“It’s a very beautiful and intimate way of sharing your story with the people around you”

Kurkdjian as an artistic and entrepreneurial collaboration. Thanos Orros joined them in 2015 as the international sales and business development manager.

“My friendship with Marc was my initiation into the beautiful world of fragrance,” says Orros. “When he was conceptualising the brand with Francis, I was already sitting on the sidelines, making suggestions based on what I knew about business development. One day, Marc simply turned to me and said, ‘ Well, come and join us.’” In Orros’s own words, his career shift was organic. The co-founders had been on the lookout for someone who could help them drive matters forward at an international level, and Orros was just the right man for the job. “I’ve always been intrigued by fragrance,” says Orros. “Just like clothes, you can switch between perfumes to suit your mood. It’s a very beautiful and intimate way of sharing your story with the people around you.”

Orros is happy to report that the business is doing well. Kurkdjian’s reputation precedes him, and distributors are always coming forward in hopes of selling the maison’s perfumes in their stores. “I’m spoiled!” he says cheerfully. “You can say that we are being reined in instead of having to push forth because Francis’ work has been long admired by many.” But just like any other business, the perfume industry posits its own challenges. Rather than commercial growth, Orros prefers to look after the health of the business—it must never lose its soul.