Celebrity scents
Marilyn Monroe's Perfume: Chanel No. 5
One sentence in 1952 turned a 1921 perfume into a pop-culture legend.
By the Girls Fragrances editors · Published · Updated
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Quick answer: Marilyn Monroe wore CHANEL N°5. In 1952 she famously said that what she wore to bed was 'Chanel No. 5' Source. Today Margot Robbie is the face of N°5, since 2024 Source.
The famous quote
When asked what she wore to bed, Marilyn Monroe answered: Chanel No. 5. Chanel tells the story on its own history pages Source, with more from TIME's 1952 archive Source. It's one of the most quoted lines in perfume history, and it helped make N°5 a pop-culture legend.
What Chanel N°5 smells like
The classic powdery aldehydic floral: sparkling, soapy-clean and rich with jasmine and rose. Created in 1921, it's one of the most famous perfumes ever made Source. If you're used to modern sweet perfumes, try a sample first: aldehydes give it a powdery, soapy sparkle that some people love and others find old-fashioned.
N°5 today
Margot Robbie became the face of N°5 in 2024 Source, and her campaign film with Jacob Elordi brought it to a new generation Source. On Oct 28, 2026, Ulta showed the Eau de Parfum at $158 for 1.7 oz, with a 4.2 out of 5 rating from 171 reviews. It's No. 4 on our Top 10 celebrity fragrances.
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