The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Remal landed in 2021, signed by perfumer Abdulla Almarzooq for Touch of Oud. The composition leans into spice and sweetness, offering a structured blend where cedar, saffron, and tobacco sit on a warm bed of vanilla and tonka. The opening is sharp and bright, with saffron and absinthe cutting through citrus, then it folds into a heart of rose, geranium, patchouli, and tobacco that reads warm and slightly leathery, almost like the inside of a wooden humidor. As the hours pass, the tobacco and patchouli settle into a creamy drydown of vanilla, sugar, white musk, and cashmere wood, with just enough resinous sweetness to keep pulling you back.
What makes Remal interesting is what it leaves out. There is no listed oud in the pyramid, which sets it apart within a house that revolves around the material. Instead, cedarwood and sandalwood carry the structural weight, allowing saffron and incense to flash at the top without competing against true agarwood. Labdanum, tonka, and vanilla build a sticky-sweet heart that recalls amber resins, while cashmere wood and white musk in the base give it that clean, fabric-hugging close.
The evolution
The first ten minutes are the most volatile. Saffron, absinthe, lemon, and a sharp baie rose hit all at once, bright and almost bitter, like the moment a match catches. Incense curls underneath, hinting at what's coming. As the citrus fades, the composition pivots into its heart: rose and geranium give it a green, slightly soapy lift, but the real weight comes from patchouli, tobacco, and labdanum. That trio smells like the inside of a wooden humidor, warm, slightly sweet, with a leathery edge. Tonka softens everything without flattening it. The drydown, which begins around the two-hour mark, is where the composition finds its footing. Vanilla, sugar, white musk, and cashmere wood settle into something creamy and golden, and the patchouli reappears one last time to anchor the sweetness to earth. On skin it lasts a full workday with ease.
Cultural impact
Remal sits at a crossroads of contemporary woody-amber perfumery, pulling from regional traditions while filtering them through a modern, restrained lens. The sweet, creamy drydown and the saffron-led opening make it a crossover scent, equally at home with someone exploring niche perfumery for the first time and a seasoned collector looking for an easy-wearing daily option. It draws on the warmth and depth associated with Middle Eastern compositions but presents them in a drier, woodier format that feels current.
The House
Touch Of OudTouch Of Oud curates a line of oud‑centric fragrances that balance the depth of traditional Middle Eastern wood with a restrained, contemporary sensibility. Each scent unfolds with a clear structure, allowing the rare heart of oud to speak without overwhelming the wearer. The brand positions itself as a bridge between heritage craftsmanship and modern niche perfumery, offering compositions that linger long on skin while remaining approachable for daily wear.
The Creator
Abdulla AlmarzooqAbdulla’s technique centers on a disciplined layering of base notes. He begins with a pure oud extract, then adds a measured dose of sandalwood to soften the edge.
