RIYADH: While perfumes are gaining fresh attention across the Kingdom, oud remains the soul of the Gulf’s scent identity, deeply rooted in Saudi heritage and now poised for global growth.
Saudi Arabia’s oud and fragrance retail market is projected to see a 14 percent compound annual growth rate from 2024 to 2029, reaching approximately SR18.5 billion ($4.93 billion) by the end of the period, according to Euromonitor.
This growth will be driven largely by rising demand for premium oud-based perfumes, fueled by increasing consumer spending.
Euromonitor also showed that premium men’s fragrances, many of which feature oud, are expected to be the fastest-growing category, aligning with a regional shift toward greater male investment in personal care. Arabian Oud Co. led the market in 2024, holding a 9 percent retail value share.
Before exploring oud’s transformation, it’s worth stepping back to understand the shifting dynamics of fragrance demand in the Gulf Cooperation Council, and what gives the region its uniquely bold scent identity.
