Christian Dior is pleased to announce the appointment of Francis Kurkdjian as perfume creation director. Kurkdjian will lead the creation of Maison’s Fragrances.
As artistic director and perfumer-creator of Maison Francis Kurkdjian, which he co-founded in 2009 with Marc Chaya and that has been part of the LVMH Group since 2017, French creator Kurkdjian is considered one of the main key players in the world of fragrances today. He will also remain artistic director of Maison Francis Kurkdjian.
Known as an enormous talent, he was only 25 years old when he composed his first men’s fragrance, Le Male by Jean-Paul Gaultier, which launched his career. A passionate artist and exceptionally skilled perfumer, he has never ceased moving forward after this initial success, redefining the very concept of perfume, including his opening of a bespoke fragrance, Atelier in 2001.
Kurkdjian has also created striking scents for Mythic Perfume Houses, including Dior, for which he composed Eau Noire and Cologne Blanche for La Collection Privée Christian Dior. In 2008, he was named best perfumer by Cosmétique Magazine, and many of his fragrances have won international prizes. In 2009, he was made Knight of Arts and Letters.
He has signed numerous collaborations with renowned artists such as Sophie Callie and choreographer, Christian Rizzo. His ongoing aesthetic journey has also led to memorable olfactory installations and performances in superb settings like the Grand Palais and the Château De Versailles.
“It is a tremendous honor for me to join Parfums Christian Dior, a Maison with a richly inspiring history and a resolutely future-facing creative spirit,” Kurkdjian said. “I am delighted to share my vision through my fragrance creations. Working at Maison Dior while continuing to create for my own Maison is a great privilege. I want to sincerely thank Bernard Arnault for renewing his confidence in me as part of LVMH."
