The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Gamayun arrived in 2024 as part of Parfum de Mahzen's Ancient Spirits Collection. Its name belongs to the legendary bird said to live on an island near heaven, an image tied to distant horizons and spiritual flight. Rather than chase that legend literally, the composition translates it through contrasting aromatic materials: a lucid opening of lavender and citrus, a floral and spiced center, and a woody amber base. Eren Öğütcü and Özge Öğütcü created this unisex scent as the official description frames it, a symbol of ancient spirits, rebirth, and the future. The opening combines the herbal softness of lavender with bright citrus, creating a clear, polished first impression. As these notes settle, floral richness and aromatic spice bring depth and warmth.
The striking part is how many kinds of fragrance energy share the same frame. Bergamot, grapefruit, mandarin orange, tangerine, and neroli bring light and motion, while lavender lends an aromatic, almost herb-like composure. Cloves, cinnamon, freesia, peony, rose, and mate move the composition away from simple freshness. Its base turns substantial with guaiac wood, sandalwood, cedar, moss, amber, tonka bean, vanilla, sesame, and white musk. The result is a study in contrasts rather than a single-note showcase.
The evolution
The first impression is brisk and airy, with citrus cutting a clean line through lavender's herbal softness. That brightness doesn't vanish; it gives the opening a polished, almost ceremonial clarity. As the fragrance settles, cloves and cinnamon bring a flash of dry heat, followed by rose, peony, and freesia. The middle feels less like a floral bouquet than a conversation between polished petals and aromatic spice. Then the base takes over. Guaiac wood, sandalwood, cedar, and moss turn the composition earthy and structured, while amber, vanilla, tonka bean, sesame, and white musk add warmth and a smooth, lingering sweetness. By the drydown, Gamayun smells closer to skin warmed by evening sun than to its fresh opening. The woody materials give the later stages a measured depth, while amber and white musk soften the dry finish.
Cultural impact
Gamayun sits within Parfum de Mahzen's Ancient Spirits collection, where mythological imagery meets expressive perfumery. Its unisex balance of citrus, lavender, floral spice, and warm woods suits the house's layered approach to fragrance as a ritual of presence, while also placing it near the Oriental Floral register rather than the more overt oud categories.
The House
Parfum de MahzenParfum de Mahzen is a Turkish niche fragrance house that presents its perfumes through distinct collections shaped by oud, incense, spice, amber, and aromatic compositions. The house’s catalogue includes Uchcha, Molecule Oudh, Capri, Hûma, Cervo, Amyris Oudh, Incense Oudh, Supreme Oudh, Amalfi, and Sangal. Publicly available information is still limited, but its naming, collection structure, and published scent notes suggest a focus on layered compositions with a strong Eastern influence. Individual perfumes are positioned as expressive olfactory studies rather than a single, uniform signature. Parfum de Mahzen is best understood as a recent house building a varied portfolio across oud-led scents, resinous compositions, fresh citrus profiles, and warm spice.
The Creator
Eren Öğütcü & Özge ÖğütcüÖğütcü’s fragrance style is marked by polished aromatic constructions and a balance of freshness with warmth. His catalogue includes compositions with names such as Amalfi and Parfum de Mahzen, suggesting an interest in Mediterranean brightness, herbal nuance, and the darker,…
