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What does success smell like? 'Dubai Bling' stars reveal their signature scents, guilty pleasures
At a glamorous Dubai perfume launch, Safa Siddiqui, Ebraheem Al Samadi, and Mahira Abdel Aziz open up about personal fragrances and upcoming projects
- PUBLISHED: Mon 4 Aug 2025, 4:46 PM
What does success smell like? For the stars of Dubai Bling, it might be their upcoming projects, or even themselves, because they're a constant work in progress.
At a recent high-profile perfume launch by Armaf in the heart of the city, where stars from Netflix’s glitzy reality show Dubai Bling made a fragrant statement, we caught up fan-favourite Safa Siddiqui, suave entrepreneur Ebraheem Al Samadi, and celebrated actress Mahira Abdel Aziz — each ready to share not just what they wear, but how they wear it, why they wear it, and what it says about them.
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And as it turns out, the answers were just as layered as the scents themselves.
Safa Siddiqui: “I want people to smell me before they see me.”
Dressed in head-turning glam, Safa Siddiqui embodies fashion, as is visible on her Instagram. But when it comes to perfume, she’s more fluid. “I don’t have one go-to,” she admits. “It depends on my mood, so I mix and match."
But she loves strong scents, she says, "I want people to smell me before they see me.”
Her scent personality? “Definitely oud.”
I put it once a day. That's why I like strong scent so they can stay on all day.
Perfume is deeply tied to Safa’s experience of moving to Dubai. “It was actually one of the reasons I moved here,” she says candidly. “Everybody smells so good.”
Safa’s biggest perfume ick is something many can relate to: “When it's a bit sour and mixed with sweat — like, you need to shower before putting perfume on.”
And her guilty pleasure scent? “Nail polish. I know it’s bad, but I like that smell.”
When asked what she’d name her own perfume line, she doesn’t hesitate. “Safa. It means pure," she says. "And I think that you should smell pure when wearing perfumes.”
What does success smell like to her? “Everything I work on smells like success,” she says matter-of-factly. “If I don’t believe in it, I won’t touch it. Right now, I’m working on a new fashion brand and a couple of collaborations. There’s something really big I’m doing with one of my castmates… I can’t say much, NDA and all, but you’re the first to know.”
And who in the Dubai Bling cast smells the best? “Mona Kattan — no question. She’s the perfume queen. It’s to be expected.”
Ebraheem Al Samadi: “Something Dubai has never seen before.”
Ebraheem Al Samadi is on a mission to create, from restaurants to fragrance lines, and now, even dessert concepts. His scent of choice is bold and classic: Tom Ford’s Tuscan Leather. “That’s my go-to perfume,” he says.
Like Safa, Ebraheem describes his personality as oud. “We’re similar,” he says. “She’s just the girl version of me.” The two often mirror each other; strong-willed, unapologetic, and always forward-looking.
But unlike Safa, he’s not a once-a-day sprayer. “Minimum twice a day,” he says. And his biggest fragrance turn-off? “Citrusy smells.”
As the founder of Forever Oud, a fragrance brand that blends traditional and modern notes, Ebraheem already has his foot firmly planted in the scent industry. But what does success smell like to him? “Right now? Ice cream,” he smiles. “I’m working on a new ice cream concept. Something Dubai has never seen before.”
And guilty pleasure scent? “Vanilla."
His pick for best-smelling Dubai Bling cast member? “Mona Kattan."
Mahira Abdel Aziz: “Success smells like me — because I’m working on myself.”
Mahira Abdel Aziz brings a softer, introspective energy to the group — and her scent story reflects that. “I just launched my own scented body shimmer spray,” she says proudly. “It’s perfect for summer — it has tobacco, vanilla, and a little glitter. Spice and nice.”
If her personality were a perfume, it would be white musk. “I love it,” she says. And her least favourite kind of scent? “Anything too spicy."
While many may reapply perfume constantly, Mahira has a practical take. “I don't reapply a lot because all my perfumes are very long-lasting so I just spray and go. But I carry a kit with me just in case — especially if it’s an 18-hour day.”
The smell that reminds her most of luxury is deeply personal: J’adore by Dior. “My mom used it when I was growing up. So, for me, it represents both luxury and family.”
And what does success smell like? “Me,” she says. “I’m working on myself — mentally, physically, emotionally. Every day I try to become a better version of myself.”
Mahira is currently preparing to relaunch her Golden Hour body shimmer, while also working on a book and an upcoming film. “That’s all I can say,” she adds.
Her pick for best-smelling castmate? “Mona, obviously. But if we’re excluding her? Ebraheem. He’s bold in everything, even his scent.”
