Happy birthday Chanel No. 5

Today in 1921 Coco Chanel launched her famous fragrance, Chanel No. 5. The fifth day of the fifth month.

There are many theories for the name. Some said that Chanel considered 5 to be her lucky number, others that this was the 5 fragrance she tried and selected it for her first perfume. In any case Chanel No. 5 continues to be an iconic fragrance like no other.

In the beginning it was an exclusive fragrance sold only to her clients. At a time when perfumes were mainly single notes (only one aroma) Chanel wanted something complex for her fragrance, a mix of aromas.

Happy birthday No. 5

Fotos: Cakes with the Chanel logo and a real Chanel No. 5

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Beauty in Paris

So I just came back from Paris a few days ago. I love the City of Lights. I had so many expectations of Paris, that I thought, maybe, it is going to let me down. I read that some Japanese people get depressed after returning from Paris, because they had so high expectations of the place. Paris definitely did not let me down.

There are only a few things that I did not like in Paris. One is the price of luxury goods (the lower value of the US dollar makes it appear even more expensive). Some items are more expensive than in the USA. One more thing,some of the luxury boutiques, such as Chanel, located on the very posh Avenue Montaigne do not look as "plush" as one may think. I bought an overpriced Chanel No. 5 perfume there and I was neither impressed by their decor nor their customer service.

Luxury brands are everywhere in Paris. Avenue Montaigne is one of the most expensive and exclusive areas of the city and has many of the brands such as Gucci, Chanel and Escada. In this street you see elegant women in stilettos walking their poodles, exactly as they show it in the movies. It is an interesting place that looks so far from the rest of this vibrant city.