Sara Al Dahlawi on the Global Rise of Saudi Women in Perfumery

Trained in Paris and rooted in Jeddah, Sara Al Dahlawi is part of a new generation of Saudi women transforming the country’s centuries-old perfume tradition into a growing creative industry.

In Saudi Arabia, perfume is more than adornment, it is memory, identity, and inheritance. For generations, the ritual of scenting the home, the self, and even the drinking glasses is an art passed from hand to hand, more lived than learned. Now with perfuming undergoing a renaissance in the Kingdom, Sara Al Dahlawi, founder and creative perfumer behind Maison Dahlawi, stands out as one of its most compelling voices. Her work fuses Saudi raw materials with Parisian savoir-faire.

“My transition from the world of business to perfumery came from a deep desire to renew my life and move toward something that truly speaks to my soul,” Al Dahlawi recalls. “I wanted to create sensory and artistic experiences that carry my personal signature.”


Her gateway was Cinquième Sens in Paris, among the world’s most revered perfume schools, where she learned that behind every beautiful scent lies the discipline of correct method and intent. “Perfumery is deeply connected to all other forms of art, like music, painting and literature, through its ability to evoke emotion. We can literally create feelings inside a bottle,” she says.

Al Dahlawi’s scents unfold like small worlds, each tracing a different facet of Saudi memory and imagination. Vanité is a spicy and woody tribute to Arabia’s heritage, where bergamot and lemon meet cinnamon, saffron and vanilla in a confident, sun-warmed accord. Al Ula, inspired by the ancient oasis, blends amber and myrrh with saffron and pink pepper, its warmth echoing the quiet majesty of desert landscapes. Satin moves with the poise of its name, a floral and woody composition of jasmine, rose and violet layered over patchouli and moss; an homage, Al Dahlawi says, “to grace, movement and emotion.”

“The concept behind Maison Dahlawi is built on creating emotions, capturing the feelings tied to memories, places, stories, ideas, and even music,” Al Dahlawi explains.

That emotional intelligence is matched by a jeweller’s eye for form. Before perfumery, Al Dahlawi studied jewellery design, and that training shapes her bottles. “I wanted to create a perfume bottle that feels precious like holding a beautiful, luxurious piece in your hand,” she says. “My goal was for the person, even before smelling the fragrance, to feel they own something exquisite and meaningful.” 

Al Dahlawi doesn’t believe in the myth of the lone genius. For her, creativity is a collective act. “My ambition knows no limits,” she says. “I envision Maison Dahlawi as a platform that unites the creativity of Saudi perfumers with world-renowned talents. True excellence comes from collaboration and shared inspiration.”

Her next goal is to work closely with Saudi farmers and producers to develop local raw materials, particularly roses. “In the near future, I plan to establish strong local partnerships to support and develop Saudi sources of natural ingredients,” she says. “My vision is to highlight the richness and diversity of the Kingdom from north to south.”

This movement is not hers alone; across the Kingdom, women are reshaping the olfactory map. “Saudi women play a major and distinctive role in the world of perfumery today,” she says. “They have a refined, exceptional sense of taste and a unique creative identity. Even abroad, I often see great admiration for Saudi women and the way they bring elegance and authenticity to the art of fragrance.”