Maison Francis Kurkdjian is supporting marine biodiversity conservation by teaming with non-profit Longitude 181 for initiatives to help protect sperm whales in the Mediterranean Sea. Founded in 2002 by oceanographer François Sarano, Longitude 181 works to protect exceptional biological and cultural diversity across the planet.

Co-founder and CEO Marc Chaya and Francis Kurkdjian have taken this civic-minded step to protect sperm whales, which have been classified as a "vulnerable" species. This commitment has particular resonance for perfume.

Ambergris, a precious natural substance, is a gift from cachalots, or sperm whales. Its distinctive scent intensifies, evolves and matures under the effects of ocean salt, UV rays and air. It has been employed as a fragrance-enhancer since centuries, but given the rarity of natural ambergris, it has been replaced by synthetic molecules.

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