N°19, or the reflection of an extraordinary personality. Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel moved to Paris to try her luck and find a better future. Her talent and determination helped her change the course of fashion as well as the lives of women.
Created in 1970, the composition of Chanel N°19 is both floral and powdery. The fragrance was bold for its time, and success was immediate. The unprecedented pairing of green notes and powdery iris became a great fragrance of the house of Chanel. N°19 is the last perfume created during Gabrielle Chanel's lifetime, and since 19 is her birthday, N°19 is a genuine tribute to the designer. Signed by Henri Robert, the composition is floral and, above all, very luminous.
Henri Robert, behind the success of Chanel N°19
Henri Robert was born in Grasse in 1889. His father was already a perfumer, and young Henri grew up immersed in the world of perfumery from an early age. In 1921, he joined the Chris establishments as a perfumer-chemist. There he learned the composition of perfumes and the making of raw materials. In 1953, he became the official perfumer of the house of Chanel, succeeding the creator of N°5, Ernest Beaux. His first creation for Chanel was Pour Monsieur in 1955. He then created N°19, followed by Cristalle. Henri Robert passed away in 1987.
The femininity of iris at the heart of N°19
N°19 opens with a burst that is both green and ultra luminous. Indeed, the top notes are composed of bergamot, neroli, galbanum and hyacinth. Galbanum essence is drawn from the root of a plant native to Iran and Afghanistan. The galbanum gum is then distilled to obtain an essence. In perfumery, galbanum is widely used, releasing ultra green, earthy and balsamic tonalities. Galbanum pairs perfectly with green, chypre, floral and citrus notes. The heart is as powdery as it is floral, combining rose, lily of the valley and iris. A noble ingredient par excellence, iris is also the most expensive material in perfumery. Iris is a very elegant flower, but it is its rhizomes (underground stems) that are used in perfumery. Their extraction process is long and very costly. Iris absolute is used in prestige perfumery. Originally from the Far East, iris absolute is now cultivated in Morocco, Italy and China. In perfumery, iris releases tonalities close to those of violet, but also very powdery, floral and green ones. Finally, the base is sensual, combining sandalwood, vetiver, white musks and oakmoss. As for the bottle, it echoes the main codes of the N°5 bottle. Understated, the bottle features a square architecture, stripped of ornamentation. The N°19 bottle is truly majestic.
An immense success for the house of Chanel, N°19 is a tribute to Mademoiselle. Signed by Henri Robert, the composition is very floral, but also green thanks to galbanum, and powdery thanks to iris. Today, N°19 remains unchanged in formula and is still just as appreciated.