Amouage takes a journey to lesser known vistas of Oman for inspiration to create the latest two additions in the Attar collection. Every perfume created at the House of Amouage is, to some extent, based on Oman. Some of the compositions may have drawn inspiration from places that are thousands of miles away from the country, while reflecting the spirit of Oman. However, when it comes to Amouage’s highly-acclaimed attars, the connection with the country is explicit – each one is inspired by a specific, but perhaps relatively unknown Omani locale and attempts to represent its distinctive identity. The latest additions to the attar collection – Suede Ibri and Tonka Misfah – are no exception.
“One of the most inspiring activities I’m fortunate enough to be able to enjoy,” says Amouage’s Chief Creative Officer, Renaud Salmon, “is to explore the varied geography of Oman. One of my favourite ways to do this is by car, driving from one place to another, observing how the shapes and colours shift before my eyes.”
It was while planning one of these expeditions that Salmon was moved to visit two contrasting places on the same day. “For some reason I was drawn to the idea of going from Ibri to Misfat Al Abriyeen, also known as Misfah, in the same trip. I already had some knowledge of how distinct they were from each other – one is calm and ancient, while the other is full of life – so I wanted to sharpen the differences between them by going straight from one to the other.” In terms of the distance covered, the travelling was not especially dramatic – it involved only around 150 km of driving. However, as an internal journey experienced by Salmon, the day could not have been more moving.
Suede Ibri
The archaeological site of Ibri, 250 km west of Muscat, is remarkable for its all-pervasive stillness. A witness to over 5000 years of life, it is home to the UNESCO-listed Beehive Tombs, among the most iconic remnants of Oman’s ancient civilization. Once a major centre for trade and education – it haunts the visitor with its ability to conjure the past while remaining timeless. Ibri also enjoys tremendous cultural diversity, with inhabitants from a range of different ethnic backgrounds sharing its space together.
To help him express Ibri’s sense of immortal elegance, Salmon turned to perfumer Theo Belmas, who chose to interpret the town’s character through a heart-stopping combination of Violet and Suede. “Leather compositions,” explains Salmon, “can be placed on a spectrum, with the more animalic fragrances at one end, and the softer creations at the other. For this attar, we wanted to veer towards the latter, in order to convey the ancient worldliness of the place that had inspired us.”
In Suede Ibri, Belmas has employed the floral elements of the Violet and the soft, velvety qualities of the Suede to form a supremely sophisticated union. With Saffron and Amber adding additional intrigue, he has achieved an impeccable balance of sensuality, romance and subtlety – a suitably timeless rendition of one of the most ancient perfumery genres.
Tonka Misfah
Located east of Ibri, on the slopes of Al Hajar Mountains, the oasis village of Misfat Al Abriyeen, when viewed from a distance, appears to consist of little more than vegetation. However, it is not long before the visitor notices the settlement perched on the mountain. Equally unexpected is its Falaj irrigation system, which dates back 2000 years and is still the method by which the villagers obtain fresh water. With its stone-paved streets, colourful wooden doors and smiling inhabitants, Misfat Al Abriyeen is an unforgettable expression of humanity’s ability to co-exist with nature.
In order to convey Misfat Al Abriyeen’s warmth and openness, Salmon enlisted the talents of Suzy Le Helley, who employed the golden-wood personality of Tonka Bean introducing almond-like, vanillic facets in order to conjure the generosity of the village. “Few materials are as amicable as Tonka,” says Salmon. “We felt it was the perfect match with the affection that fills the air itself in Misfat Al Abriyeen.”
In Tonka Misfah, Le Helley has linked her central material with the dazzling majesty of Saffron, the dry, earthy quality of Patchouli and the hospitable richness of Vanilla to create an all-embracing evocation of the conclusion of Salmon’s journey: a life-affirming souvenir of a trip to a bucolic paradise.
Most fragrances consist of what is known as the perfume concentrate which is subsequently diluted in a scent-free solvent. Attars are composed entirely of perfume oils and they must contain no unscented material. They do not go through a dilution phase. Each of their components makes some contribution – subtle or overt – to the final piece. Constructing a fragrance in which every ingredient must have an odour is no easy task. Only perfumers with a thorough knowledge of their palette are able to create within this unforgiving form.
Suede Ibri and Tonka Misfah are presented in the new Amouage attar flacon, unveiled in 2025. Its custom-made applicator allows every drop of the attars to be enjoyed fully, while creating a contemporary aesthetic.