The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Rising Mysore emerged from the founding ambition of Dixit & Zak in 2019, Nitish Dixit and Zakir Laskar setting out to bottle something that felt rooted in Indian aromatic tradition while speaking a modern compositional language. Laskar's family history in oud distillation and Dixit's background in chemical engineering shaped the brief from the start: take the sacred, the resinous, the warm woods that define Mysore's identity and build a fragrance around them. The name carries the weight of that city, Mysore, where sandalwood has been carved, burned, and worn for centuries as part of spiritual practice and material culture. Rising Mysore became their opening statement on what Indian perfumery could archive and reinterpret.
What makes Rising Mysore unusual is the tension between its opening brightness and its ultimate warmth. The citrus-spice introduction is unusually herbaceous, Hatkora lemon and neroli alongside Israeli basil, setting a tone closer to an aromatic garden than a typical warm-weather fragrance. This isn't a scent that opens and immediately retreats into sweetness. The heart introduces a dense Indian spice accord that rewards patience, and the base builds around Mysore sandalwood's distinctive creamy, slightly camphorated character rather than a more neutral Western sandalwood. It's a fragrance designed to be worn and rediscovered.
The evolution
The opening hits immediately: Hatkora lemon and neroli provide a citrus burst that is bright without being sweet, while the Israeli basil introduces a green, almost camphoraceous lift that signals this isn't a typical fresh fragrance. Jasmine sambac is present from the start but holds back, waiting its turn. The transition happens around 20 to 30 minutes as the citrus recedes and the spice heart takes over, clove, cardamom, black pepper, star anise arriving in sequence, with jasmine sambac now prominent and the bay leaf and rosemary keeping everything grounded. The drydown belongs entirely to Mysore sandalwood, creamy and meditative, with frankincense smoke threading through and myrrh adding resinous depth. Patchouli runs through the entire evolution as a connecting line. On most skin types, the base holds for 8 to 10 hours, becoming intimate and close. The next morning, faint sandalwood warmth remains on the wrist.
Cultural impact
Rising Mysore arrived in 2019 as a statement about what Indian perfumery could contribute to the niche conversation, warm, resinous, and grounded in materials with centuries of cultural history. Rather than chasing Western trends, the house built its identity around sandalwood, spices, and frankincense in compositions designed to reward repeated wear. Rising Mysore remains a reference point for anyone interested in Indian-inspired niche fragrances that take their heritage seriously.
