A 101 GUIDE TO MAISON FRANCIS KURKDJIAN
Timeless, bold and multi-faceted, Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s parfums make a statement. Whether you choose to envelop yourself in the sensuous OUD Satin Mood, to intrigue with ambiguous Gentle Fluidity, or bewitch with the bestselling Baccarat Rouge 540, it’s time to maximise your magnetism.
With emphasis on ‘classicism reinvented’, we pitched some questions to the brand – from what inspires their approach to formulation, to how they’re supporting an ethical future in fragrance. Read on to learn from Colin Minter, the brand’s Lead Olfactive Stylist, about everything Maison Francis Kurkdjian, and how their evocative scents bring a singular twist to the timeless tradition of luxury perfume.
THE HISTORY OF MAISON FRANCIS KURKDJIAN
Born in 2009, following a chance encounter between Francis Kurkdjian – a renowned perfumer with scores of successful creations to his name – and Marc Chaya, the brand’s Co-Founder and President, Maison Francis Kurkdjian fuses their “complementary talents to conceive a new territory of free expression in contemporary fragrances: sensual, generous and multi-faceted.”
“Francis Kurkdjian’s remarkable creative talent defines the unique personality of his eponymous house, where different facets of exceptional expertise come together and echo one another, shaping the brand’s singular quality and providing the foundations upon which the ‘Maison’ has been built.”
ON THE CREATIVE PROCESS
“The Maison is guided by enchanting yet precise codes,” says Colin. “Purity, sophistication, timelessness and the boldness of classicism reinvented. Exceptional know-how comes together and reverberates – continually writing a number of sensory adventures in which perfume is, naturally, the hero.
“At the point of conception, emphasis is on a strong story, product quality, and a connection to the brand. Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s unique personality is fostered by the creative power of a man who has a taste for precision. Recognised as one of the world’s most celebrated perfumers, Francis Kurkdjian imagined a fragrance territory built upon a free, sensual and delicate perfectionism. The Maison Francis Kurkdjian collection is worn as fragrance wardrobe, with myriad facets for every emotion. Designed in the tradition of luxury French perfumery, it nevertheless advocates a contemporary vision of the art of creating and wearing a perfume.”
ON THEIR ETHICAL ENDEAVOURS
“Maison Francis Kurkdjian actively supports cultural institutions and eco-citizen associations to set up creative programmes for a cause. Through the exchange of knowledge, human encounters and common perspectives, long-term projects are developed. Maison Francis Kurkdjian is supporting the Longitude 181 association, to help study and protect sperm whales in the Mediterranean Sea [sperm whales produce ambergris – a valuable perfumery ingredient – which can now be synthetically mimicked], and has sponsored the Jardin du Parfumeur at the Palace of Versailles; a sensory, educational space housing hundreds of fragrant plants.”
ON EVOKING A FEELING
“Francis believes in creating fragrances that evoke universal sentiments – conjuring those feelings and experiences that make us human – which makes the scents accessible to a global audience. He draws inspiration from classic and modern art, couture, and lifestyle – lasting influences, if you will – as opposed to raw materials or trends.
“My creations are an invitation to choose the scent that suits you daily,” says Francis. “I like the idea that each man and woman can express a part of themselves through perfume – scent is part of ‘you’ you leave behind; a memory in the making.”
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Cult Beauty’s Content Editor and a Cult Beauty OG, Verity loves nothing more than the marriage of language and lip balm. A quintessential Libran, she’s a self-professed magpie for luxury ‘must-haves' and always pursuing the new and the niche — from the boujee-est skin care to cutting-edge tech. Balancing an urge to stop the clock with her desire to embrace the ageing process (and set a positive example for her daughter), Verity's a retinol obsessive and will gladly share her thoughts about the time-defying gadgets, masks and treatments worth the splurge...
