Chanel Celebrates No. 5’s 100th Anniversary With a Pop Art Beauty Capsule

Chanel No. 5 may be celebrating its centenary this year, but the venerable fragrance has always managed to stay fresh and relevant. Case in point: Chanel Factory 5, a fun and youthful new collection the storied maison is releasing today. The capsule consists of 17 limited-edition bath and body products with black and white utilitarian packaging inspired by everyday objects like tea tins, paint cans, and lab burettes. The line of body oil and lotion, shower gel, and bath tablets, is available online. International shoppers can visit in-person experiential pop-up “factories” located in Paris, London, Monterrey, Seoul, Chengdu, Hong Kong, and Kyoto. Each location is punctuated with colorful Pop Art-inspired product shots that serve as a nod to Andy Warhol’s famous depiction of Chanel No. 5 in his “Ad Series 1985.”

Named in 1921 for Gabrielle Chanel’s favorite number, (and the fact that when master perfumer Ernest Beaux presented her with 10 numbered samples in glass vials, she chose formula five) the fresh, aldehyde-laced juice and modern, streamlined bottle marked a sharp departure from the cloyingly sweet scents and overwrought crystal vessels prevalent at the time. Over the years, the iconic fragrance has been represented by celebrities like Catherine Deneuve, Nicole Kidman, Gisele Bündchen, Keira Knightley, Lily-Rose Depp, and even Brad Pitt. French actress Marion Cotillard is the scent’s current high-wattage ambassador.

The big birthday is also being marked by a special No.5-inspired collection of 123 pieces of high jewelry, including a necklace reminiscent of the iconic bottle that has at its heart a staggering D flawless 55.55-carat diamond. Dramatic? Mais bien sur. Mademoiselle would no doubt have approved.