Just got home from a conference out of town and had three package deliveries waiting for me. I’m actually a bit nervous, I kind of went crazy again blind buying niche decants / travel sizes despite such a long string of disappointing misses… but hope springs eternal, right? - ATH Legend Noir, Boss Bastard and Requiem - Merchant of Venice Blue Venetian and Colonia Venezia - Roja Vetiver EDP - Byredo Bal d’Afrique Absolu - Frederick Malle Vetiver - Pana Dora Aqua de Dora

I get a lot of questions about Middle Eastern Houses especially about the clone houses that a lot of people consider Middle Eastern although those houses are popular here in America and in Europe, not in the Middle East I have compiled a minor list of houses that are truly Middle Eastern luxury up to niche that are not clone houses. Middle Eastern perfume houses (niche / heritage) — not “clone houses” Oman - Amouage (Oman) — true high-perfumery niche house; artistic, resin/amber/ incense DNA. - OMANLUXURY (Oman) — modern niche, Omani identity, quality blends. - OJAR (Oman) — Middle Eastern-inspired luxury niche; often built around ingredients + ritual. UAE - WIDIAN (Abu Dhabi, UAE) — luxury niche with a very “polished” Western-meets-Gulf style. - Anfas (Dubai, UAE) — niche/heritage-leaning Emirati perfumery; strong Gulf signature options. - The Spirit of Dubai (Dubai, UAE) — high-end “Dubai luxury” style; statement scents. - Hind Al Oud (UAE) — Emirati luxury house; lots of character, oud/incense/musk focus. - Ghawali (UAE) — positioned as modern niche; more curated than mass-market. - Swiss Arabian (UAE) — heritage UAE brand; not a clone house, but more mainstream/masstige today (still plenty of original catalog). Saudi Arabia - Arabian Oud (Saudi Arabia) — major heritage house with its own long-running catalog. - Abdul Samad Al Qurashi (Saudi Arabia) — ultra-heritage luxury oud/incense/perfume house. - Ibrahim Al Qurashi (Saudi Arabia) — heritage Saudi house with a big original catalog; not a clone brand, though some releases may get “inspired-by” comparisons online. Gulf / Kuwait (often associated with Kuwait/GCC retail) - Gissah — modern Gulf niche/luxury vibe; some scents get compared to Western hits (common with popular brands), but it’s not marketed as a clone house. Middle East–style niche (boutique house) - Maison Anthony Marmin (Middle East niche positioning) — niche oud/musk/amber direction; not a “dupe brand” identity.