The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Zimaya, founded in 2023 in the UAE, entered the fragrance market with a clear mission: to honor the sensory heritage of Arabian perfumery without resorting to pastiche. Sharaf Blend represents that intent distilled into an extrait concentration, lending the notes room to breathe and evolve over hours rather than minutes. Perfumer Imran Fazlani works within this concentrated format to layer sweetness and spice without the dilution that lower concentrations impose.
The note selection speaks to a deliberate philosophy: dates anchor the fragrance to Middle Eastern culinary tradition, saffron provides exotic rarity, and vanilla with praline extend the sweetness into familiar Western comfort territory. Nutmeg bridges these worlds with its universal spice. The tuberose in the heart layer keeps that sweetness from becoming one-dimensional, offering a floral counterweight that mature wearers will appreciate.
The evolution
The fragrance opens with aggressive sweetness from dates, their sticky, jammy quality immediately tempered by saffron's resinous bite and nutmeg's warming spice. Over the first quarter hour, this initial statement softens as vanilla and praline step forward, turning the composition toward edible warmth. Tuberose arrives softly, not to dominate, but to complicate the sweetness with a creamy floral dimension. By the drydown, tonka bean and benzoin lock in place, their resinous warmth working alongside amberwood's subtle woodiness while musk lingers as a quiet skin note.
Cultural impact
Since its 2023 launch, Sharaf Blend has become a staple among fans of sweet-gourmand orientals, often mentioned alongside Lattafa’s Khamrah and Gulf Orchid’s Sweet Heaven. Wearers praise its confident sillage and long-lasting amber-tonka trail, while some note its richness can dominate in hot climates. Its blend of traditional Middle Eastern ingredients with a modern gourmand twist positions it as a bridge between classic oud-heavy houses and contemporary niche seekers.
