CHANEL NO 5. It never disappoints. It's a sure-fire gift for any man to choose when he wants to please his loved one. Marilyn Monroe added to its already legendary status by divulging that she wore nothing else in bed. Andy Warhol immortalised it by using the beautifully-designed bottle as the subject of a series of silk screens.
There is a magnetic aura about this fragrance, an aura that Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel herself perfectly embodied. With her impeccable style and foresight, she made trousers fashionable for women, gave pearls a special, modern twist and put power into women's dressing. And she created one of the most successful perfumes in the world.
Chanel commissioned Ernest Beaux to create a fragrance that captured "the essence of woman", a scent that would make the wearer feel more beautiful. Beaux presented her with six fragrances. Lab bottle No 5 became the chosen formula and, as five was her lucky number, she decided to keep the name.
Imagine the glamour of visiting the Chanel boutique in the 1920s, with fitting rooms scented with No 5 and special customers given the fragrance with their purchases.
Chanel No 5 was said to be the first fragrance to develop a unique perspective and individuality when mixed with the wearer's own body scent. It was certainly the first perfume to use aldehydes, which changed the world of fragrance forever.
One of its key ingredients, jasmine, is still grown in the same fields in Grasse as in 1921, the year it was launched.
Of course, none of this would matter a whit if it didn't smell just gorgeous. Seductive, unique and unmistakable, No 5 has stood the test of time for 90 years and remains the world's best-selling fragrance with, it is estimated, a bottle sold every minute.
The latest addition to the range, Eau Première, is a new working of the classic ingredients, resulting in a lighter, airier version of the original. It should appeal to a younger audience, as well as to Chanel loyalists.
Eau Première is a very soft and fresh version of the original blend. Unlike its more serious grown-up sister, which many keep for special occasions, this is truly wearable for every day - try a spritz and you will be sure to have a premier day.