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House of Dastan is a new fragrance brand that launched in 2024. Founded by brother and sister duo, Hamed and Sonia Arefian (who are also the co-founders of US fragrance retailer Maxaroma) the brand prides itself on creating scents based on a blend of Parisian refinement, Persian artistry and New York style.
The brand aims to tell stories through their scents, ‘where each fragrance unfolds like chapters in an epic romance’ – and I have their fantastic fragrance ‘Game of Joy’ to share with you today. This is a scent inspired by laughter, carefree moments, and the joy of life.
‘The name Dastan – meaning “story” in Persian – encapsulates our vision: to create fragrances that tell unique tales of love, passion, and timeless elegance. Every fragrance in our collection is inspired by the enchanting love stories of our past, wafting through the air like delicate whispers of devotion and triumph.’ – House of Dastan.
House of Dastan Game of Joy
When I received House of Dastan Game of Joy, there was the tiniest trace of fragrance that had escaped around the bottle lid, probably less that a single drop, and I couldn’t believe how strong this scent was. I cleaned the sprayer and inside the lid, and the fragrance still projected like anything! If this was an indication of what was to come, then I had a feeling this was going to be an incredibly potent and long-lasting scent.
On opening, I was expecting something quite sweet, fruity and possibly floral, however Game of Joy was instantly way more fruity than I anticipated, projecting an abundance of rich, ripe, tropical fruits. I can pick out the passion fruit, mango and watermelon straight away – these wonderful fruits are overly ripened by the sun, dripping with sweet, rich juices. I can tell already that this really is an intense and powerful fragrance; there’s nothing shy and retiring about Game of Joy!
I would also say this is quit a linear scent, and beneath the fruitiness there’s a layer of notes providing that super rich intensity that you can’t overlook. I mostly pick up on incense and woods, giving the scent depth, as well as a fantastic boost to the juicy fruits in the top, all whilst providing a strong, rich base.
I think the dry down is my favourite part of Game of Joy. After a quite a while, I’m talking a good few hours here, the intensity of the scent starts to dim somewhat; it feels like the ‘edge’ has worn off, it becomes less potent and really quite soft and enticing, leaving you with a beautifully lightly fruity, sweet, and warm, woody trail that I can’t get enough of. Overall, Game of Joy is a scent that feels wonderfully vibrant, fruity, fun and incredibly joyful!
