Arabic perfumes are a vast and surprising world, a real goldmine of opportunities for the woman who wants to wear aromas that recall distant landscapes, exotic environments and a strong statement of personality.

But how can you orient yourself within such a wide range of choices?

In this guide to Arabic perfumes we have tried to take stock of various elements of interest, accompanying women interested in learning more to the possibility of making the right choice.

The olfactory pyramid and the concentration of Arabic perfumes

Before exploring the world of Arabic perfumes, it is essential to understand the structure of the olfactory notes and how perfumes are distinguished based on the concentration of pure essences, diluted in another liquid and, predominantly, alcohol.

Let us remember first of all that the structure of the olfactory pyramid remains the same between Western perfumes and Arabic perfumes. The perfume therefore tends to manifest itself first of all with the top notes, which last about 15 - 20 minutes, to then open up with the heart notes, which emerge later and persist for 2 - 4 hours, and then close with the base notes, which reveal themselves last and last 4 - 8 hours in the case of Western perfumes, and even longer for Arabic ones, which are much more concentrated.

Having said this, let's also remember that fragrances are usually divided into four main categories based on concentration, or the percentage presence of essences in the perfume liquid. We therefore have the Eau de Cologne with 2 - 4% essences, the Eau de Toilette with 5 - 15%, the Eau de Parfum with 15 - 20% and finally the extrait de Parfum with 20 - 30%.

The basics of Arab perfumery

Now that we have summarized some useful information on the olfactory pyramid of Arab perfumes and the level of concentration, let's try to share in these lines why these perfumes are so sought after and characterized by a personality that makes them easily distinguishable from Western competitors.

One of the great advantages, typical of Arab perfumery, is for example the high concentration of essential oils, capable of guaranteeing a marked quality to the perfume. It is certainly no coincidence that Arab perfumes demonstrate an exceptional persistence on the skin, leaving a rather important trail and, even to the less expert noses, the perception of a complex composition.

The main ingredients of Arab perfumery

Among the main ingredients of Arab perfumery, real business cards for the most sought-after perfumes, there is certainly Agarwood, or Oud. In the olfactory pyramid above, Oud is traditionally positioned as a base note in one of the different versions in which it is made available on the market: Oud Royal, which is a more refined declination, thus being able to be enjoyed as a sweet base note, White Oud, lighter and usable both as a base note and a heart note, and Rose Oud, a fusion with Damask rose, which in many recipes we also find as a heart note.

Considering that we have just mentioned it, we cannot fail to underline the presence of Damask rose among the main ingredients. Also in this case, depending on the variations assumed by the recipe of the Arab perfume, we will find it with different purposes: Ta'if Rose if we want an intense heart note, Bulgarian Rose for a pure heart note, Turkish rose for a spicy heart note.

In many Arab perfumes, Amber cannot be missing, which is able to denote a classic base note together with other typical ingredients such as labdanum, vanilla, sweet resins and balsamic notes.

Which Arabic perfumes to use for different occasions

In the previous lines we have seen how Arabic fragrances represent the pinnacle of perfumery art in terms of concentration and complexity, and that their note structure and the richness of the raw materials used make them unique in the world of perfumery. At this point, all that remains is to understand which Arabic perfumes for women are best to use in this season.

Let's start with a little idea for the day. In this case, a valid alternative is the lighter concentration of Shaghaf Oud by Swiss Arabian, a sweet and oriental perfume, with Oud as the main ingredient, capable of enveloping with sensuality and comfort even on the coldest days. In the top notes we find saffron, in the heart notes rose and Oud, in the base notes vanilla and the additional reference to Oud, to seal a perfume with great personality.

Another very versatile perfume is Eclaire by Lattafa, which opens with top notes of caramel, milk and sugar, then moves on to heart notes of white flowers and golden honey, and then lets the base notes of vanilla, praline and musk emerge, which envelop in a sweet embrace.