Perfumer who came up with the immortal Chanel No. 5 scent. His other scent creations include Cuir de Russie, Bois des Îles, and Chanel No. 22.
As a child, he made soap with his father.
He, his wife, and his son fled Russia in 1912 during the Russian Civil War, arriving in France after a near-fatal, two-month sea voyage.
His French grandfather was taken prisoner during Napoleon's invasion of Russia and remained there after release, which was how Ernest came to be born in Moscow.
He persuaded Coco Chanel to use one of his scents as a gift to some of her clients. It was Coco Chanel who named his perfume No. 5, because the number brought her good luck.
