The now and forever fragrance that is Chanel No. 5. A look at the perfume considered by some as the ultimate expression of womanhood.

The scent is extraordinary.

Chanel No. 5 is one of the most successful perfume brands of all time. Estimates put the number of perfume bottles sold everyday at 3 per second. The perfume is as modern today as the day it was launched back in 1921 by legendary designer Coco Chanel.

As the story goes, when Coco asked perfumer Ernest Beaux to create a fragrance for her, he presented her with 5 samples in numbered bottles. She liked number 5, and considered it a good omen since 5 was her lucky number, (her collections were always shown on the fifth day of the fifth month). From there, the legendary perfume was born. Chanel was also the first clothing designer ever to produce a fragrance, a trend which has been adopted by many others since.

Chanel No. 5 really took off 30 years after its creation, especially after being introduced in the US. The endorsement that sent sales soaring didn't cost Chanel a cent. In 1953, when asked what she wore in bed Marilyn Monroe famously replied, "Two drops of Chanel No. 5". Coco herself is also quoted as saying that one should put perfume only where one wanted to be kissed.

"I want to give women an artificial perfume. Yes, I really do mean artificial, like a dress, something that has been made. I don't want any rose or lily of the valley, I want a perfume that is a composition." adds Chanel. Categorized as a Floral-Aldehyde, Chanel No. 5 uses ingredients, especially jasmine, of an exceptionally high quality. It’s composition can be broken down as follows:

• Top Notes: Aldehydes, Grasse jasmine, neroli
• Heart Notes: Rose, ylang-ylang, iris, lily-of-the-valley
• Base Notes: Amber, patchouli, vanilla

Besides the scent, what added to the perfume’s success was its bottle design. Designed with sleek and simple Art Deco lines, it was painted no less than seven times by famed 20th century artist Andy Warhol. The bottle also comes with a label and box designed without color or ornamentation creating a sophisticated and elegant look.

The perfume is timeless.

Chanel No. 5 speaks of a traditional way of life that is of value to present and future generations. It speaks of inheritance, of shared experiences, and of a common history. Testament to this is a comment from one fan of the fragrance "I use it, my mother uses it, and I recently found out that my Grandmother used it for many years." Because of its strong scent, the perfume is often recommended for a woman which gave it an allure of maturity. Another fan adds "I like to wear it when I need to feel sexy, confident and sophisticated. I think this fragrance is a rite of passage for many young women. It would be an excellent gift for a young girl going to the prom or graduating from college."