The UAE perfume market is set to reach Dh1.12 billion ($304.8 million), as compared to its Dh937 million last year, according to a new research by Euro Monitor International.

The global fragrance market has been forecast to grow to $45.6 billion by 2018, as compared to $30 billion last year, said a market research company Mintel.

While the Middle East and North Africa region accounts for only about 10 per cent of the global market, the growing demand for premium products is giving it a greater significance to the industry, it said.

As per a Saudi Arabian media report, more than Dh12 billion is spend on perfumes and skincare product in the Arabian Gulf region every year, with about half of that in the kingdom, said a statement.

The popularity of the fragrance in the region makes way for some of the most expensive fragrances in the world, with some costing up to almost Dh7,000, it said.

People in the region equally enjoy applying layer upon layer of scents and per capital consumption of perfumes in the Gulf is among the highest in the world.

They have used oud, a perfume resin from the agarwood tree, as well as sandalwood, amber, musk and roses for over two thousand years. And these are still the dominant ingredients in local perfumes.

Realising the demand for more traditional fragrances, leading perfumes brands from the global market have launched collections that cater to this segment.

They are now competing with a greater number of oud-inspired fragrances, according to retailers in the region.  With a flood of international brands going, the traditional way more aggressively than ever, the choice out there is enormous.

But despite this shift in focus on big perfume brands introducing oud-based and more traditional fragrances for the GCC region, discerning customers from the region still prefer authentic oud and bukhoor.

Obaid, founder of Bramble Perfumes, said: “It’s good to be a part of this growth-wave that the perfume industry is witnessing right now. For the first time ever, we’ve seen some of the most iconic international perfume makers develop fragrances that cater to the GCC region.

“But our ancestors have developed such fragrances for generations and shared their knowledge with us. Only a local brand will truly understand the use of these elements and deliver the perfect fragrance and a better product.”

Bramble is a perfume house that has its traditional concoctions mixed with a global touch, making it a the brand that stands out, said the statement.

It also partners with some of the best perfume manufacturing companies to ensure that they offer truly traditional fragrances with the fineness of a global manufacturer, it said.

It showroom has recently been rejuvenated with an all-new look, while still maintaining Bramble’s focus on tradition, it added. - TradeArabia News Service