The Scent of Trouble

Today I'm moving away (reluctantly) from food to talk about one of the most fascinating characters I've come across in ages--Coco Chanel. As I said in an earlier post she was way ahead of her time, she was as tough as any man, she used people to get what she wanted and yet she was, in some ways, terribly naive.

When she decided she wanted to create a perfume, Chanel No 5, of course, she joined forces with Pierre and Paul Wertheimer, who were millionaire owners of a perfumerie house. She was in many ways not a good businesswoman and when she needed money she virtually signed away her rights to her perfumes. Their relationship was stormy. They employed a lawyer simply to handle the lawsuits from "that bloody woman" but she ended up having no control over her perfumes.

It's amazing how timeless No 5 is, isn't it? I have a bottle on my vanity now. And now that I know about Chanel and what she went through, I will think of her every time I put a dab on my wrist and remind myself to be wise and prudent in business dealings.

If I'm writing about all the good things that come from France, then perfume has to be near the top of my list. I used to love Madame Rochas, Je Reviens, Anais Anais, and Chanel. Any other French perfumes that are favorites?

This is day 10 of my month of French fun, celebrating the launch of my new Lady Georgie book, Naughty in Nice, on Sept 6th. Do check it out on Amazon--pure French fun!