A rare and iconic piece of perfume history, arguably the most coveted version outside of pre-war bottles. This sealed 1/2 oz bottle of Chanel No. 5 extrait de parfum comes in its original “Size 8” presentation box, complete with the classic vertical stripes a detail used to date this piece to approximately the 1950's.
This appears to be the same formulation and packaging style worn by Marilyn Monroe, who famously said she wore “just a few drops of Chanel No. 5” to bed. A true collector’s dream.
Size: 1/2 oz (Size 8)
Formulation: Extrait de Parfum (Pure Perfume)
Condition: Factory sealed. The box inside is sealed and in pristine condition. The outer box shows visible age spots typical of older vintage packaging.
Total weight of the sealed inner box with the perfume: 2.08 oz.
Museum-worthy and nearly impossible to find in this untouched condition.
🧪 The Original Formula – Timeline:
1921: Chanel No. 5 was created by perfumer Ernest Beaux at Coco Chanel’s request. The formula included:
Aldehydes
Real Mysore sandalwood
High-quality natural jasmine from Grasse
Natural civet and musk tinctures
1920s–1950s: The perfume remained largely unchanged. Batches varied slightly due to sourcing, but the core formulation was preserved through the early 1950s.
1960s–1970s: Some reformulations began quietly due to ingredient availability and evolving regulations, though Chanel kept them subtle. Key changes included:
Synthetic replacements for costlier or restricted ingredients (like civet and natural musk).
Slight shifts in concentration or fixatives.
1980s onward: More obvious reformulations due to IFRA restrictions and ingredient bans.
