If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, WWD may receive an affiliate commission.
If Fashion’s front-row fixtures, Francophiles and aromatic aficionados say “au revoir” with extra enthusiasm as they prepare to depart from the City of Light, you can bet they’re flying Air France . Starting today, Jan. 15, travelers will breathe in the refreshing fragrance of AF001 — a new scent developed by Francis Kurkdjian, master perfumer and artistic director of Maison Francis Kurkdjian — that will grace select Air France lounges and the La Première suites at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport.
After two years, the nose behind the beloved Baccarat Rouge 540 completed his new formulation that takes Air France fliers on an olfactory journey by notes of jasmine, rose, musk, and mimosa — channeling feelings of lightness, sunny vibrancy, and serenity (anyone who’s ever been on a plane knows that the latter part certainly comes in handy!). Its very name, the flight number for Air France’s iconic Concorde flights between New York and Paris in the 1970s, is an allusion to the carrier’s rich history.
Given the fragrance’s intimate ties to France and the French capital in particular, it’s only natural that Air France tapped Francis Kurkdjian for the task of capturing the ephemeral, hard-to-describe je ne sais quoi of the French lifestyle and putting it in a bottle. Kurkdjian, after all, was born in Paris to Armenian parents and attended a perfume school in Versailles in the ’90s. His contributions to the world of luxury perfume include the development of numerous signature scents for major fashion houses (Jean Paul Gaultier’s Le Male; Burberry Her) and becoming the perfume creations director at Parfums Christian Dior in 2021, where Kurkdjian created the new Dior L’Or de J’Adore in 2023. Adding an Air France partnership to his list of achievements is just one more reason to take note of the master perfumer’s creations (and add the best women’s perfumes to your shopping cart).
“It was the illusion of a ray of sunshine on the wings of an aircraft that inspired me to create this light, fresh, and comforting home fragrance,” Kurkdjian said of AF001 in an Air France press release.
If you’re not planning a trip to Paris quite yet but do have a vacation penciled in on the calendar, the next best thing would be to take advantage of Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s travel-sized fragrance bottles, which you can find in the brand’s Fragrance Wardrobe for Her and for Him, as well as the Globe Trotter Gold Travel Spray Case. While the fragrance sets feature 0.4-ounce versions of the perfumer’s best-selling scents (the Baccarat Rouge 540, of course, but also the Oud Satin Mood Eau de Parfum and Grand Soir Eau de Parfum, forming a collection of eight favorites in total), the travel case is meant to hold just one of these TSA-friendly bottles while boasting a magnetic closure for ease of access.
To truly savor Kurkdjian’s latest masterpiece — AF001 — we recommend one simple thing. Arrive at the CDG Airport early for your return flight and get ready to lounge in luxurious, aromatic bliss before takeoff.
Shop Maison Francis Kurkdjian Travel-sized Fragrances
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Mini Fragrance Wardrobe for Her
Price upon publication of this article: $60
Globe Trotter Gold Travel Spray Case
Price upon publication of this article: $175
Why Trust WWD
Since 1910, WWD — often referred to as “the fashion bible” — has been the leading industry voice of authority for senior executives in the global women’s and men’s fashion, retail and beauty communities, while also informing the consumer media that cover the market. Today, WWD’s breaking news and trend coverage continues to be a trustworthy resource for both fashion insiders and consumers alike. Our shopping editors continue to uphold WWD’s editorial standards and values with quality, expert-backed product selections. Learn more about us here.
Meet the Author
Stacia Datskovska is a Senior Commerce Writer at WWD. Previously, she worked at ELLE DECOR as an assistant digital editor, covering all things luxury, culture, and lifestyle through a design lens. Her bylines over the past five years have appeared in USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, Boston Globe, Food & Wine, and more. Prior to joining ELLE DECOR, Datskovska learned the ins and outs of e-commerce at Mashable, where she tested products, covered tentpole sales events, and curated gift guide roundups. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international relations. Datskovska regularly reports on trending fashion products and new beauty releases.
