Creating a perfume is an art in itself, but the design of perfume bottles adds an extra layer of delight. Bottles shaped like a high heel (Carolina Herrera), handbag (Marc Jacobs), or diamond (Paco Rabanne) are some of the captivating and immediate associations when it comes to luxury perfumes. However, this list is incomplete without mentioning the most renowned brand – CHANEL, specifically, Chanel No. 5.

The History of the Chanel No. 5 Perfume Bottle

The inception of the Chanel No. 5 perfume bottle is an interesting tale. Georges Goursat, the illustrator famous for painting Coco Chanel with her lover Arthur Capel, is believed to have sketched the original bottle design. Other sources credit Coco herself, drawing inspiration from jazz and her aforementioned lover.

The bottle’s shape was modeled after the Charvet eau de toilette, a favorite of Arthur Capell. Initially, the bottle had slightly rounded edges at the corners, but they were later altered to sharp edges resembling Coco’s eighteenth-century mirror. The neck of the bottle features a seal, initially made of paper but now laser-carved, which set it apart from competitors in 1921.

The label, too, was fresh and innovative for its time, boasting a new font specially created for perfume packaging, registered at the US patent office in 1924. The label maintained a smooth and simple aesthetic, devoid of additional illustrations or heavily decorated fonts.

The packaging, a white cardboard box with black lines, was meticulously designed. The pattern, particularly the lines, evoke funeral stationery, serving as a reminder of the death of Coco’s beloved three years prior to the perfume’s launch.

Chapel Eau de Rodent by ENDLESS

Endless, a London-based artist, challenges consumerism through his artwork. He often transforms luxury goods into pop artistic satire, as seen in his rendition of the iconic Chanel bottle – Chapel Eau de Rodent. This artistic reinterpretation juxtaposes luxury and grime, encapsulated in the distinctive bottle shape. The artist comments on society’s obsession with branding and consumerism. Notably, the golden rat at the bottle’s center challenges viewers to reconsider preconceived notions, signifying life beyond death or new beginnings. This symbolism extends to the fragility of life, represented by the glass encasing the artwork.

Endless’s work, including this piece, offers a thought-provoking experience and warrants attention. The Chapel Eau de Rodent bottle was introduced in 2022, undoubtedly surprising admirers of this artist’s unique style.

Chanel versus Chapel

In the Chanel versus Chapel duel, picking a clear winner is challenging. Chanel No. 5 stands as an icon of style and fashion, both in terms of its perfume bottle design and the fragrance itself. On the other hand, Chapel provokes a social dialogue in an intriguing manner. It offers a refreshing perspective on societal tendencies, emphasizing the obsession with specific brands and the accumulation of material possessions, often overlooking the environmental impact of our choices.

Bibliography: Book – Elizabeth Wilhide “Design: The Whole Story”
Images: Captured by the author, excluding Chanel