Chanel #5

Mostly dry and warm, like cedar shavings or the inside of a wooden drawer. Underneath that, fizzy and clean, the effervescent quality that makes classic perfumes smell like perfume.

It opens on aldehydes, ylang-ylang and neroli, moves through iris, jasmine and rose, and settles on sandalwood, vanilla and oakmoss.

• aldehydes: the fizzy, soapy sparkle that makes a classic perfume smell like perfume rather than like any one ingredient
• ylang-ylang: rich yellow flower, sweet and faintly banana-like with a creamy finish

It lasts well and carries into a room.

Built from the note listing and the measured performance figures. We have not smelled this one.