Podcast Summary: Skin Anarchy

Episode: The Art Of Storytelling Through Scent Ft. House Of Dastan
Host: Dr. Ekta
Guest: Hamed, Co-Founder of House of Dastan
Air Date: October 31, 2025

Overview

This Fragrance Friday episode of Skin Anarchy explores the art and purpose behind House of Dastan, an emergent fragrance brand celebrated for blending Persian, Parisian, and New York influences. Dr. Ekta chats in depth with Hamed, House of Dastan's co-founder, about his inspiration, the process of cultural storytelling through scent, collaborations with renowned perfumer Richard Herpin, and what true luxury means in today's fragrance world.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Genesis of House of Dastan: Merging Cultures Through Scent

• The Brand’s Origin Story (00:49)

  • Founded by Hamed and his sister, leveraging over 15 years of retail industry experience and a longstanding dream to create a brand rooted in their beliefs and artistic inspirations.
  • Officially relaunched in December 2024 after several years of research and development.

• Purpose & Cultural Blend (01:48)

  • The House of Dastan philosophy centers on coexistence rather than dominance of one culture.
  • Persian Influence: Rich heritage, depth, poetry, and familial nostalgia—emphasizing memories (“the kitchen when our grandma was cooking using rose water, using cardamom, all the tea…” 03:04).
  • Parisian / French Influence: The technical artistry brought by renowned perfumer Richard Herpin.
  • New York Edge: A modern, stylish sensibility, reflecting 20 years of the founders' life in NYC.
  • Quote: “We approach each of these elements with reverence and where they overlap, that… was when the magic happened and House of Dastan was born.” – Hamed (01:48)

Storytelling, Nostalgia & the Heart of Scent

• Persian Heritage and Storytelling (03:04)

  • Hamed describes childhood memories centered around sensory experiences—rose water, cardamom, and the tradition of tea.
  • The House’s name (Dastan means "stories" in Persian) reflects the brand’s commitment to narrative-driven fragrance experiences.
  • The poetic tradition instilled by Hamed’s father also informs the brand’s direction.

• Signature Scents and Personal Chemistry (06:03)

  • Dr. Ekta’s favorite: “you,” praised for its familiarity and deeply personal resonance.
  • This fragrance is intentionally formulated to interact uniquely with each wearer’s body chemistry.
  • Quote: “Every time every person that sprays this fragrance, it becomes uniquely yours… every person has their different notes… it’s really about that space and how it reflects on the people around you.” – Hamed (06:23)

Middle Eastern Scent Traditions: Cultural Movements & Global Trends

• Global Interest in Middle Eastern Perfumery (08:00)
  • Growing Western fascination with traditional Middle Eastern scent profiles such as oud and other rich, natural oils.
  • Hamed notes that fragrance in Middle Eastern culture has always been both ritualistic and intimate, involving not just finished perfumes but pure raw ingredients purchased directly in local markets.
  • Quote: “So I think in the past 10, 15 years, people from the Middle East… wanted to bring that rich heritage out. And… it was also about that intimacy, the beauty, the sensuality and the storytelling.” – Hamed (08:00)

Artistic Process & Creative Collaboration

• Working with Richard Herpin (04:54)

  • A pivotal moment: collaborating with a perfumer whose earlier creations, such as Tom Ford Oud Wood, were formative for Hamed.
  • The process involved prolonged discussions, sharing memories, and focusing on translating intangible emotions into scent.
  • Quote: “Richard has this instinct for turning all those abstract emotions and stories into that olfactory form. And he brought that sophistication and heart to every formula…” – Hamed (05:33)

• Development Process and Unique Identity (10:11)

  • The first five fragrances took three years and required around a thousand different samples.
  • Goal: ensure every fragrance is approachable, wearable, likable, and truly original—never derivative.
  • Hamed describes sifting through favorite notes and cherished memories to inform the blend selection, later refined by Richard Herpin.

Market Insights, Brand Philosophy & Defining Luxury

• Unique Perspective from Retail Experience (12:54)

  • Hamed discusses moving from curating other brands to expressing his own narrative—having experienced and analyzed over 2,000 different fragrances.
  • Customer Segmentation: The brand crafts for newcomers as well as niche collectors, understanding varied experiences with scent.

• Distinctive Complexity Over Layering (14:10; 15:06)

  • Each House of Dastan fragrance is intended to stand alone as a narrative “base,” rather than something merely meant to be layered.
  • Deliberate avoidance of copying successful formulas; striving for authentic, complex compositions unique in the marketplace.

• What is True Luxury in Fragrance? (17:00)

  • According to Hamed, luxury is about care, attention to detail, and emotional investment, not simply price.
  • Accessibility is valued; the brand aims for memorable, refined experiences without unattainable price points.
  • Quote: “Luxury is really about care… it’s how much you put time and effort into artistry, that emotion that goes into every single bottle…” – Hamed (17:00)

Future Plans and Exciting Announcements

• Upcoming Releases and Expansion (18:47)
  • House of Dastan is preparing to launch three new fragrances (including two limited-edition collector’s scents) within six months.
  • Plans to open their first New York boutique in SoHo in November 2025.
  • Quote: “Those two would be mostly, I would say, for the niche frag heads… And of course, we are opening our first boutique in SoHo, New York.” – Hamed (18:47)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We approach each of these elements with reverence and where they overlap, that… was when the magic happened and House of Dastan was born.”
  — Hamed (01:48)

• “It always goes back to that kitchen when our grandma was cooking… using rose water, using cardamom… the whole idea… is about that storytelling, that nostalgia from that time.”
  — Hamed (03:04)

• “Richard has this instinct for turning all those abstract emotions and stories into that olfactory form.”
  — Hamed (05:33)

• “Every time every person that sprays this fragrance, it becomes uniquely yours… it’s really about that… and how it reflects on the people around you.”
  — Hamed (06:23)

• “Luxury is really about care… is attention to details, is how much you put time and effort into artistry, that emotion that goes into every single bottle…”
  — Hamed (17:00)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:49 – House of Dastan’s founding and ethos
• 01:48 – Cultural merging: Persian, French, and New York elements
• 03:04 – Childhood influences, Persian nostalgia, and the importance of storytelling
• 04:54 – Collaborating with perfumer Richard Herpin
• 06:03 – The story and adaptive nature of the fragrance “you”
• 08:00 – Middle Eastern scent traditions and their global rise
• 10:11 – Creating original, wearable fragrances and sampling process
• 12:54 – From retail to brand founder: lessons learned
• 14:10 – Unique character and non-layered signature scents
• 17:00 – Redefining luxury in modern fragrance
• 18:47 – Upcoming releases and boutique launch plans

Tone & Style

The conversation throughout is warm, passionate, and deeply appreciative of art, culture, and authenticity in perfumery. Hamed’s insights are offered with humility, curiosity, and an emphasis on genuine connection—accompanied by Dr. Ekta’s enthusiastic and thoughtful interviewing style.

For fragrance enthusiasts, collectors, and anyone interested in luxury storytelling through scent, this episode of Skin Anarchy provides a behind-the-scenes look at how tradition, artistry, and personal memories converge at House of Dastan to create truly original perfumery.