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Q&A - With Ali Junaid from Junaid perfumes
How does a perfumer create a perfect Bahraini scent?
Bahrain has a reputation for gorgeous perfume. If you’ve ever wondered how local perfumers blend traditional and modern fragrances to create something new, we’ve got you – we asked the experts at Junaid Perfumes for an inside look at their process.
Here’s what they told us.
Ali Junaid, Managing Director/Perfumer, Junaid perfumes
What are the first questions you ask yourself when you’re developing a new scent?
"Well, in our line of work there are two ways to tackle this: does the overall theme and purpose behind the fragrance exist, or am I shooting an arrow in the dark?
As perfumers we are either bound to a specific theme, and allowed to create and experiment within certain limits, or – and here comes the really fun part – our shackles are broken and we are free to create, define, and present fragrances in our own perspectives.
Everyone experiences fragrances in their own way, the same way people see art in their own light. A good perfumer understands the balance between what they personally love and perceive as beautiful, versus what the world will love and perceive as beautiful.”
How do you balance creating scents that are authentic to Bahraini tradition, but also modern and fresh?
“The origin of fragrances are rooted in natural essential oils, and it is safe to say that there are specific natural essences that are specific to Bahrain's history; for example Rihan AlMashmoom, and Jasmine.
Today we balance Bahraini or Arabian fragrances according to social preferences alongside the fashion industry. Trends change much quicker now; people are experienced in fragrances, making them more receptive to fragrance trends that come from all over the world.
Apart from making sure that we only use the best quality of raw materials, the Junaid family has curated specific product lines for different trends and preferences. We have Arabian lines that scream tradition and throw you back a hundred years when the aroma hits you; western lines that are accepted by an international audience; and then lines that are a mix of both.
The possibilities of different fragrances and different combinations are endless.”
How do you know when you've found the right blend of notes? How much of it is science, and how much is intuition and just...knowing?
“The science behind fragrance-making is a very small part of the process. Experience and having a great panel of evaluators is essential.
The first fragrance I ever successfully formulated back in 2011 took me a year and a half, with over 250 failed attempts. It really is a humbling experience. But the knowledge I gained about myself, my preferences, and what was objectively better, was priceless.
The first part of finding that right blend is formulating a fragrance that satisfies your understanding of what is great. The second and bigger part is finding a panel of perfumers with different preferences, styles, and ideologies – who you can trust to not only give advice, but to be critically honest.
And the third part is coordinating with internationally renowned perfumers who give their opinions, based on their longstanding relationships with the Junaid family. The last part is simply asking the people around us. The advice given from family members, friends, focus groups, even our own sales force in our outlets are all valuable insights.
Only then do we find the confidence to finalise fragrances and introduce them to the public.”
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