Chanel perfumes: from N°5 to Bleu de Chanel, 100 years of icons

The history of modern perfumery begins with Chanel N°5. Explore a century of legendary creations.

Coco Chanel's perfume philosophy

In 1921, Coco Chanel revolutionized perfumery with N°5, the first perfume to massively use synthetic aldehydes. She declared: "I want a women's perfume that smells like a woman". This philosophy of sophisticated simplicity and modernity runs through the entire history of the house.

The collaboration with Ernest Beaux, a perfumer of Russian origin, gave birth to N°5, named because it was the fifth sample presented. The minimalist Art Deco bottle became as iconic as the perfume itself.

The 8 Chanel perfumes in Perfumdle

N°5 (1921)

The world's most famous perfume. This floral aldehydic created by Ernest Beaux revolutionized perfumery by using aldehydes at high concentration for the first time, creating an unprecedented floral abstraction. Notes of neroli, ylang-ylang, May rose, jasmine, aldehydes. Marilyn Monroe claimed to wear only a few drops of N°5 to sleep.

Pour Monsieur (1955)

Chanel's first men's fragrance, a refined chypre created by Henri Robert. Pour Monsieur embodies French masculine elegance with its hesperidic and woody notes. Notes of lemon, bitter orange, cedar, vetiver.

N°19 (1971)

A green chypre created by Henri Robert as a tribute to Coco Chanel's birth date (August 19). N°19 is a bolder and more modern perfume than N°5, with a pronounced green facet thanks to galbanum. Notes of galbanum, iris, vetiver, leather.

Coco (1984)

A spicy oriental created by Jacques Polge. Coco pays tribute to the house's founder with a baroque and opulent perfume, perfect for the 80s. Notes of mandarin, coriander, rose, jasmine, opoponax, amber.

Allure (1996)

A floral oriental created by Jacques Polge. Allure captures the spirit of the 90s with its fresh and sensual composition. The concept of allure, dear to Coco Chanel, inspires this timeless perfume. Notes of bergamot, mandarin, peach, rose, vanilla.

Coco Mademoiselle (2001)

A fresh floral oriental created by Jacques Polge. Coco Mademoiselle quickly became one of the best-selling women's perfumes in the world. Its sparkling freshness (orange, bergamot) and patchouli-vanilla sensuality seduced a new generation. An emblematic perfume of the 2000s.

Chance (2002)

A round and sparkling floral created by Jacques Polge. Chance plays the card of optimistic lightness with notes of pink grapefruit, hyacinth, jasmine and white amber. The round bottle breaks Chanel's conventions.

Allure Homme Sport (2004)

A masculine woody fresh spicy created by Jacques Polge. Allure Homme Sport brings dynamic and sporty freshness to the Allure line. Notes of mandarin, neroli, cedar, tonka. A modern and versatile perfume.

Bleu de Chanel (2010)

A masculine woody aromatic created by Jacques Polge. Bleu de Chanel became a huge commercial success worldwide. Its aromatic-woody composition (citrus, ginger, cedar, incense, sandalwood) embodies contemporary masculinity. Chanel's quintessential masculine fragrance of the 21st century.

Summary table

The Chanel legacy

Chanel shaped modern perfumery by imposing three principles: creative boldness (use of aldehydes), sophisticated simplicity (streamlined bottles) and timelessness (compositions that cross decades). Today, Olivier Polge perpetuates this legacy as the house's perfumer-creator.

Related articles