I Sniffed Every Chanel Perfume—Here’s My Definitive Ranking

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On top of every single vanity lined with the best perfumes, you’ll always find Chanel. It’s practically a rite of passage for the bougie and beauty obsessed. Not only are the bottles beautiful and classic, but every single scent feels so rooted in the history of the house. Everyone knows someone in their life who proudly donned Chanel No. 5, and it’s practically etched into our brains as the ultimate status of glamour and overall chicness. But hear me out: There’s so much more to Chanel than No. 5, but—dare I say it—some of the best Chanel perfumes are the ones you may have never smelled (or heard of) before.

A few of my Cosmo colleagues and I took our noses on a scent journey through all of Chanel’s perfumes—literally, every single one—to come up with the ultimate Chanel perfume ranking below. Read all of our thoughts on the classics, like Coco Mademoiselle and Bleu de Chanel as well as our reviews of a few hidden gems (ahem, my new favorite fall fragrance). Here’s a sneak peek:

Now, scroll on for all of our top favorites, starting with our number one pick of all. And keep reading for the need-to-know info on choosing the best Chanel perfume for your vanity.

Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum

Coco Mademoiselle is far and away the best Chanel perfume, according to our editors. During a blind spritz session, Veronica Lopez, Cosmo’s sex and relationships editor, immediately knew this was Coco Mademoiselle because it’s her personal favorite scent. The notes are all blended seamlessly, so you don’t immediately pick up on any specific note or scent family—it just smells clean and dainty (probably thanks to the orange and rose, which balance out the smokey, rich patchouli). If the “clean girl aesthetic” had a scent, it would be this.

• Type: Eau de parfum

• Notes: Orange, patchouli, turkish rose

THE REVIEWS: “This fragrance smells so clean!” writes one tester. “I receive a lot of compliments and it lasts all day. Well worth buying the largest size.”

Chance Eau Fraîche Eau de Parfum

The best compliment I could ever possibly receive? “You smell good.” Which is the very first thing a guy said to me on a date while wearing this perfume last week. Then a random person in line at the grocery store. And then my Uber driver. Then my coworker. The compliments kept coming. And I totally get why. This fresh, citrus perfume is the epitome of summertime. It smells bright and happy—and my fellow New Yorkers apparently agreed.

• Type: Eau de parfum

• Notes: Lemon, pink pepper, jasmine, iris, patchouli

THE REVIEWS: “This fragrance smells so clean!” writes one tester. “I receive a lot of compliments when I wear it and it lasts all day. Well worth buying the largest size.”

Coco Mademoiselle L’eau Privée Eau Pour la Nuit

I get it: Not everyone is into a spicy, earthy patchouli perfume. (Can’t relate tho!) If that sounds like you, then you should def try this Coco Mademoiselle flanker, L’Eau Privée, which was loved overall by our testers. It has a delicate, floral scent that doesn’t smell powdery or like a grandma (no offense grandma). Instead, it goes sweet rose, thanks to the warm white musk notes. Just keep in mind that this perfume doesn’t project a ton and sits really close to your skin, so don’t expect for everyone in the room to get a whiff when you walk in. But they will smell you when they’re close, like in a hug or handshake.

• Type: Eau de parfum

• Notes: Mandarin orange, rose, white musk, jasmine

THE REVIEWS: “The frosted glass vessel is absolutely stunning,” writes one tester. “Whenever guests see this on my vanity, they compliment the packaging. I love the gorgeous, elegant smell of luxurious florals.”

N°5 Eau de Parfum

Arguably the most iconic fragrance of all time, Chanel No. 5 is a frickin’ classic—and it smells like it too. Yes, it’s very strong and powdery and reminded every single tester in our office of their grandmother. But (!) upon learning it was Chanel No. 5, everyone said they felt a pang of nostalgia, knowing a sister, aunt, cousin, or family member who wore this and was immediately transported to another time.

IMO, the best way to wear this Chanel perfume is mixing it with other scents to give it a fresher, lighter feel. My personal favorite combo? A tiny dab of Chanel No. 5 underneath a spritz of Chanel Chance—they bring out the best in each other, and I get compliments every single time I layer them together.

• Type: Eau de parfum

• Notes: Aldehydes, jasmine, neroli, sandalwood

THE REVIEWS: “Long-lasting scent and the bottle looks nice on my dresser,” one reviewer writes. “Yes, the scent is perhaps a little old-fashioned and not too subtle, but I like it. A bit powdery, a little warm, a little floral.”

Chance Eau Tendre Eau de Parfum

If the thought of dousing yourself in a powerful perfume is making your head hurt a lil bit, lemme intro you to Chance Eau Tendre. It’s basically Chanel’s most citrusy, fresh scent, per our testing. But don’t let the fruitiness fool you—this could so easily be worn year-round, for either day or night. The added musk and rose really balances it all out and leaves you smelling like you just took the best everything shower.

• Type: Eau de parfum

• Notes: Grapefruit, quince, rose, white musk

THE REVIEWS: “Stunning if you love a scent that is sweet and fresh, like you just stepped out of the shower but just a touch richer. Lasts really well on the skin, hair, and clothes! People will absolutely ask you what perfume you use!"

Bleu de Chanel Parfum

So, technically, this is often described as a men’s cologne, but obviously, gendered fragrance is so not 2023. It definitely does smell like how I imagine spokesman Timothee Chalamet smells though—woodsy, spicy, warm, hot, IDK! Hot tip: Pair it with a lil spritz of a vanilla perfume (I love Dedcool Milk, a musky layering fragrance) to bring out some of the sweetness and depth.

• Type: Eau de parfum

• Notes: Pink pepper, jasmine, cedar, sandalwood, patchouli

THE REVIEWS: One review reads, “Wow, quite possibly the best men’s cologne I’ve ever smelled. I spent a good 45 minutes in Sephora sampling all the men’s fragrances and kept going back to this one. There’s a reason..the second my husband sprayed it on, I wanted to devour him. Our room smelled like him for a few hours once he left for work. I am obsessed.”

Coco Noir Eau de Parfum

If you like the vibe of Chanel No. 5 but feel like it leans a bit too powdery and ~mature~, I highly recommend trying try Coco Noir. It has a similar patchouli-based, floral DNA but with vanilla and white musk that gives it a more hot, going-out vibe. Pair it with diamonds, faux fur, and a classic Chanel flap for ultimate rich person energy.

• Type: Eau de parfum

• Notes: Orange, geranium, jasmine, patchouli, white musk, vanilla

THE REVIEWS: “What a beauty,” writes one reviewer. “Coco Noir is classy, delicate yet hot in a very innocent way. I can’t get enough of it.”

Coco Eau de Parfum

I sniffed this and immediately stuffed it in my bag to bring home because I already know I’ll be wearing this all fall and winter. It’s warm and woodsy, which I love when the weather cools down, but it still has that fresh, clean vibe Chanel is known for that makes it feel more sophisticated and unique. I can’t really pinpoint the floral notes necessarily but can tell that this is more refined than my typical sandalwood-esque fall perfumes.

• Type: Eau de parfum

• Notes: Amber, cloves, orange blossom, sandalwood, tonka bean, rose

THE REVIEWS: “This is my signature fragrance,” one reviewer writes. “I’ve been wearing it since I was 13 years old. I would describe the fragrance as sexy/dark. Great for nighttime wear and as in typical Chanel style, it lasts a long time on the body!”

Gabrielle Chanel Eau de Parfum

Wondering what springtime in Paris smells like? I’m pretty sure it’s Gabrielle by Chanel. This fragrance is chock-full of varying floral notes that combine really seamlessly to make a soft, gardeny scent. I’m officially keeping this perfume at my desk at the office because it’s not overpowering or headache-inducing in the slightest (you’re so welcome to everyone who sits around me!).

• Type: Eau de parfum

• Notes: Jasmine, orange blossom, ylang ylang, tuberose, musk

THE REVIEWS: “This is my signature fragrance,” one reviewer writes. “I’ve been wearing it since I was 13 years old. I would describe the fragrance as sexy/dark. Great for nighttime wear and as in typical Chanel style, it lasts a long time on the body!”

Chance Eau de Toilette

Did you also have this perfume in high school/college or were you ~not like the others~? Immediately upon smelling this again for the first time in nearly a decade, I knew what it was. It smells quite herbal and green—thanks to patchouli, jasmine, hyacinth, and iris—but has a slight hint of sweetness from pineapple. If you like a fresh scent but aren’t a big fan of dainty florals, this is def the Chanel perfume for you.

• Type: Eau de toilette

• Notes: Patchouli, hyacinth, iris, jasmine, vanilla, pineapple, rose

THE REVIEWS: “I have always loved my Chance fragrance,” writes one reviewer. “It always feels so sophisticated and elegant. I do think it’s a lighter fragrance but lovely just the same.”

How to choose the best Chanel perfume for you:

Decide on a scent family.

There’s definitely an option for everyone in Chanel’s perfume lineup. If you want a floral scent, I suggest trying Gabrielle. But if you want something more fruity and summery, you can opt for Chance Eau Fraîche, which features a mix of citrus notes that smell very fresh. Or if you want a blended, light scent, the best Chanel perfume we tested was Coco Mademoiselle, a very clean, simple fragrance.

Consider the intensity level.

Make sure you choose an eau de parfum (as opposed to an eau de toilette) if you want your scent to have a strong projection and last hours upon hours. Remember: Eau de parfums (or EDPs) have a stronger concentration of perfume oils than eau de toilettes (EDTs), which make them more powerful.

FWIW, most of my favorite Chanel perfumes were EDPs because I loved not having to worry about reapplying throughout the day. But if you prefer a lighter scent, you might like the EDT options a little bit more.

Why trust ‘Cosmopolitan’?

Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with five years of experience researching, writing, and editing beauty stories that range from 2023 makeup trends to “Botox in a bottle” serums. She’s an authority in all beauty categories but an expert when it comes to fragrance and the best Chanel perfumes after sniffing every single one available firsthand, then connecting with fellow Cosmo editors to come up with a full ranking.

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