The Secret of Chanel No. 5 by Tilar J. Mazzeo, Paperback, 9780061791031 | Buy online at The Nile
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The Secret of Chanel No. 5

The Intimate History of the World's Most Famous Perfume

Author: Tilar J. Mazzeo   Series: P.S. (Paperback)

Paperback

Reverently known among fragrance industry insiders as "le monstre" - the monster - Chanel Number 5 is arguably the most coveted consumer luxury product of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. This title uncovers the story of Number 5's creation, iconic status, and extraordinary success.

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Summary

Reverently known among fragrance industry insiders as "le monstre" - the monster - Chanel Number 5 is arguably the most coveted consumer luxury product of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. This title uncovers the story of Number 5's creation, iconic status, and extraordinary success.

Read more

Description


With its rich golden hue, art deco–inspired bottle, and timeless, musky scent, Chanel No. 5 is the world’s bestselling perfume and arguably the most coveted luxury product of the twentieth century. In The Secret of Chanel No. 5, Tilar J. Mazzeo offers a fascinating account of No. 5’s creation, its rise to iconic status, and the legacy of its extraordinary success. Mazzeo delves deeply into the life of Coco Chanel, the brilliant, controversial, and steel-willed businesswoman at the heart of the fragrance. She walks the rose plantations and jasmine fields where the perfume’s life begins, and travels to 31 Rue Cambon, the center of the Chanel empire. A blend of evocative history and thoughtful research, here is a glittering account of where art and sensuality mingle with dazzling entrepreneurship and desire: Chanel No. 5.

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Critic Reviews

“This is one case where historical fact eclipses the legend and lore of the object itself there s much, much more than meets the nose to discover in these pages.”

"[Mazzeo] explores interconnections between designer and perfume, teasing out the relationship with delicacy." -- New York Times Book Review "[In] the skilled hands of cultural historian Mazzeo, [the perfume] becomes a magnificent window through which to understand [Coco Chanel] and her milieu... Impeccable research and crafting make a seemingly narrow topic feel infinitely important." -- Kirkus Reviews "This is one case where historical fact eclipses the legend and lore of the object itself-there's much, much more than meets the nose to discover in these pages." -- Booklist "Engaging." -- Wall Street Journal "Mazzeo's lush prose...never bogs down in the details-despite the extensive research showcased in the bibliography-and a smooth pacing keeps it moving along at a fast clip. This work is definitely recommended to lovers of 20th-century cultural history, Coco Chanel, and, of course, the world's best-selling perfume." -- Library Journal "Mazzeo has written an account of the rarest of things-an international olfactory icon-that fairly rushes off the pages. Here is the life of one of the 20th century's most interesting and deeply complicated women, a fascinating cultural history, and the story of an extraordinary perfume." -- Chandler Burr, New York Times scent critic and author of The Perfect Scent "The true brilliance of The Secret of Chanel No. 5 is Tilar Mazzeo's ability to take a subject one would never have thought possible to think very deeply about and then cover it so captivatingly. Who knew that such a tiny bottle housed so many secrets?" -- Michael Tonello, author of Bringing Home the Birkin "Anyone who's ever dawdled in front of a perfume counter will love Tilar Mazzeo's fascinating history of the perfume known simply as No. 5; her rich and witty account is as compelling as the fragrance itself. " -- Karen Karbo, author of The Gospel According to Coco Chanel

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About the Author

Tilar J. Mazzeo is the author of numerous works of cultural history and biography, including the New York Times bestselling The Widow Clicquot, The Secret of Chanel No. 5, and nearly two dozen other books, articles, essays, and reviews on wine, travel, and the history of luxury. The Clara C. Piper Associate Professor of English at Colby College, she divides her time between coastal Maine, New York City, and Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

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Back Cover

With its rich golden hue, art deco-inspired bottle, and timeless, musky scent, Chanel No. 5 is the world's bestselling perfume and arguably the most coveted luxury product of the twentieth century. In The Secret of Chanel No. 5, Tilar J. Mazzeo offers a fascinating account of No. 5's creation, its rise to iconic status, and the legacy of its extraordinary success. Mazzeo delves deeply into the life of Coco Chanel, the brilliant, controversial, and steel-willed businesswoman at the heart of the fragrance. She walks the rose plantations and jasmine fields where the perfume's life begins, and travels to 31 Rue Cambon, the center of the Chanel empire. A blend of evocative history and thoughtful research, here is a glittering account of where art and sensuality mingle with dazzling entrepreneurship and desire: Chanel No. 5.

Read more

Product Details

Publisher
HarperCollins Publishers Inc | HarperPerennial
Published
5th October 2011
Pages
320
ISBN
9780061791031

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11%
RRP $28.00
$24.90
Or pay later with
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