Trends come and go, BDK is here to stay
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Time to read 7 min
Nothing captures the soul of a city quite like the people who breathe life into it every single day.
And nowhere does this feel truer than in Paris’ Palais-Royal quarter — the beating heart of the French capital. What would this cultural oasis be without the silhouettes of early risers, savoring their first meal of the day — scalding coffee and glowing tobacco leaves — framed by quintessential French windows?
Equally indispensable are the elegantly dressed women drawn to the arcades of the Royal Palace, strolling between boutiques and art galleries. Dreamers and lovers lend the palace gardens their iconic flair, while the cobblestone streets hum with the soundscape of ringing bicycle bells, laughing children, and curious tourists.
Attracted by its air of quiet luxury, countless artisans have chosen this neighborhood as their creative headquarters. Among them is David Benedek, founder of the perfume house BDK, which — like Benedek himself — traces its roots back to this storied quarter.
As an homage to his origins, Benedek draws inspiration from the everyday beauty and culture of his home district when creating his fragrances. The brand reflects his deep admiration for the elegance of the Parisian people — a quality that resonates through every step of BDK’s perfume-making process.
Every fragrance tells a story
As a French perfume house, BDK draws on a rich tradition of perfumery and stands out for its dedication to craftsmanship and artistic excellence. Every detail — from the scent itself to the bottle and even the box — is woven together by a common thread, forming a carefully conceived whole. BDK is nothing less than an olfactory library.
Each fragrance embodies a unique story designed to move you and spark your imagination. At the heart of these narratives lies the city itself, with all its colors, textures, and contrasts. For David Benedek, the people of Paris are his muses — they are the protagonists whose faces emerge as the perfumes are worn.
This urban poetry is encased in a box reminiscent of a book cover. When lined up side by side, these volumes form an encyclopedia of scent. And the process of creating each element is no less enchanting. Out of respect for its cultural heritage, every piece is crafted in close collaboration with French artisans:
The perfume concentrates are sourced exclusively from Grasse, the world’s perfume capital. The glass bottles are produced by a master glassblower in Normandy. Labels are printed in Bordeaux, and in Le Mans, a family-run business makes the cases from recycled paper. The crowning touch is the cap, designed by a traditional goldsmith as a tribute to the iconic Grand Palais in Paris.
A city like an open-air museum — lovers from all corners of the world come here to celebrate their love. This magnificent metropolis offers them lush green oases to linger in, like my personal favorite, the Palais-Royal garden. And at the end of the day, they stroll hand in hand along the banks of the Seine.”
Backstory
Although the young founder hesitates to call himself a perfumer, David Benedek is a true connoisseur of the craft. Once you take a closer look at his background, it almost feels as though founding an independent perfume house was his destiny.
Just two generations before David’s birth, his grandparents founded one of the most successful perfumeries in Paris. Both originally from Romania, they fled their homeland after World War II to escape the influence of the Soviet Union. Once in Paris, David’s grandmother trained as a beautician. She often heard her clients rave about popular perfumes and one day asked her husband if he could buy one for her. When he discovered how much it would cost, the former lawyer had an idea. With permission from leading French perfume houses, he began successfully distributing their fragrances on U.S. military bases in France. These small French luxuries were in high demand across the Atlantic, and thanks to him, many wives were able to welcome their returning husbands with a fragrant souvenir. In the 1960s, he decided to open his first boutique. Tragically, he passed away from a heart attack just a month before the grand opening. Together, David’s grandmother and father — then in his twenties — rose to the challenge of running the business. To this day, the family’s shop continues to sell luxury goods, right across from the Louvre.
Top notes:
French Angelica Root, Madagascan Pink Pepper, Pink Pepper Leaf
Heart notes:
Iris, Orange Blossom, Tonka Bean
Base notes:
Ambroxan, White Musk, Thai Oud
It was David’s grandmother who first sparked his fascination with perfume. With her vast knowledge, he remembers her as a true encyclopedia of scents. He was especially captivated by the beautiful bottles that lined her bathroom shelves. As a child, he would spend hours sketching his own bottle designs. In her honor, he created his very first fragrance, Bouquet de Hongrie. To this day, it remains the perfume closest to his heart, as it was the only one she was able to smell before she passed away.
After finishing school, Benedek was still unsure about his future and initially chose a different path. Yet the pull of perfumery never left him, and one training program followed another. After completing a perfumery course at the French Institute of Fashion, he went on to intern at the distributor InterParfums. He then familiarized himself with raw materials at Givaudan and continued his studies at Cinquième Sens. And then, at the fresh age of 25, he decided to found BDK — without relying on his family’s connections. Instead, he surrounded himself with a young, passionate team and partnered with niche perfumery Liquides to bring his creations to the public.
Since BDK first took root in 2016, the young brand has gained popularity at an astonishing pace and is now available in more than 50 countries and 500 stores worldwide.
Feeling curious?
Browse our selection of niche fragrances for men and women:
Each parfum, a new chapter
The perfumes are each part of one of four collections, distinguished mainly by Benedek’s creative approach during the composition process.
The Collection Parisienne forms the heart of the house. Memory and imagination shape the olfactory language of these scents, inviting the wearer on a journey through the vibrant neighborhoods of Paris. As a self-described observer, Benedek draws inspiration from his everyday impressions. He associates raw materials with colors, layering them one by one to compose the final creation.
The Collection Matières, on the other hand, begins with the exploration of a single raw material, with great emphasis placed on its selection and provenance. The Collection Exclusif is built on the interplay of two key ingredients, revealing facets of bold, powerful, yet sensual notes.
Similar to the Collection Parisienne, the Collection Azur is a gathering of memories. Here, the Mediterranean takes center stage, inspired by moments spent at Cap d’Antibes, on Corsica, and on the island of Capri.
Personal review
I have to admit, in all honesty, that I’m biased when it comes to BDK — this brand was my very first niche fragrance experience. Back then, I had neither the words nor the references to describe what I was smelling at the narrow counter of the Liquides Perfume Bar. Instantly, I was convinced I had discovered the best and most extraordinary perfume in the world.
And while my taste has evolved in many ways since then, BDK has kept a place in my heart. Perhaps it’s the intention behind the creations, or simply the fact that I happened to be standing in the very place whose essence the brand seeks to capture. Either way, for me these scents smell unmistakably of Paris: effortless elegance, proud self-assurance, and a hint of provocative restraint.
The best example of this, in my opinion, is the house’s bestseller — and also my personal favorite — Gris Charnel. Rarely have I encountered a perfume so perfectly balanced. Each note highlights a different nuance: fruity fig, refreshing black tea, and cool, spicy cardamom convey an airy lightness. Blended with powdery iris and smoky vetiver, they conjure up an image of a grey blanket of clouds draped over the rooftops of the city. Smooth sandalwood and tonka bean add a sensual depth, as if you were gliding over the cobblestones of Parisian streets.
In second place comes Rouge Smoking, created in collaboration with perfumer Amélie Bourgeois as an homage to the Pigalle district. This scent is, above all else, undeniably sexy. The star of the show is cherry — with the addition of almond-like heliotrope accentuating its amarena quality. It’s wrapped in a variety of warm, creamy notes: ambroxan, cashmeran, tonka bean, and musk create an intimate, skin-close effect. Bergamot brightens the composition, while pink pepper adds a touch of woody freshness. Finally, labdanum rounds out Rouge Smoking into an amber-tinged gourmand fragrance.
“Not tonight” — in French, Pas Ce Soir — is a sweet chypre fragrance that captures the interplay of light and shadow through its contrasting notes. It’s designed to evoke the allure of Parisian nights. Bursting with fruity tones (pear, mandarin, quince chutney, jasmine, and orange blossom), it carries a youthful, playful energy. Black pepper and ginger linger subtly in the background. Patchouli and amberwood mature and refine the composition without stripping it of its sweetness.
From one fragrance to the next, BDK’s creations never lose their beauty. It’s no surprise, then, that a wide community of perfume lovers has come to appreciate them. Whether or not the house’s French savoir-faire aligns with your personal taste, there’s no denying that true masters are at work here. And you can smell it.
Discover more fragrances from BDK Parfums
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