The Best Chanel No. 5 Dupes: 5 Affordable Options That Smell Similar

We can all probably think of that one friend of our's who always smells good. She has a signature perfume she wears everyday that wafts through the air wherever she goes that makes her extra confident and helps her put her best foot forward. And it's very likely that classic and sought-after Chanel No.5 is her go-to perfume. So if you'd like to emulate this scent (and the feeling that comes with wearing it) without dropping a pretty penny on a luxury scent, you've come to the right place. The designer perfume costs $138 for 1.7 oz. (and $172 for 3.4 oz.), but we found the best Chanel No. 5 dupes that are identical to the iconic fragrance. Read on for the affordable ones that are sure to put a pep into your step and leave you smelling divine.

What does Chanel No. 5 smell like?

Chanel No. 5 can be considered feminine and delicate, and was even famously worn by Marilyn Monroe. It was created in 1921, and has continued to be a global sensation today, worn by multiple generations from gen Z to baby boomers and everyone in between. It's a scent that your grandma may wear, as well as a 21-year-old college student. Its history of spanning across all ages for over 100 years is unmatched: it is truly one of the most iconic perfumes ever made.

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With notes of floral aldehydes, jasmine, neroli and sandalwood, Chanel No. 5 can be described as a powdery floral fragrance. It even has a touch of bourbon vanilla, and its top notes smell a bit citrusy due to May rose and jasmine. It's a complex scent that smells very unique and slightly mysterious.

Why is Chanel No. 5 so popular?

You may be wondering what makes Chanel No. 5 so special, and the answer lies in its history and uniqueness. As explained above, the fragrance has a rich history dating back over 100 years, and has been worn by numerous icons.

What's more, Chanel No. 5 was the first in the world to be considered an "abstract" perfume. "Abstract" in perfume terms means there is the main or primary scent was made by using multiple ingredients in combination that don't smell like any natural ingredient. Since Chanel No. 5 was the first to do this, it became highly sought after and was considered to smell very unique.

For a brief history on Chanel No. 5, watch the below video from TikToker @_elaniejohnston .

The 5 best Chanel No.5 dupes

Keep reading for our top picks for Chanel No. 5 dupes that will save you a pretty penny.

Dossier Floral Aldehydes

Dossier is known to have dupes of many of the most well-known luxury perfumes, from Tom Ford to Maison Francis to, of course, Chanel. Under each perfume on their website, they say which iconic scent it was inspired by. The Dossier Floral Aldehydes Eau de Parfum was inspired by Chanel No. 5, and has top notes of aldehydes, neroli and bergamot; middle notes of ylang ylang, jasmine and May rose; and base notes of vetiver, sandalwood and orris.

Alt. 5 perfume

The Alt. 5 perfume costs just $29 for 2 oz., making it significantly more affordable than the OG Chanel No. 5. It has top notes of aldehydes, ylang ylang, bergamot and lemon; middle notes of Lily of the Valley, rose, iris and jasmine; and base notes of amber, sandalwood, musk, vanilla and patchouli.

Coty L'aimant Parfum De Toilette Spray

Believe it or not, this Chanel No. 5 dupe, Coty L'Aimant , costs just $15 on Amazon for 1.7 oz. One Reddit user said, "I order L’Aimant and it has exactly all the notes in Chanel No. 5 and price is $20 or so." One caveat, though: "The only thing negative is the scent literally lasts just a few hours at max. Not bad for $20 vs $140 for Chanel No. 5, but it is definitely a down side."

Oakcha Ruby 34 Perfume

With highlight notes of ylang ylang, iris, vanilla and sandalwood, the Oakcha Ruby 34 perfume has a very similar powdery-floral scent as Chanel No. 5. It costs $60 for 1.7 oz., which is about a third of the price of the original. Other notes include lemon, jasmine, rose and vetiver, to name a few.

Instyle Fragrances Impression Spray Cologne Inspired by Chanel No. 5

Did someone ask for a Chanel No. 5 drugstore dupe? Well, we found it. This impression fragrance costs just $11.99 at Walgreens for 3.4 oz. (!!).

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