Francis Kurkdjian is a masterful French Perfumer and pioneering businessman. The visionary of Armenian heritage was introduced to the art of dance and music as a child in Paris, as well as to the magic of perfume making as a young teen. Kurkdjian enrolled in the esteemed Institut Supérieur International du Parfum, de la Cosmétique et de l’Aromatique Alimentaire (ISIPCA) of Versailles, as well as went on to a leading master’s program at the Paris Institute of Luxury Marketing.
In turn, while working with the renowned maison Jean Paul Gaultier at the age of 24, the creative developed the iconic men’s fragrance Le Male, known as one of the best selling perfumes across the globe. This initial triumph led to generating a tailor made perfume workshop in 2001, and the creation of over 40 perfumes from the world’s principal fashion houses—including olfactory gems such as Narciso Rodriguez for Her, L’extase for Nina Ricci, My Burberry, Elie Saab Le Parfum, Green Tea for Elizabeth Arden, and many more. Imaginative collaborations with luminaries like John Galliano, Rick Owens, Alber Elbaz, Hedi Slimane, and Riccardo Tisci, to name a few, cemented Kurkdjian as a deeply explorative and highly artistic contemporary perfumer.
The perfumer also delved into a parade of artistic endeavors during this time, such as the clever re-creation of Marie Antoinette’s cherished perfume for the historic Palace of Versailles, as well as the production of large-scale fragrance installations. Prestigious artists including Sarkis, Sophie Calle, and Christian Rizzo partnered with Kurkdjian in order to develop new, sensorial wonderlands. Whether hosting riveting master classes or activating exhibitions in the world’s top art institutions, such as Villa Medici, the Grand Palais, Palazzo delle Stelline in Milan, the Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent Foundation, and the Palace of Versailles, the skilled perfumer dares the world around him to dream. The French government bestowed the distinguished “Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres” upon the visionary in 2008, championing his fantastical visions which immerse and transport audiences of all ages.
Alongside Marc Chaya, an innovative Lebanese-French businessman and previous partner at Ernst & Young, Kurkdjian soon co-founded Maison Francis Kurkdjian in 2009. Placing boundless self-expression and French savoir-fare at the heart of their elegant fragrance house, a maison brimming with luxury, passion, and meticulous craftsmanship has since unfolded. With over 300 boutiques in diverse countries, the coveted brand lives by the codes of purity, sophistication, and timelessness, evolving year after year with new, provocative scent journeys.
The major LVMH European luxury goods conglomerate acquired the maison in 2017, with Kurkdjian maintaining his groundbreaking work at the brand. In 2021, the prolific Kurkdjian became Creative Director of Perfume at legendary fashion house Christian Dior. He was first asked to reimagine their signature scent, J’adore, and In dialogue with both the 25-year-old fragrance and Mr. Dior himself, Kurkdjian created L’Or de J’adore. It is a concentrated, super-expressive perfume that expands on the olfactory nuances of the original powerhouse floral bouquet. To celebrate, Dior also collaborated with artist Jean-Michel Othoniel on a precious sculpture to encase the bottle.
This fall, Dior Parfums debuts “Esprit de Parfum,” an indulgent new suite of scents for La Collection Privée Christian Dior, spearheaded by Kurkdjian. Brought to life with unparalleled ingredients, these full-bodied perfumes—enigmatically named Lucky, Rouge Trafalgar, Gris Dior, Ambre Nuit, and Oud Ispahan—are a total olfactory experience including vivacious notes of floral, citrus, oud, and amber.
