NISHANE
“Fragrance is such a personal experience,” say Murat Katran and Mert Güzel, founders of luxury perfume brand NISHANE. “Our collections are designed to not only make people feel special, but also to enhance their connection with their inner selves and the memories attached to specific smells.”
The pair set up the brand in 2012. Murat’s background is in theatre, while Mert’s is in luxury hospitality; together they wanted to combine their talents and embody the cosmopolitan spirit of their home, Istanbul, to create “something that could stand as a personal artistic expression”. Formulated by some of the world’s most esteemed noses, the scents blend Eastern and Western influences, creating a bridge between cultural heritage and contemporary artistry to tell a story. “We are proud to be a niche brand deeply rooted in storytelling,” says Murat. “Each fragrance has a powerful narrative, taking our customers on a journey with every scent.”
This storytelling approach gives the perfume emotional depth, allowing wearers to experience not just a scent but a story that feels personal and timeless, making age-old traditions relevant in a modern context. The mission is to inspire self-expression through fragrance, transforming perfumes from simple sensory products into emotional narratives that travel with the wearer.
As well as storytelling, NISHANE is renowned for its impressive sillage and the longevity of its extrait de parfum fragrances. Best-selling fragrance Hacivat by NISHANE is a tribute to artistry and heritage, and takes its name from a lead character in traditional shadow play who is known for his elegance, cultural significance and love for art. This fragrance encapsulates the story’s spirit with its refreshing, opening top notes of bergamot and pineapple, continuing with a complex, earthy heart of jasmine and patchouli and finishing with a deep and sophisticated woody base. “Hacivat celebrates the richness of cultural storytelling and the timeless allure of classic scents,” says Murat. This statement reflects the way Hacivat brings cultural heritage into modern perfumery. It is not just about honouring the past, but about keeping cultural symbols alive in new and meaningful ways, reminding us that true sophistication is timeless, just like a well-told story or a masterfully crafted scent.
Another best-seller, Hundred Silent Ways, is inspired by a line from the poet Rumi – “I closed my mouth and spoke to you in a hundred silent ways” – and features a delicate blend of white flowers and notes of peach and vanilla. Rumi’s philosophy of silent yet powerful connection mirrors how the brand views fragrance – something that speaks beyond words – and his teachings on love, self-discovery and spiritual unity always influence NISHANE’s creations. Through scents such as Hundred Silent Ways, the brand acknowledges this thinking, inviting wearers to engage in an inner dialogue and let scent speak to the soul when words fall short.
Fan Your Flames is also from the Rumi Collection, capturing the spirit of desire and authenticity. With notes of rum and coconut at the top, followed by rich tobacco and tonka bean, it embodies the journey of igniting one’s inner fire, an ode to those brave enough to chase what sets their soul ablaze. The evocative Ani, meanwhile, is named after the ruins of an ancient Silk Road city and is imbued with spicy, woody and vanilla notes. From the No Boundaries Collection, the perfume is dedicated to dismantling borders, empowering wearers to build their own empire even when all that is left is in ruins. The scent and its story are of equal importance. “We want perfume lovers to explore our collections based on what resonates with them, whether it’s the notes that appeal to their senses or the story that touches their soul,” says Mert.
To complement the fragrance collections, NISHANE has created lightweight, luxurious hair perfumes. As well as conditioning and softening the hair, they maintain a powerful, lasting scent, which spreads naturally as the hair moves, “subtly carrying the spirit of our fragrances all day long,” says Murat. The hair perfumes continue the storytelling. Wūlόng Chá transports the wearer to the serene tea gardens of the Far East, with the delicate scent of oolong tea alongside Mediterranean fig.
The brand has captured people’s imaginations and is available in over 120 countries and in Harvey Nichols and Harrods in London; the exclusive NISHANE x Harrods collaboration resulted in the luxury fragrance Oudous Lux Solis. There are standalone boutiques in Istanbul, Paris, Rome, Mykonos, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Abu Dhabi, Jeddah, Riyadh, Andorra and Beirut, and new stores are opening in Dubai, Bodrum and London.
NISHANE also offers a home fragrance collection – room sprays, reed diffusers and scented candles – and is expanding into bodycare products that incorporate the brand’s essence. Home is where personal identity is fully expressed, and the collection turns living spaces into sanctuaries that reflect mood and memory. One of the scents the brand is most excited about is Lavande Française, which brings the tranquil charm of Provence into any room, creating a calming, sensory atmosphere. Home fragrance extends the emotional power of scent into daily life, elevating the ordinary into something memorable.
As NISHANE works with some of the most renowned perfumers in the world, their expertise and creative brilliance are brought to each composition, with a shared vision of creating long-lasting, emotional fragrances. What also sets the brand apart is its commitment to high-concentration extrait de parfum formulations and its narrative-led approach, which ensures each creation feels personal, timeless and meaningful.
Looking ahead, the brand is focused on deepening its global footprint through immersive experiences, from boutique openings in cultural capitals to masterclasses and artistic collaborations. It also aims to continue to bridge the worlds of fragrance and storytelling, while introducing new products for people to experience. “By infusing NISHANE into every aspect of daily life,” says Mert, “we hope to create a more personal and holistic connection.”