The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Shaghaf. In Arabic, it means passion, and that single word was the brief Christian Carbonnel worked from when composing this Extrait de Parfum in 2017. The Anfas Collection frames fragrance as storytelling, as memory and place made tangible. Shaghaf translates that philosophy into olfactory intensity. Warm, spicy, deeply oriental, this is passion distilled into liquid form. The name came first. The scent followed.
What makes Shaghaf work is the balance between bright opening and deep foundation. Cardamom and ginger arrive sharp, aromatic, almost medicinal in their clarity. The citrus lifts everything, keeps it from feeling heavy too soon. Then the heart takes over, tobacco, cedar, leather. These materials have weight. They anchor the composition and give it presence. The base layers on top of that foundation, building warmth that radiates off the skin for hours.
The evolution
The opening hits sharp and bright. Cardamom and ginger cut through with clean heat, citrus lifting everything before it settles. Five minutes in, the tobacco arrives. Cedar follows. Leather emerges from their interplay. The heart phase is warm, textured, intimate. Then the base takes over. Oud and patchouli anchor everything, resinous, deep, slightly sweet. Vanilla and amber warm the skin. The drydown on most lasts through the afternoon and into the evening. On fabric, it lingers until the next wash.
Cultural impact
Shaghaf anchors the Essence Of Arabia collection, a line built around translating Gulf heritage into wearable form. The fragrance fits into a broader movement of Arabian perfumery gaining recognition, scents that carry cultural memory and geographic specificity rather than simply offering luxury marketing. For wearers drawn to oriental compositions with depth and presence, this one delivers without requiring a four-figure price tag.
The House
AnfasAnfas is a niche fragrance house rooted in the United Arab Emirates, built around the vision of Asem Al Qassim, who holds the distinction of being recognized as the first certified Emirati perfumer. The brand channels the sensory language of Arabian perfumery, working primarily with oud, amber, and regional botanical materials to create scents that carry cultural memory and geographic specificity. Each fragrance functions as a narrative artifact, expressing moments from Gulf heritage, hospitality traditions, and the landscape of the Emirates. The collection spans perfumes for personal wear and home fragrance, positioning Anfas within the intersection of artisanal craft and contemporary luxury retail. The brand is distributed through specialty retailers including The Scent Library and La Parfumerie USA, reaching fragrance collectors internationally.
The Creator
Christian CarbonnelCarbonnel is at his most distinctive when building rich, layered oriental compositions that unfold over hours on the skin. He favors high-quality natural materials and constructs fragrances with real depth—top notes that sparkle, heart notes that develop, and base notes that a…
