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Cuir de Russie, or Russian leather, was a theme modern at the end of the 19th century. Many perfume houses were creating perfumes for women who smoked cigarettes. Chanel's exclusive fragrance was created in 1924. It is both provocative and shocking, and that exactly was its purpose, because it was created for a woman who dared to smoke cigarettes in public. It was a kind of encouragement and approval, because at that time a woman who smoked was a scandalous and inconceivable symbol of emancipation.

The composition starts with aldehydes moderated by mild nectar of classical trio – rose, jasmine and ylang-ylang. The ending comes as smoky, animalistic note of dark leather. The main notes are: orange blossom, bergamot, mandarin, sage, iris, jasmine, rose, ylang-ylang, cedarwood, vetiver, styrax, leather, amber and vanilla.

Composed by Ernest Beaux, the first Director of Chanel Fragrance, this musky and sophisticated scent blends birch bark with swirls of blonde tobacco heightened by exotic jasmine. A testament to passionate elegance.