Arabic Perfume Trends

Traditionally, premium fragrances accounted for the bulk of

sales in beauty and personal care in the United Arab Emirates,

and whilst this remains true, premium fragrances experienced a

steep downturn in sales in the last two years of the review

period, with premium men’s fragrances hit the hardest in 2018.

One of the reasons for this was the large numbers of

expatriates within the consumer base.

Introduction

Niche products that are inspired by and

from the Middle East region are doing

well in the market, and threaten well-

established brands. Arabian Oud and

Abdul Samad Al Qurashi strongly lead

fragrances, due to their luxury oriental

scents and their positioning as longer-

lasting.

Fragrances play a very important role in Arabic culture. There

is a very specific way to wear perfume in the region – layering

– this takes the meaning of “signature scent” to a whole new

level.

The UAE Perfume market was worth US$ 440 Million in

2018. The market is further projected to reach US$ 750

Million by 2024, growing at a CAGR of 9.3% during 2018-

2024. In the UAE, perfumes were traditionally produced

manually and then sold in the local marketplace, The last few

decades, however, have witnessed major changes in the

industry, with the UAE now establishing itself as a major

global player in the perfume industry. The region now

represents one of the major producers and exporters of

perfume across the globe.

Consumers living in the region currently

prefer natural perfumes having a rich and

warm oriental fragrance, preferably used

in their natural forms. Ingredients such as

amber, oud, musk, exotic flowers, etc.

are quite popular in the region

Arabian perfumes have long been alluring the world with their distinct fragrances and are now

synonymous with ancient heritage as well as fine luxury. The Middle East is witnessing a strong

transformation in terms of taste and lifestyle. Local consumers have strong desire for products

which spell luxury through a superior exceptional image. Major multinational brands are therefore

increasing their special edition products designed for local taste. In terms of fine fragrance we

have seen the introduction of oudh in many well-known global fragrances.

OUDH

Oud (or Oudh) is one of the most expensive perfume ingredients

in the world. It comes from the wood of the tropical Agar

(Aquilaria) tree, believed to have originated in the Assam region

of India, and from there spread throughout Southeast Asia.

When the wood of this tree becomes infected with a certain

mould variety (Phialophora parasitica), it reacts by producing a

precious, dark and fragrant resin, giving us the ingredient oud

(also called agarwood).

Oud is highly valued by perfumers. Its scent can be described as

woody, warm, animalic, leathery and sometimes cheesy. It is

usually considered as a base note in fragrance composition.

The Main Ingredients

ROSE TAIF

The Saudi Arabian city of Taïf has a glorious history, rich culture,

and a unique geographic position, climate and fertile soil that have

transformed it into a beautiful garden paradise. Here, the roses

are more powerful, fresh, and possess a very sophisticated

fragrance- the Taïf Rose oil is considered the best in the Arab

world, the only place where it has been available- until today.

Taif Rose flowers, whose fragrance is even more intense than the

fragrance of the Damask Rose, are harvested in April, in the early

morning hours, because the buds bloom at dawn. It is necessary

to pick them before the Sun and the heat of the day destroy the

essential oils needed for the production of rose water.

SAFFRON

Saffron is an aromatic and very expensive spice by weight,

it is known as “the king of spices” and “red gold”. It is

utilised for cooking, staining, medicine, cosmetics and

perfumes. It is a native plant of Southeast Asia. However,

exact origin is uncertain, but was probably Asia Minor,

where it has a long history of cultivation. It is widely used in

perfumery thanks to its intense and sweet spicy smell

especially when it is blended with other raw materials.

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