"No 5 has always been a very alive perfume in the company," [Jacques] Polge continues. "It is our job to protect the creation, and we make all types of effort in order that it remains the same. Every time there is a change in fashion or in women's habits of using perfume, instead of altering what already exists, we launch a new product. First came Eau de Toilette, then there was Eau de Parfum, and very soon there will be Eau Première."
— From The Chanel No 5 story in The Independent.
I'm confused. I thought Eau Première was launched at least a year ago. In fact, I remember going to Chanel in the middle of July and getting a sample (I remember something akin to lemon-lime soda in the top notes and a more well-lit, scrubbed No. 5). Am I just crazy?
“A fragrance that lacks mystery is too obvious, it can never last very long.” If we applied,the 'mystery' criterion to the whole perfume production, 99.99 per cent of the fragrances released at any time would have to be culled. Let's do it!
It was here, exclusive at Saks, a year ago, and then was pulled, for whatever reason (I heard there was a problem w/ the juice, then I heard it was a problem with the cap, whatever) and now it is back and getting an official launch.
LOL — I'll vote for that!
Wouldn't it be great?
(Excuse rogue comma in my post.)
Is it just me, or is the following Polge statement a bit of BS?
“The perfumes that were around before No 5 related precisely to specific flowers… There was jasmine, rose, gardenia, lily of the valley… For me, No 5 was the first perfume that used flowers – lots of flowers – but that didn't immediately relate to one in particular.”
Most people probably give that honor to Jicky, 1889. Chanel no. 5 was obviously a milestone in other ways, but perhaps not that one.
Maybe the current world financial crisis will have something like the effect we're after, who knows?
And rogue commas ALWAYS excused, this place is riddled with them.
Exactly. It seems several Guerlain creations predating No. 5 were certainly not soliflores. I thought No. 5 was notable mainly as the first (or one of the first) uses of aldehydes to create a floral experience that was not a “natural” floral. Anyway, journalistic untruths irk me, even if falsehood wasn't the exact intent of whatever Polge's original statement was.
Given even my miniscule experience being quoted by the press, my sympathy is with Polge here. Who knows what got left out.