ABOUT

Ārya Tārā is a Tucson-based company driven by a passion for fragrance. 

Founded in January 2021, Ārya Tārā’s mission is to craft distinct olfactory experiences by drawing inspiration from personal and collective memories. 

Founder Merve Colpan obtained her Master’s degree from the world-famous perfumery school ISIPCA in Versailles, France and started Ārya Tārā to share the wonderful magic of weaving fragrance into daily life and honoring both Arizona and its local communities. 

In 2026, we are expanding our offerings from artisanal candles to fine fragrances. We also offer expert classes to the public to improve fragrance and olfaction education all around.

 

The Story of Ārya Tārā

We source our name and inspiration from the goddess of Tibetan Buddhism, Arya Tara.

Eons ago, in another universe, there was a princess named Wisdom Moon. She possessed great merit, she devoted herself to her good deeds and her immense compassion for all sentient beings led her to reach bodhicitta, the path to enlightenment. Her wish was to walk the path to enlightenment and ultimately become a Buddha so she could aid in ending the suffering of all living beings.

After reaching bodhicitta, a monk approached her and told her that in order to fulfill her wish she would need to pray to be reborn as a man in her next life, and that was the only way she could become a Buddha. She replied, “Here there is no man; there is no woman, no self, no person, and no consciousness. Labeling ‘male’ or ‘female’ is hollow. Oh, how worldly fools delude themselves”.

She saw the flaw in the monk’s logic and made a vow to be reborn as a woman, again and again, until she reached her aspiration of becoming a Buddha in female form. Through determination she became Goddess Ārya Tārā, the mother of all Buddhas.