For many students, education is the starting point for a successful career. For others, it becomes the foundation for building something entirely new. Ali Syed’s journey shows how international education can inspire innovation, confidence and entrepreneurship long after graduation.
A Trine University graduate with a background in engineering management, Ali has transformed a lifelong interest in fragrances into a thriving global business. As co founder and CEO of Yom & Layl Perfume Bar, a custom fragrance company based in Des Plaines, Illinois, he is creating a new approach to the perfume experience by combining craftsmanship, personalisation and hospitality.
Launched in 2021, Yom & Layl has grown rapidly, reaching more than $1 million in annual revenue and attracting customers from around the world. The company’s success highlights how creativity, business knowledge and the right educational foundation can help graduates turn ideas into international ventures.
Ali’s passion for perfume began long before launching his company. Together with his close friend and business partner Askar Salman, he spent years exploring the art of perfumery, experimenting with fragrance oils and creating unique blends simply because they enjoyed the process.
After completing his Master of Science in engineering management at Trine University in 2015, Ali gained professional experience in supply chain analysis, enterprise resource planning implementation and systems engineering. These roles helped him develop valuable skills in problem solving, project management, technology and process improvement.
Those skills later became essential when building his own company.
While creating fragrances at home and sharing them with friends and family, Ali and Askar noticed that people were interested in more than simply buying a perfume. They wanted to be involved in the creative process.
This observation led to the idea behind Yom & Layl Perfume Bar.
“We wanted to bring the same level of personalisation that customers experience when creating their favourite coffee order into the world of fragrance,” Ali explained. The concept allows customers to create their own signature scent, watch it being blended and personalise their bottle with custom engraving.
Rather than a traditional shopping experience, Yom & Layl offers customers a memorable activity where they become part of the creation process.
The name Yom & Layl reflects the company’s philosophy. Inspired by Arabic words meaning day and night, the brand represents the balance between creativity, craftsmanship and connection.
The company focuses on making high quality niche fragrances accessible to a wider audience. Each fragrance is handcrafted fresh to order using high concentrations of fragrance oils, while maintaining affordable pricing.
Ali’s wife, Atiya Razvi, also joined the business full time. A fellow Trine graduate who completed a Master of Science in information systems in 2024, Atiya brought additional experience from her previous role as a systems engineer with Starbucks Technology.
Together, the couple continues to expand the business while maintaining the personal touch that helped establish the brand.
For Ali, watching the company grow from a home based passion project into an international business has been incredibly rewarding.
“Every milestone reminds us how far we have come,” he said. “Seeing customers genuinely connect with our products motivates us to continue improving and innovating.”
Yom & Layl is now preparing for its next stage of growth. The company plans to open its first Perfume Bar Lounge in Chicago, creating an immersive space where visitors can participate in perfume making workshops, discover new fragrances and enjoy a unique retail experience.
The long term vision is to expand this concept internationally while continuing to strengthen the company’s online presence.
For education agents supporting students who are considering studying abroad, Ali’s story is a powerful example of the opportunities that can emerge from an international education experience. A degree is not only about academic achievement. It can provide students with the confidence, skills and global perspective needed to create their own future.
Ali credits Trine University with giving him the tools needed to build his business. His studies helped him develop strategic thinking, leadership skills and the ability to transform ideas into practical solutions.
“Trine gave me more than a degree,” Ali shared. “It gave me the knowledge, confidence and problem solving skills to build something from the ground up.”
His journey demonstrates the value of combining education with ambition. For students looking beyond the classroom, the right institution can become a launchpad for creativity, entrepreneurship and global success.
From engineering management to international fragrance entrepreneurship, Ali’s story proves that inspiration can come from unexpected places and that a passion nurtured over time can become a business reaching customers across the world.
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