Kilian Hennessy, founder of the famed Kilian fragrance brand beloved by
Beyonce, Lady Gaga and Rihanna, has released a new three-set scent collection
called "Addictive State of Mind." The set is inspired by addictions, with names
such as, "Intoxicated" (Turkish coffee), "Light My Fire" (cigar) and "Smoke for
the Soul" (cannabis-inspired). "I really want to speak more to men with this
collection," Hennessy explained, as his past collection, "In the Garden of Good
and Evil," was geared more toward women, with floral, citrus and vanilla notes,
and white and gold packaging.
With an eco-luxury motto in mind, all of the bottles are made to last and be
refillable. "For me, real luxury can’t be disposable," he said. Hennessy keeps
cufflinks and pens in his recycled boxes and yes ladies, he wants you to reuse
the intricately engraved metal and dark wood box as a clutch since the vision
behind the packaging was based on a vintage 1970s cigar box.
After working for Alexander McQueen, Gucci and Armani, he decided it was time
to create his own brand of unique scents. "I knew it would really make me happy
and I would feel complete if I built something with my two hands," said
Hennessy, who is the descendent of Hennessy founder Richard Hennessy. He became
CEO of the famous cognac house in the '70s before merging the business to become
what is now known as the LVMH group and then selling it in the '80s. "I always
found that a little sad."
So, does the man behind the fragrances have a signature scent? Not quite. "I
use perfume as a wardrobe. I don’t want to wear the same shoes or jacket
everyday, but in summer, I do wear Bamboo Harmony almost everyday," he
shared.
For a totally new endeavor, the brand is also releasing scented jewelry — and
we're not talking about the old-school plastic rings with perfume in the center.
The holiday Studio 54 collection is inspired by the club itself and reminiscent
of a disco ball decorated with Swarovski crystals.

He got the idea to create the aromatic jewelry line after being approached to
create body lotions and shower gels, but didn’t want to compromise the formula.
It did, however, inspire the concept of layering scents and the idea that
accessories could release a subtle trace of aroma throughout the day. Another
important piece of the puzzle was image. "We got to thinking about how to make
our perfume visible and beautiful. It really is in our DNA because everything we
make has to have the capacity to last a lifetime and jewelry is something you
pass down." This is done through micro-encapsulating a scent onto the silk chord
(the shopper chooses one of five best-selling scents) or by spraying a caged
piece of porous ceramic (pick any scent and the costumer can recharge their disk
at home with their favorite fragrance).
The women's accessories are available in rhodium or plated 18-karat gold,
starting at $250, and men's leather bracelets, beginning at $195. "This is just
the beginning," said the Sorbonne graduate, who is also in talks to work on a
collection with Paige Novick in the spring with plans on creating a larger
jewelry collection in the fall. Shoppers can pick the jewelry up for a limited
time at Saks Fifth Avenue Beverly Hills, or visit the company’s website. Smells
like a good plan to us.