Just as we equally recognize the icons of mainstream beverages and faces of stars, we all are familiar with the scent of Chanel N°5. It is never who or what you’re wearing when taking in its intoxicating scent, but rather, it’s how you were able to get your hands on a bottle. (One is sold every 30 seconds worldwide.) For 100 years, the widely beloved perfume has been a favorite of many, from actors to artists to designers alike. Not only is N°5 feminine, sensual and intoxicating in smell, but it is also one of the most timeless fragrances to date. In honor of the perfume’s centenary, Chanel hosted a star-studded celebration filled with greenery, a candlelit-dinner and a unique sculptural installation. 

The installation, titled FIVE ECHOES, is defined as a “synthetic translation of the fragrance.’’ With over 1,000 plants, shrubs and trees, FIVE ECHOES immerses visitors with scents and visuals that replicate a forest. At its entry, visitors are able to see a forest of treetops and a glimpse of the installation’s inner garden, where there are plants and flowers whose essences are within the fragrance. The walkway itself has sundial markings to connect visitors to the passage of the sun, as well as to the 28 minutes it takes for the molecules in the perfume to evaporate. Other features include five concentric pathways that draw inspiration from an ancient Green initiation dance that connected humans with the earth.

At 180 x 205, FIVE ECHOES covers the entirety of Miami Design District’s Jungle Plaza. The location itself, as well as the details of the installation, resonate with the fragrance’s nature-inspired scent: hints of jasmine, citrus and a touch of vanilla. FIVE ECHOES is Chanel’s second collaboration with artist Es Devlin, who was commissioned for the fashion house’s scent-infused sculpture, Mirror Maze. 

On its opening night, the installation was turned into a candlelit dinner, and was met with a performance by Spanish artist Rosalía. Some of the guests in attendance included Pharrell and Helen Williams, Maluma, Leon Bridges, Venus Williams, Alana Haim, Este Haim, Danielle Haim, Joe Jonas, Camila Mendes, Harley Viera Newton and Jessica Clements, who were all seen wearing Chanel. 

Sustainability was a key design criteria for making FIVE ECHOES. With this in mind, Chanel has collaborated with One Tree Planted and Miami-Dade County’s Million Trees Miami to source and care for the installation’s greenery once it reaches its conclusion. The temporary forest within the installation will be replanted in the Miami-Dade County parks, while its structure and components will be repurposed and recycled. 

FIVE ECHOES will be open free to the public until December 21st. Advance ticketing is strongly encouraged. Reservations can be made here.