Perfume Review: NISHANE Istanbul Afrika Olifant + Sexy Beast Draw

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Jean Paul Goude for Galleries Lafeyette Paris

Let me teach you a game if you’re new to artistic fragrances. The rules are simple… Go to a department store and ask for “the worst selling” perfumes. That’s all! I’m sure you’ll discover some gems when you are isolated from overrated synthetic bombs. That’s not an attempt to sniff worst ever fragrances. That’s a move to ignore marketing hypes and create yourself a chance to discover some underrated fragrances might sing to you.

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Grace Jones Jean Paul Goude Do Not Feed the Animals

The philosophy behind niche perfumery from the viewpoint of the customer is simple as the game described above. “Just find the right fragrances for your taste and avoid everything else.” If you like the smell of incense, wear a heavy incense scent… If you like leather, smell like  leather… And if you’re in mood to smell sexy and on the prowl, wear an animalic scent!

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Murat Katran and Mert Güzel of Nishane Istanbul (photo Michelyn)I think most of the Cafleurebon readers already know the first Turkish niche perfume brand Nishane, founded by Murat Katrran and Mert Güzel which debuted at Esxence 2015, (where Michelyn was one of the first to report about theis exciting line. The brand initially introduced 16 extraits de parfums: Collection Miniature Art, Collection Blossom and Collection Signature. The fragrances cover every classification… from gourmands like Pasion Choco (a favorite of our EIC), woody perfumes like Munego, (a CaFleureBon Best of Scent  2015),  floral perfumes such as Duftbluten,aquatic scents like Boszporousz,  and  journeys to The Middle East  such as  Spice Bazaar.  But the last one of the inaugral line is a different beast. I mean it’s a beast…a dirty sexy one  at that.

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Jean Paul Goude Fashion Animals 20016

Afrika Olifant opens as a predator. She’s just chased a tiny rabbit and her sweat is fresh… If the description is too much for a sensitive nose, a pink La Vie Est Belle bottle would be the best fit for you, but I* am guessing that is not why you read CaFleureBon.. Even so it is an intimidating fragrance at first, but you are not the one to play it safe!

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Naomi Cambell Riding an Elephant  Jean Paul Goude 2009 

Afrika Olifant is dark and bold. Would you expect less from the combination of castoreum, civet, oud, musk and leather? As it sounds like the all-star team of polarizing notes, the scent itself tops the most daring fragrances ever. Labdanum and myrhh used as catalyst notes that balances the harmony between animalic and balsamic sides of Afrika Olifant. So many kudos goes to Jorge Lee who is the in-house perfumeur of Nishane. It seems like the predator has a delicate side.

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Naomi Campbell races a Cheetah for 2009 Harpers Bazaar Jean Paul Goude

Afrika Olifant turns to an addictive and refined fragrance as the middle notes dominate the field. Then it’s easier to realize it’s a well-blended fragrance when the rough corners fade away. Afrika Olifant is a daring and yet wearable scent. Presented in extrait concentration, Afrika Olifant is a true longevity beast. It lingers more than a day depends on the humidity. When it comes to projection, it’s  an extrait so close to the ski but since the sillage is masterfully regulated, there are no "performance" issues going on with Nishane’s beast. 

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Laetitia Casta as Mae West – Photo by Jean Paul Goude

Animalic fragrances have always been the bad boys and  naughty girls of niche perfumery. And let me tell you a secret from a niche-head… The nastier it gets, the more you become a magnet to anyone in your path.

NOTES: ambergris, frankincense, myrrh, labdanum, castoreum, civet, leather, oud, muscenone, Thibetone, muscone and civetone

Contributor Berkan Basoglu, author of gurmekokular.com  (with contributions from Michelyn Camen, Editor in Chief)

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Actress Virna Lisi, March 1965 cover of Esquire. by Jean Paul Goude

Art Direction: I love these photos by fashion and pop culture photographer Jean Paul Goude who has also shot campaigns for CHANEL, Kenzo as well as the infamous Kim Kardashian BreakThe Internet  photo for Paper magazine. Out of respect for our readers not shown. MC

Disclaimer M. Goude is not affiliated with Nishane, all photos are his property. I chose the images because they spoke to me 

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Nishane at Esxence 2016 Photo Darryl DO

Editor's Note: Murat and Mert introduced The Rumi Collection Fan your Flames and A Hundred Silent Ways  at Esxcense  2016 and just returned from Pitti Fragranze 2016. More on that this week from Contributor Danu Sautot- Fryr

You can follow Berkan @gurmekokular and CafleureBon @cafleurebon on Instagram as well as @nishaneinstanbul

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Discovery Kit Photo by Twisted Lily, who currently has the exclusive in the USA

Thanks to Nishane Istanbul we have a draw for a registered  YOU MUST REGISTER SO CLICK ON THAT LINK, ÇaFleureBon reader worldwide of the Discovery Kit of 16 x 2ml of each fragrance from the original collection

Or

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Afrika Olifant via NISHANE

50ml of Afrika Olifant.

To be eligible please leave a comment with what appeals to you about  Berkan’s review where you live, your choice should you win and if there is a Nishane Instanbul perfume you are looking forward to trying or have liked. Draw closes 9/15/ 2016

We announce the winners on our site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfum

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44 comments

  • Afrika Olifant sounds really interesting since there are so many animalic notes in it, I believe it is really “intimidating, dark and bold”. I have not tried any Nishane fragrance so far and I think I would like this one. The second fragrance that seems to be close to my taste is Rosa Turca. I’d love to get the sampler and try them all. Thank you for the draw! I live in the EU.

  • I love this simple and rebellious advice: “Let me teach you a game if you’re new to artistic fragrances. The rules are simple… Go to a department store and ask for “the worst selling” perfumes. That’s all! I’m sure you’ll discover some gems when you are isolated from overrated synthetic bombs. That’s not an attempt to sniff worst ever fragrances. That’s a move to ignore marketing hypes and create yourself a chance to discover some underrated fragrances might sing to you.” The notes of Africa Olifant sound a little too extravagant when compared to what I usually wear, but I’d like a little risk and choose the full bottle of something new and strange 🙂
    Thanks for the review! I live in the EU.

  • Well who wouldn’t be intrigued by that set of notes? This is high praise, “..the scent itself tops the most daring fragrances ever” I’m going to take this wild chance and choose the full bottle should I win. US

  • I like Berkan’s description of this perfume as a “predator.” I like to think that wearing it would help me be more fierce. I’ve always wanted to try Vjola and a Hundred Silent Ways and Suede Et Safran! I would definitely choose the discovery kit, and I live in Canada. Thank you for the draw! And the awesome pictures accompanying the article.

  • I like the tip at the beginning of the article that you ask the sales associate to show you the worst selling fragrances because it increases the chance of finding something unique. Afrika Olifant appeals to me because as the article affirms, I have also read at other places it is quite daring and bold. It has labdanum and myrrh which is a coincidence since today I wore labdanum heavy vintage Miss Dior esprit de parfum.
    I agree with Berkan animalic fragrances are sensual and make you appealing to the other person in a certain manner.

    Thanks a lot for the generous draw. My choice will be Afrika Olifant. I am in the US.

  • Afrika Olifant sounds amazing! “Just find the right fragrances for your taste and avoid everything else” is good advice. I would choose the “dark and bold” Afrika Olifant. Thanks for this draw. i live in the USA.

  • I remember reading the Esxence reports and just read the Pitti Fragranze article too. It’s amazing how so many quality niche perfume lines there ar. Nishane bring from Turkey is really special. Berkan got my attention from the opening where he gave advice on how to find a good perfume. I will have to try going to a store and asking for the one that doesn’t sell. Civet Oud Leather castoreoum and musk sure are polarizing notes but I love skanky perfumes and animalic ones and I am glad to know now that it’s still refined . The photos are so perfect for the review especially Grace Jones in a cage and Naomi Campbell running with a cheetah.
    I live in the USA and my choice is Afrika Olifanr. I tried a few samples from Twisted Lily and have been saving for Santalove although Rose Turca is also beautiful. Afrika Olifant was on my try list

  • This perfume sounds interesting, very strong and exotic. I wpould like to have it but I am not sure if i am strong enough to wear it. thanks for the draw, I live in the EU. I would like to win the samples.

  • I am intrigued by any animalic scent so I have to try this. Really like the secret : “The nastier it gets, the more you become a magnet to anyone in your path. ”

    I’m dying to try Passion Choco and my chioce would be the sampler set.
    Thanks for the review and draw! I live in Europe

  • Wonderful review. And the pictures are very interesting also. I have never had a chance to try any of Nishane Instanbul perfume, so If I would as lucky to win, my choice would be Discovery Kit of 16 x 2ml of each fragrance. Thank you very much for the chance. I live in Europe.

  • I have mixed success with Animalistic fumes but I would like to give it a try. This is a line I’ve read a lot about but never tried any of the perfumes, so I would love to have the chance to try the entire line. I would love to try Spice Market.It sounds like a great scent for autumn. Thanks for the draw. USA

  • “It seem like the predator has a delicate side.” I really like the image that Berkan creates with this sentence. I live the the US. Afrika Olifant would be my choice should I win and it is also a fragrance I am looking forward to trying.

  • “Animalic fragrances have always been the bad boys and naughty girls of niche perfumery. And let me tell you a secret from a niche-head… The nastier it gets, the more you become a magnet to anyone in your path.” Well, sounds tempting! I’ll go for it! I’d choose Afrika Olifant, I think it can be a perfect autumn fragrance.

    (EU)

  • This was a great review that I enjoyed reading and it to me back to Kenya, Masai Mara to be specific! I loved the quote: “Afrika Olifant opens as a predator. She’s just chased a tiny rabbit and her sweat is fresh.” It reminded me of a lion chasing a gazelle. I love the fact that this fragrance is dark and bold. and that it turns to an addictive and refined fragrance as the middle notes dominate the field. This fragrance is animalic and ideal for a Masai Warrior……strong, powerful, nomadic, and unafraid. It was pure perfection to use Grace Jones and Naomi Campbell because: “Animalic fragrances have always been the bad boys and naughty girls of niche perfumery. And let me tell you a secret from a niche-head… The nastier it gets, the more you become a magnet to anyone in your path.” Sign me up for this fragrance because I want a vat of it. I would 100% choose the bottle of Afirka Olifant. I live in the US and thanks so much for the generous draw! 🙂

  • BostonScentGuy says:

    I loved the predatory imagery Berkan speaks of alongside descriptions of the actual scent components…and civet, castoreum, oud…such heavy hitters! I’ve smelled this quickly at Twisted Lily and would love to linger longer with it. If I won, I’d love the sampler, since I’m a sucker for trying all sorts of different scents. I’m in the US and thanks for the draw!

  • I love animalic scents and this one has all the notes I would like to see together in a fragrance, I just have sometimes problems with oud but in the right amount and if it good quality as it seems, it shouls be lovely! I am very curious about the mossy BOSZPORUSZ and I would be lucky if I win because I would chose the sample set 16×2 to discover all the line! I am in Europe (Spain), thanks for the generous draw

  • I love animalic scents! What a great review and good advice! I’m in the US and while I’m sure I would love Afrika Olifant, my curiosity about this house demands that I choose the discovery set.

  • I wholeheartedly agree to ignore marketing hypes and create yourself a chance to discover some underrated fragrances might sing to you. I personally enjoy animalic fragrances, if I win I would love to receive the 50 ml bottle of Afrika Olifant. I live in Europe. Thanks for this wonderful draw!

  • I am following with great interest this niche brand ever since I read Michelyn’s review last year. They seem to be growing and getting great reviews, Spice Bazaar is one of my favourites and my choice if I won. The images are stunning! I am in the UK

  • Hikmat Sher Afridi says:

    What a wonderful review. These two statement of Berkan’s review are perfect and well suited for me.
    1) “Just find the right fragrances for your taste and avoid everything else.” If you like the smell of incense, wear a heavy incense scent… If you like leather, smell like leather… And if you’re in mood to smell sexy and on the prowl, wear an animalic scent!
    2) Animalic fragrances have always been the bad boys and naughty girls of niche perfumery. And let me tell you a secret from a niche-head… The nastier it gets, the more you become a magnet to anyone in your path.
    I wouldn’t like to die until & unless I have not wear the most challenge-able, dark, mysterious, potent, extreme animalic……..Nishane Afrika Olifant.
    Thanks to the generosity of Nishane Istanbul for a perfect giveaway & draw. If I win I’ll chose Nishane Afrika Olifant.
    Peshawar, Pakistan

  • First of all i like dirty, weird, dominate and different fragrances. I always say: “Give me some elephant poop and i will be happy” haha!! Secondly i create myself a lot of chances to discover underrated fragrances by haunting for vintage miniatures to test. I found a lot of jewels and there are still so many to discover! Last but not least: i have heard so many good about Nishane’s gems that i would love to get my hands on that bottle of vieze Afrika Olifant. This is how it is written and pronounced in the Netherlands, where i live 🙂

    Thank you so much for the opportunity!

  • I love nasty fragrances and I totally believe and live by that quote “the nastier it gets, the more you become a magnet to anyone in your path.”
    I’ve never tried Nishane fragrances, but if I won the draw, I’d chose the Afrika Olifant.
    i live in the USA.

  • I like this piec of advice: “Just find the right fragrances for your taste and avoid everything else” – so simple and so true. I an always interested in weird fragrances, even if I am not quite ready to wear them. I’d choose a bottle of Afrika Olifant. Thank you for the draw, I live i the EU.

  • “The nastier it gets, the more you become a magnet to anyone in your path”- LOL if it’s true then, with my fragrance taste, I am going to have a small crowd following me just to say how much they hate what I am wearing 🙂 Afrika Olifant sounds intriguing but not nasty at all (by the notes). I am in the EU and I have to try it.

  • Growl. Ha ha. I have been extremely curious about this line and out of all the scents created you do a piece on the only one I have tried. I enjoy the animalistic aspect of this daring scent. It wore quite well but it seemed tamed to my nose. I should get others opinions. I do like it. As a matter of fact I’m going to retry this eve out of my own curiosity. It does have a plethora of animalistic notes to scream out at you. I think I would like to try the whole line and see what other hidden gems are in the collection. In the USA. Awesome draw, thank you.

  • Salim Khattak says:

    Thanks for the article and review. When I visit a perfume shop or a drug store I ask for perfumes created before the year 2000. Now I’ll add to ask for the worst selling perfumes. People follow marketing hype fragrances whereas from the beginning I am opposite.
    I have heard a lot about Nishane perfumes and found an impressive perfume house. I love to wear animalic, beast mode perfumes like Black Afgano, Fahrenheit, Kouros, Joop! etc.
    My choice if I win is absolutely Afrika Olifant whose notes are WOOOOOW.
    I live in Pakistan

  • Rodney Wallace says:

    Fantastic review! I love the imagery used to tie in the animalistic nature of the fragrance. Nishane is a fabulous house. I would love to have a bottle of Afrika Olifant or Musiqa Oud. I live in the US. Thank you so much!

  • I know Afrika Olifant, and I can agree with most of Berkan’s associations – bold, sexy (to some, who have a soft spot for animalic notes), longevity beast. But to me it is not dark. It reminds me of some real-life scents I can only find in my two Grannies’ houses – the old-fashioned clothes hanging in the wooden closets, the dusty books and magazines, the ceilings cluttered with lumber. And outdated luxury soap. I love it!
    I would like to have the Discovery Kit of 16 x 2ml of each fragrance from the original collection.
    Thank you for the chance!

  • This! This is the Nishane perfume I want to try out most from the entire line. Everyone who grew up with the overdose of animalic notes of the fragrances from the 70s and 80s I am sure would go after this one: after Afrika Olifant. The name says it all I suppose. All those notes sound like an assault on modern, simple, easy to forget perfumes that you would find at every corner.

    If I were to win, I would go for the 50 ml bottle.

    European reader here. Thank you for this amazing chance!

  • Im curius to smell Nishane perfumes and to see how addictive and daring is the animalic Afrika Olifant.I would like to win Discovery Kit of 16 x 2ml.I havent tried any fragrances of this house but i would like to try Pasion Choco.I live in Greece.Ty for the draw!!!

  • Wayne McFarlane says:

    Berkan, after reading this I can almost smell how amazing Afrika Olifant is most be! I’m so ready for a fragrance the challenges my intellect as well as my loins (Sorry for the “Coming to America” reference). AO sounds like Grace Jones and Naomi Campbell in a bottle!! I would love to try Arika Olifant and since I’m a lover of Ouds and Nishane Spice Bazaar, Munego sounds wonderful. Until then I will continue to prowl the asphalt Jungles of the US in my civet loin cloth!

  • I love the idea of the game; I’ll have to give it a shot the next mall trip.
    I’m slowly starting to gently dip my toe into animalics, so I think the discovery would be a great way to learn about the house!I am in the US. Thank you!

  • Great giveaway as always. Thanks for the review. I love the idea of niche perfumery from the beginning… to go and to find the worst selling perfume and avoid of every marketing hype 🙂 Its definitely true. I am sure that every of us would find those unique notes in forgotten fragrances. I would like to try at least few of Nishane perfumes: Duftbluten, Fan your Flames, Africa Olifant. So I would choose bottle of Africa… Thanks. I am in EU.

  • The combination of castoreum, civet, oud, musk and leather sounds interesting, sexual and probably a little too much for me – I wonder if I am going to be able to wear a scent so animalic, since I tend to feel seriously overwhelmed by most of them. I’d like to give it a try though. Another Nishane fragrance I am interested in is Munegu which doesn’t sound so controversial to me. But somehow i am drawn to the description of Afrika Olifant as a sexy beast and some part of me would like a bottle.
    Thank you for the review, I live in the EU.

  • I first got interested in Nishane fragrances after watching Sebastian’s review of “Fan your flames” mentioned here on Cafleurebon but never had the chance to try anything from this house. “Africa Olifant” sounds great, nasty fragrances can be very sexy! I’d like a sampler if I win (secretly hoping that there is a sample of “Fan your flames” in it). EU.

  • cinnamon tree says:

    “Afrika Olifant opens as a predator. She’s just chased a tiny rabbit and her sweat is fresh… If the description is too much for a sensitive nose, a pink La Vie Est Belle bottle would be the best fit for you, but I* am guessing that is not why you read CaFleureBon.. Even so it is an intimidating fragrance at first, but you are not the one to play it safe!” – this sounds great! I am so curious about Afrika Olifant. Love the image of Naomi Campbell with a cheetah. Thanks! I live in Europe.

  • I think Afrika Olifant is an interesting composition, but a little too daring for me. But who knows? Maybe I am underestimating my predator nature?
    I’d love to try all of Nishane perfumes, especially Santalove and Rosa Turca. Oh, and Suede et Safran because it sounds like a perfect combination!
    I would choose a sample set. Love the review! I am from Norway.

  • I liked the association of the fragrance with a predator; how cool is that!
    I’d like to win the 50ml of Afrika Olifant. I live in Europe.

  • I’ve never tried any Istanbul fragrances before. Afrika Olifant sounds so incredibly sexy! I love spicy/incense type perfumes and this fragrance is loaded with some of my favorites (frankincense, myrrh, labdanum). I would love to win the 50 ml bottle!
    I live in the U.S.

  • I like the pictures of Naomi Campbell and she seems to be the perfect person to advertise this kind of perfume: daring, animalistic, a little scandalous. I don’t know if I would like Afrika Olifant, but I hope I’m going to be lucky to try it. Never tried Nishane fragrances before and they look so interesting! I live in the EU.

  • I’m torn between choosing the sampler, because I’d love to know all of the Nishane perfumes, and the bottle of Afrika Olifant, which sounds just fantastic. Leather, musk, castoreum – I believe it’s a potent and sensual mixture. I think I would go for the bottle, as this sounds like a perfect autumn fragrance able to create the atmosphere of a sunny, warm African day despite European chill wind and rain. I am in the EU. Thank you for the review.

  • Sometimes I think my perfume choices are quite boring and I think I really should keep in mind that “animalic fragrances have always been the bad boys and naughty girls of niche perfumery. And… the nastier it gets, the more you become a magnet to anyone in your path.” I feel I often lack this magnet, so let’s try this fragrance! I hope I’m going to be bold enough to wear it. Thanks for the draw! I live in Europe.

  • This sounds very seductive and warm! I don’t have anything like this one in my collection. I haven’t tried any scents from Nishane, so hoping for the discovery kit! I’m in Canada