Perfumed Bubbles Waft Over Neiman Marcus

Catherine Dunne of Orinda was preparing for a visit from her mother, Alix Truax of Oregon, for a birthday party for her grandson, Patrick, turning 4.

Dunne was buying some perfume for her mom when she heard that internationally renowned perfumer Francis Kurkdjian would be showing off his new lines at in Walnut Creek.

So she brought along her mom Wednesday to the six-month-old store to chat with Kurkdjian and get some goodies, including perfume and scented candles. In fact, scents were everywhere at Broadway Plaza Wednesday. Some Maison Francis Kurkdjian Paris scents were added to the main fountain in Broadway Plaza. Scented bubble machines were bubbling at the Neiman Marcus entrance, to the delight of many youngsters. The new Kurkdjian fragrances are offered in an exclusive arrangement with Neiman Marcus.

Dunne enjoyed sitting down with Kurkdjian and hearing him explain how different scents could go with different wardrobes. She and her mom got a kick out of hearing about the scent in the fountain trick, which has made the rounds from Walnut Creek to France — Kurkdjian scents were used in the fountain of the historic palace of Versailles in the Paris suburbs.

"It's a statement of your life," Kurkdjian said. "Whether it's a dress or pants and sneakers or evening gowns, being faithful to a designer doesn't mean you are faithful to just one scent … I literally dress people with my scents."

Customers lined up to sample scents and have Kurkdjian autograph the boxes the perfumes come in. Kurkdjian was the 2008 winner of the Perfumer of the Year Oscar by Cosmetique magazine, according to a press release for his new line that is attached to this story as a PDF.