The fragrance that says style
What do Marilyn Monroe, Catherine Deneuve, Nicole Kidman and Audrey Tautou have in common? They have all been ‘spokesmodels’ for Chanel No 5.
Monroe splashing the famous perfume over her body was one of the most successful advertisement photos ever, while Kidman’s Baz Luhrman-directed walk up a flight of steps surrounded by paparazzi, with a diamond-studded ‘No 5’ hanging down her back, was so iconic it was parodied by the late Jade Goody for a reality TV show.
The ‘world’s most legendary fragrance’ was the first from Parisian couturier Gabrielle Coco Chanel and has been on sale continuously since its introduction in 1921. When Chanel commissioned perfumer Ernest Beaux, he tried to capture the scent of the extreme freshness of the Arctic Circle, having been stationed there during WWI. Presented with ten options, Chanel chose No 5. It sets the benchmark for elegance and desirability and a bottle is said to be sold every 30 seconds.
The fragrance’s latest ‘face’ is Tautou: but she also played the designer herself in the film Coco Before Chanel, released in September.
Does Chanel No. 5 make your Timeless 50?
