Maison Francis Kurkdjian new fragrance 724 is different to the famous Baccarat Rouge perfume: Mecca

The perfume house behind the ‘world’s most complimented’ fragrance – Baccarat Rouge 540 – has launched a brand new ‘intoxicating’ perfume.

French perfumer Francis Kurkdjian, the founder of Maison Francis Kurkdjian, has launched the unisex 724 Eau de Parfum, a ‘sensual’ scent inspired by the ‘effervescence, style and elevation of the cities’ like New York.

Very different to the woody Baccarat Rouge, 724 – which costs $182 for 35mL, $298 for 70mL and $588 for 200mL – is a light floral and citrus fragrance with notes of bergamot, mandarin, jasmine and musk.

The smell is inspired by clean, energising freshness ‘like the one that emanates from New York laundries at the break of day’ and is made with bergamot from Italy.

It aims to capture what all big buzzing cities have in common – ‘vibrant energy resonating in unison like a 724-beats-per-minute pulsation’ – hence the name.

Mr Kurkdjian, 53, has travelled the world, hanging his hat for weeks or years at a time in the four corners of the globe – from Paris and New York to Sydney, Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai, New Delhi, Mumbai, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Moscow, London, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Los Angeles and Houston. 

The smell is inspired by the ‘clean, energising freshness ‘like the one that emanates from New York laundries at the break of day, formed of bergamot from Italy and the verticality of aldehydes with sophisticated, slightly metallic, effervescent facets’

‘724 is a soothing eau de parfum with a vibrant yet enveloping urban spirit. It brings a sensation of comfort and protection, like that of cleanliness, that I crave when I’m wandering around in the city,’ he said. 

Earlier this year Baccarat Rouge 540 was named the most popular perfume of 2022 by thousands of women at the Australian Mecca Beauty Election.

The $376 (70mL) fragrance, which has hints of jasmine, saffron and cedar wood, was created as a celebration of the 250th anniversary of French crystal house Baccarat and inspired by the signature ruby crystal used in their iconic chandeliers. 

The Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 EDP was created as a celebration of the 250th anniversary of French crystal house Baccarat and inspired by the signature ruby crystal used in their iconic chandelier

Can’t afford Baccarat Rouge? Ariana Grande’s $29.99 Cloud might be for you

Aussie shoppers discovered that the $29.99 perfume by Ariana Grande smells nearly identical to the designer fragrance.

The only problem is a 200ml bottle from Mecca stores will set you back $744, which many agree isn’t a reasonable price point if you want to use it everyday.

As a result, many beauty lovers have uncovered that Ariana Grande’s Cloud fragrance is a near-identical copy, and sells for $29.99 (30ml) at Chemist Warehouse and $49 at Priceline. 

‘Like an airy dream, Ariana Grande Cloud is a creamy, soft and luxurious perfume with a high-class scent. Fresh and uplifting bergamot orange, rich lavender and juicy pear create a bright opening. Whipped crème de coconut, sweet Praliné and dark, mysterious vanilla create a memorable heart,’ the perfume bottle reads. 

Ariana’s fragrance has the same staying power and similar ingredients to Baccarat Rouge 540, which is described as supremely ‘sexy but with the price tag of a mortgage repayment’. 

Described as ‘romantic-feeling’, the unisex scent opens with notes of jasmine and saffron, before softening into a woodier blend of amber accord and cedar.

The woody scent releases a ‘poetic alchemy’ that ‘caresses the skin like an amber floral whisper’ thanks to the secret compound of Hedione. 

The aromatic compound was developed in the 1960s and when isolated, it evokes the floral and very fresh delicacy of jasmine, with a slight lemony facet.

The designer fragrance was widely described as the ‘scent of 2021’ after taking off on TikTok so it’s unsurprising the romantic aroma has maintained its status into 2022.

These four fragrances also made the top eight at the Mecca Beauty Election 2022

Rihanna once complimented a journalist wearing Baccarat Rouge at a Savage X Fenty show which also cemented its title as the world’s most ‘complimented perfume’

Rihanna once complimented a journalist wearing the scent at a Savage X Fenty show which also cemented its title as the world’s most ‘complimented perfume’.

‘I am absolutely obsessed with this perfume, every time I was in the store I sprayed but never dared to purchase, but I would still smell it even after days passed so I got for Christmas for myself and so glad I did,’ a customer wrote recently.

‘This is honestly for me one of the best fragrances I have tried. It lasts all day and even when I can’t smell it on myself anymore, others around me do and I always get compliments,’ another added.

The designer fragrance was widely described as the ‘scent of 2021’ after taking off on TikTok so it’s unsurprising the romantic aroma has maintained its status into 2022 

Mr Kurkdjian is best known for creating the men’s fragrance Le Male for Jean Paul Gaultier in 1995, which has become one of the world’s best-selling perfumes. 

He has since created a further 40 fragrances for major companies worldwide, including Elie Saab Le Parfum for Elie Saab; My Burberry for Burberry; L’extase for Nina Ricci; and Narciso Rodriguez for Her for Narciso Rodriguez, Green Tea for Elizabeth Arden.

For his Maison founded in 2009, Mr Kurkdjian proposed a ‘fragrance wardrobe’ for 24 hours of ‘scented living’.