The house and its idea
David Benedek was born in Paris in 1989 into a family tied to perfume: in the 1950s his grandparents were among the first authorized distributors of houses such as Worth and Christian Dior in the French capital. After the Institut Français de la Mode and training at the Institut Cinquième Sens, he founded his house around the idea of an olfactory library, where each perfume tells of a place or a moment, often Parisian. Bottle, cap, label and box are made in France, and the cap is inspired by the dome of the Grand Palais.
The collections in the catalog
Parisienne Collection: the house signatures
This collection holds many of the signatures named by the house. Gris Charnel is inspired by the Quai Saint-Bernard and plays light against shadow with cardamom, fig and black tea. Pas Ce Soir is a spicy fruity scent with ginger, mandarin and pepper alongside pear and quince, to wear by day but above all at night. Then there is Rouge Smoking, a tribute to Yves Saint Laurent, a playful fruity gourmand. Bouquet de Hongrie opens with strawberry, pear and blackcurrant, followed by Turkish rose absolute and jasmine sambac. From the same collection, Impadia is a tribute to Parisian gardens and pairs rose absolute with mandarin, bergamot and black vanilla, with a woody, creamy trail. Finally, 312 Saint-Honoré, which celebrates the opening of the house's first boutique in Paris, has pink pepper, white musk and orange blossom.
Matières Collection: one ingredient at the center
In this collection each perfume is built around a single raw material. Tubéreuse Impériale pairs Indian tuberose and jasmine with iris and resins; Crème de Cuir is a soft white leather with Italian citrus and birch. Then there are Velvet Tonka, with tonka bean, orange blossom and almond, and Vanille Caviar, the sixth creation in the collection, a vanilla that is dark and luminous at once.
Exclusive Collection: leather, tobacco and retro chic
The Exclusive Collection includes Vanille Leather, a leathery gourmand born from a collaboration with perfumer Dominique Ropion. Tabac Rose combines tobacco, plum and chocolate with Turkish rose; French Bouquet pays tribute to 1970s French perfumes in a retro-chic key.
Azur Collection: Mediterranean scents
Among the Mediterranean scents is Sel d'Argent, ozonic and salty, which recalls sun-warmed skin after a swim, between beach and Mediterranean scrub. Citrus Riviera is dedicated to the landscape of Cap d'Antibes and pairs mandarin and lemon with tonka bean and white musks. Villa Neroli, finally, recalls an orange grove in Capri overlooking the Faraglioni.
Studio Collection: the Absolu de Parfum
The Studio Collection is inspired by fashion fabrics and gathers the Absolu de Parfum. Silver Ceremony is fresh and bright, with bergamot, green mandarin, ginger and a cedar base; Stellar Silk is creamy, with sandalwood, iris, vanilla and benzoin. The third, Oud Paradisio, is an opulent oud with pineapple, incense and saffron.
Other creations
Among the other creations is Nuit de Sable, inspired by a summer night in the Palais-Royal gardens, with an accord of warm sand, Australian sandalwood, tonka bean, Egyptian cumin and Turkish rose. Ambre Safrano, first created as a Harrods exclusive, pairs amber with saffron, suede and woods.
How to choose a BDK Parfums fragrance
Among the fresh, Mediterranean scents are Sel d'Argent, Citrus Riviera and Villa Neroli and, among the Absolus, Silver Ceremony. The florals are Bouquet de Hongrie, Tubéreuse Impériale and Impadia, and the gourmands are Vanille Caviar and Rouge Smoking. For spice, amber and oud there are Gris Charnel with cardamom, Ambre Safrano with amber and saffron, and Oud Paradisio with oud, incense and saffron. For leather and tobacco there are Crème de Cuir, Vanille Leather and Tabac Rose.
Eau de parfum, extrait and Absolu
The main creations are eaux de parfum. Gris Charnel, Pas Ce Soir and Rouge Smoking also come as extrait de parfum, and for the first two the house states a 30% concentrate. Pas Ce Soir Extrait adds cocoa, peach and patchouli to the original. Rouge Smoking Extrait opens with cherry and pink pepper over a base of vanilla and tonka bean.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded BDK Parfums?
BDK Parfums was founded in 2016 by David Benedek, born in Paris in 1989. In the 1950s his grandparents were among the first authorized distributors of Worth and Christian Dior in Paris. Before creating his own house, Benedek trained at the Institut Français de la Mode and the Institut Cinquième Sens.
Which BDK perfumes are inspired by Paris?
Many BDK creations start from a place in Paris. 312 Saint-Honoré celebrates the house's first boutique, and Nuit de Sable is inspired by a summer night in the Palais-Royal gardens. Gris Charnel draws on the Quai Saint-Bernard and Impadia on Parisian gardens. French Bouquet, finally, pays tribute to 1970s French perfumes.
Which BDK floral perfume should I choose?
Bouquet de Hongrie is a fresh, delicate floral, opening with strawberry, pear and blackcurrant and then moving to Turkish rose and jasmine sambac. Tubéreuse Impériale is a sensual white flower, with tuberose, iris and resins. Impadia pairs rose absolute with black vanilla.
What does BDK Gris Charnel smell like?
Gris Charnel is an eau de parfum from the Parisienne Collection built on the contrast between pure cardamom, fig and black tea, which the house compares to a black-and-white photograph. The Extrait, which the house describes as richer and more multifaceted, adds patchouli, sandalwood, tonka bean and an ambery, slightly smoky vanilla.
What is the difference between Pas Ce Soir eau de parfum and extrait?
Pas Ce Soir eau de parfum is a spicy fruity scent with ginger, mandarin, pepper, pear and quince. The Extrait is a 30% concentrate that the house presents as more multifaceted, adding cocoa, peach, quince chutney, orange blossom and patchouli while keeping the same Parisian character.
Which BDK perfumes are gourmand?
BDK's gourmands are above all Rouge Smoking, a fruity gourmand dedicated to Yves Saint Laurent, and Vanille Caviar, a vanilla pushed to the extreme. Rouge Smoking Extrait is the version the house calls more intense and sensual. Vanille Leather pairs sweet notes with a touch of leather.
What are the Studio Collection Absolu de Parfum?
The Absolu de Parfum are the creations of the Studio Collection, which the house bases on the textures of fashion fabrics. Silver Ceremony evokes the sparkle of sequins with citrus and ginger, and Stellar Silk the caress of fabric with sandalwood and iris. Oud Paradisio, finally, is an opulent oud with pineapple, incense and saffron.
Which BDK perfume is best for leather or tobacco lovers?
For leather, BDK offers Crème de Cuir, a velvety white leather with citrus and birch, and Vanille Leather, a gourmand-leaning leather created with Dominique Ropion. For tobacco there is Tabac Rose, from the Exclusive Collection, which combines tobacco, plum and chocolate with Turkish rose.
