House

A perfume house is the brand or business releasing a fragrance under its name. Maison Francis Kurkdjian, for example, describes a house founded by a perfumer and a business partner. A fashion brand can also be called a house when discussing its perfume collection.

The house, its owner, the perfumer and a fragrance manufacturer can be different entities. L’Oréal’s Prada profile illustrates a beauty-licence arrangement; IFF’s perfume-making guide describes perfumers developing compositions in dialogue with client brands. Look for the specific credits when you want to know who did what.

A house’s collection can be a useful place to explore after enjoying one perfume. Read each description and sample the scent that interests you: the brand name identifies the collection, while individual perfumes may take very different directions.