Swiss Arabian have been sweeping across the West with their fragrances in recent years and you’ll no doubt have seen them being talked about on TikTok.
Their fragrances are a blend both of Middle Eastern and French styles which is why they are such a great entry point into the world of Middle Eastern fragrances. Shaghaf Oud by Swiss Arabian was my first ever fragrance from them, one of their iconic OGs, it’s a dupe of Lancôme’s Oud Bouquet, and I’ve actually now ran out of it!
Despite their ever-increasing popularity in the West though, Swiss Arabian’s bakhoors are being slept on. They are next level, and it is so surprising to me that people are just not aware of this.
What’s so special about Swiss Arabian’s bakhoors then?
Their bakhoors are everything you’d need them to be:
1) They’re affordable
2) You get a generous amount and
3) The fragrances are very, very strong – I cannot stress this enough.
The very first time I burned Oud Ouattar Momtaz was actually in the hallway, whilst I was lounging on the sofa with the door closed. But the aroma was seeping in through the doors, almost bursting its way into the living room. When I opened the door, it was a wave of mysterious, souk-esque smokey fragrance.
Swiss Arabian Oud Muattar Mumtaz
In case you were wondering, Oud Muattar means ‘wood chips’, and Oud Muattar Mumtaz is the most popular bakhoor from Swiss Arabian. They have a wide range of pack sizes, and I went for the 500 grams pack, which is huge – I legimately have no idea how long it’s gonna last me! As an aside, I also purchased Oud Muattar Sultan, which is equally delicious and potent, but a little bit more woody.
Official fragrance notes of Swiss Arabian Oud Muattar Mumtaz
Top notes: Rose, Geranium, Hyacinth
Middle notes: Ylang Ylang, Coriander, Green notes, Clove, Resins
Base notes: Oud, Sandal, Cedarwood, Amber, Musk
What does Oud Muattar Mumtaz actually smell like?
Upon opening the bag (or tub), you get an initial burst of smoky paan masala with hints of woodiness, geraniums and light undertones of citrus zest. For those wondering what paan masala is, it’s a south asian mouth freshener that you’ll sometimes get after your meal at a proper Indian restaurant.
Having sniffed at the bag numerous times now, I pick up those strong, jammy, rosy notes you tend to find in some concentrated attars, blended with the unmistakable smell of geraniums, and a touch of muskiness in addition to the creamy woodiness and sweet zestiness I’d picked up initially. It packs a punch, and offers a smorgasbord of aromas.
Is Swiss Arabian’s Oud Muattar Mumtaz bakhoor a room filler?
As I mentioned before, I was burning this bakhoor out in the hallway, and it managed to force its way through the door into the living room (as well as pretty much every other room in the house). On top of that, my husband went out into the garden to put the trash out, and could still smell it outside. It’s potent stuff.
And get this – the following morning, I could still smell the incense lingering in the air. It really hangs around long after you’ve turned off the bakhoor burner, put out the flame, or the charcoal has died.
Given all that, I’m genuinely amazed at the quality of this bakhoor and at how powerful it is, especially considering how relatively affordable it is.
How much did Swiss Arabian Oud Muattar Mumtaz bakhoor cost and where can I buy it from?
A friend of mine picked this up for me on their travels in Saudi for 263 SAR, which is around £52.
If you’re in the UK though, Swiss Arabian do have a UK website and actually sell this bakhoor for £64 for 500 grams (which is a lot). It actually looks like a bag of spices, and I’m pretty sure it will last you every bit as long as that big bag of obscure spice you picked up for a recipe you made one time during covid.
