This website requires JavaScript.

Share

Lifestyle

4.5.2023

Arabian Oud: how the scents of Saudi Arabia became popular in the West

The Champs-Elysees is lined with cafes, luxury boutiques and art galleries, but this iconic avenue is also home to one store that draws attention: the Arabian Oud store. This store, located in the heart of the French capital, is a testament to the growing popularity of Arabic perfumes in the West.

Boutique Arabian Oud à Paris

Arabian Oud store in Paris

 

This increased popularity of Oud in the West can be attributed to a Saudi family business that has grown to become an international phenomenon. Founded in 1982, the Arabian Oud brand has grown from a small family business founded by Abdul Aziz Al Jasser in Saudi Arabia to an international empire with over 900 stores worldwide.

In recent years, the appetite for rare and distinctive fragrances has skyrocketed in the West as consumers are eager to explore new scents that transcend the boundaries of conventional European perfumery. Arabian Oud has masterfully seized this opportunity by offering a collection of fragrances that blend Arabic perfumery with contemporary tastes.

 

 

 

 

Roots from Arabia

The history of Oud in Arabia dates back centuries, to a time when the resinous heart of the Aquilaria tree played an essential role in traditional Arabic perfumery. This dark, aromatic resin, known as oud or agarwood, is formed when a tree is infected with a particular fungus. The resin is then harvested, aged and transformed into an exquisite perfume.

In Saudi Arabia, the importance of oud goes far beyond its role as a perfume. The resin is used in traditional medicine and even as an emblem of wealth and prestige. Inextricably woven into the fabric of Arab society, the oud is an indispensable part of the region’s cultural identity.

According to German perfumer Frank Voelkl, “Oud is traditionally known as black gold in the Middle East, as it is a highly prized ingredient that comes from one of the rarest and most expensive woods in the world”

 

From Arabia to the world

Today, Arabian Oud stores can be found in the shopping districts of many major Western cities, attracting a diverse clientele seduced by the exotic fragrances. The traditional fragrance of Saudi Arabia has spared no effort to captivate the West. In fact, Google searches for oud have seen a 25% increase year-on-year, with a projected 20% growth over the next 12 months. Similarly, searches for oud-based fragrances are expected to grow by 20% over the next 12 months, after already growing 14% year-over-year.

See also

Mukaab, Saudi Arabia’s unveiled colossal cubic skyscraper

Published on 5 April 2023

#Arabie Saoudite

#Saudi Arabia