Chanel No. 5: Story of a Perfume

A stunning two-book set, presented in a deluxe box that celebrates the most beloved fragrance in the world: Chanel No. 5

Arguably the most famous perfume in the world--most memorably endorsed by Marilyn Monroe--Chanel No. 5 continues to fascinate and claim millions of devotees around the world. Created in 1921 by Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, the perfume was one of the first to use synthetics. To complement her pioneering fashion, Chanel wanted to give the modern woman "a perfume, but an artificial perfume . . . not rose or lily of the valley . . . a perfume that is compound," presented in a distinctively pared-back glass bottle that would become an icon in its own right.

Presented in two volumes--a book dedicated to the early years of Chanel No. 5 from 1921 to 1945 and a volume exploring the period in which Chanel No. 5 went truly global, from the postwar years to today--Chanel No. 5 explores the evolution of the perfume's packaging, composition, manufacture, and marketing, with unprecedented access to the Chanel archives and those tasked with creating the fragrance today.

The world's leading creatives have lent their talents to the perfume's advertising campaigns, which feature prominently in the book, from photographers such as Richard Avedon and Helmut Newton, to film directors including Ridley Scott and Baz Luhrmann, and stylish muses--Gabrielle Chanel herself, as well as Suzy Parker, Catherine Deneuve, Nicole Kidman, Gisele Bündchen, Lily-Rose Depp, and Marion Cotillard. Presented in a high-end package inspired by the original perfume box, Chanel No. 5 will delight lovers of luxury, fashion, and perfume.


Author: Pauline Dreyfus
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
Published: 11/16/2021
Pages: 336
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 13.80lbs
Size: 16.70h x 14.70w x 3.90d
ISBN: 9781419750274

About the Author
Pauline Dreyfus is a writer and novelist. Among her prize-winning works of fiction are Immortel, enfin, which was awarded the Prix des Deux Magots in 2013, and Ce sont des choses qui arrivent, which won the Prix Albert Cohen in 2015. She has also written a biography of the author Paul Morand, which was published in 2020. She lives in Paris.