Akro
Akro is the brand of Olivier Cresp, the master perfumer behind Angel and Light Blue, and of his daughter Anaïs. Each fragrance turns a small everyday addiction into a perfume: coffee, chocolate, tobacco, a journey, a night out. Unisex niche perfumes in Eau de Parfum and Extrait de Parfum, created in France.
15 products
The best Akro perfumes: our top 3
The most loved in our boutique.
Akro perfumes: the everyday addictions of Olivier Cresp
The story
Akro was born in 2018 from the meeting of two generations of the same family. Olivier Cresp grew up in Grasse, where the Cresp family has lived since the seventeenth century. He has been a Master Perfumer since 2006 and in 2007 he was named perfumer of the year in France. Since 2012 he has been a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres, and in 2018 the Fragrance Foundation in New York gave him its Lifetime Achievement award. He has signed perfumes that made history: Angel by Mugler, the forefather of gourmand fragrances, Light Blue by Dolce & Gabbana, Nina by Nina Ricci, Black Opium by Yves Saint Laurent. That is why Akro calls him the “King of Gourmands”.
His daughter Anaïs studied interior architecture and design and worked on the image of brands such as Guerlain and L'Oréal. She lives in London, and it is in London that the idea was born. Olivier sums it up like this: everyone has a vice or a little daily ritual. Akro comes from the French “accro”, addicted, and the house says it plainly: every addiction has a scent. Each fragrance captures one of these invisible attractions, to be enjoyed without moderation and without guilt. Even the logo, designed by Anaïs, is inspired by the idea of addiction.
The debut came in November 2018 with six addictions: Haze (chilling out, the first to be developed), Awake (coffee), Dark (chocolate), Smoke (tobacco), Malt (whisky) and Night (love). Then the collection grew: Ink in 2022, Bake, Rise and East in 2023, Glow, Smile and Infuse in 2024, Breathe and Crush in 2025. Olivier calls his style “figurative”: short, easy-to-read formulas that let you recognise the addiction at the first breath. Yet he does not give up notes that are rare in perfumery, such as the ink of Ink, the whisky and seaweed of Malt, the cumin of Night.
Akro loves to step outside perfumery. For Dark it worked with Nicolas Cloiseau, master chocolatier and Meilleur Ouvrier de France: one hundred handmade chocolate bars with the notes of the perfume. For Ink it called on London street artist Robert Bondar, who decorated one hundred numbered tins. The bottle is essential, in clear glass with bold lettering, in a sharp contrast of black and white. Every perfume is created in France by Olivier Cresp.
The fragrances
Each Akro perfume bears the name of its addiction. Three are Extrait de Parfum, the others Eau de Parfum; all are unisex and signed by Olivier Cresp.
- Extrait de Parfum: East (travel), Glow (the party), Crush (the rose macaron).
- Eau de Parfum: Rise (summer), Bake (the lemon cupcake), Awake (coffee), Dark (dark chocolate), Smoke (tobacco), Malt (whisky), Night (love), Ink (tattoos), Infuse (tea), Haze (chilling out), Breathe (nature), Smile (happiness).
OUD Profumeria Artistica is an authorised Akro retailer, online and at its shop in Nettuno (Rome).
Frequently asked questions
Who created Akro perfumes?
Akro was founded in 2018 by Olivier Cresp and his daughter Anaïs. Olivier Cresp, who grew up in Grasse and has been a Master Perfumer since 2006, is the nose behind every fragrance of the maison; his best-known creations include Angel by Mugler and Light Blue by Dolce & Gabbana. The idea was born in London, where Anaïs lives; the company is based in Paris.
Are Akro perfumes for men or for women?
They are all unisex: the maison does not divide its fragrances by gender, but by addiction. Those looking for a bolder signature usually turn to East, Smoke or Malt; those who prefer a softer, sweeter trail to Crush, Bake or Rise. These are matters of taste, not rules.
Which Akro perfume should I choose?
It depends on the addiction you feel is yours. East if you love oud, here with raspberry and leather; Rise to wear summer on your skin, with coconut, pineapple and sandalwood; Glow for a night out, with rose, incense and vanilla: they are the three best loved in our boutique. Those who love gourmands look to Bake, Awake and Dark; those seeking freshness to Breathe and Smile.
Are Akro East and Glow Eau de Parfum or Extrait de Parfum?
They are Extrait de Parfum, the highest concentration of the maison, like Crush. All the other Akro fragrances are Eau de Parfum. You still find the wording Eau de Parfum online because that is how East and Glow were first released; today the maison offers them as Extrait de Parfum.
Which Akro perfume is similar to Night?
Night is the fragrance of love: rose, cumin, saffron, oud and musk. Within the collection the closest is East, which shares the oud but dresses it in raspberry and leather. Those who love the rose and spicy warmth of Night can look to Glow, with pink pepper, incense and vanilla.
What sizes do Akro perfumes come in?
Every Akro fragrance comes in 30 ml and 100 ml sizes. The 30 ml is the simplest way to get to know a perfume or to take it travelling; the 100 ml is for those who have already found their addiction.
Where to buy Akro perfumes in Italy?
OUD Profumeria Artistica is an authorised Akro retailer: you will find the fragrances of the maison online and at our shop in Nettuno (Rome), where you can try them in person. Shipping is free in Italy over €60, and over €100 we add 10 complimentary samples.