Nishane translates to “mark” or “symbol” in Turkish. In a little over a decade, the niche fragrance house has already left an imprint on the world of perfumery.The brand’s birthplace of Istanbul, a city at the intersection of Asia and Europe, acts as an intriguing, creative guiding light for Nishane’s journey across cultures and histories through the medium of scent. The voice of that storytelling is one of unapologetic boldness and artistry, told by co-founders Mert Güzel and Murat Katran.Katran was an export manager in the steel business. While traveling across the Gulf region, he discovered oud (a fragrant resinous wood). “I found it so astonishing. It was like I was in a dream, a completely different world. I had always loved perfumes, but this kind of deep interaction was the first time for me.”Having been an actor since the age of ten, he was familiar with the process of artistic storytelling. With this fragrant discovery, he was looking to connect that practice with perfumery. He met Güzel, who was the founder of a luxury hotel chain, at a mutual friend’s birthday party in 2010.“We started to talk about perfumes immediately. I was fascinated hearing his knowledge about perfumes because I'd never seen someone like him. At the end of the night, he said that it was his dream to have the first niche perfume brand in Istanbul. I said, ‘No, it's my dream,’” he said, the duo laughing together at the mention of the memory. A close friendship followed, and with Katran’s creative storytelling meeting Güzel’s luxury knowledge, the idea for Nishane was born. They officially founded the company in 2012, self-funding the enterprise.