In a world saturated with perfumes that promise allure, luxury, and elegance, NISHANE (Instagram) offers something far more profound: a scent that speaks. Born in Istanbul and steeped in its centuries of cultural crosscurrents, this independent fragrance house has carved out a place in the global perfume scene not just by how it smells, but by how it feels—and what it says.
Founded in 2012 by Mert Güzel and Murat Katran, NISHANE emerged from a deep connection to their native Istanbul. The co-founders—whose diverse backgrounds span sociology, international trade, and the performing arts—wanted to create a brand that mirrored the city’s intensity, poetry, and contradictions. Their fragrances don’t just sit on the skin; they evoke memory, identity, and place. They tell stories.
And every story has its icons. For NISHANE, these are Ani, Hacivat, and Hundred Silent Ways. Ani—a bold swirl of vanilla, spice, and emotion—is a fragrance of love remembered and love lost. Hacivat channels intellectual elegance through citrus and woods, drawing on the refined humour of Ottoman shadow theatre. Hundred Silent Ways, with its rich floral core, speaks in hushed tones that linger long after the first impression.
But while the scents are poetic, the brand’s rise has been concrete. Now sold in over 100 countries, NISHANE has become one of perfumery’s most talked-about names. And yet, Istanbul remains its muse—a city of layered stories, just like the fragrances that bear its mark.
At NISHANE, perfume isn’t just personal—it’s cultural. It’s a sign, a symbol, a moment captured in scent. And for those who wear it, an invitation to make their own mark.
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