Episode 71- A Box of Spices

“Now, I see that every relic, however battered, every scratch on every knick-knack, is engraved with a timeless story of someone's life.”

- Eve Makis, The Spice Box Letters

Hosting this conversation with Alina Tadevosyan gave me the chance to learn about the powerful themes of Armenian cultural: resilience, identity and heritage preservation. Alina shared how everyday acts of cultural expression — from cooking traditional Armenian dishes to celebrating family milestones — function as meaningful forms of resistance and survival. We explored the role of storytelling in keeping collective memory alive and why these traditions remain essential to the Armenian community today.

Alina also spoke about founding ARAKYÁL, the luxury fragrance house she launched in 2025, inspired by her Armenian roots and the ancient spirit of her homeland. A lifelong creative, she has worked across classical singing, fashion design, graphic design and art direction, with scent becoming her newest medium of self‑expression. ARAKYÁL, meaning “apostle” in Armenian, reflects her belief that fragrance is a messenger — carrying memory, identity and quiet power. At its core, ARAKYÁL is about helping people wear their story.

Fragrances mentioned:
Elixir
Colour of Nur
Meron

Book discussed:
The Spice Box Letters - Eve Makis

Find Arakyal online here
Instagram:
@arakyal.official

Website:
www.arakyal.co

Theme music for the show was created by Raul Sanchez I Jorge. Check out his solo work on Wild Animal Records