The internet has been ablaze with praise for Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 EDP. The scent exudes a captivating charm that few mortals can resist. The decadent perfume launched in 2014, but its cult-following keeps expanding at accelerated rates. TikTok made Baccarat Rouge 540 explode in 2021, and the timing was perfect since the internet was already obsessed with the “quiet luxury” trend.
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The birth of Baccarat Rouge 540
Baccarat Rouge 540 is the ideal fragrance to make an impression when you unexpectedly run into someone, but few know that the scent itself was born out of a chance encounter. Francis Kurkdjian, creator and owner of Maison Francis Kurkdjian, presented the unique fragrance to the French crystal manufacturer, Baccarat, in celebration of their 250th birthday. This encounter made it clear that the scent is an undeniable sensation, and the limited edition fragrance was shortly released worldwide, becoming part of Kurkdjian’s permanent collection.
The unique composition of Baccarat Rouge 540
Baccarat Rouge 540 is a woody fragrance, yet this description doesn’t really do the scent justice. The perfume house describes the formula as “poetic alchemy” — and this description is much closer to capturing the uniqueness of the fragrance. Part of the scent’s charm is that it doesn’t fit into any distinct fragrance category. Baccarat Rouge 540 is a blend of luminous jasmine fused with bright saffron, ambergris, and woody notes of freshly cut cedar.
To create the scent, Kurkdjian wanted to use gourmand notes in a modern way. He reinvented these good-enough-to-eat accords, taking gourmands into the 21st century with a fresh application. He achieved this with the use of ingredients like veltol, a synthetic molecule that smells like a mix of caramelized sugar and candied strawberries. Other unique notes include hedione, a fragrance enhancer reminiscent of jasmine, evernyl, an earth-like musk, and ambroxan, the synthetic version of ambergris.
Baccarat Rouge 540 perfectly balances the sweeter gourmand notes with salty aromas, while its floral notes are juxtaposed against warm woody accords. The scent sensually lingers on your skin, highlighting various captivating ingredients. Kurkdjian notes that every person feels an attraction to a different element of the scent. Baccarat Rouge 540 is known for its sillage — the trail the scent leaves behind — and has become one of the fragrance’s most recognizable characteristics.
Baccarat Rouge 540’s captivating formula is unisex, and Kurkdjian admits that whenever he wears this scent, the compliments start rolling in. He defines the scent as an “overdose of everything”. And while the fragrance is decadent and rich, the ingredient list is short. It only contains seven synthetic ingredients and three accords.
Baccarat Rouge 540: The range
In 2017, Baccarat Rouge 540 EDP was translated into an extrait de parfum — featuring the same addictive perfume notes in an even more decadent and potent formula. Baccarat Rouge 540 Extrait De Parfum showcases additional notes you may not pick up in the original, like bitter almond and saffron. Saffron is the world’s most expensive spice, and the Extrait De Parfum harnesses this spice’s ability to give the scent an almost metallic-like quality, enhancing the other accords. The range includes sparkling body oil, scented candles, and soap.
The unexpected success of Baccarat Rouge 540
Devotees ascribe Baccarat Rouge 540’s success to its otherworldly blend of ingredients with intriguing notes that grip your attention. Part of the charm of Baccarat Rouge 540 is its polarizing nature. While some find it too intense or acidic, others complain about the price tag. The scent doesn’t come cheap, and a bottle of 70 ml will set you back around $475. TikTok says Baccarat Rouge 540 “smells like money” and is the “rich-mom-approved” fragrance — but once the compliments start rolling in, the scent makes up for its hefty price tag. Many argue that the luxe price tag gives Baccarat Rouge 540 extra exclusivity and appeal.
The irony is not lost on perfume devotees that a limited edition fragrance that was never intended for the masses became one of the world’s most popular perfumes. Kurkdjian ascribes the success of Baccarat Rouge 540 to its unique composition, giving the scent the power to disrupt the market — that, and of course, timing, the scent was launched at the perfect time: a time when consumers were looking for something different and off-the-beaten-track.
While Baccarat Rouge 540 blew up in 2021 thanks to TikTok, it is still ranked among the top 20 most popular fragrances in the world. In a competitive perfume market where it takes most perfumes decades to become cult favorites, Baccarat Rouge 540 got there faster than most, and by the looks of it, the decadent fragrance is here to stay.
What’s next for Maison Francis Kurkdjian?
Rumor has it that the Maison Francis Kurkdjian may have another hit on their hands. This new scent launched in 2016 and is called Grand Soir EDP. It is quite a departure from Baccarat Rouge 540, but those familiar with the scent from its earliest inception may be ready to induce another scent from the perfume house into their fragrance collection. Grand Soir charms with notes of lavender, cistus labdanum, cinnamon leaf, amber, and vanilla. While no one knows if Grand Soir will achieve the same success as Baccarat Rouge 540, perfume connoisseurs believe your fragrance wardrobe won’t be complete unless you have both!
* If you love fragrances like Baccarat Rouge 540, you will enjoy reading about Tom Ford Black Orchid, and indie brands like Arquiste, Etat Libre D’Orange, Acqua di Parma, and Edeniste.
* If you are after unique aromas, you’ll enjoy reading these articles: pistachio scents, sweet perfumes, peach fragrances, spicy perfumes, clean scents, woody fragrances, and cherry blossom fragrances. Or, explore must-have scents from designers like Michael Kors, Gucci, Prada, Juicy Couture, Burberry, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Marc Jacobs, and Issey Miyake.
