vintage splash mini bottle. I don't have a ready close comparison to cite, but the bitter greeness conjures a slight comparison to Tom Ford's Moss Breches for me, although the two are significantly different.

Amazing, like you crushed hyacinths and freshly cut grass in your hands and smell the juice of it. It's so strong, fresh, clean and green smelling. I personally love it.

I’ve had small samples of this beautiful scent before, but never a full bottle … until now. Lately, I’ve been going through a green phase, and I was lucky enough to score a deal on two 100ml vintage bottles. I couldn’t be happier. I never understand those who say this fragrance is too feminine. I’m 6’2”, bearded, and nothing will stop me from rocking it! Chanel No. 19 is a stunningly bitter green scent that lingers on my skin for about 6–8 hours. It’s not overpowering; instead, it creates a fresh, airy aura around you. The sillage is just right. you leave behind a subtle yet intriguing trail, enough to be noticed but never overwhelming. It may not be a typical “compliment magnet” (it’s not drenched in candy floss and ambroxan ), but I’ve still received a few unsolicited compliments while wearing it. And honestly, that’s not what matters. What matters is that it’s a masterpiece, elegant and timeless,

tried a bunch of chanel ones at the airport i still cant warm up to N° 5 but I liked the others the most intriguing one was N° 19 it felt like fresh cut grass after a rainy day. I would love to get a sample

LOVE IT. PETRICHOR. I BUY IT , AGAIN AND AGAIN.

As much as I like this on my skin it's just a little bit too bitter, sharp and dusty for my liking. I absolutely adore N°19 EDP and thought I would love this as I've found that I prefer N°5 EDT to the EDP, but this version of N°19 is not for me unfortunately. It's still a gorgeous fragrance though but I just find the EDP suits my taste better.

Smells like a bad car freshner. Not a chanel smell at all.

unbelievably gorgeous and elegant. smells like walking through the gardens of versailles. possibly my favourite fragrance ever. 15/10

This is the bougie hippie scent. I wore this in the heat and humidity of Ubud Bali. After every yoga class I had many people asking what I was wearing as it smelt amazing. Mostly young people not yet exposed to the green fragrances. The dryness of it does not make it cloying. This is jungle rain on a freshly cut lawn, aristocratic jet setter vibe.

Way better than the 2023 formulation (or maybe because my bottle is old, and has been sitting for a long time?). Someone gave me a small bottle of the parfum, really liked it, when I saw someone selling this, decided to grab it right away. Very happy with my decision! Lighter and fresher than the parfum, but it's the greenness I'm after. Scent: 10/10 Projection: 8/10 Longevity: 7/10