Emirati creates fragrance for the Year of Zayed
PERFUME BASED ON LOCAL INCENSE AND PERFUME FAVOURED BY THE FOUNDING FATHER
An Emirati perfume shop owner has created a unique Year of Zayed perfume, with its fragrance based on the same local incense that was used by the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
“I started making this perfume when it was announced last year that 2018 would be the Year of Zayed. So, I wanted to make something special to celebrate the Year of Zayed with, and what’s better than a good fragrance? Its formula is made from pure oud and the one Shaikh Zayed used to like,” said Saleh Al Hammadi, the owner of Perfume Bay.
“I did a lot of research, learning about the scents he used, and also talking to some of the people who worked with him, to get as close to the right scent as possible.”
Al Hammadi said the Year of Zayed perfume — which will only be available for sale this year — is already a top draw at his shop.
“It’s the number one selling perfume at my shop, which is amazing because it’s only been selling for three months and I have so many other exclusive, unique perfumes. But customers are coming in, mainly asking for this perfume.
“I also have a lot of requests from stores in the UK and the US, who want to buy the perfume and sell it in their shops. This makes me very happy; when I made this perfume, it wasn’t about business or making a profit.
Arabian line
“I wanted to do something to honour the founding father of the UAE, and now, thanks to getting the perfume sold abroad, the Year of Zayed name will also be made popular internationally,” he added.
“The people want this perfume because it is like having a small connection with Shaikh Zayed, and so that’s why it’s been so popular,” he said.
Al Hammadi, who has been involved in the perfume industry for 15 years, says his ambition is to see Arabic perfumes recognised internationally.
“This is a passion for me: perfume and local incense are a big part of our culture. We are using oud since time immemorial, and we have many special and different styles that are used. We use it when we go to the mosques, when we invite guests to our home ... so there’s always a different occasion for it.
“I like to sit with the older generation, to learn from them as well. I sometimes give them some of my perfume and oud samples, to get their opinion, because they have a lot of knowledge and expertise in this area. It’s always important to get the formula right,” he said.
Al Hammadi says he is happy to have seen the market for Arabic perfume expand, something he believes will continue.
“Compared to when I started, the market for Arabic perfume and local incenses has definitely increased. These products have a much higher demand and influence than before. There is quite a demand from abroad now, and also foreign perfume makers who are branding their fragrances for the Gulf market. This wasn’t something common previously, but there is a niche market for this now,” he added.