Le Lion De Chanel : How the Lion Became the Symbol of Chanel ?

The Lion, a Chanel Signature

Among the iconic symbols of Chanel, the lion can boast of being one of Mademoiselle’s favorites, as revealed in chapter 10 of the Inside Chanel saga. Discover the French house’s creations in tribute to the king of animals.

Gabrielle Chanel draws her power and nobility from the animal, if we are to believe her words: “I am a bee, it is part of my sign, Leo, the sun. Women of this sign are hard-working, courageous, faithful, they don’t let themselves be defeated. That’s my character. I am a bee born under the Sign of Leo.” As a true good luck charm for Mademoiselle, the king of animals populates her apartment at 31 rue Cambon in the form of art objects. Her adoration for the animal made her fall under the spell of Venice, a city whose emblem is none other than the lion, during her first visit in 1920.

Le Lion De Chanel, a New Addition to the Chanel Exclusifs Collection

Gabrielle Chanel is one of the most amazing women of the last century. Advocating emancipation, she was not lacking in audacity and we owe her a lot in fashion and perfumery. So even though Coco is no more, the brand that bears her name continues to pay tribute to her year after year. Once again, in 2020, a whole symbol appears in her glory. The new perfume of the Chanel Exclusives is called Le Lion de Chanel. Reference to Leo the zodiac sign of Gabrielle Chanel, it also recalls the animal fetish of the designer, used in many collections.

The Chanel Exclusive Collection

Chanel is one of the most prestigious French brands. For decades, Chanel has been making women unforgettable, both through its couture creations and its inimitable fragrances. Chanel creates rare fragrances, made of mystery and elegance. Some of them even rank as true legends. It is precisely to pay tribute to this rarity and innate sense of luxury that the Chanel Lion Exclusives collection was created. From bottle to bottle, this olfactory assembly highlights all the perfection and refinement of Chanel, offering us rare essences, out of time and out of trend. Today, Le Lion de Chanel joins this prestigious ensemble and invites itself into the world of Haute Parfumerie.

Le Lion De Chanel, a Very Personal Echo to Gabrielle Chanel

Le Lion de Chanel refers to the designer Coco Chanel, born under the zodiac sign of Leo. It also echoes one of the most inspiring animals in Gabrielle Chanel’s career. Indeed, she saw in the Lion a symbol of courage, strength but also grace. It is therefore quite natural that Gabrielle Chanel made it one of her emblems, often used as a character in her creations, and appearing on many of her jewelry pieces.

Le Lion De Chanel, a Fresh and Tawny Essence

Of course, since it is about a lion, this perfume has a certain animality. Designed by Olivier Polge, Chanel’s exclusive perfumer, Le Lion de Chanel opens with a fresh, sparkling citrus scent. Here, bergamot blends with lemon for a very invigorating result. Then, the whole evolves towards warm and more oriental tones. The labdanum resin is used here for its animal and sensual scent, while being accompanied by a base of vanilla of Madagascar, more suave. The musk amplifies the sexy side of the whole, while being framed by sandalwood and patchouli. In fact, Olivier Polge explains, “I was much more interested in the iconic Le Lion de Chanel than the animal. Le Lion de Chanel is a symbol of courage, perseverance and luxury. This fragrance will appear in the Middle Eastern market in May 2020, and from January 2021 in the rest of the world.

The King Inside Chanel