CHANEL | Marilyn Monroe Stars in New Advertising Campaign

A 20th-century icon finally arrives.

Marilyn Monroe stars in the new advertising campaign.

This May, a major exhibition in Paris,“N°5 CULTURE CHANEL”drew renewed attention to the allure of "CHANEL N°5." Now, a new advertising campaign for the fragrance, kicking off on the official website on November 21st, is set to roll out across newspapers and television.

Text by FUJITA Mayu(OPENERS)

The story behind "that one phrase."

CHANEL N°5 campaigns have always generated buzz, enlisting A-list actors like Brad Pitt and Nicole Kidman, and acclaimed directors. This time, the face of the campaign is none other than Marilyn Monroe, hailed as the most sensual actress of the 20th century.

"Just a few drops of CHANEL N°5 when I go to bed." Her unvarnished, somewhat sensational confession was published on August 7, 1952, in LIFE magazine, alongside her first cover feature. Marilyn Monroe, the woman deemed most sensual of the 20th century, an icon of new sensuality and a symbol of femininity at the time. Did she know, when she wore N°5, of Mademoiselle Chanel's vision upon releasing N°5 in 1921: "I want to create a fragrance for women, a woman's scent"?

©Bob Beerman

Regarding this now-legendary confession, CHANEL discovered an unreleased recording of her speaking spontaneously. The audio stems from a 1960 interview by Georges Belmont, then editor-in-chief of "Marie Claire," with the star of George Cukor's "Let's Make Love."

"The reporters asked me all sorts of things. For example, 'What do you wear to bed? Pajamas? A nightgown?' So I said CHANEL N°5. Because it's true... And I didn't want to say 'nude.' But it's true!"

Her bright, innocent, and free-spirited words live on in people around the world. A confession that heightens emotion and allure, stirring the soul. Through this confession, and Ed Feingersh's photographs of her sensually embracing the scent with a bottle of N°5, CHANEL N°5 is established as a timeless women's fragrance.

A campaign film inspired by the story of Marilyn and N°5 will be released on the official website starting November 22nd, followed by rollouts across newspapers and television from the 29th.The exhibition "N°5 CULTURE CHANEL" held in Paris this Mayoffers an opportunity to learn about the history and numerous anecdotes of the eternal fragrance "N°5," which also garnered attention there, and to rediscover its charm.

CHANEL Customer Care Center (Fragrance & Cosmetics)
0120-525-519
chanel.com