Al-Haramain — the wonderland of perfumery
Being a front-runner in perfumery since 1970, Al-haramain has being quite a favourite brand in the Middle East, as well as countries such as Singapore and Malaysia. Opening its first store in Bangladesh at Jamuna Future Park, the Al-Haramain store is the ultimate stop for fragrance-lovers.
Walking into the shop, you are likely to be amazed by the plethora of fragrances and attars neatly stacked in shelves. From simplistic bottles to fancy glass bottles of all shapes, each of the fragrances have a tester so that you can compare the scents before making a final decision.
Consistently improvising to cater to the changing taste of customers, the store contains perfumes and attars starting from Tk 2,000 to as high as Tk 400,000.
Perfumes
Al-Haramain prides itself on having a fragrance for every occasion. For everyday casual use, the ladies could try Opposite Pink at Tk 2,000, while the men could try Urbanist Home, which is long-lasting with a stronger finish. In fact, they also have unisex perfumes such as Meeqat with a mild finish, as well as Dazzle with a chocolaty scent. Right from the land of perfumery, you have the Sophia violet and Mercury, both of which are their bestsellers with a strong smell.
Oudh
One of the priciest perfume ingredients in the world — oudh — comes from the wood of the tropical Agar tree. Giving off a sweet woody and complex scent, oudh is special in that it is non-irritant and can be directly applied to the skin. Since oudh oil of different regions smell different, there is plenty for you to choose from! You could opt for the relaxing Duggat Al Oudh Cambodi, which contains the finest oudh from Cambodia, or buy the Oudh Hindi Maal Attar that consists of oudh from the tropical forests of India. Alternatively, you could only focus on the smell and try Oudh Sheikha for a sweet scent, or the Duggat Al Oudh Ma'al Amber for a warm sensuous smell.
Attar
While people often consider oudhs and attars to be the same thing, attars are actually quite different although oudh oils are often used as an ingredient in expensive attars. Mainly a blend of different aromatics either infused in a rose oil or sandalwood oil base, attars are one of the oldest and most delicate forms of perfumery celebrated for its natural subtle smell.
For regular use, you could try their Maze for Tk 5,400 that is celebrated for its balanced mixture of flower and amber or the Hayati for women if you want something light. While the serene amber and musk smell of Najm Noir will soothe your mind, the chocolate vanilla vibe of Najm Gold will leave you breathless. If you want something stronger, try the oudh-dominated Tajibni or Nima.
Any lover of saffron would adore the Mukkhallat Seufi, which costs about Tk 12,600 for 6ml of attar. If you prefer a mixture, why not try a stronger blend of saffron, amber and oudh? That's the Matar Al Hub for you! For the ultimate sophisticated vibe, there is the Empress of Perfumes, which is a set of six attars, and cost about Tk 300,000.
Air freshners
Al-haramain also contains Bukhr sets, which is a traditional Arabian room fragrance. A Bukhr set, minus the freshener costs about Tk 15,000. Then you can pick your favourite raw freshener that is sustainable for about 3-4 months if used once daily. Those who love floral fragrances could opt for the rosy Wardia or Bangkok. Alternatively, you could also go for the woody smell with Oudh Super at Tk 2,300 or Oudh Al Haramain at Tk 4,400.
Don't wait up. Here's your chance to feel like an Arab Sheikh!
By Adiba Mahbub Proma
Photo: LS Archive/Sazzad Ibne Sayed