Cover Chanel once again applies its pioneering fragrance spirit to another exceptional project that champions an intensified version of a new Les Exclusifs fragrance, Sycomore Eau de Parfum (Photo: Courtesy of Chanel)

Revolutionary and instantly recognisable, Tatler looks at the evolution of Chanel’s celebrated aromas

When it comes to iconic fragrances, there’s nothing that quite matches that of Chanel N°5. Loved since 1921 for its signature floral-aldehydic scent, the timeless fragrance is one that has sat on the vanity of the generations before us, and will continue to hold its throne for decades to come. The Extrait Bottle is the most precious form of the scent—comprised using raw materials of the finest quality, including grasse jasmine and may rose, it celebrates the richest version of the pioneering original. Throughout the fragrance’s heritage, iterations of N°5 have continued to evolve with the times while firmly protecting its roots. Today it is a collector’s piece with an abundance of sizes and forms available.

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Above Throughout the fragrance's heritage, iterations of N°5 have continued to evolve with the times while firmly protecting its roots (Photo: Courtesy of Chanel)

While N°5 Extrait Bottle may be the ultimate Chanel fragrance, Les Exclusifs de Chanel is the ultimate in luxury fragrance collection. The unisex scents are reminiscent of each chapter in Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel’s life and character. Composed of rare and intricate ingredients, the fragrances embody the art of perfuming while celebrating the classic style of Chanel. As some such examples of storytelling, the exclusive range includes Coromandel Eau De Parfum—inspired by the coromandel screens, adorned with mysterious Asian flowers, that lined the walls of Mademoiselle Chanel's Parisian apartments—and Boy Chanel Les Exclusifs Eau De Parfum, which draws inspiration from the inseparable bond between Chanel and the love of her life, Boy Capel, through genderless botanical and woody accents

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Above Marion Cotillard Chanel Holiday N°5 (Photo: Courtesy of Chanel)

In time for this year’s holiday season, Chanel once again applies its pioneering spirit to another exceptional project that champions an intensified version of a new Les Exclusifs fragrance, Sycomore Eau de Parfum. This perfume, with notes of vetiver, cedar, and vanilla, was created by Olivier Polge, Chanel’s in-house perfumer creator. It draws its inspiration from the sycamore, the tree that echoes Mademoiselle Chanel’s childhood amongst the ancient volcanoes in Auvergne. This majestic scent is matched with the exceptional savoir-faire of Maisons d’art. Available in a limited-edition series of only 20 numbered pieces globally, each parfum is housed in an exclusive baccarat crystal bottle, sealed with a fine rubber and stamped with the Chanel double-C to preserve its precious scent. It comes in an intricate coffret, embroidered with beads and pearls by Maison Lesage artisans. For lovers of Chanel, the incredibly rare collector’s item is sure to shoot to the top of gifting wish lists this Christmas.

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Photo 1 of 3 Chanel Les Exclusifs, Sycomore Eau de Parfum (Photo: Courtesy of Chanel)
Photo 2 of 3 It comes in an intricate coffret, embroidered with beads and pearls by Maison Lesage artisans (Photo: Courtesy of Chanel)
Photo 3 of 3 Each parfum is sealed with rubber and stamped with the synonyms double-C to preserve its precious scent (Photo: Courtesy of Chanel)

Prolific packaging extends past the limited-edition Sycomore Parfum and into the entire range of Chanel N°5 scents. The fragrances are united by forms that pay tribute to the luxury of simplicity. Beautifully aligned with Gabrielle Chanel's famous approach to aesthetics: "always remove, never add", the bottles are instantly recognisable for their once-radical flat shape, which simultaneously references a hip flask and Paris’ Palace Vendome. The black and white packaging, minimalistic lines, and even the simplistic wording—N°5 was named after the fifth sample that perfumer Ernest Beaux offered to Mademoiselle Chanel—align with this ethos beautifully. Much like the fragrance inside, the silhouette is one that has seen subtle changes over the decades to match trends, such as a rise and retreat in the typeface and bottle’s stopper sizing. Still, with all the remastering and tinkering Chanel has so carefully applied, the timeless and legendary spirit that sits at its core never wavers.

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Above Much like the fragrance inside, the silhouette is one that has seen subtle changes over the decades to match trends (Photo: Courtesy of Chanel)

Explore Chanel fragrance at chanel.com

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