The Scent of Empires: Chanel No. 5 and Red Moscow

Karl Schlögel's book explores the intertwined histories of two famous perfumes, Chanel No. 5 and Red Moscow, and how they reflect the political and social events of the twentieth century in Russia. He shows how the perfume industry was used as a tool of power and propaganda, and how the scents themselves became symbols of luxury and ambition.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 02 September 2022
Publisher: Polity Press

In this captivating book, Karl Schlögel delves into the intertwined histories of two iconic perfumes, Chanel No. 5 and Red Moscow. In tsarist Russia, two French perfumers, Ernest Beaux and Auguste Michel, crafted fragrances honoring Catherine the Great for the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty. However, when the Russian Revolution and Civil War unfolded, Beaux fled Russia, taking the formula for his perfume with him to France. There, he presented Coco Chanel with a series of ten fragrance samples, and she chose number five, which later became known as Chanel No. 5. Meanwhile, in Soviet Russia, Auguste Michel used his original fragrance to create Red Moscow for the tenth anniversary of the Revolution. By piecing together the narratives of these two famous perfumes, Schlögel unveils a surprising story of power, intrigue, and betrayal that provides a unique perspective on the turbulent events and high politics of the twentieth century. This captivating account of perfume and politics in twentieth-century Europe will captivate a broad general readership.

Weight: 294g
Dimension: 138 x 216 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781509554928