Forget the Brand. What Notes Do You Love?

Think about how you'd describe your dream perfume. Chances are you wouldn't name a brand. You'd say something like "I want something with saffron," "something smoky," or "I love rose, but not old-fashioned rose."

Shopping by note is one of the big fragrance trends of 2026, with shoppers searching for ingredients like oud or saffron before they search for a brand. It's a brilliant way to find perfumes you'll actually love: once you know which notes make you happy, you can find them across any brand.

Here's a beginner's guide to five notes at the heart of Arabian perfumery.

First: What Are Notes?

A perfume unfolds in three stages:

• Top notes are what you smell first. They're bright and fade within minutes.
• Heart notes appear as the top notes fade and form the character of the scent.
• Base notes are the rich, slow-to-evaporate foundation that lingers for hours.

1. Saffron: Warm, Golden, Slightly Leathery

The world's most precious spice smells honeyed, warm and faintly leathery. It adds a golden glow to almost anything.

Try: Orientica Oud Saffron — saffron and bergamot over rose and geranium, with oud, amber and patchouli. A perfect showcase for this note.

2. Rose: Not Your Granny's Rose

In Arabian perfumery, rose is rich, jammy and often paired with oud or saffron for a modern twist.

Try: Lattafa Badee Al Oud Noble Blush — bright citrus and red fruits, a heart of soft rose, jasmine and warm spices, then oud, vanilla and amber. For a lighter, fresher rose, try Khadlaj Rose Couture, with citrus and green notes over rose and jasmine.

3. Oud: The King of Notes

Oud (agarwood) is rich, woody, smoky and slightly sweet — the signature of Arabian perfumery. New to it? Start with our guide What Is Oud?

Try: Risala Music of Oud — rose and saffron, a heart of oud, amber and labdanum, then musk, sandalwood and patchouli. Smooth, rounded and a great first oud.

4. Leather: Smooth, Smoky, Grown-Up

Leather notes smell like a well-worn jacket or a new car's interior: smoky, warm and slightly animalic.

Try: Anfas Al Oud Noir — fresh, sweet rose up top, a woody, citrus and leather heart, and labdanum, balsam, musk and amber in the base. For leather on the go, try Orientica Leather Oudh 30ml.

5. Incense: Dark, Resinous, Meditative

Incense notes — frankincense, palo santo and other resins — are having a real moment in 2026, worn bolder and darker than their calming reputation suggests.

Try: Lattafa Fakhar Platin — bergamot, pink pepper and cardamom, a heart of ginger, lavender and guava, on a smoky base of palo santo, incense and sandalwood. Or try Lattafa Asad Zanzibar, where black pepper and salty coconut water meet a base of vanilla and incense.

Love incense? You'll love bakhoor too — it's incense you burn at home. See our bakhoor collection.

How to Find Your Notes

1. Look at what you already love. Check the notes on your favourite perfumes. You'll often spot a pattern.
2. Smell on skin, not paper. A test strip shows the top notes. Your skin shows the full story.
3. Give it 20 minutes. The heart notes are where a perfume's personality comes through.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are top, heart and base notes?

They're the three stages of a perfume: top notes are the first impression, heart notes the main character, and base notes the long-lasting foundation.

What does saffron smell like in perfume?

Warm, honeyed and slightly leathery, with a golden, spicy glow.

What's the best note for a first Arabian perfume?

Rose or amber are approachable starting points. Many people then move on to saffron and oud.

Where can I try Arabian perfumes in Ireland?

Online at dubaioud.ie, or in person at Dubai Oud in Limerick and Cork, where our team can help you find your notes.

Tell Us Your Notes

Know what you love but not where to find it? Visit Dubai Oud Limerick or Cork and tell us your favourite notes — or search our store by note, like saffron, rose or oud.