Heritage
A house, in its own words
The original perfume house that would become Ramasat opened its doors in the United Kingdom in 1971, entering a market dominated by traditional European houses. Over the following decades the company built a modest catalogue of niche fragrances, but it remained relatively low‑profile. In the early 2000s an Emirati investment group with a history of retail and luxury ventures acquired the brand’s rights, seeking to combine the British legacy with the rich olfactory traditions of the Gulf region. This partnership introduced a new corporate structure that retained the original European formulation expertise while adding Middle Eastern sourcing and design sensibilities. By 2015 the rebranded Ramasat launched a series of fragrances that explicitly referenced Arabian ingredients such as oud, amber and frankincense, positioning the line as a cultural bridge. The brand opened its first flagship boutique in Dubai’s Alserkal Avenue, followed by a store in Downtown Beirut that showcased the collection alongside locally inspired installations. Throughout its evolution, Ramasat has maintained a focus on limited‑edition releases, often collaborating with regional artisans for packaging and scent inspiration. The company remains registered in the United Kingdom, as confirmed by Companies House filings, while its primary market and creative direction now reside in the United Arab Emirates. Ramasat’s creative vision rests on the idea that scent can translate geography into emotion. The brand states that it seeks to honor the precision of British perfumery while embracing the storytelling depth of Arabian fragrance culture. Its values emphasize authenticity, cultural respect and a commitment to sourcing ingredients that reflect both heritage and sustainability. Rather than chasing trends, Ramasat encourages its perfumers to explore historical archives, drawing on classic European notes and pairing them with regional materials such as Arabian sandalwood, rose from Saudi farms and Lebanese cedar. The brand also promotes a collaborative approach, inviting regional artists to contribute to visual concepts, thereby ensuring that each launch feels like a shared narrative rather than a solitary product release. This philosophy manifests in a catalogue that aims to be both familiar to Western noses and evocative for Middle Eastern sensibilities, offering a nuanced olfactory dialogue that respects the past while looking forward.