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Few icons can match Marilyn Monroe, especially when it comes to fragrance and beauty. You’ve probably heard that she loves Chanel No. 5, but thanks to avid perfume lovers, we know more than ever about Monroe’s favorite perfume.
Chanel No. 5 drop
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Who hasn’t heard Monroe’s infamous words about the iconic Chanel No. He talked about the perfume in an interview.
“Once this person says, ‘Marilyn, what do you wear to bed?'” Monroe explains. “That’s why I said I’d only wear Chanel No. 5.”
She was only 26 years old at the time.
This is a quote repeated throughout Monroe’s career, and she repeated it and tweaked it depending on her position. In 2013, Chanel released archival footage and never-before-seen photos of Monroe in a Modern Screen shoot, in which a bottle of Chanel No. 5 can be seen by her bedside. Research by perfume enthusiasts has revealed several other scents that Monroe wore, but it’s clear that she preferred Chanel No. 5.
But this quote is not just referring to a refreshing and fragrant nighttime ritual.
liberated woman
Monroe deftly dodged the overtly personal and misogynistic questions.
“You know the questions they ask you… just to name a few: ‘What do you wear to bed?’ ‘Do you wear a pajama top?’ Do you wear pajama bottoms? Nightgown? ” Monroe explained in an interview unearthed by Chanel. “That’s why I said, ‘Chanel No. 5!'” But I still don’t want to call it nude, because it’s true! But it’s true. ”
With that in mind, it’s no surprise that Monroe loved this scent. Because this perfume itself is inspired by liberated women.
When you’re in Rome…or when you’re in England
Chanel No. 5 wasn’t Monroe’s only perfume of choice. In fact, many of Monroe’s favorite perfumes were directly inspired by her surroundings, according to her interviews and recently discovered purchase history.
When asked by a reporter in 1956, “Is it true that you don’t wear anything but perfume in bed?”, Monroe simply replies, “Is it true that you don’t wear anything but perfume in bed?” “Let’s say I’m in England and I’m wearing nothing but Yardley lavender to bed.” This little detail actually appeared in the 1991 film Marilyn and Me.
In recent years, receipts have been put up for auction, allowing us to learn more about the types of perfumes Monroe favored. The bill from Floris was for six bottles of the now discontinued rose geranium eau de toilette ordered by Monroe’s secretary. This scent is also sold as a bath essence.
Marilyn Monroe’s favorite perfume notes
From what we can gather, Monroe preferred clean, light floral scents.
Chanel No. 5 is a combination of many ingredients, including aldehydes, ylang-ylang, iris, amber, and sandalwood. Rather than exemplifying a single flower, it is known for its large bouquets of notes. Floris’ Rose Geranium, on the other hand, combines rose and cedarwood with green notes for a fresh finish. This is similar to Yardley’s original English lavender, which also emphasizes refreshing feeling.
So, if you’re looking for a Monroe-like scent, choose a light, fresh, floral scent. However, you need to make sure that these notes are balanced with deeper musk and wood to achieve a three-dimensional scent. And of course, Chanel No. 5 is also a great option.
