Maison Francis Kurkdjian

Francis Cook-Gian was already a celebrated perfumer who had composed Jean-Paul Gaultier's La Mall by age 25 when he opened his own Paris perfume house in 2009. LVMH acquired the house eight years later. Cook-Gian graduated from the Institute Superior International du Parfum in Versailles at 22 and composed La Mall for Jean-Paul Gaultier in 1995 at 25, a fragrance that went on to sell over 80 million bottles globally. Rather than continuing as a freelance nose composing for licensing houses, he opened Maison Francis Cook-Gian in Paris in 2009 as his own brand. With his name on the bottle and full creative control over the entire composition, rather than the limited influence, a contracted perfumer typically accepts on industry commissions. The move from contracted nose to branded house was the commercial pivot.