The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Dhofar is a 2023 release from the house Reine de Saba. The name evokes the southern Arabian coastline long associated with aromatic resin, though the fragrance itself reads as a study in compositional balance rather than a literal geographic translation. Dhofar treats oud not as a statement of excess but as one voice in a broader choir that includes raspberry, saffron, and leather. The result reads as a meeting point between Eastern raw materials and French perfumery structure, where resinous depth shares space with confectionary fruit and dry spice. Every note earns its place in the architecture, and the composition refuses to settle into a single mood.
What makes Dhofar interesting is the placement of raspberry and blackcurrant above saffron and oud. The berries arrive first, vivid and almost confectionary, then the saffron undercuts them with a dry, leathery heat. By the time Thai oud enters the base, it has to share space with honey, vanilla, and patchouli. Landi isn't building an oud monument. He's building a conversation where the fruit gets the opening line and the oud has to earn the room. The saffron acts as the hinge between these two registers, carrying a thread of spice that connects the bright opening to the resinous close.
The evolution
The first thirty minutes belong to raspberry and mandarin, bright and almost playful, as if blackcurrant and saffron are arguing in the background about whether to let the fruit have its moment. They don't. Saffron wins, and the whole opening pivots warmer. By the one-hour mark, lily of the valley and jasmine lift through iris and rose, softening the spice into something floral and almost powdery. This is the phase that surprises people. It reads lighter than the opening promised, and for a brief window the fragrance feels like a different scent entirely. Then the base arrives. Honey, patchouli, and Thai oud build slowly underneath, joined by leather that sharpens the edges and vanilla that rounds them. After three hours the oud dominates, smoky and resinous but tempered by the honey sweetness still threading through.
Cultural impact
Dhofar stakes out a distinctive position through its willingness to lead with fruit rather than smoke, and that choice shapes the entire wearing experience. The raspberry-blackcurrant opening with saffron underneath reads as an invitation rather than a challenge, drawing you in before the deeper materials assert themselves. By the time Thai oud, leather, and honey settle into the base, the composition has already built enough trust to let those heavier notes land with warmth instead of intimidation.
The House
Reine de SabaReine de Saba stands as a contemporary French niche fragrance house rooted in Middle Eastern heritage. The house channels the legend of the Queen of Sheba, drawing inspiration from ancient aromatic traditions that once traveled the Incense Route. Founder Habib Al-Sowaidi, whose formative years unfolded in Yemen, channels personal cultural memory into a collection spanning oud compositions, rose-dominant creations, amber-forward scents, and modern musks. The house operates from Paris, placing its work within the tradition of French perfumery while maintaining distinct Yemeni influences in material selection and thematic inspiration.
The Creator
Arturetto LandiLandi favors a clean, linear construction that highlights a single theme before introducing supporting layers. He often begins with a bright top—Italian bergamot, Sicilian lemon, or Calabrian orange—then anchors the heart with aromatic herbs or soft florals.
