AS
Angela Shankle
May 9, 2026
The year 2000 is when Chanel and I first met. Twenty-six years later, it is still one of the easiest gifts for my husband to buy me for Christmas, birthdays, and Mother’s Day.
At this point, Ray has Chanel on bookmark, speed dial, and probably snail mail too. 😂
Years ago, when Chanel discontinued their body powder, I was genuinely disappointed. Ray went on a mission searching the internet, calling Chanel directly, and even asking if there was “any left in the basement or fallen under a shelf somewhere.” That still makes me laugh.
This year made me love the brand even more for a completely different reason.
Ray gifted me the two bars of Chanel No. 5 soap on the right, in photos attached, and our 13-year-old son Spencer added the Coco Mademoiselle soap on the left. That one bar probably represented nearly three weeks of allowance for him, which somehow made it feel more luxurious than anything else in the box.
The older I get, the more I realize that gifts are not always about extravagance. Sometimes they are about thoughtfulness, sacrifice, and knowing someone well enough to understand what makes them smile.
And Chanel has always understood presentation.
The white box. The white tissue paper sealed with the iconic camellia. The careful packaging with the soft shredded paper protecting everything inside. The handwritten feeling behind the experience.
Even their customer service stands out. Ray is wonderfully old school and still prefers giving his card number to a real person over the phone instead of ordering online. Somehow, every call feels personal, polished, and memorable. By the end of the conversation, they are asking, “And what will be next, Mr. Shankle?” 😂
Ironically, the experience impressed Ray so much that he eventually found an ammunition company that packages their orders with the same level of care.
A black box, beautiful presentation, and customer service that remembers your name will absolutely make people wonder if the wife is a Chanel shopper too.
Twenty-six years later, I am still hoping they bring back the body powder.