The Different Company

The Different Company is a French niche perfume house founded in 2000 by perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena and designer Thierry de Baschmakoff in Paris. According to the brand’s own history, it emerged at a time when high-end perfumery was booming but enthusiasts were often dissatisfied with mainstream offerings. Ellena and de Baschmakoff set out to build a label that would use high quality materials and design-focused, fully refillable bottles as core principles.

In its early years, Jean-Claude Ellena composed the house’s first fragrances and defined its transparent, elegant style. The brand highlights creations like Iris Wood, Peppered Rose, Bergamot and Osmanthus as emblematic of this original phase. In 2005, his daughter Céline Ellena took over as primary perfumer for the main line, authoring notable releases such as Sel de Vetiver, Sublime Balkiss and Pure eVe. Over time, other perfumers including Bertrand Duchaufour and Emilie Bevierre-Coppermann have contributed to specific collections like Collection Excessive and L'Esprit Cologne.

Across its catalog, The Different Company emphasizes the use of expensive natural raw materials, a point also noted by independent sources like Parfumo, which mention compositions such as Bois d'Iris, Jasmin de Nuit and the oud-focused Collection Excessive. The brand maintains a clear intent to stand apart from market-driven trends, positioning its fragrances as an alternative for wearers who want distinctive compositions packaged in reusable, design-led bottles.