Heritage
A house, in its own words
The roots of Abdul Samad Al Qurashi trace back to 1852, when the Qurashi family began trading aromatic resins and spices across the Arabian Gulf. In 1932 the family opened the first shop under the Abdul Samad Al Qurashi name in Jeddah, marking the formal start of the perfume house. Early records show the shop supplied raw oud chips to local artisans and exported small quantities to neighboring Gulf states. By the 1970s the brand had established a reputation for high‑purity oud, prompting its first shipments to Europe and North Africa. The 1990s saw the launch of the first blended perfume lines, combining traditional oud with Western fragrance structures, a move documented in trade journals of the period. In 2005 the company opened a flagship boutique in Riyadh, featuring a dedicated oud library where customers could sample over 200 varieties of agarwood. International expansion accelerated in 2015 with a boutique in London’s Mayfair, followed by stores in Dubai and Doha. Throughout its history the house has maintained family ownership, with Mohammed Abdul Samad Al Qurashi currently serving as CEO, a role he inherited from his father in 2010. The brand’s longevity is anchored in a commitment to preserving the raw materials and techniques that defined Arabian perfumery in the 19th century. Abdul Samad Al Qurashi frames its creative vision around the principle of "heritage through scent." The house believes that a fragrance should act as a bridge between past and present, allowing the wearer to experience the geography and culture of the source material. Sustainability guides ingredient selection; the company works directly with growers in Oman, India and Malaysia to ensure that agarwood is harvested responsibly. Transparency is another core value: each product label lists the origin of its key notes, and the brand publishes annual reports on its sourcing practices. Rather than chasing fleeting trends, the house focuses on timeless olfactory structures that respect the natural character of the raw material. Collaboration with artisans, such as calligraphers for packaging design, reflects a broader commitment to supporting traditional crafts alongside modern perfumery.