Sasva

The story

Sasva is an Indian perfume house founded in 2022 by Sriman Subramanian. The name comes from Sanskrit and means “excellent”, “praiseworthy”; the logo is a variation on the thousand-petal lotus, which in Indian culture is the symbol of supreme consciousness. From the start the idea is clear: to tell the story of today's India through perfume, with the richness and sensuality of its tradition and the outlook of a cosmopolitan generation.

“A house of fragrance rooted in modern India, where craft, culture and emotion meet”: this is how the house presents itself. Its Indian modernism is made of plurality and cross-influences, drawing on the many cultures that shaped the country, from Persian culture to those of the Far East, and on its poetry, its music and its landscapes. The fragrances, in the brand's words, are decadent and layered, designed to evoke intimacy, memory and indulgence.

The debut came in 2022, with seven Eau de Parfum signed by three perfumers. Jordi Fernández created Forbidden Words, with tobacco, oud and vanilla, the flowering garden of Garden of Youth, the rose of Indian rituals in Rêverie de la Rose and Light of the Earth, inspired by Ladakh and the Himalayas. Hamid Merati-Kashani signed the mango orchard of Fruit du Paradis and Junoon, dedicated to the love of Layla and Majnun sung by the Persian poet Nizami. Gaël Montero built L'Amour Libertin around a poppy accord. In 2024 came the Le Notti di Goa collection, dedicated to evenings on the Indian coast: the serenity of Shanthi, by Luca Maffei, the beach bonfires of Sapna, by Philippine Courtière, the bohemian spirit of Palolem, by Ping Wei Ling. In Sapna and Palolem the house uses exclusive De Laire bases by Symrise, such as Tabac Bourbon, Amber 84 and Miel Essentiel.

Forbidden Words and Fruit du Paradis are the perfumes the house lists first among its best sellers, together with Sapna and Shanthi. All the fragrances are unisex Eau de Parfum in a 100 ml bottle, and the house declares particular care for reusable packaging and an animal-friendly luxury. Sasva has exhibited at Pitti Fragranze, in Florence; in Europe it operates through a company based in Milan, from which it ships its perfumes. OUD Profumeria Artistica offers ten fragrances from the house.

The fragrances

• The first collection (2022): Forbidden Words (amber woody with tobacco, lime, oud, vanilla and leather, by Jordi Fernández), Fruit du Paradis (fruity woody with mango, pomegranate, lime and sandalwood, by Hamid Merati-Kashani), L'Amour Libertin (amber spicy with poppy, saffron, rum, incense and tobacco, by Gaël Montero), Garden of Youth (floral fruity with champak, tuberose, blackcurrant and vanilla, by Jordi Fernández), Junoon (spicy woody with sage, rose, saffron, oud and tonka bean, by Hamid Merati-Kashani), Light of the Earth (woody spicy with saffron, cardamom, patchouli, vetiver and leather, by Jordi Fernández), Rêverie de la Rose (floral spicy with rose, lotus, cinnamon, oud and amber, by Jordi Fernández).
• Le Notti di Goa (2024): Shanthi (fruity marine with mint, pineapple, mango and amberwood, by Luca Maffei), Sapna (amber fruity with mango, plum, coconut, tobacco and honey, by Philippine Courtière), Palolem (amber spicy with orange, cinnamon, champak, jasmine and benzoin, by Ping Wei Ling).

All the fragrances are unisex Eau de Parfum in 100 ml. OUD Profumeria Artistica is an authorised Sasva retailer, online and in the Nettuno (Rome) store.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of brand is Sasva?
Sasva is an Indian perfume house founded in 2022 by Sriman Subramanian. The name means “excellent” and “praiseworthy” in Sanskrit: its fragrances tell the story of modern India, between tradition, poetry and landscapes, and are signed by perfumers such as Jordi Fernández, Hamid Merati-Kashani, Luca Maffei and Philippine Courtière.

What kind of perfume is Forbidden Words by Sasva?
Forbidden Words is the 2022 amber woody fragrance signed by Jordi Fernández, one of the best sellers listed by the house. It is dedicated to the pleasure of the forbidden: tobacco, pink pepper and lime in the opening, a heart of oud, vanilla and cedarwood, a base of leather, patchouli and amber.

Which Sasva perfume is similar to Forbidden Words?
The closest is L'Amour Libertin, which shares tobacco, oud, vanilla and leather with Forbidden Words, but sets them on a poppy accord with saffron, rum and incense: it is spicier and more heady. Those who love the warm, spicy side of Forbidden Words can also look at Junoon, with rose, saffron, patchouli, oud and tonka bean.

What kind of perfume is Fruit du Paradis?
Fruit du Paradis is the 2022 fruity woody fragrance signed by Hamid Merati-Kashani and, with Forbidden Words, the first best seller listed by the house. Inspired by a mango orchard under the Indian summer sun, it opens with lime and sweet orange, has a heart of mango, pomegranate and jasmine and a base of sandalwood and vetiver.

What is the difference between the Le Notti di Goa perfumes?
They are three ways of living the evenings of Goa. Shanthi is the freshest and most serene, with mint, pineapple, mango and marine notes; Sapna the most gourmand and boozy, with mango, plum, coconut, tobacco and honey; Palolem the spiciest and most floral, with orange, cinnamon, champak, jasmine and carnation.

Are Sasva perfumes for men or for women?
They are all unisex. In our opinion, those looking for a warm, bold perfume can start with Forbidden Words, L'Amour Libertin or Junoon; flower lovers with Garden of Youth or Rêverie de la Rose; those who prefer freshness with Fruit du Paradis or Shanthi.

Where can I buy Sasva perfumes in Italy?
At OUD Profumeria Artistica, an authorised Sasva retailer: online, with free shipping in Italy on orders over €60 and 10 free samples on orders over €100, and in our store in Nettuno, near Rome.