The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Abu Dhabi launched in 2025 as an animal-gourmand fragrance for women and men by Memoirs Of A Perfume Collector. Its composition opens with cardamom, orris, pink pepper, pot marigold, and ylang-ylang, creating an aromatic introduction shaped by the warmth of spice, the softness of iris, and the bright lift of pink pepper. The heart develops through Assam oud, Indian jasmine sambac, Moroccan rose, narcissus absolute, Taif rose absolute, and tuberose. Together, these notes give the fragrance a layered floral character, balancing resinous depth with fresh, romantic florals.
The composition moves into a richly textured base of cedarwood, lokum, myrrh, pistachio, Sidr tree honey, Tahitian vanilla absolute, vetiver, Vietnamese oud, and Yemeni coffee. Cedarwood and vetiver lend structure, while myrrh and oud deepen the composition with resinous weight. Lokum, pistachio, honey, and coffee introduce the gourmand character, balanced by the sweetness of Tahitian vanilla absolute. The result is a fragrance that can feel both enveloping and intricate, with contrasting textures held together in a warm, polished trail.
The evolution
The opening begins with cardamom, orris, pink pepper, pot marigold, and ylang-ylang. Spicy cardamom and pink pepper bring brightness, while orris adds a soft, powdery texture and pot marigold introduces a rounded floral warmth. Ylang-ylang gives the first impression a richer, sensual edge. As the heart emerges, Assam oud, Indian jasmine sambac, Moroccan rose, narcissus absolute, Taif rose absolute, and tuberose create a layered floral core. The base brings cedarwood, lokum, myrrh, pistachio, Sidr tree honey, Tahitian vanilla absolute, vetiver, Vietnamese oud, and Yemeni coffee into focus. Sweet notes mingle with resinous woods, coffee, and oud, giving Abu Dhabi a character that shifts from bright and aromatic toward deeper, warmer territory as it develops on the skin.
Cultural impact
Abu Dhabi presents an oriental-style animal-gourmand direction within the Memoirs Of A Perfume Collector range. Its composition brings together cardamom, orris, pink pepper, pot marigold, ylang-ylang, Assam oud, Indian jasmine sambac, Moroccan rose, narcissus absolute, Taif rose absolute, tuberose, cedarwood, lokum, myrrh, pistachio, Sidr tree honey, Tahitian vanilla absolute, vetiver, Vietnamese oud, and Yemeni coffee. The fragrance is notable for the way sweet and savoury elements sit beside dense florals and resonant woods, creating a rich, expressive take on gourmand perfumery.
The House
Memoirs Of A Perfume CollectorMemoirs Of A Perfume Collector is a British fragrance house creating niche perfumes with a collector's sensibility. The brand takes its name from the personal obsession of scent, positioning each fragrance as a chapter in a larger story. Their collection draws inspiration from cities and destinations, with names like New York, Doha, Riyadh, and Zanzibar anchoring each bottle to a specific place. This travel-oriented naming convention suggests the perfumes aim to evoke the sensory memories of particular locations. The house operates as a small independent outfit with a focused library of scents rather than a sprawling catalog. British-based and relatively new to the niche market, the brand has gained presence through retailers like Luckyscent, Les Senteurs, and Scent Split. Their aesthetic appears collector-focused, presenting fragrance as curated experience rather than mass-market commodity.
The Creator
Jean Claude DelvilleDelville's style resists easy summary, which is perhaps the point. He moves between floralorientals, fresh citruses, and powdery aldehydic compositions with apparent ease.
