Shaped with exceptional craftsmanship, itsminiature stage reveals impossible machinery, intricate details and the hands behind the magic, as the fragrance steps into the spotlight.

1, 2, 3, Music! Curtain up on a scenography and a scented collection full of surprises!

ACT I: COSTUME



To step onto the stage of the Grand Siècle, one must first dress the part. For Francis Kurkdjian, Nicolas II de Larmerssin's 1967 engraving of the Perfumer’s Attire is a source of inspiration for his craft, a manifesto of the perfumer's art. The Maison gives this historic character a new cue, reworking it through its signature codes. From the cut of the cloth and the construction of the wig to each fitting, flourish, and ornament, specialist artisans bring the costume to life backstage, ready for its entrance into the spotlight.

Francis Kurkdjian has always surrounded himself with recognized or emerging talents, Friends of the Maison and fresh faces alike. This year once again, he has brought together around him and his project a team whose members each excel in their respective fields.

Béatrice Martel, an Opéra de Paris dancer, initiated him into the subtle art of the bow. For hair and wigs, he entrusted the creation to John Nollet—acclaimed notably for his work on the film Jeanne du Barry. The transformation is completed under the brushes of makeup artist Ruby Mazuel and the scissors of Sébastien Paucod, barber at Alain Maître Barbier. This ballet of artisanal crafts also brings together Germain Benoit, velvet artisan; La Manufacture Royale Montvallet, for the excellence of its fabrics and textiles; La Maison du Pli, masters of the art of pleating; L’Atelier Caraco for couture; and Maison Clairvoy Bottier.

ACT II: SETTING THE SCENE

Scrolls, arabesques, acanthus leaves, splashes of blue, gold, and lustre. Every detail evokes the classical era, its pursuit of harmony as well as the richness of its ornamentation—at once rigorous and sumptuous, much like the motifs of Jean Bérain the Elder, orchestrator of royal festivities, or the brass and tortoiseshell marquetry of the cabinetmaker André-Charles Boulle.

To bring this mise-en-scène to life, a new team of talents has come together: Cyril Teste directing the film, set designer Jean-Hugues de Chatillon conceiving the sets with painter and scenographer Antoine Fontaine, and Yannick Kalfayan creating the musical score.

ACTE III: ARTISANAL INTELLIGENCE

20 craftsmen. 2,000 hours of work. 30,000 pieces made by hand.

Behind the performance lies an extraordinary feat of stagecraft and collective craftsmanship. Every number tells its own story behind the spectacle.

The miniature theatre, Francis Kurkdjian’s costume, and the flacon displays featuring puppeteers... All of these splendors will be open to the public at the Maison Francis Kurkdjian boutique, located at 5 rue d’Alger, Paris 1er, from October 18th to January 5th.