In 2007, I met Kilian Hennessey several times as he was just launching L’Ouevre Noire at Bergodorf Goodman, and he struck me as a man with a long ranged plan for a luxury brand. Thus it is not a surprise to me that by Kilian will be striking out in a different direction than most Perfume Companies. According to WWD, Kilian knew he wanted to re-invent his business model and instead of branching out into skincare or beauty he had this “crazy idea two years ago”, to create jewelry and other lifestyle accessories. It is not a totally new concept (as Lisa Hoffman collaborated with Tom Binns in create jewelry using scented beads, and Francis Kurkdjian for Masion Kurkdjian has scented bracelets),but the by Kilian line will be more extensive and bear his signature tassels and luxe look.
Photo: WWD
According to WWD, “The Jewels of l’Oeuvre Noire, a capsule line of four necklaces for women, each one coming in 18-karat-gold plate and pure rhodium. There’s an onyx bead tassel necklace (whose cord is microencapsulated with one of six By Kilian scents), plus two other tasseled models and one with a locket. Each involves a cage system made of perforated metal that holds a ceramic piece onto which fragrance can be applied.
Photo: WWD
The Leathers of l’Oeuvre Noire are four bracelets — in a selection of five scents — for men in either brown-and-gold or black-and-silver finishes. Their fragrance is said to last up to one year. Hennessy designed them all. Tassels have appeared on By Kilian fragrances’ boxes, and the metal shield design, another hallmark on the brand’s packaging, is on some of the jewelry, as well.
Prices for the women’s line range from $245 for the locket necklace to $465 for the onyx piece. The bracelets cost $195 to $325.
The jewelry is set to launch Sunday, June 15, 2014 in the By Kilian boutiques in New York and Moscow, plus online through bykilian.com. And the line won’t stop there; he plans to launch fragranced rings and earrings for the holiday period.
Photo: WWD
Mr. Hennessy will also debut a new line of fragrances targeting men, called Addictive State of Mind.
“I wanted to work on the theme of addictions,” he said to WWD, adding it’s a counterpart to By Kilian’s Garden of Good and Evil (2013) collection. “I thought it would be great to work around three smokes.”
Intoxicated is based on the scent of Turkish coffee. Created with long time collaborator, Givaudan’s Calice Becker, it includes notes of green cardamom, nutmeg and powdered cinnamon.
Robertet Perfumer Sidonie Lancesseur (Straight to Heaven (2008), Cruel Intentions (2008), Incense Oud (2011) and Apple Brandy (2014) composed Light My Fire which takes its cue from Monte Cristo cigars. Notes include cumin, tedded hay, patchouli, vetiver, honey and vanilla.
Firmenich’s “hot” young perfumer Fabrice Pellegrin (Diptyque Duelle, 2010; Diptyque Volutes 2012; and Thierry Mugler Womanity 2010 are some of his better known fragrances) Smoke for the Soul with notes of cannabis, eucalyptus, grapefruit, cardamom and mate tea, plus accords of tobacco, birch and cashmere woods.
All Addictive State of Mind fragrances come in black and silver refillable bottles.
The new line is due out Oct. 15 in the U.S., U.K., France and Russia, before being introduced in the rest of the world.
Each 50-ml. spray will retail for $270. Reminiscent of a vintage cigar holder, the scent’s outer box is of wood and bronze-finished metal.
And Kilian, who has impeccable taste in furnishing his living spaces, is not done; in 2015, Hennessy plans to launch a scented home collection.
–Michelyn Camen, Editor in Chief
Via WWD