From Catherine Deneuve to Margot Robbie: All the Faces of Chanel N°5

It’s just made the headlines: Margot Robbie is the face of the new campaign for the iconic N°5 perfume. Chanel and the Australian actress have had a longstanding relationship. Margot has been a Chanel ambassador since 2018, dazzling at festivals like Cannes and Venice in the French Maison’s dresses and jewellery. In this article, we bring you a list of the actresses who have been associated with Chanel N°5, each embodying a different facet of the woman of her time. This lineage proves that Chanel N°5 is a perfume that can transcend time, evolve, and never age.

In the video, you will see the making of Chanel N°5 with Margot, Luca Gardagnino and Jacob Elordi…oh, my heart!

Chanel N°5 – Coco Chanel

The N°5 perfume was launched by Coco Chanel in 1921, and created by the perfumer Ernest Beaux. Coco Chanel herself was the first face of the perfume in an advertisement that appeared in Harper’s Bazaar in 1931. The rest is history. The innovative blend of animal musk and jasmine became the most iconic perfume in history.

Chanel N°5 – Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe was never the face of a Chanel N°5 campaign, but the American actress immortalised the fragrance in a 1952 interview with Life magazine. When asked, “What do you wear to bed?” Marilyn replied, “Chanel N°5.” From that moment on, the perfume’s sexiness was established forever.

Chanel N°5 – Catherine Deneuve

During the 1970s and 80s, Catherine Deneuve, directed by Helmut Newton, added mystery and seduction to the perfume. In short testimonial films, the actress spoke about her relationship with a man who understood her and knew what she wanted. She whispers to the camera, “It doesn’t matter that I am Catherine Deneuve; he likes me for who I am. He brings me coffee in a small cup because he knows that it’s precious to me; he gives me Chanel N°5 because he knows that I apply it in a special place, behind my knee, and he understands that I don’t talk about feelings, but he lets me show them in other ways.” Deneuve simply nailed the image of the independent and mysterious woman.

Chanel N°5 – Carole Bouquet

In the 90s, the French actress Carole Bouquet became the face of the fragrance in videos directed by American directors Ridley Scott and Jean-Paul Goude, among others. Carole Bouquet represented a woman who led the game of love and seduction—a less mysterious but more decisive woman.

Chanel N°5 – Nicole Kidman

In 2003, Nicole Kidman became the face of N°5. Directed by Baz Luhrmann, the Australian actress portrayed a romantic woman who gives up everything to find true love, played by Rodrigo Santoro. Strongly inspired by the film Moulin Rouge, this was one of the most expensive commercials ever made. A three-minute version cost £18 million, with Kidman being paid $3.7 million for her work. Also in the 2000s, the French Maison announced French actress Audrey Tautou, followed by Brad Pitt and finally Gisele Bündchen as faces of N°5. However, Nicole Kidman defined the decade.

Chanel N°5 – Marion Cotillard

In 2020, the actress who personified Edith Piaf was chosen as the new face of Chanel N°5. The commercial, directed by Johan Renck, showed the French actress dancing on the moon with dancer Jérémie Bélingard. Marion represents a dreamer who celebrates love by dancing on the moon. In 2020, the N°5 woman is more relaxed, less emotional, and more playful.

Chanel N°5 – Margot Robbie

Margot Robbie, the 34-year-old Australian actress and star of “Barbie,” made her baby bump debut at the Los Angeles premiere of “My Old Ass,” produced by her company LuckyChap. She’s expecting her first child with her husband and business partner Tom Ackerley. Although the N°5 campaign will only air in October, the actress gives us a hint of what’s to come. The film for the campaign, directed by Luca Guadagnino, features Robbie alongside Australian actor Jacob Elordi. In an interview with Women’s Wear Daily, Robbie stated, “Guadagnino makes films about desire and how desire can both bring people together and drive them apart. He manages to create this sensual atmosphere in a very cinematic way.” Robbie and Elordi experience a missed encounter in the commercial. Robbie’s character is seen preparing for her date with excitement and anticipation. When the two miss each other due to a twist of fate, she laughs, dives into the ocean, and emerges into the light. “The woman I’m portraying in this commercial is very serene,” Robbie continued. “It’s not a palpable hunger. It’s more like a quiet confidence about her and a serenity that I really enjoyed portraying.“

Chanel N°5 – What are its notes?

N°5 Eau de Parfum by Chanel is a Floral Aldehyde fragrance. Its last version was launched in 1986 by Jacques Polge. Top notes are Aldehydes, Ylang-Ylang, Neroli, Bergamot and Peach; middle notes are Iris, Jasmine, Rose and Lily-of-the-Valley; base notes are Sandalwood, Vanilla, Oakmoss, Vetiver and Patchouli.
This floral bouquet features bright citrus top notes. Aldehydes create a unique presence, while the smooth touch of bourbon vanilla yields an incredibly sensual sillage.

Images Courtesy @Chanel, @commons wikimedia and @unsplash