SCENTS OF ADVENTURE
Fashion stylist and influencer Justine Lee travels through time, space and the spectacular world of Chanel fragrances at Le Grand Numéro de Chanel
Ever since Coco Chanel became the first fashion designer to lend her name to a fragrance and the first to name a fragrance after a number, the house of Chanel has been revolutionising the world of perfumery. So it’s only fitting that an exhibition to explore its many spectacular scents would be unlike any other in the history of the industry.
Le Grand Numéro de Chanel, previously held at Paris’s Grand Palais Éphémère, peeled back the curtain on the world of Chanel fragrances with an immersive and emotional journey through every facet of their creation and expression. Among the many Chanel devotees who were swept into the olfactory kaleidoscope was Hong Kong’s own fashion stylist, consultant and influencer Justine Lee.
“Le Grand Numéro de Chanel was such a sensory experience. I was blown away by the scale of the set-up and how Chanel was able to capture the essence of each fragrance,” she says. “It was remarkable to see the rooms dedicated to Chanel N°5 – it was almost like a museum, filled with works created in homage to the fragrance by artists, both past and present, while hallways were lined with famed N°5 advertisements.
For Lee, whose passion for fragrance dates back to her early 20s, one of the most memorable experiences at Le Grand Numéro de Chanel was the room dedicated to Les Exclusifs. “It was a psychologist’s office of sorts and probably the most interactive way to find your fragrance,” she recalls. “Upon entering a dimly lit room, we were greeted by fragrance experts dressed in lab coats who encouraged us to take a seat or lay down for an analysis. After answering a series of questions, they would then ‘prescribe’ a scent which could be picked up at the counter at the back of the room. It was such a clever touch!”
Lee also enjoyed delving into the history of what makes Chanel fragrances so unique. “N°5 is made up of over 80 different ingredients, and this was in the 1920s when perfumes were typically only made up of one flower or ingredient. It was complex, it was ahead of its time and it became so synonymous with Chanel’s brand,” she says.
“Coco Chanel was a rule breaker in the way she dressed, the way she designed and the way she lived – much like how this scent broke barriers in the fragrance industry.”
Indeed, every detail of N°5 from the ingredients to its iconic glass bottle, set the stage for an entirely new era of fragrance that lives on in the people who wear it today. “I don’t feel completely dressed and ready to leave the house without putting on a fragrance for the day. It’s become a ritual and is the final step of my getting- ready process. I choose it based on my mood, how I’m feeling, the time of year and where I’m going,” Lee says.
The control room at Coco Mademoiselle was similarly unforgettable for Lee. “It was so special to see archive fashion pieces and special props (some of them weren’t even produced, they were just samples made for commercials). Seeing these iconic fragrances come to life in these playful ways, it perfectly encapsulated the spirit of the scents.
“I alternate between Chanel N°5 L’Eau, and Boy Chanel and Sycomore from Les Exclusifs for my everyday fragrance. I have L’Eau in different sizes and formats – body wash, all- over mist, hand cream and the eau de parfum in a travel case – it goes with me everywhere. When I get dressed up, I like to top off my look with a spritz of Chanel N°5 or N°22 from Les Exclusifs, which both have a powdery finish that feels a bit more feminine. I also love the N°5 hair mist – it’s very subtle but I love catching a whiff of it as I move.”
THE PAST THREE years passed like a fever dream but they also gave rise to a chance to look inward in a way none of us likely ever has before. For the first time, we couldn’t escape our problems. Trapped at home, metaphysical healing went from strange occult practice to niche hobby to mainstream, obvious course of action. Crystals, tarot, sage and everything “woo woo” have become cemented into popular culture and we, for one, are keen to see all of these self- examination and healing rituals stick around. This Valentine’s Day is no different. In spite of the world returning to normal, we propose to keep a lil’ bit of this magic around.
For Kaye Dong, founder of wellness platform
The New Moon, it’s important to open the heart chakra. “In order to truly love another, we must know how to self-love,” she says. “The heart chakra is the fourth chakra and represents love. When our heart chakra is blocked for love, we hold grudges, feel unfulfilled, find it hard to trust and become jealous and judgmental.”
How to open the heart chakra? Some of Dong’s suggestions include metta meditation, a type of
Buddhist meditation that’s also referred to as a lovingkindness meditation to strengthen feelings of kindness and positive energy towards oneself and others.
Practised by certain Buddhist sects for thousands of years, it involves repeating kind and positive phrases and directing imagined energy towards yourself and others. Recordings of a guided practice can be found through institutions such as Tsz Shan Monastery and other Buddhist associations and bodies.
In addition, gratitude journaling is a daily mindfulness practice that Dong says can help build a positive mindset alongside heart chakra affirmations and heart chakra frequencies. “My favourite affirmations are ‘I am worthy of love’, ‘I choose love every day’ and ‘I deserve fulfilling relationships,’” she notes. “And listening to the 639 Hz solfeggio frequency activates healing and attracts love.”
Of course, when it comes to love, those who are interested in self-healing practices and crystals will most likely point to rose quartz as the go-to rock for meditation. “Rose quartz is a gentle and nurturing crystal that’s ideal for manifesting new relationships and deepening existing ones, whether it’s the relationship you have with yourself or with others,” says Dong. “You can use the rose quartz crystal during meditation or simply place it on your heart chakra and feel the gentle energy enter your body.”
But there are crystals that can target more specific aspects of love. Nelly To of Nelles Gemmes, whose crystals are stocked at Joyce Hong Kong, can recommend a host of options for people in any type of relationship. For example, those looking for love can turn to rose quartz, pink amethyst, green fluorite or green aventurine.
“Simply meditate with these stones by holding them in your left hand with the 852 Hz frequency playing in the background,” To says. “Visualise pink- coloured energy entering your high heart area and green- coloured energy entering your heart space and tell yourself in your heart that you are loved, you deserve being loved and that you love yourself. Tell yourself that you are surrounded by love vibrations and send messages to the universe that you are ready for a relationship.”
For those who are already in a relationship and want more romance, trust and stability, To recommends rhodochrosite, moonstone, moss agate and ametrine. “Rhodochrosite is the national stone of Argentina. It represents true love. Moonstone enhances women’s sex drive and feminine energy, and it’s a famous love stone,” To says. “Moss agate brings harmony to a family and to couples. Ametrine also balances yin yang energy so it stabilises a couple and diminishes extreme emotions or behaviours. Place these in the southwest-facing area of the house (the direction for relationships) or next to the bed.”