Chanel No5 "Most Iconic Fragrance"

LOL! Yes, absolutely on those classics. But I'm with you - I disagree on those others, and perhaps not even respectfully! I can think of dozens of classic and modern classic replacements for those. Nevertheless, very interesting to see that no.5 is still ruling.

I think that the Nicole Kidman campaign for no. 5 has been perfect, and I wouldn't doubt one bit that it has helped maintain the product image. But I'm a huge fan of the new N°5 EAU PREMIÈRE, also - I think it's great stuff. I really wish my wife liked that one.

"Chanel No5 has been named the most iconic fragrance of all time in a poll of 2000 female Superdrug shoppers."

Maybe they didn't know what the word "iconic" meant.....?

From "icon...A person or thing that is the best example of a certain profession or some doing......"(Thank you WikiDictionary)

Great point! I know several people who would likely think that "most iconic" means that small images of the bottle would look nice on a computer desktop!

This is very interesting that you bring it up!!

From my reliable sources WITHIN the industry I know for a fact of two things (had blogged a bit about it in the past):

1) No.5 (regardless of what we think about it and how good it truly is) does VERY poorly in blind market tests ~but interestingly, it's the reverse in non-blind ones! This is basically the reason why they're busy bringing out those versions like "Elixir Sensuel" and "Eau Premiere": to lure the consumer who is wowed by the myth but doesn't particularly like the original smell (and they're very nice versions too).Also despite it being featured in best-selling lists (which my sources also tell me they are skewed in various ways, too long to elaborate now, sorry), from online discussions on perfume lovers' fora it dawns that although many have a bottle of it, few use it regularly (they either don't love it or save it for some special occassion).

2) the Nicole Kidman campaign was commercially deemed a flop due to various reasons (malcommunication all around ~remember NK saying she was wearing other things and receiving slaps on the wrist?~, diva behaviour all around, going over-budget by millions for the commercial, not reaching the expected audiences etc.)


I believe Chanel No.5 has iconic status for many reasons besides the smell itself (which as I told you I personally deem very good indeed): apart from the glam image of it being... Chanel, advertised by the very best "icons" through the decades (and receiving a HUGE boost by the famous Monroe quote), it also has a timeless packaging and bottle that appears very modern and straightfoward allowing every decade to project its aspirations to it. ASnd don't forget the myths around it, even for perfumistas: the first aldehydic (not true), the first synthetic (not true), the one which was made by mistake tossing so much aldehydes in (not true), the one mod Chanel picked by chance either due to blinding headache or through metaphysical reasons (lucky charm number etc)

I also agree that Coco and Eternity may be iconics. Beckham and TOP? Naw....


I find the quoted text in red especially interesting.

It's liek this with many high-end name brand items. Some people will own (or pretend to really really like) them because of the prestige. Others will so they don't look ignorant. (EVERYBODY likes Gucci, so I must, too.... or people think I'm cheap or stupid.)

I recently remembered a thread where a member asked if we bought our frags only at department stores or also at drug and discount stores. I suppose, some people feel that they MUST spend $$$ and carry a frag home in a fancy bag.

Chanel 5 was my 5th grade math teacher's favorite and when she retired, they gave her a bottle of the extrait.
Mrs. Nolan was her name, a total b*tch.

I don't care what anyone says. I have fallen in love with no. 5. The parfum version. and the edt. version. You can keep the edp.
This is one perfume I can see myself owning for the rest of my life.

Just for a moment, think about the public image of No 5 separately from the actual smell. To the person on the street, it represents 'Posh Perfume' and has some great associated brand values of style, classiness, femininity, good taste, chic, Frenchness, glamour and expensiveness. That little square bottle is truly iconic in that it has become a visual shorthand for an entire category of products, as well as being percieved as the best there can be.

It is enormously aspirational. I remember being a little girl and wanting to be able to wear Chanel No 5 like my Mummy. When I was 30 years old, my best friend was a Chanel No 5 girl and I wished I could be as classy as her. (Sadly, No 5 doesn't like me.)

Now before you all start shouting at me, I was talking about perceptions, not about the stuff in the bottle. It's a fantastic piece of engineering, the Chanel brand. Very well managed, too. They have developed a massive fragrance/cosmetics/skincare empire under the umbrella of that little square bottle. I bet it's that empire and the accessories (bags, shoes etc) that bring in the vast majority of Chanel's annual profits.

I think you're absolutely right re: the umbrella of Chanel 5 parfum. Chanel has always gotten that their brand's reputation hinges on the quality of their fragrances, especially No. 5. They've taken great care with the reformulations of their classics.

I love that square bottle, but it is the worst for storing parfum.