Perfume used to be something I treated like an afterthought. Nice to have, but not essential.

Traveling through the Middle East completely broke that habit.

If you’ve ever walked through a Middle Eastern airport, you already know scent is not subtle there. It’s intentional. It’s layered. It’s part of how people show up in the world. Fragrance isn’t an accessory. It’s presence.

That shift changed the way I think about perfume entirely. I stopped buying what was trendy and started paying attention to craftsmanship, longevity, and how a scent actually lives with you throughout the day. Especially when you travel as much as I do.

Scent in the Middle East is not a trend, it’s a tradition

In the Middle East, fragrance is cultural, not cosmetic. Homes are perfumed. Clothing is perfumed. Guests are welcomed with scent. Oud, florals, resins, and musks are part of hospitality and identity, not something reserved for special occasions.

Experiencing that firsthand rewired how I think about quality. Not just does it smell good, but does it evolve beautifully, does it last, and does it still feel intentional hours later.

That’s when perfume stopped being optional for me and became a signature.

It also made me realize how powerful scent is as a travel memory trigger. Long after photos blur together, fragrance can take you right back to a place, a night, or a specific chapter of your life.

Why duty free is one of the best places to discover fragrance

I don’t shop duty free because it’s cheap (although you can receive a great discount since it’s duty free). I shop it because it’s where the most interesting discoveries happen.

Airports are where global fragrance culture actually shows up. Especially in the Middle East, duty free feels curated, international, and rooted in heritage rather than hype. It’s where I’ve discovered brands I never would have encountered at home.

Buying fragrance while traveling became a ritual for me. I almost always pick up a scent when I’m passing through the region. One fragrance per chapter. One per feeling. It’s how I mark time.

A few rules I swear by when shopping fragrance:

Test on skin, not just paper
Walk around for 20 minutes and let it evolve
Shop with a mood in mind instead of grabbing something random

Airports are actually the perfect testing ground. You’re moving, you’re warm, and you’ll quickly know if something works on you or not.

A quick, not boring primer on oud

Oud is one of those notes people think they understand until they smell it done well.

It can be smoky, sweet, woody, leathery, airy, or softly resinous depending on how it’s blended. That depth is what makes it so compelling, especially for travel. Oud tends to have presence and longevity, which matters when you’re hopping climates, crossing time zones, or going from day to night without stopping home.

If you think you don’t like oud, you probably just don’t like one style of oud. It’s not one thing. It’s a whole spectrum.

The brand I kept seeing in the Middle East: Ajmal

Ajmal was a name I kept seeing again and again in the Middle East. In airports. In duty free. In places where fragrance is taken seriously.

That consistency matters to me when I’m choosing what to bring home.

Ajmal is a heritage fragrance house with decades of expertise and a major presence across the Middle East, particularly in duty free and travel retail. If you’ve flown through the region, you’ve likely walked past it without realizing how established the brand actually is.

Now, as Ajmal expands more intentionally into the U.S., it finally makes sense to talk about it here, without needing a layover to access it.

Ajmal OUD MARQUIS: ten moods, ten travel moments

What I love about the OUD MARQUIS collection is that it’s mood-based. Ten different fragrances, each designed to feel like a specific moment.

That’s exactly how I wear perfume when I travel. I don’t want one scent that does everything. I want the right scent for the right energy.

I don’t wear perfume to be noticed. I wear it to feel like myself, no matter where I land.

Here’s how the collection maps to real travel moments.

Ode Tubéreuse
Chic and spirited. Perfect for rooftop evenings, gallery nights, and trips where you packed heels on purpose.
Notes: Candied Apple, Mango, Saffron, Tuberose, Sandalwood

Néroli Sublime
Radiant and easygoing. Ideal for daytime exploring, beach towns, and long travel days when you want something fresh.
Notes: Mandarin, Neroli, Red Apple, Cedarwood, Musk

Rêve Mimosa
Soft, romantic, and playful. Think brunches, creative meetups, and weekend getaways.
Notes: Blackcurrant, Mimosa, Jasmine, Vanilla, Amber

Bois Soleil
Crisp and composed. Great for business travel and itineraries that go from meetings straight to cocktails.
Notes: Bergamot, Lavender, Vetiver, Oakmoss, Amber

Oud Sucré
Velvety and indulgent. Best for cozy hotel nights, winter trips, and intimate dinners.
Notes: Plum, Orris, Jasmine, Sandalwood, Vanilla

Cuir Vanille
Bold and textural. A strong first-impression scent for fashion-forward nights and statement moments.
Notes: Green Apple, Cardamom, Sage, Vanilla Bean, Fir Balsam

Fève Tonka
Warm and confident. Ideal for minimalist style and quiet impact.
Notes: Bergamot, Tonka Bean, Cinnamon, Oakmoss, Amber

Ambre Infini
Dynamic and grounded. Made for city hopping, day-to-night plans, and nonstop itineraries.
Notes: Pink Pepper, Geranium, Elemi, Gustacwood, Amber

Oud Plaisir
Elegant and magnetic. For evenings when you want power without being loud.
Notes: Mandarin, Jasmine, Orange Flower, Patchouli, Musk

Fougère Oud
Classic and daring. The power scent. The one people remember.
Notes: Pear, Geranium, Lavender, Leather, Cypriol

How to pick your match fast

Fresh and easy: Néroli Sublime
Romantic and soft: Rêve Mimosa or Oud Plaisir
Chic and fashion-forward: Ode Tubéreuse or Cuir Vanille
Polished day to night: Bois Soleil or Fève Tonka
Warm and cozy: Oud Sucré
Modern and ambitious: Ambre Infini
Bold signature energy: Fougère Oud

How I wear fragrance while traveling

I go lighter on flight days. One to two sprays max, then I refresh after landing if I need to.
I choose based on climate. Warm destinations love citrus and florals. Cooler climates handle amber, vanilla, and woods better. I pack smart. If I’m carrying on, travel atomizers are non-negotiable.

Fragrance should invite someone closer, not arrive before you do.

Where to buy Ajmal OUD MARQUIS in the U.S.

If you’re curious to explore the collection without waiting for your next international layover, the OUD MARQUIS collection is available through Ajmal’s U.S. website.

You can find the full collection here: Marquis Collection – Ajmal USA

Final travel note

The more you travel, the sharper your taste becomes. You stop chasing novelty and start valuing things that are intentional, well made, and rooted in culture. The Middle East taught me to treat fragrance with that same respect.

Perfume became a signature instead of an afterthought. Duty free became a discovery space instead of an impulse stop. And scent became one of the most personal souvenirs I bring home.

If you’ve ever wondered why Middle Eastern airports smell incredible, this is why.