Abdullah Al Roman
Abdullah Al Roman grew up in Malaysia surrounded by the smoky scent of oud that drifted from his family’s modest incense shop. As a child he learned to distinguish the grain of agarwood from the bright spark of citrus, a habit that later defined his nose. He earned his NPA qualification in natural perfumery, a rigorous program that sharpened his technical skill and deepened his respect for botanical raw materials. After graduation he launched House of Perfumers, a consultancy that advises emerging brands on scent strategy and product development. In parallel he co‑founded Perfumer’s Lab and Academy, a creative hub where students experiment with rare extracts under his guidance. 2025 marked his first public accolade when a fragrance he formulated reached the final round of the Artisan category at the Art and Olfaction Awards, and the same year the Mouillette d’Argent recognized his work for its originality. Today he balances client projects with personal experiments, always seeking to translate memory into scent.
The hits
Notable creations
The signature
How Abdullah composes
Abdullah favors natural extracts and favors a minimalist palette that lets each ingredient breathe. He builds structures around a single star material—often a high‑grade oud or a rare flower—and supports it with subtle green notes, light woods, and a whisper of spice. His technique includes slow maceration of raw woods in carrier oils, followed by careful distillation to preserve nuance. He prefers hand‑blending in small batches, testing on skin rather than blotters to gauge true development. The result is a scent that feels both intimate and expansive, rooted in tradition yet expressed with contemporary clarity.
Philosophy
What drives Abdullah
My philosophy treats perfume as a bridge between memory and moment. I start each brief by asking what feeling the client wants to capture, then I trace that emotion back to a scent that once marked my own life. Oud, rose water, and tropical teak often appear because they anchor my earliest recollections. I avoid synthetic shortcuts; instead I blend natural absolutes with modern techniques to reveal hidden layers. I believe a fragrance should speak clearly on the skin, offering a first impression that evolves into a quiet, lingering story. This disciplined yet intuitive approach keeps my work grounded while allowing surprise.
The houses