How the New Gabrielle Chanel Fragrance Was Brought to Life

Chanel is recognised for its perpetual embrace of the new, but in crafting the new Gabrielle Chanel fragrance, it was an opportunity to celebrate the remarkable legacy left behind by the brand’s founder. Gabrielle sends a valiant message at an apt hour, inviting young women everywhere to live freely, by and for themselves; so it’s no wonder why actress Kristen Stewart was favoured to embody this bold new fragrance, captured by photographer Karim Sadli.

As we patiently await the arrival of the ad campaign film directed by Ringan Ledwidge, let’s take a look at how the iconic new fragrance came to be.
 

Don’t be fooled by the seemingly simple bottle design, for it is one that took years of evolution – a work of true craftsmanship. It takes on a square shape and features intricate glasswork with beveled lines that converge towards its centre, allowing the colour of the fragrance to gleam through beautifully.
 

To craft Glass 15, sand, soda ash and lime are fused with broken glass, forming a raw material. It is then heated at 1,600°c before the molten glass is poured into draft bottle molds, assuming its final iconic shape in a finishing mold. Inside, the slight curved bottom of the bottle, known as the ‘Marloquette’, is pushed outward, cut, and polished until it is near invisible to the naked eye. The bottle is left to cool and its transparency is gradually revealed.
 

Adopting the same beveled shape, Cap 15 is stamped into a square using a custom mold. It is then polished and immersed in an anodising bath to get that golden lamé colour, an incredibly subtle mix of gold and silver, you’ll notice. Finally, each cap is embossed with the classic interlocking Cs.
 

Similar to how Coco Chanel would perfect a jacket lining, the patented interior of the case houses the bottle like a precious gem. When you remove the bottle from the outer packaging, the fragrance will appear nestled in a snug imprint of its own silhouette.
 
Here’s an exclusive look at the craftsmanship of Gabrielle Chanel:

 
CHANEL Gabrielle fragrance, $180 for 50ml and $258 for 100ml, available at CHANEL Beauty boutiques from 19 August and all other counters from 1 September. Ad campaign video to be released by the end of this year. chanel.com/en_sg.