The smell of Dubai’s Burj Al Arab // Ajmal Oudh Mubakhar Perfume Oil Review

I say this to people IRL, I’ve said it on my Instagram stories, and I’ll say it here too. If you’re looking to dabble in the world of real oud oils, Ajmal needs to be your first port of call. They have a reputation as the oud experts in the Middle East, and with good reason too.

Who are Ajmal? 

Ajmal are head quartered in the UAE, widely available across the Gulf region and even in India! 

Ajmal’s owners are Indian, and the brand have their own oud plantations across India. They do also source ouds from other countries in South East Asia, but they’re renowned for their Hindi ouds. This shouldn’t be too much of a surprise, as Arabs are all about their bold fragrances, and oud doesn’t come any bolder than Hindi oud.

The brand have an extensive range of real oud wood chips, oud fragrance oils, oud body powders and oud spray perfumes. And whilst oud is a major part of their brand identity, they do sell fragrances without oud too.

Ajmal cater to a variety of budgets when it comes to oud. Some of their oils are well under £100 for 12ml (1 tola), whilst others stretch out to eye-watering numbers.

Ajmal Oudh Mubakhar Perfume Oil 

Oudh Mubakhar is not one of Ajmal’s hyper-expensive oils, but it sure is premium. If you’ve ever visited the Burj Al Arab, you might have wondered quite why it smells so incredible. The answer is Ajmal, and specifically, Oudh Mubakhar incense/bakhoor by Ajmal. It’s an intoxicating fragrance, unashamedly luxurious and regal.

The fragrance oil version is no different to its incense sibling, it’s every bit as luxurious, regal and gives off an aura of ‘old money’. It was actually my very first real oud oil, I’ve already ran through two 12ml bottles, and now I’m onto my third – the fact that it’s relatively affordable for an oud oil gives me the freedom to wear it more regularly.

I’d say that Oudh Mubakhar is perfect for those with smaller budgets and who are dipping their toes into the world of real Hindi oud. It’s such good value, particularly if you compare it to the likes of Sunnamusk. The oils i’ve tried are almost embarrassingly weak in comparison, at a similar price point (albeit you get a little more product with Sunnamusk).

Why spend the same amount of money, for something that a) doesn’t smell anywhere near as good and b) doesn’t last anywhere near as long. For me, it shows that Ajmal know what they’re doing when it comes to oud, and they care about the quality in their entire range.

What does Ajmal Oudh Mubakhar actually smell like? 

Mubakhar in Arabic means ‘smoky’ and that’s a good place to start in terms of describing it. That being said, it’s not the kind of smoky that overwhelms or makes you feel the urge to cough, it’s a pleasant, inoffensive smokiness that lurks beneath the more prominent notes.

Of course, it’s all about the oud though. In my opinion, it’s likely to be a Hindi oud, possibly a blend, which given the resources at their disposal is not surprising. It has an initial burst of the fecal, barnyard aroma that’s so typical of Hindi ouds, but in time this develops into a more smoky, dry, woody scent. Personally, I get peaty, single malt whisky vibes from it too. I also find that it has a resinous quality to it, but without the sweetness that accompanies that in most oud fragrances, it’s quite syrupy but much softer. Combining all of that, you have a wonderfully complex and pungent fragrance.

I think the smoky notes of Oudh Mubakhar, combined with the lack of sweetness, sets this fragrance apart from other Hindi ouds. It’s so well blended and balanced, it has mysterious feel to it, and I’m all for that.

LONGEVITY AND SILLAGE OF OUDH MUBAKHAR BY AJMAL 

In short, this fragrance is long lasting with fantastic sillage.

I smeared a drop or two behind my ears, on the sides of my neck and in between my cleavage at 8am. By the time I was at the hairdressers around 2pm, I was getting wafts of the oil radiating off my skin from these areas. It’s genuinely one of those fragrances that lasts all day.

Who will enjoy Ajmal’s Oudh Mubakhar? 

✅ If you enjoy real Hindi oud but want a more budget friendly version of real oud, you will love Oudh Mubakhar’s nuanced and smoky oud. 

✅ If you like pungent ouds.

✅ If you want to smell like the Burj Al Arab in Dubai.

✅ You’re an adventurous person when it comes to fragrances and mostly love your blind buys, then you might appreciate this complex yet bold fragrance. 

🚫 If you prefer oud accords or are sensitive to oud accords, then this fragrance is absolutely not for you. 

Where can I purchase Ajmal Oudh Mubakhar? 

I purchased mine from one of their branches in Dubai in their sale for around £42.00.

Sadly, it is not easily available to buy in the UK. If you have a relative or friend heading over to the Middle East, I recommend asking them to purchase it for you.