Cha Joo-young uses one of the Killian Paris hero scents at the pop-up store opening at The Hyundai Seoul. Photo: Getty Images Save Story Save this story Save Story Save this story When you think of Kilian Paris, you think of Angels’ Share. Its olfactive parallels to cognac, the eau de parfum’s lead ingredient, are undeniable. At first whiff, the scent calls to mind a sidecar sipped inside a swanky, dimly lit nightclub; then as it dries down, oak, cinnamon, and tonka bean come to the fore for a warm, creamy aroma that evokes luxury. Founder Kilian Hennessy calls it his most personal fragrance creation. The grandson of the founder of the Hennessy cognac dynasty (also named Kilian Hennessy), Hennessy has known fine liquor his entire life.
Although Angels’ Share was not one of the 10 scents the brand launched with back in 2007, Hennessy knew it had the potential to become a signature scent for the house. In fact, it has shown remarkable, consistent momentum since its debut — growing double digits in both the US and globally year over year, according to Tara Simon, president of the Americas at Estée Lauder Companies. Simon reports that in fiscal year 2026, the Angels’ Share franchise delivered 46% year-over-year retail sales growth in the US.
Central Cee and Kilian Hennessy attend the Kilian Paris Angels' Share launch party.
Now, Kilian Paris is figuring out how to use its bestseller to drive more business. Today, the brand is introducing a trio of fragrances called The Cocktails. Through the new Kir Royal, Piña Colada, and Espresso Martini scents, the brand builds on the “Kilian Bar” concept to turn its hero fragrance into an expandable universe.
This concept, Hennessy explains, is not just about discovering fragrances, but a chance to create a memorable experience; or ‘scentertainment’, as he calls it. In any of its standalone boutiques, consumers can sit at the bar for a mixology experience with cocktails inspired by its fragrances.
“The Cocktails gave us an opportunity to bring a new energy to the house through vibrant colors and a modern expression while staying true to the DNA of the brand,” Hennessy continues. In dreaming up the fragrances for this new collection, Hennessy looked to cocktails connected to moments: Sparkling Royal has the elegance of a Parisian aperitif, Piña Paraíso takes you into a sun-drenched tropical afternoon, and Midnight Espresso brings you into the energy of a New York nightclub. “The idea is not to recreate the same experience over and over again, but to give you the possibility of choosing a different fragrance depending on your mood, the occasion, or the side of yourself you want to reveal that day.”
Each of The Cocktails fragrances is priced at $150, marking the brand’s first foray into prestige fragrance price points. Kilian Paris heroes, like Angels’ Share and Love, Don’t Be Shy, are typically available at the ultra-luxury price point, at more than $400 for 100ml. Simon describes this as an opportunity to “introduce one of fragrance’s most iconic worlds to a broader audience, particularly a younger consumer who is driving growth in the fragrance category.”
Kilian Paris’s new trio of fragrances, The Cocktails.
This comes at a time when fragrance category growth is normalizing. As reported by market research firm Circana, prestige fragrance grew 12% in 2024, then 5% in 2025. With the fragrance boom of previous years slowing, brands must find new opportunities for growth. At the same time, consumer…