Istanbul Knows Good Perfumery: The Aromatic Gift Of Idleness

Istanbul is one of the few cities in the world that sits between Europe and Asia, but its understanding of balance extends beyond cultural exchanges. Keyif is the act of quiet relaxation, of finding beauty in surrendering to idleness. It’s in taking a moment to drink your tea and take in its robust flavour, or breathing in the fresh morning air on a crisp winter morning. In a society that rewards constant productivity, connecting to yourself might start to feel meaningless, albeit being not only a necessity, but an accessible luxury. Find out how Istanbul Knows Good Perfumery: The Aromatic Gift Of Idleness.

The idea of keyif takes its roots in the settlement of the Turks across various geographical spaces, their travels through foreign lands, and their mastery of endurance and perseverance. Now, this indulgent life philosophy manifests in simpler ways. If you take a walk through the streets of Istanbul, you are sure to see couples or friends sitting outside, having a chat over small cups of tea, making time for conversation amidst a busy schedule. Young people meet for shisha after a day at the office, and the fruity scents linger through the streets. Human connection and a sense of community are at the heart of the multicultural city.

Atelier Rebul Brand Origins

Atelier Rebul, a fragrance brand with a rich history of 130 years, takes this concept of encounters and serenity, crafting unique, enrapturing scents. Their brand philosophy is rooted in bringing their value and heritage to customers through quality that matches, or even exceeds, the price. Initially specialised in selling toiletries products, the current CEOs, Nüket Filiba and Kerim Müderrisoğlu, brought the brand to a luxury market level since taking over in 1999.

They realised that what they really sought to achieve wasn’t securing a spot in the mass market, where quantity and maximising customer reach became priority. Instead, they prioritised creating unique scents that paid homage to the brand’s origins, while also being modern and stand-out.

Luxury Escape: A Way Of Life

With a wide scent repertoire ranging from ones that are reminiscent of the bergamot and spiced aromas of Istanbul, to floral palettes that take you through the hidden corridors of the Imperial Gardens, Atelier Rebul is beautifully versed in the fairytales told through perfumery. To them, luxury is more than just a price on a package:

‘It’s how you live, how you eat, how you inspire. I call luxury humble quality.’

Kerim Müderrisoğlu

Originally starting their business in Istanbul, they have now opened a store in London, after travelling back and forth to the city for the past 15 years. They speak of their fascination with the London perfume enthusiasts’ intelligence and curiosity:

‘We were convinced London itself is a travel corridor. If it happens in London, you can make it happen elsewhere. When I see the consumer profiles coming here, our fragrance lovers, talking 15 minutes with the ingredients, I’m surprised, I’m in love, I’m passionate about talking about it.’

Kerim Müderrisoğlu

Environmental Consciousness: Recyclable And Refillable

How many times have you seen a company brand themselves as sustainable, and wondered how true that is? Consumers are becoming increasingly more conscious, hoping to purchase from brands that can show a demonstrated effort, keeping the planet in mind. Atelier Rebul is aware of this.

‘We do care about traceability. The big, serious companies that we are working with are always traceable. All our bottles are refillable. We only use recycled paper for packaging and handmade ceramics for our candles.’

Kerim Müderrisoğlu

Atelier Rebul’s Perfume Selection

Atelier Rebul offers a variety of products, with scents foregrounding the range. From EDPs to colognes via Extraits and home scents to body and bath options. Broken down into five scented collections that include the Signature collection, the Exclusive collection, the Premium collection, the Atelier collection and finally the My Home & Spa selection.

Their Signature collection, which honours the Atelier’s origin,s features five scents: J.C.R., Istanbul Bosphorus, Istanbul, Pera, and 1895. J.C.R. is named after the brand’s founder, Jean Cesar Reboul and speaks to his apothecary background, as well as the secret fragrance formulas from the brand’s archives. Featuring warm notes of earthy, medicinal Patchouli, honeyed Amber, and spicy, dark Leather, it is an ode to the hidden scents of the city.

The Exclusive collection, as its name suggests, reflects the luxurious legacy of Istanbul that lingers throughout the repertoire. With various home products like their candles and reed diffusers, it’s sure to fill any room with a lulling melody of scents.

Moving towards the Premium collection, it includes six unique scents that divide up the products, namely Bereket, Hemp Leaves, Apple Cinnamon, Flower Fusion, Vanilla Noir and Saffron Oud. Bereket has a particularly interesting scent palette for those looking to experiment. It blends fresh Lemon with tart and deliciously acidic Pomegranate, all the while warming it with hints of cinnamon.

Eau Mystique is part of Collection Atelier, which focuses on conceptual scents, all inspired by the era and spirit amidst which the brand was founded. It is a captivating Amber fragrance with notes of calming Vetiver. As a female scent, the touch of clean, musky Cedar adds a cool quality to the mix.

Finally, the My Home & Spa selection offers a broad range of products that will turn a regular evening into a true ritual of relaxation. A stand-out scent is their Mandarine, reminiscent of the mandarins from the Turkish seaside town of Bodrum. This citrusy freshness can be experienced through hand and body lotions, liquid soap, reed diffusers, etc.

Relaxation And Treating Yourself

As previously mentioned, the luxury of their brand is a multifaceted phenomenon. It manifests in having the space to create carefully crafted products that are gentler to the environment and are good for the soul. Each of us needs to find our individual moments of keyif, and there’s nothing as relaxing as melting into a scent that can make the time stop.

Find out more about their legacy and products Here

If you enjoyed Istanbul Knows Good Perfumery: The Aromatic Gift Of Idleness, why not try The Velvet Collection Raises Its Seduction A Notch With Two New Scents?

.Cent Magazine, London; Luxury Mindset