Chanel No. 4 does not exist as a fragrance. Chanel’s most famous perfume is Chanel No. 5.
The House of Chanel, known for its iconic fragrances, has never produced a perfume named Chanel No. 4. The absence of a Chanel No. 4 is often a topic of curiosity among perfume enthusiasts and the general public alike. The most plausible explanation for the lack of a sequential “No. 4” lies in the lore surrounding the creation of Chanel No. 5.
When Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel commissioned perfumer Ernest Beaux to create a series of fragrances, he presented her with samples numbered 1 to 5 and 20 to 24. Coco Chanel chose the fifth sample, and when asked what she would name this perfume, she replied, “I present my dress collections on the 5th of May, the fifth month of the year, so we will let this sample number five keep the name it has already, it will bring good luck.”
Chanel No. 5 went on to become one of the most celebrated perfumes in the world, renowned for its unique blend of aldehydes and floral notes, including rose and jasmine. The number 5 itself became synonymous with the brand, and the fragrance’s success cemented its legacy, overshadowing the need for a Chanel No. 4 or any other number in the sequence.
The choice of the number 5 was also in line with Coco Chanel’s belief in numerology and her affinity for the number, which she considered lucky. The decision to stick with Chanel No. 5 was not only a personal preference but also a marketing strategy that proved to be incredibly successful. The fragrance’s name, simple and memorable, contributed to its mystique and enduring popularity.
While Chanel has released other perfumes with numbers, such as Chanel No. 19, named after Coco Chanel’s birth date, the company has never filled in the gap with a Chanel No. 4. The focus on the number 5 has become a defining characteristic of the brand, and the absence of a No. 4 adds to the allure and history of Chanel’s perfume line.
