Fragrance house

Maison Francis

Maison Francis Kurkdjian was founded in 2009 by perfumer Francis Kurkdjian and Marc Chaya, who paired fragrance creation with an entrepreneurial approach to strategy, aesthetics, and artistic direction. Kurkdjian’s earlier work included opening a bespoke fragrance atelier in 2001 and collaborating with artists from 2003, including Sophie Calle; those projects informed the house’s treatment of fragrance as an artistic medium. The collection is presented as a contemporary fragrance wardrobe, bringing French perfumery tradition into a modern approach to creating and wearing perfume. In 2016, the house joined Comité Colbert, and in March 2017 LVMH agreed to acquire a majority share, while Chaya and Kurkdjian retained their roles and remained shareholders. Baccarat Rouge 540, created by Kurkdjian for Baccarat’s 250th anniversary, launched in 2014 in 250 numbered crystal bottles before being incorporated into the house collection. It is especially associated with Maison Francis Kurkdjian and is described as an icon and a runaway hit. In 2021, Kurkdjian also became Perfume Creation Director of Parfums Christian Dior while continuing to lead his own house.