The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Game of Joy opens with a burst of tropical fruit, mango and watermelon leading the way, with passion fruit adding brightness underneath. Richard Herpin composed this fragrance to capture the feeling of spontaneous laughter, the kind that arrives unannounced and doesn't wait for permission. The composition layers tropical freshness with warmth, using mango and watermelon for their bright, energetic character while building a foundation underneath that gives the fragrance presence and staying power. The result is a fragrance that feels immediate rather than constructed, the way the best moments do.
The fragrance layers ozonic freshness over ripe fruit, preventing the sweetness from becoming cloying. Beneath that bright top, cardamom and Timur add warmth that anchors the composition. Sandalwood and cashmere wood provide the structural work in the base, keeping the fruit from floating away entirely. The result is a fragrance with genuine dimensionality, one that doesn't just announce itself and leave. The interplay between the ozonic lift and the woody foundation creates a sensation that stays fresh on the skin without ever settling into heaviness.
The evolution
Mango arrives first, fat and ripe. Within minutes, watermelon cuts through, that ozonic, almost effervescent quality giving the sweetness a lift. The heart phase introduces violet leaf and cardamom, adding a green undertone that keeps everything grounded. Then, as the fragrance develops, the sweetness gradually recedes and something warmer takes over, sandalwood, incense, a faint trace of patchouli. The fragrance goes from unmistakably fruity to quietly woody, and the trajectory reverses. What lingers is the drydown: cashmere wood and musk, amber without weight, a soft presence that remains close to the skin.
Cultural impact
House of Dastan approaches Persian heritage as a living creative language rather than a historical artifact. By translating cultural elements into contemporary fragrance, the brand creates an experiential bridge between tradition and modern sensory design. The 2024 launch of Game of Joy marks the house's entry into the fragrance market, introducing a model for independent perfumery built on cultural translation rather than conventional branding. The approach avoids cultural pastiche, instead finding ways to honor source material while creating something distinctly contemporary.
The House
House of DastanHouse of Dastan is a US-based independent niche fragrance house founded in 2024 by siblings Hamed and Sonia Arefian. The brand draws from Persian heritage and decades of experience in New York's fine fragrance industry, creating scents that function as narrative vehicles. Each fragrance in the collection draws inspiration from real-life events, ancient myths, and shared memories, positioning storytelling as central to the brand's identity rather than incidental marketing language. The house operates with a collaborative development model, engaging customers during the creation process for certain releases. Notable fragrances include Unseen (2025), Game of Joy (2024), Love Flame (2024), Five Senses (2024), Light Breeze (2024), and You? (2024). The brand was established in 2024, making it one of the newer entrants in the independent niche fragrance segment.
The Creator
Richard HerpinHis style tends toward carefully constructed accords, often with a grounding base that allows brighter top notes to shine. He's not afraid to use synthetics alongside naturals, blending them seamlessly to create textures and effects that are both modern and timeless.
