August has graced us with an eclectic mix of new fragrances, spanning haute parfumerie, homegrown UAE names and global cult collections.
Rasasi Expands Hawas With Gold Digger
Dubai fragrance house Rasasi has introduced Hawas Gold Digger, the latest chapter in a collection that has built an international following. The amber-woody aromatic composition moves the Hawas profile in a warmer direction. Pear, lavender, bergamot and mint form the opening, followed by cinnamon and sage. Vanilla, amber, patchouli and cedarwood give the base its rich character.
Rasasi developed the fragrance around contemporary ideas of ambition and success, positioning scent as an extension of individual style. The launch took place at La Perle Dubai on 14 August, with Indian actor and filmmaker Riteish Deshmukh joining the international guest list.
The setting brought the story back to Rasasi’s beginnings. Founded in Dubai in 1979, the family-owned house has grown from a regional perfumery business into a name with customers across global markets. Hawas Gold Digger is now available through Rasasi’s official sales channels and selected international fragrance retailers.
Saudi Fragrance House Batlah Arrives at Selfridges
Batlah is taking its Saudi approach to haute perfumery to London with its first pop-up in the British capital. Open at Selfridges from 30 July to 5 September, the temporary space brings the house’s complete fragrance portfolio together in one location, including its signature compositions and latest creations. Visitors can explore the ingredients, craftsmanship and narratives that inform Batlah’s olfactive identity.
The fragrance house works with natural and rare materials, combining techniques associated with traditional Middle Eastern perfume-making with contemporary technology. Its arrival at Selfridges places that Saudi provenance within one of London’s most influential luxury retail environments.
The pop-up marks a significant step in Batlah’s international expansion and reflects the broader visibility of Gulf fragrance houses beyond the region. As global interest in oud, concentrated perfume formats and Middle Eastern scent culture continues to grow, Batlah is introducing its work to customers through a space known for shaping luxury discovery.
YSL Beauty Turns an Iconic Talisman Into Cœur
The newest addition to YSL Beauty’s Le Vestiaire des Parfums draws from an object that accompanied Yves Saint Laurent throughout his career: the Cœur fétiche.
Created in 1961 by jeweller Roger Scemama, the asymmetrical heart was set with smoky grey stones, red crystals and pearl cabochons. Saint Laurent’s favourite model wore it during each collection, from the opening of his fashion house through to his final show in 2002. Unlike many pieces created for the runway, the designer kept the jewel in his Rue de Babylone apartment.
Master perfumer Daniela Andrier has now translated the talisman into Cœur, a genderless amber-spicy eau de parfum built around contrast. Aldehydes give the opening a cool, metallic charge before the composition moves into a red amber accord.
Orris butter introduces powdery shades of raspberry, violet and pepper, while lavender captured at YSL Beauty’s Ourika Community Gardens in Morocco brings an aromatic current of tea, thyme and menthol. Cedarwood, Indonesian patchouli, cistus absolute and musk deepen the base.
The ruby-red fragrance appears in the angular Le Vestiaire des Parfums bottle, finished with the collection’s black grain de poudre cap and label. The colour refers both to the stones in the original jewel and to Saint Laurent’s enduring use of red as an emblem of seduction.
Henry Jacques Presents an Ode to Oud
Henry Jacques places one of Middle Eastern perfumery’s defining materials at the centre of Oudh Supreme, a new addition to Les Classiques.
The house has sourced oud from producers in Laos, Cambodia and Thailand for over five decades, selecting resin-rich heartwood before distilling it over a wood fire. Its Cuvée Dehen el Oudh undergoes an unusual maceration process in which each year’s harvest is blended equally with the previous year’s edition. The resulting material carries leathery nuances, cacao-like warmth and traces of candied fruit.
In Oudh Supreme, saffron leads the opening, tempered by iris and geranium. Oud then emerges with balsam and mimosa, taking the fragrance into warmer, more resinous territory. Amber and vanilla soften the later stages, with cedarwood providing the final structure.
Oudh Supreme is available as a 15ml or 30ml Essence, a 75ml Brume and in solid form for owners of the Henry Jacques Clic-Clac. The fragrance can be found at the house’s Middle Eastern boutiques in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha.
Maison Origine Paris Takes Oud of London Onboard Emirates
Maison Origine Paris has chosen an unconventional setting for the global debut of Oud of London. Rather than introducing the extrait de parfum through a flagship boutique, the independent French house is launching it exclusively onboard Emirates.
The Gold Edition will initially be available only to the airline’s passengers, turning the journey into the first place customers can discover and purchase it. Scentitude VIP clients will receive access afterwards, followed by a wider release through selected luxury retailers.
Oud of London interprets the British capital through atmosphere rather than its most recognisable landmarks. The composition opens with oud, saffron, incense and raspberry. Amyris, benzoin resinoid, cypriol and leather form the heart, while sandalwood, amber, patchouli and musk create a warm base.
The 100ml extrait is conceived as an olfactory souvenir of London, taking its references from rain-soaked Mayfair streets, historic architecture and the city’s understated character. Its Emirates debut also offers an interesting new model for fragrance retail, placing discovery within travel rather than waiting for customers to reach a traditional perfume counter.
ARMAF Gives Club de Nuit a More Intense Update
ARMAF has added Club de Nuit Intense Overdose to its best-known fragrance collection, offering a denser interpretation of the original profile. The opening notes combine pineapple, blackcurrant, apple and citrus before birch and patchouli introduce a smokier heart. Musk, ambergris and oakmoss complete the base, giving the fragrance the depth and staying power associated with the Club de Nuit name.
Intense Overdose arrives as the bolder evening proposition in this month’s group of launches, shaped for those who prefer a pronounced fragrance trail. While many of August’s releases look to jewels, cities or regional perfumery traditions for their narratives, ARMAF keeps its attention on amplification: a familiar collection pushed into richer, more concentrated territory.
