Views from a Paris window   +  review

Chanel Nº5 and the Audrey Tatou TV Commercial

It would be wrong to write a perfume blog without mentioning Chanel Nº 5. This beautiful, beautiful TV commercial, featuring the gorgeous Audrey Tatou says so much on its own.

What's left to say about Chanel Nº 5 that hasn't already been said so many times before? The perfume's official notes are (famously) aldehydes, bergamot, lemon and neroli. Middle notes are jasmine, rose, lily of the valley and orris. And the base notes are vetiver, sandal, vanilla and amber.

The perfumer, Ernest Beaux, allegedly presented this as the fifth sample to Coco Chanel amongs a range of perfumes. The name stuck, and it was launched on the fifth day of the fifth month in 1921.

At the risk of being contrary, this isn't a perfume that I feel passionate about. I enjoy the buttery, almost almondy middle notes when the 'old lady's handbag' opening has faded. It's difficult to have a fresh appreciation of a smell that's so familiar and has been worn by so many people. But Chanel Nº 5 is king of king amongst perfumes. And long may that last.