When you think of Arab perfumes, what is the first thing that comes to mind? To many of us, Arab perfumes are synonymous with the scent of oud. But did you know that oud is actually tree fungus? The kind that takes a long time to develop naturally. It is not a scent you can merely pluck or extract easily, as it takes time to form on the aquilaria tree.
This rare and expensive fragrance has taken over the perfumery world and found its way to our homes. It is especially popular in the Middle East, and that is why we are going to take a look at the top Arab brands that create this special fragrance:
Amouage
Coming to life back in 1983, Amouage is the perfume brand that was born out of the need of the Sultan of Oman to restore the fine art of Arab perfumery. The luxury perfume house excelled at crafting luxurious perfumes made with expensive ingredients, and on the top of that list is agarwood, aka oud.
Oud comes out to play in many of their perfumes, including their Jubilation 40 Man, known as the scent of masculinity and sophistication with base notes of Oud, Patchouli, Cistus, and much more. There is also their Opus XV – King Blue, which combines the vibrant kick of mandarin with the depth of oud.
Lattafa
Known as Dubai’s leading luxury perfumery of Arabic fragrances, Lattafa is all about the Arab world’s luxury and elegance, emulated through each and every fragrance it crafts. Brought to life back in 1980 by Mr. Sheikh Shahid Ahmad and Co-founder Mr. Shoaib Iqbal, today it is a full-fledged perfumery with clientele all over the Middle East.
When it comes to their perfumes, where Oud takes the front seat, Badee Al Oud Amethyst is one such fragrance where Bergamot and Rose meet Oud Wood and Raspberry.
Abdul Samad Al Qurashi
Saudi Arabia’s Abdul Samar Al Qurashi is considered one of the oldest Arab perfume brands out there, as it dates back all the way to 1852. Fast forward to today, it is known to boast one of the largest perfume collections in the Arab world.
As a prime Arab perfume brand, oud holds a special position among the fragrances of its perfumed bottles.
Their Blue Kenam, a luxurious perfume fragrance, boasts pure blue agarwood blended with roses, warm spices, amber, and patchouli, making for a powerful scent. Oud is also a star player in their Body Musk perfume, where white agarwood and sandalwood are mixed with musk, jasmine flower, lily, and violet.
Al Haramain Perfumes
Opening its doors back in 1970, Al Haramain was first established in Saudi Arabia to spread oriental perfume fragrances to the masses. Today, they have become a household name across the Middle East.
Slaying oriental fragrances, Al Haramain Perfumes knows how to celebrate the scent of oud. With their Al Buraq perfume, an oriental spicy fragrance comes through with notes of oud, rose, saffron, amber, and musk.
Then, for that touch of woodiness, there is the Al Haramain Oudh Patchouli, where smoke and woodsy notes intermingle with oud, patchouli, and amber.
Swiss Arabian
Known as the first-ever perfume house in the UAE, Swiss Arabian is the brainchild of Mr. Hussein Adam Ali, whose passion for crafting perfumes and fragrances led him to open up the brand back in 1974.
This perfume brand is all about merging two worlds, the East and the West. That is why their perfumes present both cultures. When it comes to the world of oud, it is avidly celebrated in Swiss Arabia.
You’ll find everything from their Oud Maknoon, a woody fragrance with base notes of oud and amber, to the Oud 07, a fragrance that has the warmth of amber and vanilla, the sweetness of praline, the sensuality of rose, and the iconic allure of oud.
With all these oud perfumes, the special and rare fragrance coming from the aquilaria tree gets to be celebrated and spritzed all over the Arab world as a true testament to the region’s culture and way of life.