15 Iconic CHANEL No.5 Ads

In honor of Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel’s birthday, we decided a Chanel No.5 history lesson was in order. The fragrance was developed by perfumer Ernest Beaux developed the scent in 1921. He worked closely with Chanel to create, what she called “a woman’s perfume with a woman’s scent.” Beaux utilized everything from jasmine to ylang-ylang, combining 80 scents to create the bouquet we have today. It was his fifth sample that Chanel signed off on, which is where the best-selling fragrance gets its name.

During WWII, GIs flocked to the Chanel boutique on Rue Cambon to bring bottles home for their wives and in 1959, Chanel No.5 was honored at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City with a series of silkscreens produced by Andy Warhol. But perhaps the best endorsement of the fragrance over the years came from Marilyn Monroe, who said Chanel No.5 was the only thing she wore to bed.

Over the years, everyone from Chanel herself to Brad Pitt have been a part of the ad campaigns for the scent, so we thought it fitting to take a look back at the best of them. Here are 15 iconic ads for the most iconic fragrance.

Photos: Chanel

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