3+2=... - 21

The Essence Vault's No. 21 sets out to recreate Chanel No 5, arguably the most recognisable fragrance ever made, and it leans hard on that bright, effervescent aldehyde opening to get there. The first ten minutes are genuinely close - a sparkling, almost champagne-like fizz that immediately signals 'aldehyde floral' the way No 5 does. The heart brings in ylang-ylang, iris, and rose to chase No 5's famous abstract bouquet, and here the resemblance softens: the original's heart is built from dozens of blended florals into something that reads as a single, seamless accord, while No. 21 leans on three or four recognisable notes sitting closer together than truly fused. The base is where the gap widens most - No 5's iconic powdery, sandalwood-and-musk drydown has a soft, skin-like warmth that lingers for hours, whereas No. 21's base is noticeably thinner, fading into a simple clean musk well before the original would still be present. It's a fair, budget-friendly way to sample the aldehyde-floral category if you've never tried it, but anyone who knows the real No 5 will clock the difference by the two-hour mark.