Most of us spritz perfume on our way out the door and call it done. But what if fragrance was the start of your day, not just the finishing touch? That was the idea behind a calm, scent-filled morning at IMMERSEE in The Sustainable City, Dubai. Hamidi invited guests to slow down and rethink how they wear fragrance. Yoga mat, check. Sound experience, check. Your own custom perfume oil to take home? Also check. I have all the fab details you want to know, so keep reading to find out more.
Meet “Close To Skin”
Hamidi is a contemporary fragrance house rooted in the traditions of Arabic perfumery. Its “Close to Skin” concept is all about treating scent as a ritual instead of an afterthought. The morning brought together fragrance, wellness and personalisation in one relaxed, intimate setting.
The Art of Layering, Made Personal
The star of the morning was The Hamidi Art of Layering, brought to life through the Scent Rituals Kit. In Arabic perfumery, fragrance has long been built up in layers, using oils, body care and perfume. The idea is that the scent develops naturally on your skin and ends up unique to you.
As Mr. Evarist Rego, Director, Brand & Business Strategy at Hamidi, put it: “We believe fragrance belongs in your morning ritual, not only your evening out. Close to Skin is an invitation to slow down and build a scent that is truly yours, one layer at a time.”
Five Moments, One Morning
The experience flowed through five moments: Move, Reset, Discover, Layer and Personalise.
Guests started with a 40-minute guided yoga session, followed by a sensorial sound experience. Then came the fun part. They explored Hamidi’s approach to fragrance through an interactive layering experience, with the Scent Rituals Kit walking them through each stage of building a fragrance ritual. To finish, a Make Your Own Perfume Oil station let every guest create a personalised 10 ml perfume oil to take home.
The Fragrances Behind The Layers
Four Hamidi fragrances took centre stage: Alya and Maysara Eau de Parfum, along with Gulnar and Samaa Concentrated Perfume Oils. Mixing them showed just how flexible layering can be. Different notes and textures can be combined to create a scent that feels like it belongs to you.
A Skin-First Approach
Hamidi follows a skin-first philosophy, and its collection is clean and non-alcoholic. The fragrances use classic Arabic perfumery ingredients like oud, rose, amber, musk, sandalwood, incense and precious resins, mixed with fresh citrus, fruits and florals. Made in the UAE, the collection draws on more than 20 years of Hamidi’s perfumery expertise, bringing traditional fragrance rituals into everyday modern life.
Little Touches That Made It Feel Like Self-Care
It wasn’t just about the perfume. The morning also included interactive self-care moments, 0% alcohol wellness shots, branded coconuts and premium Hamidi gifting. Each detail backed up the brand’s belief that fragrance can be part of a bigger moment of self-care, something to enjoy slowly, with intention and close to the skin.
About Hamidi
Hamidi was established in 2005 as part of Sterling Parfums and is now present in more than 65 countries. It continues to build on the heritage of Arabic perfumery with its clean, non-alcoholic approach. Its vision is to bring the Art of Layering and the ritual of fragrance into homes and everyday routines across cultures and continents.
Where To Get Your Hands On It
The Scent Rituals Kit, which comes in eight variants, is tentatively scheduled to be available from December 2026. In the meantime, you can find Alya, Maysara, Gulnar, Samaa and other Hamidi best-sellers at hamidi.ae and selected retail partners in the UAE.
