9 Perfumes Making Waves This Season

Fragrance speaks before you do, and sometimes lingers longer than you stay. But in a world of algorithm-driven bestsellers, there’s a growing shift toward scents that feel intentional. This season, we’re drawn to perfumes that carry weight: in story, in texture, in how they move on skin.

Forget the flashy launches. These nine picks, ranging from salt-laced extracts to artisanal attars and modern balms, are deeply personal, quietly powerful, and anything but ordinary.

Made to evolve with time and chemistry, each one is designed for those who treat scent not as a final touch, but as part of their identity.

1. Khaltat – Grá

Emotion-driven. Quietly powerful.

Grá doesn’t chase trends—it follows feeling. Rooted in Khaltat’s philosophy of love and legacy, this UAE-crafted perfume oil skips alcohol and leans into clarity. It opens with mint cool, sharp, and clean—before melting into warm amber and settling into a base of gentle oud. What remains is soft but steady, like a memory that never quite fades.

Price: AED 550

Shop: Buy here

2. Hind Al Oud – Unstoppable

Zesty. Creamy. Built for movement.

Unstoppable captures the rhythm of summer without defaulting to cliché. A sharp opening of lime zest and green mandarin is lifted by spearmint fresh, bright, almost electric. But the edges soften as cardamom and fig leaf roll in, grounding the scent in warmth. Anchored by driftwood and musk, this is a fragrance that keeps pace with you, steady, clean, and quietly confident.

Price: AED 770

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3. IDMAN – Perfume Balm

Portable. Subtle. Unexpectedly radiant.

Founded by Joelle Sakkal, IDMAN merges Arabic fragrance traditions with French sensibility. This balm, designed for pulse points, hair ends, or beard, is a tactile rethinking of perfume. Pink pepper gives a soft spark, balanced by solar notes that feel warm, expansive, and just a touch nostalgic. It’s light, non-oily, and perfectly sized to go wherever you do.

Price: AED 135

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4. Roja Parfums – Oceania

Polished. Marine. Impeccably British.

Oceania by Roja Parfums is a masterclass in balance. It opens with bright citrus and green herbs before moving into airy sea notes and resting on sandalwood, vetiver, and musk. Fresh but not fleeting, classic without feeling dated, it’s the olfactory equivalent of a tailored white shirt on sun-warmed skin.

Price: AED 1,620

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5. DS & Durga – Jazmín Yucatan

Untamed. Lush. Not here to be polite.

Jazmín Yucatan is not your soft, sweet jasmine. Inspired by the steamy, post-rain energy of the Yucatán Peninsula, this scent leans into the wilder, more animalic side of the flower. Earthy, green, and slightly powdery, it feels like walking through a jungle garden that’s alive with scent. It’s bold, raw, and addictive in the most unapologetic way.

Price: AED 1,281

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6. House of Noya – Ocean’s Luminescence

Creamy. Salty. Rooted in heritage.

Inspired by Dubai’s pearl-diving legacy, Ocean’s Luminescence from House of Noya feels like a memory of the sea. Produced in Italy as part of the Acqua Collezione, this extrait blends salt-touched marine notes with creamy woods and a warm, sunlit finish. The bottle with its globe-like topper feels like holding a small piece of the coastline in your palm.

Price: AED 750

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7. Floris London – Golden Amber

Sun-warmed. Balanced. Quietly romantic.

Inspired by the golden hour over Lake Garda, this blend brings together Mediterranean brightness and English softness. Fig, cassis, and bergamot open the scent with lightness, while rose and neroli add an elegant floral layer. The dry-down of tonka, sandalwood, and almond blossom leaves a silky, luminous trail.

Price: AED 1,084

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8. Shama Perfumes – Reem (Attar)

Traditional. Intimate. Made to stay close.

Reem by Shama Perfumes is a study in restraint. Crafted using Indian artisanal techniques, this alcohol-free attar is soft yet persistent, meant to sit close to the skin, not shout across a room. With an emphasis on natural ingredients and lasting wear, it’s ideal for those who want a perfume experience that feels personal and grounded in heritage.

Price: AED 125

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9. Shama Perfumes – Sougha

Elegant. Floral. The softer twin.

Sougha is the floral counterpart to Reem. Also oil-based and handcrafted, it leans into a more delicate profile with oud and rose at its heart. It’s classic but not stiff, elevated but never loud. Together, Reem and Sougha form a quiet dialogue between intensity and lightness, each reflecting a different mood of the same refined philosophy.

Price: AED 375

Shop: Buy here

Lead image courtesy: Valeria Boltneva