Van Cleef Arpels

Francis Kurkdjian

At only 24, Francis Kurkdjian composed Le Male for Jean Paul Gaultier — an international bestseller that redefined masculine fragrance. Rather than rest on this extraordinary success, he spent the next decade pushing boundaries, creating for the world's most prestigious houses while nurturing a vision of perfumery as personal expression. In 2001, he opened a bespoke perfume atelier, crafting one-of-a-kind scents for private clients — a radical move in an era of mass-market fragrance. His artistic collaborations with Sophie Calle and installations at the Palace of Versailles elevated perfume to fine art. In 2009, alongside Marc Chaya, he founded Maison Francis Kurkdjian, finally giving his name to a collection that embodies his philosophy: fragrance as a wardrobe, each scent a facet of self-expression.

“My creations are an invitation to choose the scent that suits you daily, because I like the idea that each woman and man can express a part of themselves through perfume.”