It completely dwarfs “Chanel No. 5: The Perfume of a Century” (White Star, 64 pages, $16.95) by Italian journalist Chiara Pasqualetti Johnson, a slight, thin book that includes a small ...

Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel revolutionized the fragrance industry when she debuted her very first perfume, known as Chanel No. 5, in 1921.

Chanel launched a new fragrance this month called Gabrielle, after Gabrielle Chanel, Coco Chanel’s real name. The luxury brand dropped its last completely new perfume, Chance, 15 years ago.

4. It has a universal pop-culture appeal. From Marilyn Monroe saying a few drops of Chanel N°5 was all she wore to bed to Andy Warhol’s silkscreens of the bottle, its popularity is unparalleled.