Marilyn Monroe’s Chanel No. 5 Receipt
This original receipt from I. Magnin & Co. in Beverly Hills is dated January 8, 1960 and records Marilyn Monroe’s purchase of a bottle of Chanel No. 5 spray. The receipt is issued to “Mrs. Arthur Miller” at the Beverly Hills Hotel, the name she used during her marriage to playwright Arthur Miller.
Chanel No. 5 is widely recognized as Marilyn’s signature fragrance and remains closely associated with her public image and personal mythology. This document provides clear transactional evidence of her use of the perfume she helped make iconic.
I. Magnin & Co. was among Beverly Hills’ leading luxury retailers and a regular destination for Hollywood clientele. The receipt preserves a routine purchase that offers a direct glimpse into Marilyn’s daily life during a productive period of her career.
Collector’s Note
As a collector, I am always interested in what everyday documents can tell us about Marilyn Monroe’s life.
Marilyn was known for keeping her financial papers and personal records, and this receipt reflects that practice. Issued under her married name, “Mrs. Arthur Miller,” while she was staying at the Beverly Hills Hotel, it documents her purchase of Chanel No. 5.
There is nothing dramatic about it. It simply records a routine transaction. But that is precisely what makes it useful. It confirms her personal use of the fragrance most closely associated with her and places her in a specific moment of her daily life.
Documents like this help ground Marilyn in the practical realities of how she lived. They show organization, consistency, and attention to detail. For me, that is part of understanding her as a person, not just as an image.
Scott Fortner
Marilyn Monroe Collection
Founder & Owner
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