First published 2010
Chanel No. 5 became the most famous fragrance in the world, but its creation and rise to dominance involved more secrets than anyone imagined. Tilar J. Mazzeo uncovers the complete story behind this iconic scent, which the fragrance industry calls "le monstre." Her investigation begins with Coco Chanel's early business triumphs and follows the perfume's development through its breakthrough moment in the 1950s. Mazzeo reveals how this single fragrance maintained its bestseller status despite intense competition in today's saturated perfume market. The book combines the biography of one of the twentieth century's most complex and intriguing women with a cultural examination of how a fragrance can shape an entire industry. Readers discover the business strategies, personal relationships, and cultural forces that transformed a small bottle into a global phenomenon.
Genres: biography, history, 20th-century, business, 21st-century, fashion
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: biography, cultural-examination
Setting: France
Period: 20th Century, 21st Century
320 pages · Kindle Edition · HarperCollins e-books