In news that no fragrance fan needs reminding: Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s iconic Baccarat Rouge 540 has been topping the beauty charts since its inception in 2014, on the occasion of Baccarat’s 250th anniversary. It’s one of those extraordinary perfumes that tells a story through its notes, its craftsmanship, and it’s signature square-shaped Baccarat bottle.
From being described as smelling like “money”, to taking TikTok’s Gen Z demographic by storm with over 200 million tags on the app (case in point: @letstalkperfume’s video that pans to the perfume with a caption that writes, “POV: You ask the hot girl what perfume she is wearing”), the fragrance has seen dazzling worldwide success over the past eight years, and this month, the beauty world came together in Paris to celebrate the hallmarks of this iconic creation.
GRAZIA in Paris: Maison Francis Kurkdjian celebrates its iconic fragrance Baccarat Rouge 540 pic.twitter.com/hOieka0k4R
— Grazia Middle East (@Grazia_me) July 18, 2022
With the stage aptly set at the Museum of Baccarat Crystal, Master Perfumer Francis Kurkdjian, and Marc Chaya, co-founder and CEO of the eponymous French fragrance house, introduced guests from around the world (GRAZIA included) to the world of Rouge 540.
GRAZIA in Paris: Maison Francis Kurkdjian celebrates its iconic fragrance Baccarat Rouge 540 pic.twitter.com/YTW4kCCihS
— Grazia Middle East (@Grazia_me) July 18, 2022
The cult fragrance under Francis Kurkdjian’s namesake label may well be the world’s most talked-about scent right now, and it all started in 2014 when the Master Perfumer collaborated with Baccarat to celebrate the crystal manufacturer’s 250th birthday. It was here that the floral-meets-woody aroma was designed, in a Baccarat red bottle – the crystal house’s signature colour.
The façade of the bottle combines a historic symbol of French luxury with contemporary spirit of a young fragrance house. And as for the nose? Baccarat Rouge 540 is subtly decadent and at the same time smells powerfully sophisticated. Its unique notes of jasmine, saffron, ambergris, and cedar mesh so well that it has become a best-seller for both men and women.
The price point is slightly higher than most fragrances (Dhs2,254 for 200ml at Maison Francis Kurkdjian boutiques, Ounass, Sephora, Harvey Nichols & Bloomingdales), but the cost per spritz (and the compliments, of course) make it totally worth it.
