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The year 2021 marks the 100th anniversary of the iconic Chanel No. 5 fragrance. The powdery yet floral perfume is arguably the most famous scent in the world. Fashion designer and socialite Coco Chanel solicited the "nose" of perfumer Ernest Beaux of Grasse, France (the perfume Capitol of the world) to create a clean fragrance for her. The sample bottles he provided were number 1-5 and 10-24. She selected number 5 and that is where the name comes from.
Characteristically the scent is clean, made with notes of jasmine, ylang ylang, rose and sandalwood draped in aldehyde to make it last on the skin. Throughout its lifespan, Chanel No. 5 has changed slightly in bottle shape and formulation but the essence of the original parfum remains and has retained popularity.
This year Chanel released Chanel L'Eau, a fresh and modern take on the classic that was packaged in a white bottle. Co Co first introduced her fragrance to a group of elite friends at a dinner party she hosted. The company has stuck to using influencers and celebrities to market the perfume. "L'Eau" reaches out to a younger generation with as the model representing it in the advertising campaign. The brand chose 17-year-old actress, model and social media influencer Lily-Rose Depp (daughter of Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis) to represent L'Eau in the ad campaign. Several retailers told The Slice that young women in their twenties already reach for the classic.
To celebrate, the the centennial of the beloved fragrance, the French fashion house took over the Rockefeller Center in New York City from November 6th-12th for a week-long celebration called "No. 5 in the Stars". From Chanel perfume shaped displays to the famous No. 5 logo etched into the skating rinks ice, the public was able to immerse themselves in the world of Chanel. The history of each bottle was presented beside the life-sized bottles. A pack of Chanel stickers were given away to those who participated in the quizzes that were set up in one of several booths. A highlight of the experience was the outdoor exhibition where the fragrance-curious could find your Chanel No. 5 scent, as well as the Chanel No. 5 lounge where you could snuggle up with a themed hot chocolate.
For those who missed out on this special occasion, there is no need to fret. You can still mark the perfume's anniversary by spritizing on the scent at your nearest Chanel counter, or splurging on one of the new limited edition No. 5 bottles, body sprays or hand lotion released in honor of the 100th anniversary at www.chanel.com.