Chanel created Chanel No. 5, launched by Gabrielle Chanel in 1921.
The perfume was developed by perfumer Ernest Beaux, who presented Chanel with several numbered samples. She selected the fifth, helping inspire its name. The fragrance combined aldehydes with floral notes, including jasmine, rose, and ylang-ylang, producing a style that differed from many single-flower perfumes of the period.
Chanel No. 5 became closely associated with the fashion house and helped establish perfume as a major part of a designer brand’s identity. Marilyn Monroe’s famous 1950s remark about wearing only “five drops” at night further strengthened its cultural reputation, although it was not a formal advertising slogan at the time.
A common mix-up is confusing Gabrielle Chanel with Ernest Beaux: Chanel commissioned and selected the fragrance, while Beaux composed it.