In 1921, while on holiday in sunny Monte Carlo, Gabrielle Chanel, already known as Coco, met a man who changed the history of perfumery – the French perfumer Ernest Beaux. This friendship gave rise to the creation of a fragrance that became a symbol of elegance, femininity and luxury.
Coco Chanel dreamed of creating an exceptional perfume that would be unlike anything before. She told Beaux: “I want a fragrance that smells like a woman, not like a rose.”
Beaux presented Chanel with a series of numbered samples. Among them was a formula with an unusually high content of aldehydes – synthetic components that could prolong the durability of the fragrance. Aldehydes were not popular because of their strong, unusual smell, but they gave the fragrance its novelty and uniqueness.
Coco chose sample number 5. Its composition included jasmine, May rose, ylang-ylang, sandalwood and a touch of musk - a mixture of 80 natural and synthetic components.
“Let it be number 5,” she decided, “I show my collections on May 5th, the fifth month of the year. This number will bring good luck.”
The design of the bottle was a real revolutionary step. At that time, most perfumes were released in ornate crystal bottles, but Coco chose minimalism: a laconic transparent bottle with a white label and a faceted stopper inspired by the outline of the Place Vendôme in Paris.
Her choice emphasized content over form, enhancing the luxury of the scent itself. The bottle resembled a man’s whiskey decanter and symbolized austere elegance.
Chanel No. 5 went on sale on May 5, 1921, in the Chanel boutique at 31 rue Cambon in Paris. There was a line for it on the very first day. It was a fragrance that erased boundaries.
Before Chanel, it was believed that floral perfumes were chosen by high society ladies, and sensual notes of jasmine and musk - by courtesans. Chanel No. 5 combined these elements into one whole, creating a perfume beyond classes, beyond time.
They say that the unique composition appeared by chance: Beau's assistant allegedly added more aldehydes than required, but these are just rumors. The formula of the fragrance is still kept in the strictest confidence.
Chanel No. 5 has remained an icon for over a century, confirming the genius of its creator. This is not just perfume - it is art, style and history, enclosed in one bottle.
Source:
vintageim.com
galeriedior.com
