The faces of Chanel N°5

Chanel N°5 is probably the most glamourous perfume of the XXth century, its myth sometimes unleashing all-consuming passions. And as one thinks of N°5, one woman instantly comes to mind : Marilyn Monroe; who, strangely enough, has not been the face of the fragrance in her lifetime. After she declared she wore nothing but N°5 to sleep, photographer Ed Feingersh made a series of pictures showing Marilyn in the intimacy of her home. A bottle of N°5 is immortalised by her bedside. She then «appeared» briefly alongside Carole Bouquet in an advertisment by Jean-Paul Goude in 1994. In 2013, Chanel finally decided to pay tribute to her with an ad made of archive images and recordings.

Osmoz takes you on a journey in time, to meet the women (and, sometimes, the men) who came and went throughout the history of the iconic Chanel N°5...

Have you ever seen this illustration by Georges Goursat (also known as Sem)? It perfectly catches the changes in women’s status in the 1920s and ‘30s, when the flapper, or even tomboy styles were a real hit. Women are free and fashion is only the first sign of this newly gained liberty! Born in 1921, Chanel N°5 is a produce of this era.

Who better than Gabrielle Chanel herself could have personified N°5? Her lucky number, and the extremely audacious formula she created have become an absolute classic, glamourous, and inspiring for modern women across the world. Coco Chanel’s portrait by famous fashion photographer Francois Kollar shows her at home, at the Ritz. This strong, magnificent woman is wearing perfume, and she shows it.

Not many know Marie-Hélène Arnaud, yet she was once coined «the Chanel Girl». She had left the world of fashion, but then came back as the star model who would present Chanel’s fifth ceation on the catwalk at every show.

Suzy Parker, often referred to as the very first top model, was of course one of the faces of Chanel. By Suzy’s side not one, but two men : Cary Grant and Fred Astaire. Here is the new code : women take the lead and men follow along.

To wear N°5 is also to embrace the luxury of a sophisticated, adventurous and independent woman. Ali MacGraw, in 1966, seems to need nothing more.

Actress and model Candice Bergen materializes the pleasure to wear perfume on one’s skin. This beautifully sober picture of her creates an intimate atmosphere that focuses on what really is essential : the fragrance.

In the late 1960s, Lauren Hutton is a well known model who has appeared on the cover of Vogue Magazine over 40 times. Hair blowing in the wind, full of life, elated, she is wearing a bright, colourful dress and seems to be floating freely.

With Cheryl Tiegs, Chanel takes us on a romantic adventure depicting an ideal couple and the bliss of having no other care in the world than love. Cheryl is beaming, the man escorting her never quite the same everytime.

Jean Shrimpton, figurhead of Swinging London, was «the face of the 60s», and in 2012 among Time Magazine’s all-time100 fashion icons. No wonder she was chosen for Chanel’s first fragrance.

During the 70s, Catherine Deneuve is already a world famous actress, and naturally became Chanel’s muse, for the American market, in a series of fun, charming ads.

Carole Bouquet’s history with N°5 lastet 10 years, in the 1990s. Her icy yet sensual chic is perfectly expressed in the now cult line : «You hate me, don’t you? Say it. Say that you hate me.», maybe leading to a fantastic declaration of love.

In 1998, Luc Besson’s advert reinvented Little Red Riding Hood, starring Estella Warren. The young woman is rushing towards the Eiffel Tower, while the wolf is howling out in despair. A happy ending for Ms Warren!

In the new millenium, Nicole Kidman is on the run and yearns for soothing, passionate love before she hits the red carpet once again. A short, glamourous film.

Then comes Audrey Tautou, both daring and quite moving in front of Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s camera. She is an independent and solitary woman who deeply touches the heart of that stranger whose path she meets again and again. No dialogue in this film, as images speak for themselves.

Chanel even recruited men, well a man, to deliver the message of N°5. As Brad Pitt declares his love to a woman who wears this perfume, one might wonder : does he incarnates N°5 or do all women? For each and every woman who watched this confidential and visionary ad could be the heroine. An audacious choice indeed!

Finally, more than a nymph, Gisèle Bündchen is Venus drawing strength from the ocean. Free and brave, she is a woman fully at ease with her feelings, her desires and all the aspects of her life. This contemporary vision of what makes the femininity of Chanel N°5 revives the strengths of a multi-faceted fragrance.

Now share with us : who is your favourite incarnation of Chanel N°5? Who would you like it to be, in the years to come?