Best Swiss Arabian Perfumes: 11 Picks and What They Smell Like
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Swiss Arabian has been making perfumes in the UAE since 1974, and right now it is one of the most talked-about Arabian houses. It is best known for its concentrated perfume oils: small, alcohol-free bottles of rich oud, rose, vanilla and musk that you dab on the skin, plus a growing range of modern sprays.
The catalogue is huge, so here is a guide to the Swiss Arabian perfumes worth knowing, grouped by how they smell, with the notes for each one.
The quick answer
For rich, modern oud, start with Shaghaf Oud Azraq or Shaghaf Oud Ahmar. For a sweet, cosy vanilla, Layali Noir. For a bright fruity floral, Yulali or Layali Rouge. For a fresh spray you can wear every day, Shaghaf Oud Marine. For a clean skin scent, Musk Malaki.
What do Swiss Arabian perfumes smell like?
Most of the range sits in three moods. The oud line (Shaghaf Oud, Dehn El Oud, Private Oud) is warm and resinous, often softened with honey, vanilla or rose. The Layali oils are sweet and comforting, built on vanilla, praline, coconut and fruit. And the fresh sprays, like Shaghaf Oud Marine and Echoes of St. Moritz, bring citrus, sea notes and woods for warmer days.
Because many of them are perfume oils, they sit close to the skin and last a long time. A small drop goes a long way.
The best oud perfumes from Swiss Arabian
1. Shaghaf Oud Azraq: honey and oud
Unisex | Perfume oil
Top: Honey, Agarwood · Heart: Cinnamon, Amber, Vanilla · Base: Patchouli, Leather
Honey and oud on top, cinnamon, amber and vanilla in the heart, and patchouli and leather in the base. Sweet, warm and smooth, a good first oud for people who find oud too sharp.
2. Shaghaf Oud Ahmar: fruity oud
Unisex | Perfume oil
Top: Bergamot, Melon, Peach, Iris, Freesia · Heart: Amber, Apple, Tonka Bean, Rose · Base: Sandalwood, Amber, Vanilla, Musk, Agarwood, Cedar
Bergamot, melon, peach and iris open into amber, apple, tonka bean and rose, over sandalwood, vanilla, musk, oud and cedar. A softer, fruitier oud that is easy to wear.
3. Private Oud: oud with cocoa and caramel
Unisex | Perfume oil
Top: Agarwood, Plum, Rose · Heart: Tonka Bean, Vetiver, White Flowers, Jasmine · Base: Agarwood, Cocoa, Caramel, Vanilla
Oud, plum and rose on top, tonka bean, vetiver and white flowers in the heart, and more oud with cocoa, caramel and vanilla in the base. Rich and gourmand.
4. Dehn El Oud Cambodi: traditional oud
Unisex | Perfume oil
Top: Agarwood, Leather · Heart: Woody Notes, Tobacco, Resins · Base: Woody Notes, Amber
Agarwood and leather over woody notes, tobacco and resins, with amber in the base. Deeper and more traditional than the Shaghaf line, for real oud lovers.
The best sweet Swiss Arabian perfumes
5. Layali Noir: cosy vanilla praline
Unisex | Perfume oil
Top: Davana, Cinnamon · Heart: Tonka, Amber, Oak · Base: Vanilla, Praline, Sandalwood, Amber
Davana and cinnamon over tonka, amber and oak, with vanilla, praline, sandalwood and amber in the base. Warm and sweet, perfect for cold evenings.
6. Layali Rouge: tropical and floral
Unisex | Perfume oil
Top: Hibiscus, Sandalwood, Coconut · Heart: Rose, Peach · Base: Floral Notes, Mango, Pineapple, Papaya, Lemon
Hibiscus, sandalwood and coconut over rose and peach, with mango, pineapple, papaya and lemon. Juicy and bright, one of the most popular oils in the range.
7. Yulali: fruity floral
Unisex | Perfume oil
Top: Peach, Apple, Tangerine, Bergamot · Heart: Freesia, Magnolia, Gardenia, Jasmine · Base: Musk, Vanilla, Sandalwood, Iris
Peach, apple, tangerine and bergamot over freesia, magnolia, gardenia and jasmine, finishing with musk, vanilla, sandalwood and iris. Fresh, feminine and very easy to like.
8. Hawa: floral amber
Unisex | Perfume oil
Top: Bergamot, Cardamom, Mandarin, Ylang-Ylang, Plum · Heart: Cashmeran, Orange Blossom, Jasmine, Rose · Base: Patchouli, Vanilla, Sandalwood, Amber
Bergamot, cardamom, mandarin, ylang-ylang and plum over cashmeran, orange blossom, jasmine and rose, with patchouli, vanilla, sandalwood and amber. A rich floral for special occasions.
The best fresh Swiss Arabian perfumes
9. Shaghaf Oud Marine: fresh oud
Unisex | Eau de Parfum
Top: Marine Notes, Bergamot, Black Pepper · Heart: Mahonial, Floral Notes, Geranium, Rose · Base: Akigalawood, Oud, Cypriol, Amber
Marine notes, bergamot and black pepper over mahonial, geranium and rose, with akigalawood, oud, cypriol and amber. A fresh, salty take on oud that works in warm weather.
10. Echoes of St. Moritz: citrus and woods
Unisex | Eau de Parfum
Top: Bergamot, Mandarin, Red Berries, Grapefruit · Heart: Cypress, Apple, Black Currant, Artemisia, Elemi · Base: Vetiver, Leather, Cedar, Oakmoss, Patchouli, Amber, Musk, Vanilla
Bergamot, mandarin, red berries and grapefruit over cypress, apple, black currant and elemi, with vetiver, leather, cedar, oakmoss and amber. Crisp and green with a smooth woody base.
The clean musk pick
11. Musk Malaki: soft skin musk
Unisex | Perfume oil
Heart: Musk · Base: Musk, Ambergris
A simple, clean blend of musk and ambergris. It smells like warm, fresh skin and is a favourite for layering under other perfumes.
Want to see them all? Browse every Swiss Arabian perfume in our database, or put two side by side in our comparison tool.
How to wear Swiss Arabian perfume oils
Perfume oils are concentrated, so start small: one or two dabs on the wrists and the side of the neck. Let the oil warm up on your skin rather than rubbing it in hard. You can also layer a musk oil like Musk Malaki under a spray to make it last longer.
FAQ
What is the best Swiss Arabian perfume?
For oud, Shaghaf Oud Azraq and Shaghaf Oud Ahmar are the most popular picks. Layali Noir is the favourite sweet vanilla, and Layali Rouge and Yulali are the best fruity florals.
Are Swiss Arabian perfumes oils or sprays?
Both. Swiss Arabian is best known for concentrated perfume oils, but it also makes Eau de Parfum sprays such as Shaghaf Oud Marine and Echoes of St. Moritz.
Where is Swiss Arabian from?
Swiss Arabian is a perfume house from the UAE, making perfumes since 1974.
Do Swiss Arabian perfume oils last long?
Perfume oils are concentrated and sit close to the skin, so they usually last a long time. A small amount is enough.
