Maison Francis Kurkdjian

Maison Francis Kurkdjian was born in 2009 from the encounter between Francis Kurkdjian, a renowned perfumer with scores of successful creations to his name, and Marc Chaya, Co-founder and President of the fragrance house.

Together, they fulfilled their desire for a sensual, generous and multi-facetted landscape of olfactory free expression, creating a new emblem of French know-how and lifestyle.

At only 24, Francis Kurkdjian composed his first perfume, “Le Mâle” by Jean Paul Gaultier, an international best-seller and game-changer of its time. Instead of relying on a very promising start to his career, he decided, as a precursor, to explore new possibilities and give olfactory creation a new artistic dimension.

In keeping with his visionary outlook, in 2011 he set up his tailor-made perfume workshop, against the general tendency of perfume democratization, while constantly putting his know-how and sensibility at the service of the greatest fashion designers (Rick Owens, Hedi Slimane, Riccardo Tisci, Alber Elbaz or John Galliano), as well as the most iconic houses (Dior, Guerlain or Saint-Laurent).

From 2003, artists like Sophie Calle, Christian Rizzo or Sarkis called on him to compose his first olfactory compositions. These encounters were the starting point of his quest to break down the boundaries between different fields and the senses.

He makes us dream with outstanding olfactory installations and master classes, in France or internationally, in superb settings and Art institutions: the Grand Palais, the Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent Foundation, Villa Medici, the Palace of Versailles, or Palazzo delle Stelline in Milan for world exhibitions.

At 30, he was named a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in 2008.