Fragrance house

Zaharoff

Zaharoff traces its beginnings to George Zaharoff, who says he started the House of Zaharoff at age 20 after graduating from DePaul University in 1992. Its creative origins are linked to his mother, Mariana, whose fashion career began in the basement of her Chicago home in the late 1970s and later received international recognition. The house evolved from George’s fragrance work in the 1990s into men’s tailored clothing in the 2000s, before fragrance returned as a central focus. A proposed sale of its fragrance division to Escada Beauté in the early 2000s was not completed after the September 11 attacks and resulting economic disruption. Its menswear business subsequently operated through licenses with Hartmarx and Brooks Brothers; Brooks Brothers’ bankruptcy released Zaharoff from the license, prompting George to decide in 2018 to relaunch the fragrance business. The brand’s creative identity combines modern American style with classical references, with each fragrance developed around an artistic story. Signature Pour Homme marked the 2018 return to men’s fragrance, while Claude Dir served as principal perfumer for the Signature Series. Zaharoff later made creator collaborations through its ZedCreators fragrances in 2020 and 2022.