It’s hard to believe that something so essentially modern is also a century old. Chanel No 5, beloved by icons of the 20th and 21st centuries from Marilyn Monroe to Marion Cotillard, is now an icon in its own right. The backbone of the Chanel empire since 1921, the quintessential feminine scent, created by perfumer Ernest Beaux and underscored by Mademoiselle Chanel’s deft hand at capturing the moment, is a revolutionary part of perfumery history that continues to capture the world’s gaze today.
Style Notes
Chanel centenary: Celebrating 100 years of the iconic No 5 perfume
Image: Supplied
It’s hard to believe that something so essentially modern is also a century old. Chanel No 5, beloved by icons of the 20th and 21st centuries from Marilyn Monroe to Marion Cotillard, is now an icon in its own right. The backbone of the Chanel empire since 1921, the quintessential feminine scent, created by perfumer Ernest Beaux and underscored by Mademoiselle Chanel’s deft hand at capturing the moment, is a revolutionary part of perfumery history that continues to capture the world’s gaze today.
Image: Supplied
Image: Supplied
Whether it is the modernist square bottle that is its unmistakable identifier, its celebrity brand ambassadors, or timeless floral olfactory composition that blends an unprecedented use of aldehydes, there’s no doubt that No 5 will continue to be a beloved scent for the next 100 years.
You might also like...
Chanel unveils its first Fragrance & Beauty boutique in Cape Town
Get that Hollywood glow with iS Clinical's Fire and Ice Facial
Local menswear brand, Fields, reimagines winter with artistic flair
• From the April edition of Wanted, 2021.