Gabrielle Bonheur 'Coco' Chanel
The Himba brand draws profound inspiration from Mademoiselle Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, a trailblazer who revolutionized both perfumery and fashion. Chanel's approach to fragrance was as groundbreaking as her impact on fashion, redefining the way women perceived and wore scents.
Before Chanel’s influence, women’s fragrances were divided into two distinct categories. Respectable women typically wore the essence of a single garden flower, a symbol of purity and tradition. On the other hand, heavier, more sensual perfumes, often infused with animal musk or jasmine, were associated with the demi-monde—courtesans and women of questionable repute. Chanel sought to break free from these restrictive norms, aiming to create a fragrance that embodied the liberated spirit of the 1920s—a time when women were beginning to assert their independence and explore new freedoms.
Chanel No. 5, the iconic fragrance she introduced in 1921, was a revolutionary creation. Unlike any perfume before it, Chanel No. 5 was a complex blend of floral aldehydes, designed to evoke a sense of modernity, sophistication, and femininity. It was not merely a fragrance but a statement—an olfactory representation of the new woman of the 20th century who was confident, elegant, and unapologetically bold.
This innovation extended beyond the scent itself. Chanel No. 5 came in a sleek, minimalist bottle, reflecting Chanel’s philosophy that simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication. The fragrance quickly became a symbol of luxury and refinement, maintaining its status as one of the best-selling perfumes in the world even a century later.
For the Himba brand, Chanel’s pioneering spirit and her ability to break free from tradition to create something entirely new and timeless serve as a powerful source of inspiration. Himba seeks to embody this same sense of innovation and modernity, crafting products that resonate with the liberated and empowered spirit of today’s woman, much like Chanel did with her timeless creations.