'I travelled half way around the world for my favourite scent - and it only cost £15'
I used to be the type of person who was drawn to a perfume based on the celebrity endorsing it rather than by the scent itself. But everything changed when I found my current all-time favourite scent - and it costs just £15.
Despite the perfume being under £20, I had to travel half way around the world to get it. During my holiday in Dubai, on the very last day, my friend and I visited Old Dubai, an area known for its traditional souks, where you can find gold, spices, clothes, designer dupes, and perfumes.
Looking for souvenir shops, we stumbled across a store which had hundreds of perfume bottles beautifully lined up. After a nice chat with the owner, he recommended a bottle that came in a suede box - and the moment I smelled it, I fell in love. It was like he knew exactly what I was looking for.
After testing many different scents (and spending way too much money), I had finally found the one - and I've never had so many people telling me how good it smells. The perfume is called Ameerat Al Arab and if I had to describe it, I'd say it's a sweet, out-of-the-ordinary smell without being overpowering.
Warm, sensual, yet elegant. It smells so distinctive - you'd swear it was from a luxury brand. My only regret? I only bought one bottle. Thankfully, after some digging online, I found the exact same perfume on Amazon for the same price.
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As previously reported by Grazia, the rich and distinctive scent of oud, which is found in Ameerat Al Arab, has become popular over the years. Middle Eastern perfumery is known for its rich, long-lasting oud-based scents, which, compared to other Western alternatives, stand out more.
In my opinion, there's no need to spend a ton of money to smell good. With the rise of the oud and long-lasting smells, if you're looking for a fragrance that's perfect for every season with guaranteed compliments, you'll want to consider this one or alternatives such as Ard Al Zaafaran's Oud Orchid and KAYALI Oudgasm Vanilla Oud 36 Eau de Parfum. Thank me later.
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