Considered the prince of perfume, Kurkdjian has even recreated the scent of a queen.  The Chateau de Versailles commissioned the master perfumer to develop a limited edition perfume based on the authentic royal documents of Marie Antoinette.

Last year Kurkdjian launched his eponymous fragrance house in Paris with a collection of colognes, perfumes, interior scents, candles, incense paper and even scented bubbles.  Here, the jet-setting artist and entrepreneur shares his favorite places to entertain in the City of Light and tell us why he never gives perfume as a gift.

Like an event, a fragrance is ephemeral yet leaves behind a lingering memory.  How do you create a scent that will be remembered?
If I knew the secret for creating a scent that will be remembered, I would sell it and become very rich! (Laughs) I guess it’s the unspoken part of Creation. It’s an irrational and unpredictable element. I would expect it is the same for a writer who wants to  write a best seller or a singer, composer or painter. You might think there are ready made recipes for fragrance but, the only thing I know for sure, is that you have to work and work again to create something extraordinary.

You’ve traveled the world seeking inspiration but still consider Paris to be your home and heart.  What are your favorite places in the City of Light to dine, entertain and enjoy?
For drinks with friends, I go to Rosa Bonheur, an outdoor cafe, in the Buttes Chaumont Garden. At Café Marly, which is in central Paris, I can hang out with friends all day long from late breakfast to late dinner. My choice of dining depends on my mood and the time of the day. For French fusion food I go my friend’s restaurant named Balthazar & Co Restaurant in the 11th near Bastille. The best Argentinean cuisine is at Anahi in the 3rd district. Also, I love the view from the rooftop terrace of Georges at Beaubourg Museum and the hotel Le Meurice next to my boutique in Paris.

How would you describe your entertaining style?
I organize small diner parties for around 8 people and I cook. It’s very simple but cooking is just a great experience for me. I find it relaxing even though I am anxious because I always want to please my friends. Once every 3 months I throw a big party and the night goes on and on. The craziest one was when I was knighted and named Chevalier des Arts et Lettres last year.

What is your signature drink?
Champagne of course! And I buy it directly from the producer, a family-owned vineyard that delivers great champagne. If it’s alcohol free, then it’s a mix of sparkling water and still water, half and half in the same glass!!!

What is your signature gift?
I do not have a signature gift as I always try to find the perfect gift for each of my friends! The only thing you can be sure I do not give is perfume because I am always afraid people might think I got it for free!! (Laughs)

Tell us about an incredible event that you have attended recently
The opening night on the roof top terrace of the French Pavilion at the World Fair/Shanghai Expo last May. It was amazing to see all the pavilions around us and the city, the lights and the fire works.

You are hosting a fantasy dinner party. Who are your guests and what do you serve them?
I would love to host a dinner party with my family, like a family reunion with my great grand parents I have never met as well my dear grandparents who passed away more than 10 years ago! It would be lot of fun as they were all talented characters – a pianist, violinist, musician, fur dealer, tailor and even an oil trader. The food would definitely be some type of Middle Eastern fusion cuisine made from family recipes that my mother has learned over the years.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of Francis Kurkdjian

With the launch of an eponymous product line slated for January 2010, Hazan’s schedule is increasingly hectic. Fortunately, we caught up with the revered hair colorist in a rare spare moment, just before she jetted off to London for a brief jaunt in honor of her birthday.

Here, she muses on her cocktail of choice, a favorite West Village eatery and why her day job is just like throwing a party.

How is coloring hair like hosting an event?
Hair coloring is very similar. It’s like you’re always having a party. With chemicals anything can happen and you have to figure out what to do with any situation that you’re in. Let’s say the caterer does show up. If the hair doesn’t come out, how do you fix it? It’s about being skilled, being relaxed and going with the flow.

How would you describe your entertaining style?
Very relaxed: fun music and tequila. Dancing and tequila are always involved.

What is one song or artist that always puts you in the party mood?
Madonna. Anything by Madonna.

What is the best NYC restaurant for dining with a large group?
The Charles in the West Village. And I love brunch at Five Points. They can host a big party.

What is your staple destination for a girls’ night out?
Gold Bar.

What is your signature drink and who serves the best version in the city?
My signature drink would be a margarita and the one at Tao in the Chambers Hotel is my favorite.

What is the best place to host a birthday party?
I’m going to the Shoreditch House in London for this birthday.

What is your go-to gift for a host or hostess?
A beautiful bottle of champagne. I like Rose, or Dom Perignon.

It’s your Last Supper, what do you eat and with whom?
Pizza. Cheese pizza with my family and friends.

What is the key ingredient to throwing a great party?
Roll with whatever happens. Throwing a party is always stressful. If you don’t get stressed out, you’re fine.

What are you most excited to see in London?
I’ll probably go to the theater. I get inspiration when I’m there. Also, their fashion is a little different, so I like to see what’s going on with the hair and the clothes.

Alisa Gould-Simon is a Brooklyn-based freelance writer. She covers fashion and culture for BlackBook, New York and The Daily Beast among other publications.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of Rita Hazan

Susan Feldman and Alison Gelb Pincus are the kind of entrepreneurs that any self-respecting home enthusiast envies. From arranging their own flowers, to creating home accoutrements fit for a spread on Design*Sponge seemingly out of thin air, the business partners definitely have a knack for home décor. Fortunately, with their new online venture, One Kings Lane, they’re sharing both their design savvy as well as access to discounted home décor items, from furniture to flair.

The members-only site is essentially to home décor what Gilt is to clothing. From marked down, etching-embellished pillows from John Robshaw, Royal Doulton Flatware and Alora Ambiance Soy Candles, to decorating tips from designer Kenneth Brown, the new site is fast becoming a go-to destination for both home goods and advice on how to fashion your abode. Feldman and Gelb Pincus have no doubt discovered a completely unoccupied niche in the retail market; and, given their vast plans for expansion, it looks as though they’ll be occupying the seat for some time.

How would you describe your entertaining style?
AGP: I always strive for perfection. I like to do things in an elegant, last-century way but my husband is very casual so we have to come to a happy medium. I love a three or four-course sit down meal with a fun dessert. There are great artisanal bakeries in San Francisco, like Tartine.
SF: I moved to Los Angeles after living in Manhattan for many years and my husband and I have found it a great opportunity to entertain more.  It’s almost seasonal: in the fall and winter we tend to have dinner parties, and once the nice weather comes we set up outdoors. I love mixing elements, like bringing nice crystal outside when we are barbequing. I always do my floral arrangements myself.  I’ll also put lemons in a glass cylinder with sunflowers. Sometimes the simpler things are the nicest.

How did you come up with the concept for the site?
SF: The idea came from an apparel model, like Gilt. I was fascinated by this new channel of distribution, and Ali was aware of it as well, but I was also wondering, ‘how come no one is doing this for the home?’ I’m a home enthusiast. We felt that there really was a market out there for this. My daughter in NYC just overheard two friends talking about how One Kings Lane is their new obsession. We want it to be people’s obsession.

Tell me about the advice aspect of the site…
SF: When we decided to do this business, our friends who had seen me do floral arrangements with cranberries asked, ‘are you going to talk about how you do things like that?’ It gave us the idea to feature design experts on the site who can provide members with tips. We realized the stuff we take for granted a lot of people don’t know.
AGP: Like using your decanters for mouthwash.
SF: Yeah, I put mouthwash in crystal decanters in the bathroom because I had all of these decanters that I never used.

What’s a great home gift for a host or hostess?
SF: I’m obsessed with this beautiful leather bound guest book that’s on the site right now. So, whoever comes through can sign it and make a notation; it’s sort of retro, but people are getting back to spending more time in their homes with what’s going on. And it’s something you wouldn’t necessarily go out and buy for yourself.
AGP: I used to do candles and then I moved over to diffusers. We give a lot of wine, which my husband collects. I also bring flowers, because I love to get people arrangements.

What’s an inexpensive way to give your home a face-lift?
SF: I think new pillows for the sofa is an easy thing. Maybe also a beautiful throw that you can toss over a chair; those two things can completely change the look of a room.
AGP: Our expert Kenneth Brown just wrote about painting the walls, and rearranging rooms, which can change the entire feel of the house..

How do you envision the site evolving in the future?
SF: I think it will expand in a couple of different ways – products for one: from candles to furniture, inside to outside. We’re starting to do other aspects of the home. The back end of the site is the ‘get inspired’ section that will evolve into not just 5 written tips but maybe experts on video setting a table, making floral arrangements, and accessorizing a room properly.
AGP: We’re also going to have really amazing puppy things down the road. We’re gradually going to fill in the holes.

Alisa Gould-Simon is a Brooklyn-based freelance writer. She covers fashion and culture for BlackBook, New York and The Daily Beast among other publications.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of One Kings Lane

Rafe Totengco (above, center) is a NYC-based, award-winning accessories designer by way of Manila. His handbag, leather good and shoe designs have garnered him critical acclaim within the fashion industry; not to mention he was the first designer Target enlisted to do a capsule accessories collection. Totengco’s energy is at once laid-back, spontaneous and enlivening, much like his hosting style. Totengco’s entertaining etiquette in his own words:

How would you describe your entertaining style?
Very casual, very relaxed. I like to be totally serendipitous, spur of the moment. I give my friends at the most a week’s notice. I like people to come and relax and not worry. Especially these days, all I want to do is grab a glass of wine and chill.

Name 5 songs or artists that always put you into the party mood:
Viva La Vida by Coldplay, La Vie en Rose by Grace Jones, anything by Stephane Pompougnac, Groove Armada and Thievery Corporation.

In NYC…
What is the best restaurant for dining with a large group?
I really love going to Indochine. It’s big but somehow they manage to make it still seem cozy. You can have a nice long table; I love the atmosphere there. Boqueria in SoHo is also nice because it’s bigger than the 19th Street location and can fit quite a few friends. It’s Tapas, which is easy, and it’s a very relaxed atmosphere. Merkato is also nice. In Miami, I’d recommend Casa Tua or Fratelli Lyon. In Hong Kong: the Kee Club.

What is your staple destination for a boys-only night out?
It would have to be Hero. The last time I was there, the DJ played all of these amazing 80s house songs. It’s funny because you see who is of a certain generation by how they respond to the music—like, ‘what is this?’ or ‘I haven’t heard this in ages!’ 1OAK, Beige and Greenhouse are all fun.

What is your signature drink and who serves the best version in the city?
Lychee Saketinis at Indochine. I’m from the tropics so anything lychee or mango is right up my alley.

Where is the best place to host a birthday party?
My first choice would be someone’s home, because it’s an intimate setting and you can let your hair down and stay as long as you want. I just threw mine here in my showroom, which is big enough to allow for a lot of people. Bubby’s in Brooklyn has a 2nd floor with amazing views of Manhattan and the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges. We just threw my Mom a party there and people had the best time.

What is your favorite party favor that you’ve either given or received?
The last time I went to a party the host gave us little silk bags, and inside were worry beads. They’re to alleviate stress, which seems very timely. And they came with a little card that says, ‘Don’t worry, be happy.’

It’s your Last Supper: what do you eat and with whom?
I would love to eat Xiao Long Bao with the Empress Dowager Tzu Hsi. I’ve read so much about her and have so many questions about her fascinating life.

What is the key ingredient to throwing a great party?
A good mix of interesting people and a theme. I love a theme party. A mix of people is important because if everyone is in the same industry, everyone talks shop. So, it’s always great to mix in somebody from finance, fashion… even a prostitute, just to throw it off kilter. I think that keeps it interesting.

Where’s a good place to find a prostitute in NYC?
I think there’s a website for that [laughs]. I think it’s called RentBoy. A drag queen would be amazing too. You just need someone to cause a raucous. And, of course, take lots of pictures.

Alisa Gould-Simon is a Brooklyn-based freelance writer. She covers fashion and culture for BlackBook, New York and The Daily Beast among other publications.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of Rafe Totengco