Fragrance house

Nishane

Nishane is an Istanbul-based niche perfume brand founded in September 2012 by Mert Güzel and Murat Katran, who had begun working together two years earlier. After roughly five years of development, the founders introduced Nishane’s first collection in Milan in 2015. The brand’s identity draws on Istanbul’s traditions, modern and cosmopolitan character, and the meeting of Eastern cultural heritage with contemporary Western aesthetics. Its collections treat fragrance as storytelling, with themes inspired by Rumi, the Karagöz and Hacivat shadow-play tradition, The Little Prince, and the removal of emotional borders between people. Güzel and Katran serve as creative directors, shaping each story and project brief before collaborating with a chosen perfumer. The 2017 Shadow Play Trilogy was identified as a milestone in Nishane’s global success, while Hacivat became a defining fragrance, described as a bestseller and an important reference point for introducing the brand to new customers. In 2025, Nishane confirmed an investment alliance with Mada and Atlas Growth Equity Fund; the founders retained majority ownership and full authority over the board.