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As Eid beckons, a look at the perfumes people wear this festive season
From oud inspired perfumes to home fragrances, scents that can set the mood for Eid gatherings and celebrations
- PUBLISHED: Tue 10 Mar 2026, 11:28 AM
Fragrance has long been part of Eid traditions across the region. Homes are filled with the scent of incense and candles, while people often choose a special perfume for gatherings and family visits. From rich oud compositions to lighter floral blends and home fragrances that set the mood for hosting, several new launches are offering options for the season. Here are some scents that could define the atmosphere of Eid this year.
Reimagining bakhoor through perfume
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Imagine your favourite incense but as a perfume, without the hassle of burning coal. Dubai based Emirates Pride Perfumes has taken a different approach to traditional scent rituals with the launch of Future Oud and Future Bakhoor. Instead of burning oud and bakhoor as incense, the brand translates the familiar aroma into wearable perfumes.
The fragrances are created using headspace technology, which captures scent molecules from natural elements such as burning bakhoor and aged oud without extracting them directly. The idea is to preserve the essence of traditional fragrance rituals while making them wearable and longer lasting.
Future Bakhoor is priced at Dh695, while Future Oud retails for Dh795. The two fragrances are also available as a set for Dh1,490.
A musical interpretation of oud by Ajmal
Rather than relying heavily on oud, Ajmal Perfumes has introduced Strings of Oud priced for Dh310, a fragrance that draws inspiration from music and emotion. With oud often associated with celebrations and gatherings across the region, the scent offers a contemporary take suited to festive occasions like Eid.
The composition aims to evoke its warmth and depth through other ingredients. The scent opens with cardamom oil, black pepper from Madagascar and wormwood. Its heart features geranium, incense and cypress, before settling into a base of tobacco leaf, vanilla bourbon and cedarwood.
Nylaa 2.0 collection by Rasasi
Rasasi’s Nylaa 2.0 collection brings together fragrances designed for everyday wear and festive occasions. Among the standouts is Noir Heritage, which blends bergamot, pineapple and pink pepper with a heart of rose, sandalwood and patchouli, settling into a base of amber, tonka bean and musk.
Another option from the range is Untamed Grace, a fragrance built around bergamot and pink pepper with floral middle notes of rose, jasmine and orris. It finishes with cedarwood, patchouli and amber, creating a balanced scent that moves between freshness and warmth.
Home fragrances for Ramadan and Eid gatherings
Beyond personal perfume, scent also plays a role in preparing homes for Eid visits and family gatherings. The retailer Lifestyle at Centrepoint has introduced a range of home fragrance pieces designed to create a warm atmosphere.
Among the options are candles such as the Golden Souk Lavender Muse jar candle, which blends notes of neroli, tuberose, jasmine, orange blossom and vanilla. Reed diffusers such as Jasmine Reverie gradually release floral scents into the room, while sets like Golden Aura combine diffusers, fragrance oils and decorative pieces.
Other items in the collection include incense burners and large reed diffusers that combine notes such as bergamot, amber and sandalwood, helping create a layered scent experience throughout the home.
Whether it is the perfume someone reaches for before heading to Eid prayers or the scent that lingers in the house as guests arrive, fragrance often becomes quietly tied to the memory of the day.
Waad Barakat is a Special Correspondent covering security topics, from law enforcement to local courts. With a keen eye for human interest stories, she hopes to blend it all with unique Gen Z-inspired content.