Kings and Heroes

“He looked at the walls, awed at the heights his people had achieved and for a moment -- just a moment -- all that lay behind him passed from view.”― Herbert Mason Translation, The Epic of GilgameshAshek Zubayer, the talented perfumer behind the innovative Byermia fragrances, shares his fascinating and unique journey into the captivating world of perfumery in this episode. Throughout our conversation, Ashek details how his deep passion for scents gradually evolved and blossomed into the creation of his artisanal brand.We discusses the rich cultural inspirations behind his first carefully curated line of fragrances, with each scent symbolizing different important life stages. There is also an in-depth look into the complexities of his second fragrance line, where Ashek highlights the storytelling elements and the mythological influences that shape his fragrance creation process.Additionally, Ashek thoughtfully connects his artistic work to the ancient epic poem Gilgamesh, drawing meaningful parallels between the profound themes of triumph and loss found both in his fragrances and within the timeless narrative of the poem.Fragrances mentioned (all Byermia):Epoch Series -AkuraPushpakUdbahaAgraniTabac SuraFolklore Series -Tiger RougeAmbrosiaEmber ShaanMore about Gilgamesh:Wikipedia articleThe king who refused to die: the Anunnaki and the search for immortality - Zecharia SitchinEpic of Gilgamesh - In Our Time podcast episodeFind Byermia here:Instagram:@byermia_fragranceWebsite:byermiafragrance.comTheme music for the show was created by Raul Sanchez I Jorge. Check out his solo work on Wild Animal Records Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.