Whitney Peak is the new face for Chanel Coco Mademoiselle, and we are delighted to bring you an exclusive behind-the-scenes film of Whitney visiting in-house perfume creator, Olivier Polge…
A talented actress who completely embodies the spirit of Coco Mademoiselle – and echoes the revolutionary, fashion-forward sense of Coco Chanel’s ethos – Whitney filmed much of the footage of this behind-the-scenes visit herself. In this utterly-engaging film footage, she was excited to discover the ingredients that make Coco Mademoiselle so beguiling, and exactly why the fragrance is so iconic. As you will see, during her tour of his office, and the legendary Chanel perfume lab; Whitney also put Olivier’s nose to the test…
OLIVIER POLGE – CHANEL IN-HOUSE PERFUMER-CREATOR
How would you describe the composition of the COCO MADEMOISELLE fragrance?
At CHANEL, we create fragrances based on ideas and visions. COCO MADEMOISELLE reflects this ethos, which translates to a certain abstract quality that goes beyond a list of ingredients. COCO MADEMOISELLE reveals the scent of a bold, free woman, combining the brightness of vibrant, sparkling citrus with a sensual, modern patchouli note that has been fractionated and refined. Soft jasmine and rose accords lie at the heart of the fragrance.
Tell us about the fractionated patchouli that makes COCO MADEMOISELLE so unique.
Patchouli is a very important and distinctive element of COCO MADEMOISELLE. This particular patchouli is fractionated using a technique that was developed by CHANEL and that revolutionized the way fragrance is created. It allows us to refine the raw material so that only the purest fractions remain. This lends it an elegant, sophisticated feel.
What makes COCO MADEMOISELLE so special and timeless?
When it was first released, COCO MADEMOISELLE defied convention in a way that was ahead of its time. In the early 2000s, when fresh and light fragrances were very much in style, COCO MADEMOISELLE brought more intense scents back into fashion.
Its abstract nature has enabled it to transcend the era in which it was created, like all CHANEL fragrances. COCO MADEMOISELLE is not the expression of a single ingredient, but rather of a style. And as Gabrielle Chanel said: “Fashion goes out of fashion. Style never.”
How would you describe COCO MADEMOISELLE to someone who has never smelled it before?
It can be difficult to put a scent into words. When I smell COCO MADEMOISELLE, there is something vibrant about it. It evokes a feeling of effervescence. It makes me think of a young woman who is expressing herself freely, moving as if wind was blowing around her. To me, it always feels full of life and energy.
In your opinion, what role does fragrance play in our everyday lives?
Fragrance has an extraordinary ability to evoke things in people and recall memories from their lives; it’s one of the aspects of my job that I enjoy most. Fragrance reaches us on a very intimate level, and I think that is what makes it so powerful. I often hear extremely personal stories about cities people lived in, memories of loved ones—we have so many anecdotes about fragrances. We tend to personify them.
Fragrance is a connection to the world around us, a way of portraying ourselves to the world; it expresses our personality just like the clothes we wear or our mannerisms. Fragrance reveals yet another facet, something that cannot be conveyed any other way.
What words come to mind to describe Whitney Peak?
Whitney is a free-spirited, joyful young woman as well as a very talented actress. She is the embodiment of COCO MADEMOISELLE.
Chanel Coco Mademoiselle £126 for 100ml eau de toilette
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