Poised To Remember

The first-ever re-release of a Maison Francis Kurkdjian fragrance - A Piece of Me (APOM) as a gender-neutral creation prompts a candid conversation with the master creative of the namesake perfume house. In an exclusive interview, Francis Kurkdjian talks to Men's Folio about what fragrance means to him, what inspires him, and what the horizon of the fragrance industry looks like in the years to come.

- Charmaine Tan

BEFORE WE SPEAK ABOUT PERFUME, I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT A FORMER PASSION — BALLET. HOW DID YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH IT?

Ballet was indeed a significant part of my childhood. My first encounter with it was when I was very young, and I was immediately captivated by the grace, discipline, and emotional expression that ballet embodies. The beauty of the movements, the dedication of the dancers, and the storytelling through dance all played a part in making me fall in love with ballet. It taught me the importance of precision and artistry, which has greatly influenced my work as a perfumer.

ON THAT NOTE, DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE BALLET?

For classical ballet, I like Swan Lake, which Rudolf Nureyev choreographed. For contemporary ballet, I love Études  by Harald Lander. My favourite contemporary work is The Rite of Spring by Pina Bausch.

I FEEL THE ART FORM IS AS CONNECTED TO FRAGRANCE AS COUTURE IS TO THE DISCIPLINE AND THAT YOUR FRAGRANCES SPEAK OF AND WITH THE COMMON LANGUAGE OF GRACE, ROMANCE AND DESIRE. ARE YOU A ROMANTIC OR HEDONISTIC PERSON BY NATURE?

I believe I am both.

LOVE CAN LOOK DIFFERENT FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND EVEN DIFFERENT FOR THE SAME PERSON AT DIFFERENT TIMES. FOR FRANCIS KURKDJIAN AT PRESENT, WHAT DOES ROMANCE AND DESIRE SMELL LIKE?

Romance and desire smell like the neck of the person I love!

AND A SCENT THAT BRINGS YOU THE MOST COMFORT?