It’s the rare individual who doesn’t capitalize on family connections, let alone join the mega-empire their relatives have created. But in this case, Kilian Hennessy, grandson of the founder of Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy, didn’t utilize nepotism to create his success.
On December 11 the Hennessy heir opened his luxury fragrance boutique, Kilian, in the heart of the Meatpacking District, at 804 Washington Street, a first in the U.S. It’s where Kilian unveiled his fifth collection, Apple Brandy New York, $235.
With such a famous family, successfully establishing your own presence is almost impossible, yet Kilian is doing just that.
“I found a voice by not sticking with the family business,” said the 41-year-old, who was dressed in a black velvet blazer and surrounded by 100-plus guests. “For me it was very important to make my career outside of LVMH. When I was 23 I did an internship at Dior [owned by LVMH] that lasted a year and a half. I knew in people’s eyes I was only there because of my name and I didn’t want that.”
According to Kilian, perfume was love at first scent. After studying the semantics of scent in university, he went on to work with some of the most prestigious perfume houses: Paco Rabanne, Alexander McQueen, Giorgio Armani, to name a few. Craving a scent to call his own, he created his company, By Kilian, in 2007 and released his first collection, L’Oeuvre Noire. Over the next several years Arabian Nights, Asian Tales and In the Garden of Good and Evil followed.
“I needed to be able to wake up in the morning and know that everything I’ve accomplished I did because of who I am, not by who my family was,” he added. “This is my business. It’s not part of LVMH. It’s my private funding. I own it 100 percent. It has nothing to do with my family.”
After his success with Vodka On The Rocks Moscow, which was created for last year’s launch of the first retail store in Russia, New York City was next on the docket. Plans for other standalone boutiques are Dubai, Beirut and Abu Dhabi, among others.
“My goal is a global one,” he explained. “No more wholesale and department stores. We [entered] 200 doors in the first four years, and that was plenty. Now I only want to open my own stores.”
The 450-square foot boutique features black and white aesthetics, paired with art deco inspiration. Exposed brick and high ceilings add a downtown, industrial feel while handcrafted black chairs and a matching couch add warmth and charm.
Apple Brandy New York, which like many of his fragrance concoctions was inspired by years spent frequenting his family’s House of Hennessy’s cognac cellars, seems to do the impossible. It captures what his ancestors have called “angels’ share,” which is the mysterious evaporation from the historic cognac cellars. With help from perfumer Sidonie Lancesseur, the duo created a liquor-like olfactory explosion of wood, vanilla and amboxan – the sugars found in cognac alcohol. The name is clearly also a nod to the Big Apple, where he plans to settle down at some point. When he does, there will be plenty for him to smile about.