Perfumer Francis Kurkdjian plans to open his own fragrance house next summer, but don't call it a niche line, or even a brand:
It’s a [fragrance] house that has its owner and friends, but not a brand. And even less so a niche brand—I don’t associate myself with what one would call niche.
Kurkdjian plans to release a variety of products (possibly including detergent) in a variety of prices. (via cosmeticnews)
See also: the By Mark Buxton line.
Note: image via franciskurkdjian.
When is a brand not a brand? When is a niche not a niche? Oy… il se regarde trop le nombril… French perfumers are just so… French, n'est-ce pas?
Interesting, though. The detergent thing makes me think that maybe he can work on breaking the mold for cat litter fragrance as Angela & I were chatting about on a thread awhile ago.
Also nice to know one can get a diploma at the Advanced Institute for Luxury Goods Marketing.
I can understand not wanting to tie yourself to the word “niche”, but I'd like to know when a brand is not a brand too…what does that mean?
So he's going to give away the products for free? (The only way I guess a brand can't be a brand.) A ploy to sound like he's not following “the man” you know?
Otherwise, it's a brand. Um…a niche brand.
Well, now that “niche” has become more for 'istas, than artists or the unwashed masses, he's gunning for “the people”! Viva la Kurkdjian! I love his stuff–I'm glad he seems to be planning on producing things that will be fairly available, rather than intentionally exclusive.
Somehow I doubt that's what he meant 😉
I'd vote for fairly available myself — we'll see what he does and how it's priced. Wouldn't be surprised though if like the new Mark Buxton line, it's geared towards bigger & better opportunities in Asia.
I have to say I would like to think that I could find a fragrance I love and have it be available in detergents so that my clothes would also have the scent.
Oh my gosh, I love the kitty litter idea — it's definitely time to think outside the litter box! It's so hard to avoid inhaling that stuff when you change it, and boy, do those cheap florals stick in your nostrils. Arrgh, now you've got me thinking about what fragrance my cat would wear…
My, my… Never knew Francis looked like that…
That would be great if you wore the same thing all the time, wouldn't it? But in practice, it would make me nuts since I don't.
He seems to be one of those people who look very different in different pictures…