Heritage
A house, in its own words
Otoori began as a family‑run venture in Riyadh in 2015. The founders, members of the Otoori family, grew up surrounded by the incense traditions of the Arabian Peninsula. They decided to translate those rituals into bottled perfume, a move that coincided with a broader resurgence of niche Arabian fragrance houses in the mid‑2010s. Early releases such as Badr and Black Oud introduced the brand’s focus on pure agarwood sourced from sustainable farms in Assam, India. By 2016 the line expanded to include a vanilla‑infused oud oil, reflecting a willingness to blend sweet accords with the depth of oud. The 2020 launch of Emperor Silver marked the first time Otoori experimented with metallic accents in its scent architecture, using fine silver particles in the bottle design to echo the fragrance’s crisp, airy top notes. In 2021 the house released Khanjar, a composition that references the traditional Arabian dagger through sharp, peppery accords layered over a warm base of amber and musk. Throughout its first decade Otoori has opened flagship boutiques in Riyadh and Jeddah, each featuring a dedicated incense chamber where customers can experience raw bakhoor before selecting a finished product. The brand’s growth has been supported by partnerships with regional agricultural cooperatives that supply ethically harvested agarwood, ensuring a supply chain that respects both the environment and the cultural significance of the material. While Otoori remains privately owned, its presence at regional trade fairs such as the Saudi International Perfume Expo has helped it reach collectors across the Gulf and beyond. Otoori views scent as a living memory. The house believes that each fragrance should evoke a specific place, time, or feeling rooted in Arabian culture while remaining accessible to a global audience. Its creative process starts with a story—whether a historic market, a desert night, or a family gathering—and translates that narrative into a palette of natural ingredients. The brand values transparency, disclosing the origin of its agarwood, the age of the wood, and the method of extraction. Sustainability guides its sourcing decisions; Otoori works with certified farms that practice replanting and avoid over‑harvesting. The house also supports local artisans by commissioning hand‑crafted bottles that reflect traditional motifs. Rather than chasing trends, Otoori aims to preserve the ritual of incense, inviting wearers to pause and engage their senses fully. This philosophy extends to its retail spaces, where customers can sit in a quiet lounge, light a piece of bakhoor, and experience the fragrance in its raw form before committing to a bottle.