Heritage
A house, in its own words
Albert Krigler opened his first haute parfumerie in St. Petersburg in 1904, after an apprenticeship in Berlin where he first experimented with the city’s mineral water notes. The boutique quickly attracted Russian aristocracy and foreign diplomats, establishing a reputation for tailor‑made scents. In the 1920s the family opened a second shop in Moscow, extending the brand’s reach across the empire. World War II forced a temporary closure, but the Kriglers rebuilt their workshop in Berlin after the war, preserving original formulas that had survived the upheaval. The 1960s saw the house introduce its first modern flankers, such as Velvet Night 76, while still honoring the classic structures of the early 20th‑century creations. By the 1990s the fifth generation, represented by Ben Krigler, relocated the headquarters to Cap d'Antibes, France, turning the historic villa into a laboratory and showroom. Under Ben’s direction the brand launched contemporary releases like Jazzy Riviera 210 (2010) and Elegant Schwan 06 (2017), while maintaining a vault of heritage scents that date back to the pre‑revolutionary era. Today Krigler operates a network of hotel‑based perfumery studios, where guests can experience scent‑crafting workshops that echo the brand’s original bespoke service. The continuity of family ownership, the preservation of over 750 distinct formulas, and the seamless blend of historic and modern techniques define Krigler’s more than a century‑long journey. Krigler approaches perfumery as a dialogue between memory and material. The house believes that a fragrance should capture a specific moment—whether a sunrise over the Black Sea or the quiet rustle of a hotel lobby’s silk curtains. Creative direction rests on three pillars: respect for the original archives, a commitment to natural sourcing, and a willingness to reinterpret classic structures for contemporary wearers. The brand encourages its perfumers to study the original dossiers, then translate the scent story using today’s refined extraction methods. Sustainability informs ingredient choices; Krigler works with certified farms in Grasse, Madagascar and the Balkans, ensuring that each raw material meets both ecological and quality standards. Transparency is another core value: the house publishes ingredient breakdowns for its flagship releases and invites clients to witness the blending process in its hotel studios. By treating each bottle as a narrative object rather than a commodity, Krigler aims to foster a personal connection that endures beyond the fleeting trends of the wider market.