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NDTV
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Inside An Oman Factory Where The World's Most Expensive Perfumes Are Made
Muscat: You can bet on its sillage in a room full of your Chanels and YSLs. The dark, sexy oud is complemented by the romance of frankincense and myrrh, and your nose readies itself for a full-fledged olfactory implosion as you enter the House of Amouage. A stone's throw from the city of Muscat in Oman, the exterior drips gold. No, literally. A gilded gold-lined waterbody greets you as you step into the fragrant portals of the House. This is the perfumery where some of the world's most expensive perfumes are made. By hand, with care, and boasting an attention to detail only Amouage can boast of. The brand hasn't been around for too long. It was only in 1983 that the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman set out to realise a dream - of reviving Oman's legendary perfume industry. But before we get to the present, a bit of the past. For centuries a few thousands of years ago, Oman enjoyed the rare status of being the central point of the frankincense trade route. This route ran from the Mediterranean in the west to China in the east. So, Oman was bang at the centre of it geographically and otherwise. The port city of Dhofar is home to some of the best frankincense in the world. In the dry wadis of Dhofar, it's the the dryness that sends the prices of Dhofar frankincense shooting: any humidity, and you have sub-par quality. This frankincense from Dhofar brought in trade might and money for Oman. The craft of perfume-making lay confined to the contours of the country for years, till Oman's much revered and longest-serving Sultan, Sultan Qaboos bin Said, decided it was time to raise the curtains and take the scent of Oman to the world. He commissioned 'The Gift of Kings'. The perfume was named 'Amouage', a symphony of the French word 'amour' for love, and Arabic for 'wave'. And thus, with the 'Wave of Emotion', the world was awash in frankincense. It soon took note of the notes crafted in Muscat. Amouage shot to fame in exquisitely designed bottles; gold-dusted, Swarovski-studded. The bottles, or flacons, are works of art in themselves. The men's perfumes take their inspiration from the Khanjar, the Omani dagger. The women's lines have caps inspired by the dome of a mosque, with a Swarovski crystal on them. As you go higher in the price index, the bottles become veritable collectibles. The Zadora containers, the rarest Amouage bottles ever created, belong in museums. The price tag is in sync. At $150,000 each, these aren't perfumes you pick up at your nearest duty-free. They are made to order and kept for eternity... gift fit for a king, indeed. Inside the white marble facade of the House of Amouage lies an army of perfumers who craft each of these flacons by hand. The perfumery produces 5,000 to 7,000 bottles every day; handcrafted, meticulously, by the Amouage family in Muscat. Much like Oman's geographical location, its most famous perfumes are a midpoint between the East and the West, first created by a French perfumer. So, when Guy Robert was handed the task of creating a perfume that the world would wake up and sniff, he left no stone unturned. The traditional values of Arab culture had to be distilled into a flacon full of French finesse, with a dash of incense. 'Gold', Robert's crowning glory, happened. Robert crafted a scent that was recognisably Arab, but came infused with the modern luxury of French perfumes. This was 1983. The original Gold bottles were iconic, 24-carat gold-plated, and refillable. The Amouage Man, unique in its ornateness, was inspired by the Khanjar. The Amouage Woman bottle was a cube with intricately patterned gold plating. These bottles were initially made by luxury jewellers Asprey, and then by Danny Lehrer Jewellers in London. Today, Amouage Gold doesn't come in the ornate gold-plated bottles, but in glass. A 100-ml flacon retails for Rs 32,500 and is one of the brand's most expensive perfumes around. Amouage Attars. Photo: Author Its other high-end offerings include the Attars: a 100% pure perfume oil line inspired by villages in Oman. A 12-ml vial retails for Rs 47,000. The attars can stay on skin for more than 12 hours and it is precisely this longevity that demands the prices they are sold for. The attars are not your standard perfume. Their base isn't the easily-diffusible alcohol, but oils derived from the best of the Orient: frankincense, rose, myrrh, oud, younameit. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AMOUAGE (@amouageofficial) In the hills of Jabal Akhdar, where Damask roses are in bloom in the months of March-April-May, Amouage has tied up with all local rose farms. These farms distil 3 millilitres of rose oil from 300 kg of roses, and send them all to the House of Amouage for use in their perfumes. Alcohol is haram (impure) in Islam. So, most perfumes in the Islamic world adhere to the Book and swap the alcohol for stronger, longer-lasting oils. The other element that sets Amouage perfumes apart is its ageing process. Perfumes here are given adequate time to develop before being sent out. The ageing takes place in oakwood barrels at the House of Amouage in Seeb. At the Amouage headquarters in Seeb, Oman, 5,000-7,000 bottles are handcrafted every day. Photo: Instagram/Amouage In a chamber adjacent to the wood barrels, a group of women, in abayas, go about their business of sticking golden medals to the base of the flacon at hand. These containers will then be fit with a diffuser, filled in with perfumes carrying the heady scent of Oman, and sent out to the world, which will then soak in its sillage. The gift of kings. A gift fit for kings.
Mint
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Best last-minute Mother's Day gifts
Tomorrow is Mother's Day, which means today is the last day to zero in on a present that will make her feel extra special. Of course, flowers are always a good idea but why not make the gift a little more exciting and unexpected. Now shopping websites and apps are filled with options, from jewellery pieces and clothes, to beauty products and spa deals, that can leave anyone confused. So, to make your life easier, we decided to put together a list of gifting options that might help you quickly select a present, or at least give you an idea of what you should look for. The Dyson Airwrap i.d. is a multi-styler and dryer that comes equipped with Bluetooth, which means it customises airflow and temperature based on her unique hair profile, offering personalised results. She can do voluminous curls, soft waves, or a smooth, sleek finish, with a touch of a button. Available in stores and online. ₹46,900. Also read: 6 events you must check out this Mother's Day weekend Crocs are everywhere, but Crocs customised with charms not so much. Add some shiny, fun charms to make her pair stand out. Available in stores and online, prices vary. Instead of the usual Chanels and Guccis, why not opt for something more unique? Maison Margiela's Replica Never-ending Summer is a fresh citrus fragrance. It has an uplifting aroma, mixing notes of freshly peeled orange and vetiver. Available online, $165. Finding the right bag, the one that looks good with almost every outfit and is also spacious, is a big challenge. This Nappa Dori Crescent belt bag is the go-to handsfree accessory. Your mother can carry it everywhere, from work to the airport. Available in stores and online, ₹12,500. Also read: A guide to pinstriped dandy fashion inspired by Met Gala 2025
Forbes
15-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
30 Under 30 Europe Art & Culture 2025: Meet The Artists, Designers And Entrepreneurs Shaping Style And Taste
You never know when—or where—inspiration might strike. Take fashion designer Michelle Adepoju. The London native had no early ambitions of launching a luxury brand—then she travelled to West Africa after college. Born and raised in a Nigerian household in the U.K., Adepoju, 29, grew up with a knack for restitching thrift store finds into unique pieces. Her hobby transformed into a business idea during her post-college trip when she imagined a fashion brand that merged contemporary designs with traditional African craftsmanship. Back in London, she founded her brand Kílẹ̀ńtàr in 2019 and now works with more than 40 artisans across the African continent to help handcraft her luxury line's statement womenswear pieces. Her line ranges from gowns to swimwear to jewelry. Famous clients include Tracee Ellis Ross, Naomi Osaka and Victoria Monét. 'Kílẹ̀ńtàr is so important for me because when we think of luxury, we often think of the Chanels or the Hermès',' says Adepoju. 'We're changing that narrative and putting African craftsmanship on the map for luxury fashion.' Sebastian Nevols for Forbes Adepoju is among 30 other young tastemakers on this year's 2025 30 Under 30 Europe Art & Culture list. Candidates were evaluated by a panel of judges at the top of their respective fields, including Italian fashion designer Stella Jean; Squish Beauty cofounder and Under 30 Europe 2021 alum Charli Howard; art adviser and appraiser Chiara Badinella; and Trip cofounder Olivia Ferdi, whose CBD-infused drink brand made the Under 30 list in 2022. To be considered this year, all nominees must have been 29 or younger as of April 9, 2025. Several of this year's honorees are building businesses by leaning into their respective heritages. Joey Attieh, 28, became one of Barcelona's youngest restaurateurs founding Albé, which melds Lebanese cuisine with Spanish flavors and received high praise from critics. Riding that success, Attieh founded his next restaurant me—which made the Michelin Guide just three months after opening. Another chef on the list, Wenjun Xiang, 27, took the rich flavors from her Chinese hometown with her after moving to the U.K. as a teenager. Xiang launched her first dumpling venture at 17 years old, selling handmade frozen dumplings online to London's Chinese expat community. She now runs a small chain of restaurants in London dedicated to Northern Chinese cuisine and sells more than 1 million dumplings a year. Xiang isn't the only one who started her career as a teenager. A self-taught artist and photographer, David Uzochukwu, 26, began their career at 15 years old. One year later, they exhibited a series of self-portraits at the Bozar fine arts center in Brussels and also photographed singer FKA twigs for a Nike campaign. Uzochukwu now frequently creates custom campaigns for notable names including Pharrell and Iris van Herpen, and has worked with institutions such as the Saatchi Gallery, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Museum of Modern Art Mexico City. Meanwhile, artist Rene Matić, 27, who works with photography, sculpture and film to create pieces about Black and queer communities, has been featured in collections ranging from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, New York's Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art, and even singer Charli XCX's private collection. In 2023, Matić became one of the youngest artists to ever whose work has been acquired by London's Tate gallery. 'It's something that you don't really think about happening so early on in your career,' Matić says on being acquired by the Tate. 'It's definitely propelled me into feeling comfortable in my position in the art world.' Other listers are looking to expand outside of the continent. Joseph Quinn, 29, founded his hand-blended tea company Tea Huggers in 2019. Having earned $6.4 million in revenue last year, his products are now stocked in stores throughout the U.K. and Europe including Selfridges, Fenwicks, and Ocado—with plans to expand into more than 4,000 stores across the U.S. and Japan later this year. In the fashion world, Marie Adam-Leenaerdt, 28, has taken her eponymous womenswear brand to several high-end fashion retailers including Bergdorf Goodman, Ssense and Moda Operandi. And clothing company Nii Hai, founded by Rosie Williams, 28, is stocked in global retailers including Revolve and Slam Jam, and has been worn by celebrities such as Bella Hadid, Dua Lipa and Blackpink. Bringing some innovation to the design sector, Destiny Pinto, 23, launched a self-named accessories label for medical devices, which include covers for ostomy bags, hearing aids, and prosthetic legs. Her latest campaign partnering with Adidas will be displayed in London stores and online. 'I have moments every single day with my work, where people connect to me and tell me their stories,' Pinto says. 'And those are the things that resonate with me the most because it inspires me to keep going and it shows me how important this work is.' This year's list was edited by Simone Melvin, Brianne Garrett and Hannah Lynn. For a link to our complete 2025 Under 30 Europe Art & Culture list, click here, and for full 2025 30 Under 30 Europe coverage, click here.
