Traditionally, fragrances worn by women fell into two basic categories. "Respectable women" favored the essence of a single garden flower while sexually provocative indolic perfumes heavy with animal musk or jasmine were … See more

At the age of twelve, Chanel was handed over to the care of nuns, and for the next six years spent a stark, disciplined existence in a convent orphanage, Aubazine, founded by 12th-century Cistercians in what is now the Nouvelle-Aquitaine See more

In 1924, Chanel agreed with the Wertheimer brothers Pierre and Paul, directors of the perfume house Bourgeois, creating a new See more

Provenance of the recipe
Coco Chanel had wanted to develop a distinctly modern fragrance for some time prior to early-1920. … See more

Chanel envisioned a design that would be an antidote for the over-elaborate, precious fussiness of the crystal fragrance bottles then in fashion popularized by Lalique See more

1920s and 1930s
Chanel's initial marketing strategy was to generate buzz for her new fragrance by hosting a promotional event. She invited a group of elite friends … See more

• Coco Chanel (1937)
• Suzy Parker (1957)
• Ali MacGraw (1966)
• See more