The Secret of Chanel No. 5: The Intimate History of the World's Most Famous Perfume (P.S.)

Withitsrichgoldenhue,artdeco-inspiredbottle,andtimeless,muskyscent,ChanelNumber5istheworld'sbestsellingperfume.Reverentlyknownamongindustryinsidersas"lemonstre"-themonster-itisarguablythemostcovetedconsumerluxuryproductofthetwentiethandtwenty-firstcenturies.Yethowdidthispioneeringcelebrityfragrance,introducedintheearly1920s,eventuallytakeonalifeofitsown,becomingaculturalmonumentcelebratedbymillionsofdevotedconsumers?"TheSecretofChanelNumber5"isTilarJ.Mazzeo'sfar-rangingandfascinatingsearchbeyondthestuffoflegendtouncoverthefullstoryofNumber5'screation,iconicstatus,andextraordinarysuccess.MazzeogoesbackthroughtimeanddeepintothelifeofCocoChanel,thebrilliant,controversial,andsteel-willedbusinesswomanattheheartofthefragrance.Shetakesreaderstotheroseplantationsandcelebratedjasminefieldswheretheperfumebeginsandthentothelaboratoriesandboardroomswherescentandsexareforeverintertwined.AndshetravelstotheheartoftheChanelempire:31RueCambon,CocoChanel'sflagshipboutique,wheresixdecadesagoAmericanGIsstormedthecounterstopossessthemagicalelixirthatcapturedtheluxuryandromanceofParisfortheirgirlsbackhome.Ablendofevocativehistoryandthoughtfulresearch,hereisaglitteringaccountofwhereartandsensualityminglewithdazzlingentrepreneurshipanddesire:ChanelNumber5.