The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Deep Secret arrived in 2025 as part of the Wonders of Istanbul collection from Hope Istanbul. Julien Rasquinet composed it as a portrait of a city that keeps more than one story in the same breath. The reference is the morning chill, when the streets have yet to warm and the air still carries a sense of freshness. Floral and fruity notes give that opening its cool, bright character, while musk, ambergris and sandalwood lend depth and permanence. The fragrance reveals itself gradually: a crisp opening settles into soft florals, then gathers around warmer, darker notes that linger close to the skin. Together, they create a composition with both freshness and weight. The name makes sense once you wear it. A secret this layered doesn't announce itself.
What makes the composition interesting is the meeting of notes that create very different impressions. The listed marine accord adds a fresh, mineral quality to peach and the other fruits, balancing their sweetness with a cooler edge. Cashmeran introduces a soft, woody texture beside the floral heart, while ambergris adds a subtle mineral character that gives the fragrance more depth. Geranium contributes a green, lightly sharpened accent within the floral notes, where jasmine, magnolia, peony and hibiscus create a soft, airy heart.
The evolution
Deep Secret presents its many facets through a blend of marine notes, fruit, florals, powder and woods. Marine notes and peach form a fresh contrast, with cool mineral character beside the rounded sweetness of ripe fruit. Geranium and hibiscus bring a green, watery quality, while jasmine, magnolia and peony give the floral heart a soft, full shape. The powdery accord smooths these textures into a gently blurred composition, keeping the flowers light rather than overly sweet. Violet rests beneath them with a muted dusty note, adding another subtle layer. Cashmeran contributes a dry, woody texture that contrasts with the softness of the petals. As the fragrance wears, sandalwood, musk and ambergris create a warm, creamy and mineral base. The final impression is powdery, woody and quietly musky, with the freshness of the opening still present beneath the deeper notes.
Cultural impact
Deep Secret sits inside Hope Istanbul's Wonders of Istanbul collection, bringing together marine notes, peach, geranium, hibiscus, jasmine, magnolia, peony, violet, powdery accords, cashmeran, sandalwood, musk and ambergris. The composition is especially compelling for the way it balances freshness with softness. Fruit gives the opening a rounded sweetness, marine notes add a cool mineral edge, and the floral notes build a graceful heart around them. Powder lends a delicate texture, while woods and ambergris provide depth beneath the brighter materials.
The House
Hope Istanbul by Serimu KozmetiкHope Istanbul is a Turkish niche fragrance house founded in 2021, operating from the historic city that straddles Europe and Asia. The brand centers on bespoke perfume creation, drawing from Istanbul's layered cultural heritage to inform its scent narratives. Hope Istanbul has developed several signature collections, including the Historical Peninsula line, which explores the story of Istanbul from antiquity through the present day. The house produces extrait de parfum concentrations in 100ml formats, with a catalog spanning bold oriental compositions like Brown Flavors and Deep Secret to fresher interpretations such as Chilly Bomb and Submarine. As a relatively young entrant in the niche fragrance space, the brand has garnered attention among fragrance enthusiasts for its layering of warm spices, woods, and florals characteristic of Ottoman-influenced perfumery traditions.
The Creator
Julien RasquinetBold, unexpected combinations define Rasquinet's signature. He constructs fragrances that are simultaneously dramatic and harmonious, pushing material boundaries while maintaining wearability.
