This month, Dior Parfums debuts “Esprit de Parfum,” an indulgent new suite of scents for La Collection Privée Christian Dior from the house’s Perfume Creation Director Francis Kurkdjian. Brought to life with unparalleled ingredients, these full-bodied perfumes—names Lucky, Rouge Trafalgar, Gris Dior, Ambre Nuit, and Oud Ispahan—are a total olfactory experience including strong notes of floral, citrus, oud, and amber. “Creating the Esprits de Parfum has been an opportunity for me to pay tribute to the iconic fragrances of La Collection Privée. For each fragrance, I have redefined a readable olfactory line and a narrative that allow for a pure and radical reinterpretation of the composition’s structure,” said Kurkdjian. “The Esprits de Parfum are like the canvas before the final model: they are its synthesis.”

Earlier this summer, Whitewall visited with Kurkdjian in the Var region of the South of France. There, within the stunning gardens and interiors of Mr. Dior’s Château de la Colle Noire, he discussed his longstanding passion for perfume, and vision for its future.