MUSCAT – A homegrown Omani perfumery is steadily gaining its foothold in the perfume market in the Sultanate.
Al Saif Perfumes, which entered the Oman market five years back, has outlined plans to embark upon a new olfactory journey, set to propel them to the top.
Robust growth
Oman’s perfume market is said to be experiencing robust growth driven by the high demand for luxury and niche fragrances and amidst this, Al Saif Perfumes is carving its own unique place in the market, one product after another, Al Saif Perfumes founders MOHAMMED MUBARAK AL DHAMRI and MOHAMMED ADIL told the Black & White.
Aim to be top brand
They said Al Saif Perfumes’ aim was to be a top brand, with excellent perfume quality and also make efforts to be affordable to buyers. Currently, they were eyeing the export market too, they noted.
Excerpts from an interview with Mohammed Adil:
Give us an idea about your venture. What is Al Saif Perfumes all about?
Al Saif is a homegrown, Omani, brand. We have presence at seven locations in Oman. We have our own manufacturing presence and we are crafting our own product. We are hoping to have our presence soon in Riyadh and Egypt.
When was Al Saif established? How many years since it was launched in Oman?
We started in November 1, 2020. We have completed five years of operations.
Where is it located? Does it have any branches?
We have seven locations: Qurum, Al Khoudh, Sohar, Mussanah, Barka, Ibra and Sur.
Are these scents/perfumes developed in Oman/fully manufactured in Oman? (Or are these perfumes brought from another country?)
We develop our perfumes in Oman. The raw materials for the fragrances are sourced from Asia, France and Germany.
What are the different types of fragrances that you are promoting?
We are into French fragrances; oriental fragrances like Oud and Agarwood.
What is Al Saif’s signature scent?
We cater to French and oriental fragrances. Our biggest- selling brands are: Jawahara, Ruhan, Elixer, Arwa, Irish Leather and After Dark. We have a wide range of products, which are widely accepted by our customers.
What are the latest creations of Al Saif?
Blend by Saif and Irish Leather, which is a limited edition exclusively in-house designed product.
How did you venture into this perfume business? Is it a family business? Did you start it only in Oman, or does it have GCC bases or branches? If not, are you planning to explore other markets too?
I have been in the industry for the last 18 years. I was working for some of the leading perfume brands in town. After some years, I made the crucial decision to start something on my own and from Oman. I wanted it to be from Oman, because most of the perfume companies we have here are all from neighbouring countries. We wanted to create perfume from Oman and so we tapped into the mid and upper segment of the market here.
What is the natural “ability” that you need to be in this business and/or to be a perfume manufacturer? Were you naturally endowed with the “meticulous” eyes and the “sense of smell” needed to be a perfume creator/seller?
The “natural ability” required is to have a healthy sense of smell. You need to develop the “nose” required for the industry through training (smelling, memorisation and evaluation) and yes, a meticulous attention to detail.
You also should develop a creative sense and understand the market, the trends and market requirement.
Are the ingredients that are used in your perfumes natural or are they synthetic components?
We use high-quality oils, which generally make our fragrances last longer on the skin, creating a more intimate, long-lasting and intense experience. We avoid the usage of all kinds of synthetic materials.
How have you aligned yourself with the Gulf-market trends?
We are following the current modern trends in the market and reviving all our products with special attention to quality packaging. We realise the need to provide proper product and connotation on packaging the perfume bottles and also understanding that both the women’s perfume and the men’s fragrance are growing very fast. Therefore, quality packaging is the need of the hour, especially when we are eyeing exports and planning to enter the international market showcasing and representing the best of Oman’s perfumery.
Our vision is to be a leading brand with equal emphasis on quality and affordability. We want to be visible and available and be on the top shelves of not only Oman, but the world.
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