MAISON FRANCIS KURKDJIAN
GRAND SOIR
2016
PERFUMER
Francis Kurkdjian
Amber
Benzoin
Vanilla
Tonka Bean
Labdanum
Lavender
‘Grand Soir Maison Francis Kurkdjian eau de parfum invites you to perfect your allure and don your most beautiful effects. Lose yourself in an endless night and enjoy the never ending brilliance of an evening in Paris when bridges and monuments glow as though lit with a thousand lights. Majestically displayed against a twilight sky carried by the warm vanilla of benzoin from Siam and tonka beans from Brazil rattled by the deep darkness of cistus resin from Spain. This ambery fragrance dresses the skin with vibrant notes as you lose yourself in the energetic pace and mystery of a meandering night in the City of Light.’ – Maison Francis Kurkdjian
Grand Soir is a staple in the fragrance community and for good reason. It’s often named as the quintessential amber fragrance and it’s one that I’ve worn happily since early on in my niche-fragrance journey.
Grand Soir started with the Holidays for me. In an impulse buy I’d bought Oud Satin Mood instead of Grand Soir and when I emptied my sample, it kept coming to mind… I had to have it. Some days before Christmas I drove out to pick up a bottle and, Grand Soir being the perfect Christmas scent, was my SOTD throughout the holidays in my first year of this fragrance hobby. It connected the fragrance to the holiday’s ever since and I can’t think of Grand Soir without picturing Christmas settings, candles, group dinners and most of all, deserts.
I’ve always found Grand Soir bordering on being a gourmand, although I know many don’t agree with it. To my nose there’s a spiced custardy, Holiday-cake or even creme brulée element to it that makes it very comforting and cozy. On the other hand I do get the slightly greenish, fiery resins in the opening as well.
As of 2024, Grand Soir remains the star of Maison Francis Kurkdjian in my book. It has graced my top 10 for a few years and although I wouldn’t place it in my top 20 since 2023, it’s a fragrance that will never leave my collection.
