Meet Shabnam Tavakol — the artisan and creative force behind Kismet Olfactive, the Topanga-based fragrance studio. Born and raised in California, Shabnam — Farsi for “morning dew” — is the daughter of Iranian-immigrant parents who escaped the violent 1979 Revolution in Iran. Weaving this story into the brand’s namesake, Kismet — from the Persian qismat, meaning “fate,” or, “what is meant to be” — translates the serendipitous moments that make up our lives into wearable scents. Representing custom small-batch formulation and hand-selecting only the finest oils and sustainable raw materials, Kismet is founded and functions upon a foundation of immersive storytelling.
One of the studio’s most beloved creations, Nostalgia, originally debuted as a personal fragrance and is now available exclusively as a candle at Shoppe Amber Interiors. Unisex and richly layered, Nostalgia blends leathery, musky, floral, herbal, smoky, and spicy notes — a sensory homage to the village of Grasse in the French Alps, where Shabnam studied the art of perfumery.
We recently had the pleasure of visiting her studio and retail space in Topanga to learn more about the Nostalgia candle, her journey, and what’s ahead. Read on to get to know this inspiring entrepreneur and unique creative a bit more. xx
