A frequent bestseller, Baccarat Rouge 540 is included in Harvey Nichols’ Black Friday sale with 20 per cent off the alluring aroma.
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Born out of a collaboration between storied crystal manufacturer Baccarat and master perfumer Francis Kurkdjian, Baccarat Rouge 540 first emerged as a limited-edition ode to the house’s 250th anniversary. But its unique and distinctive alchemy proved far too popular to gatekeep. The amber-woody composition soon became a fixture of Kurkdjian’s eponymous maison, earning prestige status and remaining as coveted today as it was when it debuted in 2014.
Once an insider secret at the zenith of luxury, the unisex fragrance has been tied to a cohort of discerning celebrities, from Rihanna to Tina Knowles to Olivia Rodrigo – a testament to its appeal that transcends generations as well as gender. Enveloping in its notes and playing on the duality of heritage and modernity, the perfumer’s inspiration came from the rarefied mystique of ambergris, mirroring the distinctly crystalline Baccarat decadence.
But as it is now near impossible to source, Kurkdjian placed ambroxan at the base, a plant-based alternative to mimic the molecule and paired it with cedarwood at the heart as an olfactory reflection of sand (the origins of crystal). Ethyl maltol represents the firing process, while hedione adds a light jasmine-like dynamism. To round it off, traces of saffron – known as red gold – give a subtle red tinge and act as the finishing luxury flourish that you’d expect from this partnership.
Its luminosity is only enhanced by the jewel-like flacon in which it is housed. Gilded lettering is set against Baccarat’s signature red for an elevated fragrance that will make a striking addition to any collection.