Close to Skin: Hamidi Turns Fragrance into a Morning Ritual

For most of us, perfume is the last thing we reach for before heading out the door. Hamidi wants to change that. The UAE fragrance house recently introduced its Close to Skin concept at an intimate wellness morning at IMMERSEE in The Sustainable City, inviting guests to experience scent as a ritual rather than a finishing touch.

The morning was built around The Hamidi Art of Layering, a nod to the traditions of Arabic perfumery, where fragrance has long been worn in layers of oils, body care and perfume. The result is a scent that develops naturally on the skin and becomes unique to the person wearing it.

“We believe fragrance belongs in your morning ritual, not only your evening out,” said Evarist Rego, Director, Brand & Business Strategy at Hamidi. “Close to Skin is an invitation to slow down and build a scent that is truly yours, one layer at a time.”

The experience unfolded in five moments: Move, Reset, Discover, Layer and Personalise. Guests began with a 40-minute guided yoga session and a sensorial sound experience, then explored layering through Hamidi’s new Scent Rituals Kit. The highlight was a Make Your Own Perfume Oil station, where each guest created a personalised 10ml perfume oil to take home.

Four Hamidi fragrances took centre stage: Alya and Maysara Eau de Parfum, alongside Gulnar and Samaa Concentrated Perfume Oils. Together, they showed how different notes and textures can be combined to create something entirely personal.

Hamidi’s skin-first collection is clean and non-alcoholic, drawing on classic Arabic perfumery materials such as oud, rose, amber, musk, sandalwood and incense, alongside fresh citrus, fruits and florals. Made in the UAE, it reflects more than 20 years of expertise, and the brand is now present in more than 65 countries.

Want to try it at home? The Scent Rituals Kit, in eight variants, is expected to launch in December 2026. Meanwhile, Alya, Maysara, Gulnar, Samaa and other best-sellers are available at hamidi.ae and selected UAE retailers.