Fragrance house

Jacques Zolty

Jacques Zolty’s story began in the 1980s, when fashion photographer Jacques Zolty discovered St. Barth while on assignment for a photo shoot and subsequently remained there. Inspired by the island’s colours, air, and natural scents, he created a personal fragrance from which the brand was born. His photographic career included work with Helmut Newton, Richard Avedon, Patrick Demarchelier, and Peter Lindbergh. As a photographer, model, and artist, Zolty conceived fragrance as a way to give his photographs a three-dimensional quality and carry an artistic message. The first fragrance carrying the Jacques Zolty name appeared in 2007, with Fabien Baron designing its bottle and packaging and Patrick Demarchelier photographing the advertising campaign. The fragrance identity centers on St. Barth, the French West Indies, and the Caribbean; the eponymous scent became an embodiment of Saint Barth. In early 2014, Roberto Drago’s distribution company Kaon acquired the international license and took charge of perfume creation, commissioning Cécile Zarokian for Van-Ile and David Maruitte for Fleur de Lune. HIC Beauty is Jacques Zolty’s parent company. The brand later expanded from fragrance into ready-to-wear, including timeless pieces inspired by Zolty’s relaxed white shirts.