If you're looking for an escape for the holidays, look no further. Chanel's Grand Numéro exhibition, which will open in Paris on December 15, 2022 at the Grand Palais Éphémère, where the house also presents its visionary collections, offers an amazing immersive beauty experience. 

A new kind of exhibition that appeals to all the senses: 

The original idea was conceived by Thomas du Pré de Saint Maur, Director of Creative Resources for Chanel Perfume, Beauty, Watches, and Jewelry. And the man who, last year, introduced us to the much-loved concept of the "Chanel Factory" conveyor belts, which invaded retail spaces around the world to mark the 100th anniversary of Chanel No. 5. 

This new project, he tells Vogue exclusively, took over a year to complete, and pushes the boundaries of what an immersive experience can be. "We didn't want it to be a simple historical explanation or an exhibition that only talks about one dimension of our perfumes... Because we know they don't have a linear history: there are different chapters."

Promising a "sensory journey," each of these chapters is a physical and emotional deep dive into the history and inspiration of the house's iconic fragrances, told in the Chanel way. "We felt that the exhibition had to be immersive," he continues, before adding, "by engaging the audience, the event will feel more like a kind of interactive cabaret."

As part of this Chanel cabaret, visitors will be greeted by a master of ceremonies, before being led on an "olfactory odyssey" through five rooms, which will delight both newcomers to this Chanel world as well as long fans of the Chanel fragrance. "It will be a way to discover perfume, not just for what it smells like, but for what it creates as an overall sensation. People always ask what the magic of No. 5 is. We will put them in an emotional state that will allow them to discover the fragrance in a different way, and then they will understand."

What emotions does Thomas du Pré de Saint Maur hope to awaken in the minds of viewers? "I hope they will come away with the feeling of having experienced a great moment of joy. We are in a period where we want to be together and share physical experiences. So I hope that even if someone visits the exhibition alone, they will want to come back with their children, their family, their friends, their lover..." See you on December 15.