The Lion of Chanel, €175,- Chanel

Gabrielle Chanel was a lion in many ways. By zodiac sign, but especially in her attitude towards life. She had courage, audacity, wanted to be seen, and went further where others stopped. Superstitious as she was, she also believed that the lion protected her and felt it was something destined that she left for Venice after the death of her beloved Boy Capel. Venice also has the lion as a symbol, where the animal is praised for courage, renewal, and sovereignty. The animal gave her the strength to carry on. She expressed it beautifully: “I am a lion and just like him, I extend my claws to avoid being hurt. But believe me: I suffer more from the scratching than from the fact that I am being scratched.”

Her lion sign inspired ‘nose’ Olivier Polge to create a new perfume in the Les Exclusifs line of Chanel. To capture the power and mystique of the animal, he turned to oriental, heavy scents that, through their magical power, still give it a soft and warm character. It is a scent that continues to captivate, a millefeuille-layeredness in a fragrance.

Ah, and the bottle, that is of course also a piece of jewelry.

Image: Chanel