In 1921 Coco Chanel wanted "a womans fragrance that smells like woman." When perfume designer Ernest Beaux presented her with his fifth composition the choice seemed simple and obvious: her perfume would be called N? It is an aldehydic floral a bouquet of abstract flowers with an indefinable femininity. 5 starts with notes of ylang-ylang and neroli then unfolds with Grasse jasmine and May rose. Sandalwood and vanilla round out the composition with unforgettable woody notes. The first Chanel N? 5 perfume was captured in a simple rectangular bottle with the top which resembled Place Vendome in Paris. In 1959 the packaging secured a place for the scent in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.