Revolt No 5

Revolt No 5 gestures at Chanel No 5, the century-old aldehydic floral built on a sparkling aldehyde-neroli opening, a rich iris-jasmine-rose heart and a warm sandalwood-vanilla-musk base that remains the reference point for abstract, powdery perfumery. Revolt No 5 doesn't attempt that aldehydic signature - instead it opens on bergamot, citrus and green notes, moving through a jasmine-lavender-spice heart into a cedarwood-musk-amber base. Taken on its own terms it's a pleasant, wearable fresh-woody-floral scent, but it bears little resemblance to the original's abstract, powdery character or its remarkable depth and longevity. Performance is modest too, settling into a light musk within a few hours where No 5 is famous for lasting well into the evening. Worth a try as an affordable unisex fresh scent, but manage expectations if you're chasing the actual No 5 experience.