The Nose at Chanel : Olivier Polge

The story of Chanel fragrances, has an amazing twist. It has become a family affair.

Growing up in Grasse, the famed fragrance region of the South Of France, surrounded by the fragrance of Jasmine and Roses, Lavender, Olivier Pole watched his father, head fragrance of Chanel, Jacques Polge create fragrances for the house from 1978 to 2015.

All the young Olivier wanted to do is enter the arts. Play music. He studied history of art. Wanted to get busy with his hands. Creating. Never thinking he would enter hid dad’s domaine.

At 20, Olivier did an internship with Chanel, and found that DNA runs deep, and fell in love with creating fragrances like his father. The day his father retired, Olivier took over as head of fragrance at Chanel.

One of Olivier’s tasks was taking a the Nº5 Fragrance, and create a lighter more citrus thus fresher version. He launched Nº5 L’Eau, a new take on the fragrance, created in 1921 by Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel and Ernest Beaux.

“The fact that it is an icon is a strength and a weakness. It is important to be able to shake the icon. The purpose is not to say Nº5 is old-fashioned — I think the contrary. I would love L’Eau to open a door to discover Nº5.” (Quote from The Los Angeles Times)

Chanel fragrances are in good hands, and nose, to continue to enthrall us.