Heritage
A house, in its own words
Karl Lagerfeld began his fashion career in the 1950s, moving through Balmain, Patou and Chloé before taking the helm at Chanel in 1983. While directing runway shows, he turned to fragrance. In 1975 he partnered with Eli Lilly to launch Parfums Lagerfeld, introducing the first scent under his name. Two years later, the designer formalised a dedicated fragrance house, a move documented by Interparfums in 1978. The early catalogue featured KL (1983) and KL Homme (1986), both of which carried his signature black‑and‑white branding. Throughout the 1990s the house expanded with Sun Moon Stars (1994) and Lagerfeld Men (2003), reflecting a shift toward more masculine narratives. Liquid Karl arrived in 2004, offering a fresh, aquatic character that resonated with younger audiences. The 2010s saw a return to raw material focus; Bois de Vetiver (2017) highlighted a single note in a transparent composition. In 2025 the line Les Parfums Matières introduced two new creations that celebrate the purity of sandalwood and vetiver, confirming the brand’s ongoing commitment to material honesty. After Karl’s death in 2019, the house continued under the stewardship of Interparfums, preserving his design language while inviting new perfumers to interpret his vision. The house treats fragrance as an extension of visual art. Karl Lagerfeld believed that a scent should convey the same clarity he demanded of a garment: clean lines, bold contrast, and an unmistakable point of view. The brand therefore selects ingredients that can stand alone, avoiding overly layered compositions that mask individual characters. It partners with perfumers who share a minimalist mindset, allowing a single accord to dominate the narrative. Sustainability entered the agenda in the 2020s, prompting the house to source raw materials from certified farms and to reduce plastic in packaging. The creative brief always starts with a sketch of the bottle, then translates that geometry into olfactory form, ensuring that the visual and aromatic elements speak the same language. This disciplined approach reflects Lagerfeld’s broader credo that every detail, from a cuff to a perfume drop, must serve a purpose.