Fragrance house

The Different Company

The Different Company was founded in 2000 by perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena and designer Thierry de Baschmakoff. Ellena created the house’s first four fragrances, while de Baschmakoff designed their bottles. Its identity is built around an alternative approach to perfumery, using exceptional or little-used materials, freedom from market-demand constraints, and refillable bottles introduced from the beginning. The creative process focuses on expressing sensations and visions rather than simply reproducing recognizable smells. After Ellena left for Hermès, his daughter Céline Ellena became the house’s perfumer in 2005; Luc Gabriel took over the company in 2004. The fragrance legacy includes Osmanthus, the house bestseller across all countries for seven years, followed by Pure eVe and Sublime Balkiss among its top five fragrances. Majaïna Sin was later identified as the best-selling fragrance, associated with an unusual gourmand interpretation, exceptional materials, and distinctive accords.