Reviews of No. 19 (1971)
by Chanel

One of my all-time favorites. Chanel 19 is one of those rare perfumes that really synthesizes so beautifully that it's difficult to dissect. On me, it's all-at-once fresh, floral & woodsy & has wonderful staying power. Fortunately, I don't get the powdery, aldehyde rush that some others seem to experience. A sophisticated classic that's nearly always appropriate (hot summer days being the exception for me).

To my nose, at least, there is a very significant difference between the EDT and EDP versions of Chanel No. 19.

The EDT version has a strange green heart that I cannot bring myself to like, and as time passes it takes on the character of Cristalle (which I do not like at all).

No. 19 EDP is a completely different fragrance.

It opens with a beautiful accord of bergamot and some sort of artemisia. This accord is one of the most beautiful things I have ever smelled, and it reminds me of the bergamot and tarragon accord in Givenchy Gentleman after it has calmed down.

The heart of No. 19 EDP shows Jacques Polge’s hand. Gone is the strange green heart of the EDT, instead replaced by Polge’s signature heart of rose and jasmine. This heart sings a glorious song all day, and combines with the bergamot and artemisia top to make this fragrance a masterpiece.

The base of No. 19 EDP is a combination of soft round woods and leather that never overwhelms or replaces the middle or top. It gives the fragrance great depth without being heavy.

No. 19 EDP is simultaneously vibrant, warm, and deep, and is a beautiful expression of the adage that the whole is more than the sum of its parts.

Again, my comment on Chanel No. 19, is the same as for all of the original Coco Chanel fragrances......."timeless and classic" Definitely not for the common, ordinary woman. The whole thing with "class" is, either you have it or you don't.

A masterpiece of perfumery, exquisitely blended, soaring verdant opening notes with a resinous timbre, delicate fresh and sombre floral heart with the lightest woods in the base.

For me most probably the finest perfume ever created.

One of the greatest frags of all times. Period.

No. 19 starts out with green notes supported by rich, sweet florals and the signature Chanel aldehydes, then quickly begins to brighten. Suggestions of sweet cut grass and frsh hay float around the aldehydic flowers, which in turn coalesce into a bold and well-rendered rose accord.

The sweetened green notes retreat slowly as No. 19 ages on the skin, leaving in their wake the rose note and some crisp woods. (Perhaps sandalwood and cedar?) The rose an woods become progressively drier over time, and after an hour or so on the skin No. 19 reads primarily as a rose-focused scent. By the third hour of wear the rose itself bows out to leave a soft, dry base of vanillic notes and sandalwood. This simple but gratifying drydown fades slowly until after no more than four or five hours on the skin, by which point it is barely perceptible. No. 19's merit lies in its, simple, clear accords and smooth progression, but I really wish it didn't leave in such a hurry.

The first real fragrance I bought myself, in the Galeries Lafayette, no less. I suspect I had Crystalle in mind, though, as this turned out no to be quite what I expected. I love the green aspects and the sharpness ( not soft of me at all, not remotely), but in the drydown the EDP sometimes, and only sometimes, goes very musty. I don't think it's a question of not liking 'older' perfumes, as it only happens sometimes. I'd say if you're in the market for crisp, interesting and ladylike, do give it a go.

I have waited half a year to write this review, because this fragance has became very, very special for me. I never expected to find a Holy Graal, when I started my deep interest in pefumes one and a half year ago, but I have actually found one! I have got several bottles after No 19, but nothing can take No 19´s place in my heart. I guess it is the coplexity in this frag I am so fond of. Owning both the EdP, EdT, deo and bodylotion, I can make No 19 suitable for every situation. This is the frag that puted an end on me buying so many bottles, and instead started the redusing of my perfume collection. Thank you, Chanel, for have created such a magic fragance!

If it was possinble, No 19 would get three thumbs up from me.

I won’t really go deep into the notes here, because it has been discussed many times before and I generally agree with most reviews here.
Fresh, green, light-dark, perspective, intriguing, shine, wet, etc, it almost feels like people are describing some painting, and wearing No19 would make you feel like you are wearing some sort of work of art, so those comments are correct to me.
I have to add here that DiorHomme and No19(EDP) share some sort of connection, after all , both are heavy in the Iris and Orris and everything in between, and it almsot feels as if they were related, like brother and sister. DH being the more moody of the two and No19 the optimistic yet melancholic one.
In any case, I think that the edt (Not the edp or extrait) version of No19 can be used by men as well, specially in the winter, well, at least that’s when I prefer to use it. Maybe even better if layered with a big dose of either bergamot or vetiver.

it's funny how different frags from the same house can do completely different things on your skin. if you, like me, smell like a desperate cougar at closing time when you try No. 5, then try this one. soft, subtle, and yet interesting enough to demand further attention. obviously not american. :)

In Eau de Toilette:
Sheer and simplistic. Cool notes of iris and vetiver reign, topped with a sparkle of lemon and galbanum, and a heart of violet leaf. Cucumber-like. Clean. Understated. Yet not at all conforming. It's leaves crushed by a pedicured hand and is best worn with white shirt, jeans and pearls.

In Eau de Parfum:
The floral heart radiates a greater warmth, as the essences emanating from the petals of a rose under the heat of the sun. Violet and orris and leather add a distinct edge of powdery texture that suggests cleanliness nature that is tamed by man to be well-mannered, like trimmed grass and shaped green hedges.

In Pure Parfum:
Neither too floral nor too cool or aloof. This is the joy of vetiver complemented by the coolness and greenness of galbanum, orris, cucumber-like violet leaves, and a few crushed petals of rose and jasmine. Delectable and unforgettable in a quiet, lady-like manner.

Maybe it's my body chemistry, but for the life of me, I can't figure out why this is classified as a daytime/office fragrance. On me, the sultry notes seem to pop -- oakmoss, musk, woods and something not quite incense.

I'm usually not big fan of greens, and I respect but don't really love most Chanels, but I love this -- it's wonderfully earthy, dark and complex without being overpowering. It's the perfect day fragrance for someone like me who needs a work frag, but tends to find most day/office scents a bit dull.

I like it best applied with a fine mist over a lot of territiory rather than in concentrated doses on the pulse points. The EDT I got online (Chanel label, not a decant) smeller dry, with a lot of incense and not much green. The full bottle of EDT smells greener, which leads me to believe the green notes may tend to fade over the life of a bottle.

First fragrance I bought my then gf in the late 80s because I liked it. Beautifully spicy yet fresh and a marvellous drydown. Kinda the perfect partner for Pour Monsieur, no?

Overcast October skies
New York cool wind
Leaves and leather on your feet
A million dollars in your room
Iris narcotic...No.19

My favorite Chanel. Roses with leaves. Open the refrigeratior, smell the cool petals and the greenery together. On the skin, orris emerges, powdery and rich, evoking the presence of a library of leather-bound books and a huge vase of old-fashioned roses.
No. 19 captures the scent of wild roses, those five-petaled, pink blossoms that grow in the countryside, unrecognized for their modest appearance, but known for their strong scent, which has not been bred out of them by human interference. They exude a strong, almost cinnamony fragrance. As the sun shines, the leaves exhale green.
Available in the U.S. only in Chanel boutiques in EDT, and well worth the effort to find. So exceptional that I will buy the parfum from Canada.

Very fresh and green at first, a beautifully complex scent. I have heard some people describe it as cold, not sexy, a power-fragrance, something one would use to intimidate in a corporate setting ... Never! It is elegant, yes, but never off-putting. A very alive and intriguing scent. It does express a distinct intelligence, and if that turns you off, so might this fragrance! Iris, leaves, wood, leather. Dappled sun and shade, early summer in a northern country.

Whatever I add to the comments already made in praise of Chanel N°19 will seem like a cliché. I will say, however, how perfect a scent this fragrance is. There have been maybe a baker's dozen, maybe more, wondrously perfect fragrances released over the past 150 years. It might be fun to have a round table with perfume experts and noses to discuss everyone's opinion as to what these might or might not be. I would assuredly put Chanel N°19 on that list. It has been ages (okay, it's been 20+ years) since I smelled the EdT, so my views on N°19 are based on the EdP, which is supposed to be closer to the parfum version than the EdT. On the other hand, I know there are those who swear equally by the EdT. Chanel N°19 is green, it's grassy, it's woodsy, it's classy, it's restrained, it's alluring, it's mysterious, it's perfect. I can see this going straight from daywear into the evening. This is the polar opposite of the loud sweet florals like Giorgio and like the cloying water babies that are all over the market today. The EdP is getting more difficult to find. My hope is that Chanel will keep it around. N°19 deserves a prominent place in the marketplace for generations to come.

Either you love it or hate it. I love it. It brings out the white-and-green facet of my otherwise oriental character. Henri Robert. 1970.

I was given No.19 as a present about six or seven years ago and my first impression was that I did not like it. I had not sampled as broad a range of fragrances then and I was also unfairly biased against Chanel because I really did not like No.5 at all. However I did notice that No.19 changed after 10 minutes or so with the rather tart and, yes, strong grassy overtones of the top notes making way for a most beautiful scent that I kept wanting to sniff. Needless to say I soon changed my mind about No.19 and fell in love with it.
Narcissus is very strong to my nose with No.19 and I associate the fragrance with springtime, the outdoors and early summer because of this. On my skin it dries down to a warm, bright sunny blend of the middle notes listed above (with narcissus strongest) which last forever.
I know Coco Chanel was a Leo but No.19's versatility and wearability suggest its own characteristics are closer to mercurial Gemini. It is chameleon like in its ability to be worn in any situation, dressed up or down and is IMHO the ultimate French perfume.
It has been difficult to try and give an impression of Chanel No.19 because to me it is so perfect and unique so I will finish with this which may help someone who perhaps ,like me, used to judge perfume too quickly: the first thing I like a fragrance to do for me is make me smile - with No.19 I learned that I sometimes have to give the best fragrances a little time to get to the smile.

Two enthusiastic thumbs up for Chanel #19! I must confess, in my earlier years this was a scent to completely steer clear of...BUT...now that I've matured, and am clearly aware of my identity, it is with great confidence I wear this glorious fragrance! Oakmoss and sandalwood are notes I was born to wear! The greens in this mix keep the moss & woods from being overly dry. Greens usually come off sharp on me - but not here. After reading previous reviews, I believe I am one of the fortunate ones who's chemistry breathes life into this blend. I'm loving this one!

Chanel 19 is one of my favourite fragrances, though as a 30 year-old woman I feel it can smell a bit too rich and mature on me. Hopefully one day I'll develop enough panache to pull this one off; but I always keep it on my vanity even if I don't wear it often. I prefer the EDP.

Absolutely one of the most elegant, sophisticated fragrances ever created, No. 19 is Chanel's masterpiece. Miles above No. 5, in my view, in its construction, balance, and overall tone. This is a true chypre, to my nose, and not a green fragrance, because of the prominence of smoky woods, moss, and leather throughout the drydown. Not a cozy, come-hither scent by any stretch -- it is inherently aloof, although it does have a dark emotionality at its core -- but one to be worshipped and admired.

Chanel No. 19 is a "green" fragrance, but it's not citrusy or conventionally fresh. It's remarkably sweet on my skin. In color language it smells like a jasminy, galbanum-covered green sapphire or a neroli-soaked, powdery very light emerald. In art mood it's Impressionist; mysterious, and impelling. It's almost other-worldly. I feel like Coco's ghost somehow permeates its essence. I can't say anything that other reviewers haven't said as far as describing the notes, but I must say that Chanel No. 19 is strikingly beautiful. No. 19 creates its own, provacative and stunning atmosphere.

No. 19 is a truly wearable green. Love the way the galbanum, iris, leather and vetiver notes unfold. (Please add vetiver to the base notes.) Edt is like a forest with sunshine filtering through the leaves; parfum is like those parts of the forest where sunshine cannot penetrate. That's my take on it anyway. Edp's notes are more blended together and not as individually discernable as in the other two forms, IMHO. Thanks for the opportunity to review and for a great website!