With an unbridled passion for fragrance, master perfumer Francis Kurkdjian has already created several masterpiece scents. The best Maison Francis Kurkdjian fragrances for men seamlessly blend the old with the new for a fragrance experience like no other.
Kurkdjian is one of the most talented, acclaimed, and creative perfumers in the world today. Interested in perfume from the young age of 13, he trained at ISIPCA (the perfume school of Paris) and created the iconic Le Mâle for Jean-Paul Gaultier at just 25.
Throughout his career, Kurkdjian has created blends of Acqua di Parma, Elie Saab, and Carven. Still, it is his own signature line (launched with Marc Chaya), Maison Francis Kurkdjian, which genuinely shook up the status quo.
- 10 Maison Francis Kurkdjian Fragrances Reviewed
- 1. Maison Francis Kurkdjian l’Homme À la Rose Eau de Parfum
- 2. Maison Francis Kurkdjian Lumière Noire Homme Eau de Toilette
- 3. Maison Francis Kurkdjian Masculin Pluriel Eau de Toilette
- 4. Maison Francis Kurkdjian Grand Soir Eau de Parfum
- 5. Maison Francis Kurkdjian OUD Eau de Parfum
- 6. Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Celestia Cologne Forte Eau de Parfum
- 7. Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Eau de Parfum
- 8. Maison Francis Kurkdjian Amyris Homme Extrait de Parfum
- 9. Maison Francis Kurkdjian Gentle Fluidity Gold Eau de Parfum
- 10. Maison Francis Kurkdjian OUD Satin Mood Eau de Parfum
- Conclusion
- Further Reading
10 Maison Francis Kurkdjian Fragrances Reviewed
The best Maison Francis Kurkdjian fragrances for men combine enticing woods, musks and manly florals that truly turn heads. We have selected 10 MFK scents that every man should consider.
1. Maison Francis Kurkdjian l’Homme À la Rose Eau de Parfum
Review
Despite making use of traditionally feminine notes, L’Homme À la Rose Eau de Parfum is an undeniably masculine fragrance with a complex and ultimately resinous cologne. A bright blend of citrus, florals, and woods which is relaxed yet sensual.
Opening with a blast of zesty grapefruit sprinkled with sage is first to delight. A fabulous duo of Damask and Centifolia rose soon bloom to produce a well-balanced, and slightly powdery/green stem rose floral combination that’s not too sweet.
After about 30 minutes, the deeper notes of sweet/fruity/musky labdanum and warm amber seep through to provide a masculine edge.
Performance is excellent, with longevity at 6+ hours combined with decent sillage and projection.
As for when to wear, L’Homme À la Rose is the perfect choice for spring/summer days and will make a good office cologne too.
Overall, L’Homme À la Rose is a bright and cheerful masculine rose fragrance that puts a spring in your step and a smile on your face.
Top Notes:
Grapefruit, Sage
Mid Notes:
Damask Rose, Centifolia Rose, Cistus
Base Notes:
Amberwood, Labdanum
Price & Reviews
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2. Maison Francis Kurkdjian Lumière Noire Homme Eau de Toilette
Review
A slightly more traditional offering, Lumiere Noire Pour Homme Eau de Toilette is a spicy and warming fragrance with herbal undertones and a welcome dose of rose to keep things Avant-Garde.
Although usually reserved for mid/base notes, Lumiere Noire Pour Homme leads with bright rose and earthy patchouli. This unusual combination leads into a manly heart of bitter artemisia. In this blend, artemisia acts almost like a hinge. It never really shines on its own, instead of leading into the base notes of spicy cumin and cinnamon. Fantastic.
The strong sillage of this cologne is matched with enormous staying power. You can expect one application to last around 5+ hours with decent sillage and projection.
The spicy and warming base notes coupled with the bitterness of artemisia, make it perfect for autumn and winter evenings. Also fares well on fresh spring mornings.
Overall, Lumiere Noire Pour Homme is an incredibly complimented masculine fragrance that oozes confidence and class.
Top Notes:
Cinnamon, Cumin
Mid Notes:
Rose
Base Notes:
Patchouli, Artemisia
Price & Reviews
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3. Maison Francis Kurkdjian Masculin Pluriel Eau de Toilette
Review
A classic woody aromatic fragrance that makes excellent use of all the most popular masculine notes, Masculine Pluriel Eau de Toilette certainly lives up to its name.
The opening wave of Masculine Pluriel is surprisingly fresh and herbal; lavender makes up the bulk of this as the leading top note. Fading quickly, this blends nicely into the heart notes of soft leather and musky-earthy patchouli.
As a result, there is a kind of old-world masculinity to this fragrance; think leather boots, campfires, and outdoor living with a fresh twist. The base is made up of woody notes, vetiver, and cedar, giving it a dry finish.
This is an excellent all-round cologne with a moderate sillage and staying power. You can expect around 6+ hours of wear from one application, more if you spray it on your clothes.
As for when to wear, Masculine Pluriel is extremely versatile and perfect for any season. Leans slightly towards daywear, either casual or formal.
Overall, Masculine Pluriel is a crowd-pleasing lavender scent with wood and spice that is classy and manly. Well worth the investment.
Top Notes:
Lavender, Vetiver
Mid Notes:
Patchouli
Base Notes:
Leather, Woody Notes
Price & Reviews
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4. Maison Francis Kurkdjian Grand Soir Eau de Parfum
Review
A rather decadent oriental fragrance for women and men, Grand Soir Eau de Parfum, is delightfully balsamic and warming – it can be a little strong for some. Still, for those who can carry it with grace, it is devastatingly hypnotic.
Though amber usually rises slowly from the base of a fragrance, not here. The first wave of warm amber and slightly sweet vanilla is exquisite. The heart of sweet/fruity/woody Spanish labdanum bleeds through to add balance. It is the base of Tonka bean and benzoin which provides a depth and sweetness that is both alluring and androgynous. Wow!
With beast-mode sillage and projection, this monster has incredible staying power at 8+ hours. You could go through your whole workday without needing to reapply, Grand Soir is indeed grand.
The warm and spicy notes make this a perfect cold-weather fragrance for winter and autumnal nights.
Overall, Grand Soir is a warm, sexy and sophisticated scent that is addictive and intoxicating. Generates lots of compliments too!
Top Notes:
Labdanum
Mid Notes:
Benzoin
Base Notes:
Tonka Bean, Vanilla, Amber
Price & Reviews
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5. Maison Francis Kurkdjian OUD Eau de Parfum
Review
Balsamic, aromatic, sensual, and opulent; these are the perfect words for Oud Eau de Parfum. Although a unisex fragrance, this is one leans towards the masculine side, and is wonderfully indulgent and seductive.
The opening note of bitter-sweet saffron makes itself known instantly and is surprisingly long-lived. Heart notes of resinous elemi and woodsy oud soon seep in for a manly vibe. Upon dry-down, base notes of patchouli and cedar add a layer of sophistication.
While its spicy and woody undertones should make it best for winter evenings. Best suited for bright spring days when the fresh air will lift and enhance it.
The sillage/projection is discreet but surprisingly long-lived with 6+ hours of longevity. The resinous elemi, in particular, lasts incredibly well.
Overall, Oud Eau de Parfum is an unusually quirky masculine scent that is an excellent addition to your collection if fancy something a little unusual.
Top Notes:
Elemi, Saffron
Mid Notes:
Patchouli
Base Notes:
Cedar, Oud
Price & Reviews
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6. Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Celestia Cologne Forte Eau de Parfum
Review
Invigorating, fresh, floral, fruity with a touch of musk, Aqua Celestia Cologne Forte is a shower-fresh unisex fragrance that was released by the brand in 2021.
Notes of sparkling bergamot collide with juicy blackcurrant for an ultra-fresh first wave. Sunny mimosa (reminds me of the sublime Cerritu 1881 pour femme) and sweet jasmine in the heart keep the fragrance balanced as unisex.
Upon dry-down, a welcome dose of musk creeps in after 30 minutes or so, then this fragrances settles to a fresh zesty citrus scent with musk and hints of white florals.
With reasonable sillage and strong staying power of 6+ hours, this is an excellent performing spring/summer fragrance that’s ideal for daytime wear. Think post-gym, running errands, and even the office.
Aqua Celestia Cologne Forte is an expensive smelling refreshing scent that is sure to turn heads and keep you feeling upbeat and ultra-fresh.
Top Notes:
Blackcurrant, Bergamot
Mid Notes:
Jasmine, Mimosa
Base Notes:
Musk
Price & Reviews
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7. Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Eau de Parfum
Review
While Baccarat Rouge 540 Eau de Parfum is listed as a unisex fragrance, it is undeniably masculine in a way that defies explanation. This oriental floral is both warming and dark.
The top notes of saffron and jasmine give the first wave of scent a slightly spiced, feminine feel, but this quickly fades into the resinous and dark heart notes of amberwood and ambergris.
It is this dominant heart which gives Baccarat Rouge 540 its masculine allure. The base of cedar and fir resin is reasonably sharp, sticky, and slightly medicinal. These notes never fully come to the fore, but they serve to add interest and complexity.
As for when to wear, Baccarat Rouge 540 is a more formal fragrance which fares best in cold weather seasons of autumn/winter and even creeping into spring. The heat of summer can lead it to be a little overpowering.
The sillage and projection are heavy but enjoyable, and this scent lasts a very long time – as does the fragrance as a whole. Expect 8+ hours at least from each application.
Overall, Baccarat Rouge 540 is a classy masterpiece of perfumery with almost nuclear performance. Well worth the investment.
Top Notes:
Jasmine, Saffron
Mid Notes:
Amberwood, Ambergris
Base Notes:
Fir Resin, Cedar
Price & Reviews
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8. Maison Francis Kurkdjian Amyris Homme Extrait de Parfum
Review
Launched in 2019, Amyris Homme Extrait de Parfum is a woody/balsamic masculine fragrance that gives off a classic yesteryear/retro vibe.
Opens with Mandarin orange, bitter-sweet saffron and powdery iris. A heart of warm, woody amyris soon becomes the star of the show. Cinnamon creeps in and softens the edges to create a more rounded manly scent. The base notes of vanilla and tonka bean are sweet, but not overly so.
As for when to wear, Amyris Homme Extrait de Parfum is well suited to warmer weather, this is a perfect day-to-night cologne for late spring and summer.
Performance is good. The sillage and projection are both noticeable, and longevity is 5+ hours.
Overall, Amyris Homme Extrait de Parfum is a smooth operator. It’s a moreish, almost edible cologne which is sure to turn heads.
Top Notes:
Mandarin, Cinnamon, Saffron
Mid Notes:
Iris, Amyris
Base Notes:
Vanilla, Tonka Bean
Price & Reviews
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9. Maison Francis Kurkdjian Gentle Fluidity Gold Eau de Parfum
Review
Gentle Fluidity Gold is a crowd-pleasing unisex vanilla fragrance with a musky/resinous base that becomes more manly as the hour’s pass.
The opening wave of fragrance is sweet and powdery with a dark edge thanks to the vanilla and nutmeg, which make up the top notes. The heart notes are juniper berries and coriander; when the top notes begin to fade the slightly juicy, spiced edge of these ingredients blooms and makes the fragrance a little sharp.
The base notes of amber and musk anchor the blend and give it a warming richness that is both pleasing and seductive.
As for when to wear, Gentle Fluidity Gold is a casual autumn/winter daytime fragrance. An excellent choice for brunch, lunchtime dates, chilled days in, or even post-workout.
The sillage and projection are soft but ever-present. Longevity is decent and should allow you 5+ hours of wear before a top-up is needed.
Overall, Gentle Fluidity Gold is an easy to wear musky/resinous vanilla scent that generates lots of compliments. Equally suited to both guys and girls.
Top Notes:
Juniper Berries, Coriander
Mid Notes:
Vanilla, Nutmeg
Base Notes:
Musk, Amber, Woodsy Notes
Price & Reviews
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10. Maison Francis Kurkdjian OUD Satin Mood Eau de Parfum
Review
Oud Satin Mood Eau de Parfum is perhaps one of the boldest fragrances on this list. Vanilla and rose colliding with wood, resin and powder is almost an assault on the senses.
A powdery opening of violet and rose feel feminine at first. Resinous benzoin comes hot on its heels to add a gourmand caramel depth.
A sweet undercurrent of vanilla emerges but is soon overtaken by the musky, woody, leathery (and slightly smokey) aroma of oud. Settles to a manly rose/oud combo with a vanilla kick.
Perfect for autumn/winter, Oud Satin Mood is a formal day-to-night fragrance for party-hard night-owls.
Performance is excellent with colossal sillage, projection and serious staying power. Expect up to 7+ hours of wear when you apply this cologne, even longer if applied to your clothing.
The simple, dark glass and gold topper combination of the bottle makes it seem sensual and rich without deviating from the signature presentation of Maison Francis Kurkdjian.
Overall, Oud Satin Mood Eau de Parfum is a delightfully rich oud fragrance with bright rose and touches of sweet vanilla. A scent that you will want to dress up for.
Top Notes:
Violet
Mid Notes:
Damascena Rose, Benzoin
Base Notes:
Oud, Vanilla
Price & Reviews
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Conclusion
The first Maison Francis Kurkdjian fragrances were launched in 2009. Since then the brand has launched 48 perfumes. Only 6 of these have been blended exclusively for men. Still, Francis Kurkdjian is a master when it comes to unisex fragrances, and these are often his most popular amongst men.
By using the best possible ingredients and combining the traditional with the modern, the best Maison Francis Kurkdjian fragrances for men captures the imagination. Before you go, also consider Dunhill men’s fragrances as your next read.
Further Reading
Below are some additional articles from Viora London’s blog. We write articles on a number of interesting lifestyle topics such as fragrance, beauty, designer handbags, luxury accessories and more.
