ParfumPlus

PP: THE WORD “NICHE” IS OFTEN DILUTED IN PERFUMERY TODAY. WHEN YOU POSITION HOUSE OF NOYA AS TRULY NICHE, WHAT ARE YOU RESISTING AND WHAT WILL YOU NEVER COMPROMISE? TK: Today, “niche” has become very comfortable. It’s often used to describe distribution or pricing, when it should reflect a mindset. For me, being truly niche means resisting standardisation. It means not creating fragrances to fit trends or commercial formulas. With House of Noya, I resist the pressure to make something instantly likeable at the expense of depth. Not every fragrance needs to be understood in the first minute. I believe in compositions that evolve and stay with you. What I will never compromise on is intention. Every scent has to come from a real place. I’m also protective of the creative process, from ingredients to collaborations. It has to feel honest. Exclusivity isn’t about being inaccessible; it’s about being precise. So when I say “niche,” I’m talking about freedom. The freedom to create without dilution, and the discipline to stay true to that. PP: OPERATING ACROSS CREATION AND COMMERCE, DOES THIS PROXIMITY SHARPEN YOUR INSTINCTS OR DEMAND CONSTANT NEGOTIATION BETWEEN CREATIVITY AND MARKET REALITY? TK: For me, it’s a balance, not a conflict. Operating closely between creation and commerce has sharpened my instincts. You develop sensitivity IN THIS EXCLUSIVE interview with ParfumPlus Magazine, Talha Kalsekar reflects on evolution, creative independence and the emotional narratives shaping House of Noya, offering a perspective that balances inherited legacy with a distinctly personal and contemporary voice. PARFUMPLUS: BORN INTO A CELEBRATED FRAGRANCE LEGACY, HOUSE OF NOYA FEELS DISTINCTLY INDEPENDENT. WHEN DID YOU REALISE EVOLUTION, NOT JUST CONTINUITY, WAS ESSENTIAL TO HONOUR IT? Talha Kalsekar: For me, the realisation came quite early, though not in the way people might expect. I didn’t initially want to follow my family’s path. When you grow up surrounded by it, there’s both respect and a need to step away, to understand who you are beyond what’s already defined. Studying in London shaped me deeply. It exposed me to different cultures and gave me a sense of individuality. It’s where I built my own perspective and identity. Through that distance, I understood something important. If I were to return to fragrance, it couldn’t be about continuity alone. Repeating what’s been done doesn’t honour a legacy, it keeps it still. Evolution became essential when I realised the only honest way to respect where I come from is to add to it through my own lens. Every experience I’ve lived has become a source of inspiration. That’s what defines House of Noya. So for me, evolution wasn’t a decision; it was a necessity. It’s the only way legacy stays alive, by growing into something personal while still carrying its roots. “Not every fragrance needs to be understood in the first minute. I believe in compositions that evolve and stay with you” P A R F U M P L U S 35