The Emirates Perfumes and Oud Exhibition 2025 edition, held at the Expo Centre Sharjah from October 3-12, truly exceeded expectations. I eagerly anticipated discovering new scents and seeing what was up and coming in the fragrance market, and the exhibition delivered in spades.
Musk
The prevalence of musk came as a surprise to me. Musk was the main note in many of the fragrances that I came across. From delicate white musks to animalic, deer musk blends. I sampled several unique musk fragrances. I was surprised by the focus on this note, though, as I had expected a departure from “clean” notes.
Bakhoor
One of the first things I noticed as soon as I stepped foot into the exhibition was the smell of burning bakhoor. I later noticed that almost every single booth had bakhoor burning and on display.
Bakhoor holds significant cultural relevance in the UAE, as it is found in almost every household. It is a fast-selling product, and its market continues to grow. Therefore, it made sense that these brands were trying their best to showcase their best bakhoors. The competition is strong, and they need to show up. Bakhoor is a product that gives brands the advantage of being able to demonstrate the effects of their products immediately.
Packaging
Many exhibitors invested heavily in creating visually stunning presentations. Ornate bottles adorned with intricate designs, luxurious boxes, and gorgeous themed bottles took over the booths. It was evident that the presentation of a fragrance is just as important as the scent itself, making the fragrances seem a bit more luxurious.
But this raises the following questions.
How much more are these brands charging for the sake of nicer packaging? Is it worth paying the extra cash for aesthetics? And is the quality of the product being compromised when the overall price isn’t being increased?
High-concentration Fragrances
Another notable trend was the prevalence of high-concentration fragrances. I encountered potent parfums and extraits de parfum, given that these came with a hefty price tag. But on the other hand, these fragrances were worth the price due to the fact that a little went a long way, making these bottles worth the investment.
I would like to note that the higher concentration fragrances with fancier packaging were more pricey than the ones with humble packaging. I would suggest these for someone looking to gift something beautiful and long-lasting. However, if it’s for everyday wear, you might want to consider whether the extra cost is worth it, especially if you prefer a simpler, equally good scent in a more basic bottle design.
The Exhibition
The exhibition was a cultural immersion and an insight into the UAE fragrance market. I had the opportunity to speak with brand representatives, learning about their current focus areas and market strategies, based on their predictions of fragrance trends. It was a truly enriching experience that offered a glimpse into what’s to come.
Keep your eyes on V Perfumes, your go-to fragrance shop in Dubai, for the drop of the latest fragrance released and many more. Don’t forget to take advantage of our existing online and in-store offers for the best prices in the UAE and GCC region.
