Ben Gorham

Ben Gorham established Byredo in Stockholm in 2006, launching his debut fragrance, ‘Green,’ which featured sage, orange, and musk, and introduced his unique vision of connecting scent with memory to the luxury market. Following a prior career as a professional basketball player and studying fine arts at the Stockholm Art School, Gorham founded Byredo with a focus on bottling emotions and stories, a subjective approach that challenged traditional beauty narratives. From its inception, Byredo was envisioned as a platform for more than just fragrance, aiming for broader product categories. In 2013, Manzanita Capital acquired a majority stake in Byredo, providing strategic support while Gorham remained central to the brand’s creative direction.

Following the acquisition, Gorham continued to serve as Chief Creative Officer and a significant shareholder, overseeing the brand’s ongoing growth and creative integrity. Throughout his tenure, he notably collaborated with perfumer Jérôme Epinette, co-creating 37 distinct fragrances that became cultural touchstones, including celebrated scents like ‘Gypsy Water,’ ‘Mojave Ghost,’ and ‘Bal d’Afrique.’ Demonstrating continuous innovation, Byredo launched fine jewelry as a new permanent category with the Virasaat collection in 2023. Gorham’s leadership emphasized creative freedom and a unique brand identity, allowing Byredo to expand its diverse product lines while maintaining an emotional and artistic core. His upcoming departure from the brand is set for the end of June 2025, marking the conclusion of a nineteen-year period during which he successfully built Byredo into a global luxury powerhouse and redefined the landscape of scent and beauty.