Heritage
A house, in its own words
The Korloff brand was founded in 1978 by Daniel Paillasseur, a jeweler who wanted to create a maison that could stand alongside Paris’s historic houses. He named the company after the Korloff diamond, a 33‑carat black diamond that entered the market in the late 1990s and quickly became a symbol of the brand’s bold aesthetic. The first Korloff boutique opened on Rue de la Paix, placing the label in the heart of the French capital’s high‑end retail district. In 1996 the house launched its inaugural fragrance, a floral‑fruity composition that marked the brand’s first foray beyond jewelry. The scent was distributed through the same boutiques that showcased the brand’s rings and necklaces, reinforcing the idea that scent could be worn alongside a piece of jewelry. A second wave of perfume development arrived in 2008 when Korloff introduced a dedicated perfume line, expanding the portfolio with more complex olfactory narratives. Over the following decade the house released a series of niche releases, including Korloff Men (2010), Rouge Santal (2015), No Ordinary Man (2016), and the patchouli‑focused Eclats de Patchouli (2021). The most recent addition, Bouquet de Neroli (2024), demonstrates the brand’s continued commitment to pairing fresh botanical notes with the timeless elegance of its jewelry heritage. Throughout its history Korloff has kept a single boutique on Place Vendôme, a location traditionally associated with French haute joaillerie, where both jewelry and fragrance are displayed side by side. The brand’s evolution from a pure jeweler to a dual‑discipline maison reflects a broader trend among Parisian houses that seek to translate the language of gemstones into scent, while preserving the meticulous craftsmanship that defined its early years. Korloff’s creative vision treats fragrance as an extension of its jewelry philosophy: each scent should possess a clear structure, a defined focal point, and a lasting impression, much like a well‑cut diamond. The house emphasizes authenticity, sourcing raw materials that can be traced to their origins and that meet strict purity standards. Rather than chasing fleeting trends, Korloff selects ingredients that complement the timeless quality of its metalwork and gemstones. The brand also values the sensory dialogue between sight and smell; bottle designs echo the geometry of its jewelry, and the olfactory palette often references the colors and textures of precious stones. Sustainability is addressed through careful supplier selection, favoring farms and distilleries that practice responsible harvesting. In its marketing, Korloff avoids hyperbole, instead allowing the perfume’s composition and the bottle’s tactile experience to speak for themselves. This restraint mirrors the house’s broader commitment to understated elegance, where the wearer discovers luxury through subtle, personal moments rather than overt proclamation.