THE SECRET OF CHANEL NO.5 WITH TILAR J. MAZZEO

Posted by Unknown 19 August, 2011

                  Behind the Secret of CHANEL NO.5
         An interview with New            York Times bestseller Tilar J. Mazzeo

  

  It gives me great pleasure to introduce Tilar J. Mazzeo bestselling author and professor of English at Colby College.

  When Ms. Mazzeo is not teaching or doing research, she spends her precious time at the California wine country, coastal Maine and in New York City.
  
  The highly acclaimed book, THE SECRET OF CHANEL NO.5 The Intimate History of the World’s Most Famous Perfume written by Ms. Mazzeo is the answer to all of your questions about the world's most beloved perfume.


  This marvelous and well-researched book is written  with such emotion and understanding of Gabrielle Chanel’s humble beginnings who dealt with struggles, misunderstandings and misinterpretations about herself and how others perceived her.


  Gabrielle’s life was about to change in a drastic way but it was  no overnight success. However each day at the abbey at Aubazine where she was raised  would become more clear and with a purpose. A purpose that Gabrielle not yet understood with declining bedchambers and rustic walls. It wasn't until later in life that the building where she spent her youth would suddenly be the mecca of  images, objects and the scent of cleanliness that would forever change her life.


  As you follow Ms. Mazzeo in her approach to   leading up to the introduction of Ernest Beaux, the creator of CHANEL No.5 and how their business relationship waved through much scrutiny in the making of this scent, that it is a miracle that COCO Chanel manged to hold her head up high.

 This book is a count of remarkable journeys led by COCO Chanel and Ms. Mazzeo manages to capture each of those moments with intensity and evocative flair that will change how you think about the house of Chanel but will also change your way of buying a fragrance.


  How many times do we buy a fragrance simply for its poetic juices and sweet flowing scent in a bottle?

  The next, time when you about to make a fragrance purchase, ask yourself “I wonder what is the story behind the bottle”? "What sacrifices were made in the making of this scent"?    

  THE SECRET OF CHANEL NO.5 The Intimate History of the World’s Most Famous Perfume is a book not just to entertain but it is about the making of a legendary scent that educates you on the stamina of the human mind under peril conditions.

  After reading this book, I was really fascinated with the life of COCO Chanel and the evolution of CHANEL NO.5. I am truly honored to have spoken with Ms. Mazzeo and I am happy to share this conversation with you.


                         THE INTERVIEW
Hello Tilar, thank you so much for this opportunity to speak with you!

1.Tilar, what fascinates you about COCO Chanel?

  Well, to name just one thing: she was perhaps the most influential businesswoman of the twentieth century. So much of how women present themselves in the modern world and what it means to be a businesswoman come back to her talents.


2. When I was old enough to experience Chanel No. 5 perfume and I remember my aunt and mother talking amongst themselves and wondering why it was named Chanel No. 5. Tilar, do you think the name of the perfume has always baffled fans of Chanel and that is why you wanted to find out the 'The Secret of Chanel No. 5'?

  Your story is like so many others that we hear about Chanel No. 5.What fascinated me about it was how--in a world where there are so many beautiful perfumes--it went on to become this kind of legendary icon.

 3. Tilar, in the book you mentioned that you visit the flagship Chanel Boutique in Paris. What were your expectations? Also, did you get a tour of the boutique, if so what did you think about it?


  I was lucky enough to be able to visit the Chanel boutique on rue Cambon in Paris, and anyone who visits Paris should take the time to see one of the city's fashion landmarks. It's a wonderful space, full of history, and I was delighted to get a tour of it.

 4. Tilar, your book is so beautifully written and it is written with so much emotion. There were several parts in the book where I was moved to tears an other parts I was cheering. What was the mood that you wanted to set for the book? What is the essence that we should all come away with from The Secret of Chanel No. 5?


 What interested me most as I pursued this story and as I thought about how to write about it was the human drama and great emotion complexity of the story behind Chanel No. 5. The Secret of Chanel No. 5 is a business history that tries to get at the heart of how so many lives and so much of the last century's complicated history come together to great the world's most famous perfume.


5. What should people like me who have read your book, think about the next time we see a bottle of Chanel No. 5 in the department store?


  As part of this book, I studied perfume seriously for the first time and I was lucky enough to be able to talk to several of the world's most talented perfumers. The next time you stand there at the counter, think to yourself "Ernest Beaux." That's the unsung name of the perfumer and great artist who created one of history's most beautiful and enduring fragrances!


  6. Finally Tilar, do you still think there is more mystery and secret behind Chanel No. 5 or do you think that you have researched all there is to be about this legendary perfume?

 Well, of course the company of Chanel is famously discrete about its sales figures, and it's understandable. With complete access to the corporate records, I am sure new facets of Chanel No. 5 and its business history would emerge. But no one will ever get that kind of access to the private company records. Although it wasn't the focus of my book, I do think that as archives of the Second World War continue to open up and become declassified, we many discover new things about the life and history of Coco Chanel.


 Tilar, it has truly been a pleasure and I thank you so much and Congratulations on the success of this book!

 Thanks to you! Without so many loyal and enthusiastic readers, all these researches would be a lot less fun!

PURCHASE: THE SECRET OF CHANEL NO.5: The Intimate History of the World's Most Famous Perfume by Tilar J. Mazzeo (Harper; November 9, 2010;Hardcover;ISBN#9780061791017/ 304 pages/$25.99 Category: Nonfiction

PHOTO CREDITS: HarperCollins (bookcover) &  Tilar J. Mazzeo (self), Photo of Ernest Beaux by perfumeprojects.com; photo of COCO Chanel by the house of CHANEL and picture of CHANEL NO.5 by parfum.net

********************DRAW******************

On the anniversary of COCO Chanel's birthday (August 19th) I am offering a DRAW for the book THE SECRET OF CHANEL NO.5 The Intimate History of the World's Most Famous Perfume by Tilar J. Mazzeo. This book will be autographed by Ms. Mazzeo on a bookplate.

 So if you are a fan of COCO CHANEL and you simply love CHANEL NO.5, please enter in the comment box and answer the question, "What is it that you admire most about COCO CHANEL?

Good Luck!!



F.H.










0 comments

Post a Comment

International Perfume Foundation

International Perfume Foundation
IPF Certified Natural Perfumery Media

House of Matriarch

House of Matriarch
"Nature is the Ultimate Luxury"

Esscentual Alchemy

Esscentual Alchemy
A Luxurious Natural Perfumery

ESXENCE: The Scent of Excellence

ESXENCE: The Scent of Excellence
ESXKIN: The Excellence of Beauty

Fragrance Belles-Lettres Est 2009 CHICAGO

The word "belles lettres" is a French phrase meaning "beautiful or "fine writing. Since this is a term to describe a category of writing, this will pertain to my passion about fragrances. I will review niche,natural, artisan and designer perfumes from all over the world. I write with passion but will use my journalistic skills that I obtained in college. Not only will I feature fragrances but I will feature new books on fragrances/perfumes, fragrance events and interview authors and perfumers.


I hope you take this journey with me and begin your own passion for the ART OF PERFUMERY!

Fragrance Belles-Lettres Magazine is a division of Noblesse Luxe Publication.


Felicia M. Hazzard
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief









Parfums Dusita

Parfums Dusita
"We aim to create great fragrances that can’t be copied."

ANU ESSENTIALS

ANU ESSENTIALS
Meadow Lark Natural Perfume

CULT PERFUMES: The World's Most Exclusive Perfumes

CULT PERFUMES: The World's Most Exclusive Perfumes
Author: Tessa Williams

Alaia Paris Parfum

Alaia Paris Parfum
Designer Azzedine Alaia's first perfume

NOBLESSE LUXE PUBLICATION

NOBLESSE LUXE PUBLICATION
A Publishing Company for the Arts in Perfumery

CHOCOLATE CRAVE PERFUME

CHOCOLATE CRAVE PERFUME
Eau de Parfum made in the USA

Aedes de Venustas

Aedes de Venustas
A perfumery shop in New York

Phul-Nana Eau de Parfum Vintage

Phul-Nana Eau de Parfum Vintage
Advertising

Rose de Nuit

Rose de Nuit
By Serge Lutens

CiocoRosissimo Eau de Parfum

CiocoRosissimo Eau de Parfum
By Hilde Soliani

CiocoSpesizissimo Eau de Parfum

CiocoSpesizissimo Eau de Parfum
By Hilde Soliani

Lumiere Eau de Parfum

Lumiere Eau de Parfum
By Dawn Spencer Hurwitz

Lychee Mousse, Pistachio Ganache, Bergamot Truffle Perfumes

Lychee Mousse, Pistachio Ganache, Bergamot Truffle Perfumes
By Francois Payard

LE CHEVALIER

LE CHEVALIER
EAU DE TOILETTE

Wild Roses

Wild Roses
By: Aftelier Perfumes

ETIQUETTE BLEUE

ETIQUETTE BLEUE
EAU DE TOILETTE

Josephine and Le Vainquer Eau de Parfum

Josephine and Le Vainquer Eau de Parfum
By Francois Rance'

FEMME DE DANDY

FEMME DE DANDY
EAU DE PARFUM

Francois Rance'

Francois Rance'
Founder and Perfumer

LE DANDY

LE DANDY
POUR HOMME

The Blue Egyptian Water Lily

The Blue Egyptian Water Lily
in Ancient Egypt

L'EAU DE BOUQUET PARFUM

L'EAU DE BOUQUET PARFUM
THE FRAGRANCE THAT STARTED IT ALL.

L de Lubin

L de Lubin
Perfume

BEAU BRUMMEL

BEAU BRUMMEL
DANDY & SOCIALITE

COUNTESS MARGUERITE BLESSINGTON

COUNTESS MARGUERITE BLESSINGTON
LOVER AND INSPIRATON TO COUNT D'ORSAY

House of Lubin

House of Lubin
Logo

Blog Archive

William H. Penhaligon

William H. Penhaligon
Founder & Perfumer

Endymion Cologne

Endymion Cologne
A Penhaligon Collection

Hamman Bouquet Eau de Toilette Spray

Hamman Bouquet Eau de Toilette Spray
Created by Wm Penhaligon in 1872

Extract of Limes

Extract of Limes
The Anthology Series

Fragrance Belles-Lettres

Douro Eau de Portugal Cologne

Douro Eau de Portugal Cologne
A Penhaligon Collection

Gardenia

Gardenia
The Anthology Series

Eau de Verveine

Eau de Verveine
The Anthology Series

Piment Brulant Eau de Toilette

Piment Brulant Eau de Toilette
By L' Artisan Parfumeur

RANCE' PERFUME

RANCE' PERFUME
LAETITIA MILLISIME

Eau de Charlotte Parfum

Eau de Charlotte Parfum
by Annick Goutal

Cybele

Cybele
An Oriental Fragrance by Galimard

Alec Guinness

Alec Guinness
Signature & Client

LAETITIA BONAPARTE

LAETITIA BONAPARTE
NAPOLEON BONAPARTE'S MOTHER

JEAN DE GALIMARD, FOUNDER & PERFUMER

JEAN DE GALIMARD, FOUNDER & PERFUMER

Night Scented Stock

Night Scented Stock
The Anthology Series

Shantoung

Shantoung
An Oriental Fragrance by Galimard

Laurence Olivier

Laurence Olivier
Signature & Client

CREED Boutique in New York

CREED Boutique in New York
A sneak preview of the boutique

Queen/Pharoah Hatsheput

Queen/Pharoah Hatsheput
Adorning herself with perfume of a flower

Founder, House of Creed

Founder, House of Creed
James Henry Creed (1710-1798)

Parfum d'Orsay

Parfum d'Orsay
Count Alfred G. d'Orsay

L'Intrigante Eau de Parfum

L'Intrigante Eau de Parfum
by: Parfum d'Orsay

J. H. Tindel

J. H. Tindel
Owner, Chemist & Perfumer

August Doussan

August Doussan
Owner and Perfumer

Bourbon French Parfums

Bourbon French Parfums
164 Years of Success

HOUSE OFBOURBON FRENCH PARFUMS

HOUSE OFBOURBON FRENCH PARFUMS
BOURBON FRENCH COLLECTION

Dress Coat White Marcella Waistcoat

Dress Coat White Marcella Waistcoat
Anderson & Sheppard Exclusive

The House of Anderson & Sheppard

The House of Anderson & Sheppard
A Place Of Elegance

Double-Breasted Navy Herringbone Overcoat

Double-Breasted Navy Herringbone Overcoat
Anderson & Sheppard Exclusive

Jacket Glen

Jacket Glen
Anderson & Sheppard Exclusive

Marguerite Acker

Marguerite Acker
Owner & Perfumer

Alessandra Crain

Alessandra Crain
Owner & Perfumer

Mary Eleftorea Behlar

Mary Eleftorea Behlar
Owner & Perfumer

House Of Grossmith

House Of Grossmith
Three Exquisite Fragrances in Baccarat crystal perfume bottles

Marie Laveau

Marie Laveau
Voodoo Priestess

Popular Posts

Shem-el-Nessim Eau de Parfum Vintage

Shem-el-Nessim Eau de Parfum Vintage
Advertising

Hasu-no-Hana Eau de Parfum Vintage

Hasu-no-Hana Eau de Parfum Vintage
Advertising

Fragrant Florals of the South

Fragrant Florals of the South
Fragrances of Southern Gardens

Bourbon French Collection

Bourbon French Collection
The Scents of Distinguished Clientele

Voodoo Love

Voodoo Love
The Fragrance for the Object of Affection

Florals-Southern,Favorites, Vintage & Exotic

Florals-Southern,Favorites, Vintage & Exotic
The Flowers of Forever