THE 7 APRIL 1952 issue of Life magazine carried a feature on Hollywood's latest pulchritudinous blonde sensation and future legend, Marilyn Monroe. In the less politically correct environment of the day she was asked what she wore in bed. Reluctant to use the word 'nude' she responded with what ultimately was a far more erotically charged and memorable: 'I only wear Chanel No.5: A quote that has echoed down the years. Overnight, men at a loss for what to buy their wives/girlfriends/secretaries anniversary/Christmas/birthday found the perfect answer. Chanel No.5 became the default last-minute panic-buying gift, no doubt with more than one male hoping it might inspire the recipient to emulate Marilyn.
Now, 101 years since it was launched in 1922, Chanel No.5 remains, if not the biggest-selling perfume in the world, certainly the most famous. Curiously, it might not have come into being without the 1917 Russian Revolution because the fragrance was formulated by the French-Russian master perfumer Ernest Beaux. Born in Moscow in 1881, Beaux worked for A Rallet & Co, foremost supplier of toiletries and perfumes to the Imperial Russian Household, but following the Revolution many of Rallet's employees, including Beaux, fled to France.
Denne historien er fra August 2023-utgaven av Octane.
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Denne historien er fra August 2023-utgaven av Octane.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Will China Change Everything? - China is tearing up modern motor manufacture but is yet to make more than a ripple in the classic car world. That could be about to change dramatically
China now dominates the automotive world in a way even Detroit in its heyday would have struggled to comprehend.Helped by Government incentives, the new car world is dominated by China's industries: whether full cars that undercut Western models by huge amounts, ownership of storied European brands such as Lotus and Volvo, or ownership and access to the vast majority of raw materials that go into EV cars, its influence is far-reaching and deep. However, this automotive enlightenment hasn't manifested itself in the classic world in any meaningful way - until now.
Jem Marsh
The hard-bitten Marcos boss was driven like few others and never knew when he was beaten. Thankfully
Vandamm House
A Mid-Century Modernist masterpiece that was immortalised on celluloid - despite never actually existing
Making light
Alfa Romeo's post-war renaissance began with the 1900 saloon - and matured with Zagato's featherweight coupé version, as Jay Harvey discovers
FULL OF EASTERN PROMISE
Is burgeoning classic car interest in the Middle East good for the global classic market? Nathan Chadwick investigates
Before the beginning
This rare Amazon Green pre-production Range Rover is Velar chassis number 4. James Elliott charts its historically revealing factory restoration
Ben Cussons
As the outgoing chairman of the Royal Automobile Club hands on to his successor, Robert Coucher quizzes him about the evolution of this great British institution
BULLDOG & THE PUPPIES
We gather five motoring masterpieces by avant-garde designer William Towns - and drive all of them
Below the tip of the Audrain iceberg
As the Audrain organisation grows, we take a look behind the scenes at the huge car collection that feeds it
Flying the Scottish flag
Young Ecurie Ecosse driver Chloe Grant gets to grips with the Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar C-type at Goodwood. Matthew Hayward is Octane's witness
