Heritage
A house, in its own words
Michael Cinco built his reputation as a couturier before fragrance became a creative extension of the brand. Based in Dubai, he is known internationally for elaborate gowns worn at red carpet events, pageants, and bridal occasions, work that established his house as a name associated with occasion dressing in the Middle East. His entry into perfumery began with a presentation tied to the Sweden Beach Palace property, where the launch of The Impalpable Dreams introduced his first perfumes for men and women and positioned scent as another layer of the Cinco design language. The fragrance portfolio grew quickly from there. The Ktoret series debuted with Ktoret 138 Santorini in 2020 and continued with Ktoret 508 Nightfall in 2021. Named compositions followed, including Siesta Key and Upper East in 2022, and Sea + Zephyr in 2023. The numbered M series, spanning M1 through M7, arrived in 2024 alongside a collection called MISIÓN de SÓI, signaling a deliberate move toward building a structured fragrance wardrobe alongside the couture house. Distribution has expanded through retailers including House of Karji and House of Dubai, bringing the line to markets beyond the Gulf. Cinco approaches fragrance the way he approaches couture, as a vehicle for character and storytelling rather than mass-market appeal. The names he chooses, Santorini, Siesta Key, Nightfall, suggest moods and places rather than abstract concepts, inviting wearers into a specific atmosphere with each bottle. His collaborations with perfumers such as Frank Voelkl and Richard Herpin, both respected for their work at major fragrance houses, point to a commitment to working with established noses rather than outsourcing development. The M series structure, with seven sequentially numbered releases in a single year, suggests Cinco views perfumery as a collection to be curated over time, where each composition occupies its own place rather than competing for attention. The MISIÓN de SÓI launch, described as an intimate unveiling where emotion, identity, and haute parfumerie meet, reinforces this positioning of scent as personal expression tied to the designer's broader creative vision.