It’s a challenge to find a fragrance that everyone seems to love, but Maison Francis Kurkdjian, I think you might have done it with your Baccarat Rouge 540 perfume. The intoxicating scent is far from your average perfume. In fact, it smells so good that Rihanna (yes, the same Rihanna who practically has been immortalized as a meme for smelling like heaven) even complimented me while I was wearing it. During the premiere of a recent Savage X Fenty show, Rih walked past me and uttered three little magical words: “You smell good.”
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Rihanna complimenting me on a fragrance is surely a moment I’ll never forget; and part of the reason I’ll keep a bottle of this in rotation forever. Funny enough, it was another chance encounter that actually inspired Baccarat Rouge 540 to begin with. “The fragrance was a creation born from the encounter between the Maison and the crystal manufacturer, Baccarat in celebration of Baccarat’s 250th anniversary back in 2014,” master perfumer Francis Kurkdjian tells Vogue. “Daniela Ricardi, CEO of Baccarat at the time, asked Francis Kurkdjian to create the olfactory of the crystal manufacturer. Initially Baccarat Rouge 540 was edited in only 250 numbered, crystal bottles but soon became a sensation and it was included in the Maison’s portfolio.”
Kurkdjian sought to translate the feeling of transparency and density of crystal itself. “The fragrance evokes the metamorphosis of clear crystal which is mixed with 24-carat gold powder and gradually brought to fusion at 540 Celsius degrees (1,004°F), turning scarlet red. It’s the signature of Baccarat, what they call Rouge à l’or, golden red.”
About Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540
- Why We Like It: The price point is certainly higher than most fragrances, but the cost per spritz (and compliments) makes it totally worth it. One splash on the wrist and the luminous fragrance lasts all day long. Its unique notes of jasmine, ambergris, and cedar mesh so well that many call it one of the few truly universally flattering scents for men and women. Plus, there is Ambroxan for additional amber, woody facets—accentuated by saffron and the exuberant Hedione.
- Notes: Jasmine, saffron, cedarwood, ambergris
- This Smells Like: A rich, sexy floral. Or—what you might imagine Rihanna smells like (that is, before the launch of her Fenty eau de parfum.)
What does Baccarat Rouge 540 smell like?
The fragrance was designed to be as nuanced and intricate as the crystal bottle its housed in. “Like a true alchemy of senses, its graphic, highly condensed olfactory signature delivers floral, ambery, and woody notes,” Kurkdjian says. “Airy jasmine facets and intensely radiant saffron carry the mineral notes of Ambroxan—evoking ambergris—and the woody, lightly spiced tones of red cedar. A unique formula, a subtle and meticulous balance, a mysterious and exceptional creation that invented a new genre in fine fragrance.”
And while it’s a scent that always seems to capture people’s attention, it’s not at all overpowering on the wearer. The floral-meets-woody aroma is subtly decadent and also smells powerfully sophisticated. Baccarat Rouge 540 is one of those scents that has an undeniable depth—meaning, you may not know which notes comprise of the perfume, but it sure smells good.
Why is Baccarat Rogue 540 so famous?
A question I get asked often is why Baccarat Rogue 540 so popular. It’s one of those scents that manages to transcend time and fragrance preferences—exactly why it commands such (world)wide, unisex appeal. When we asked Kurkdjian, he said it’s because it’s truly a one of a kind scent. “There are more than 1000 notes you can use to create a perfume,” he explains, emphasizing his goal to be bring newness and creativity to each perfume. “I knew the fragrance was amazing because every time I was wearing it, I had so many good comments. It is very contemporary, yet there is a timeless feeling to it.”