ParfumPlus

PP : CAN YOU GIVE US SOME DATA ON MOELLHAUSEN’S PRESENCE IN DUBAI AND WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET OUT TO ACHIEVE? AG :We have a sales office with a large showroom and an R&D centre of excellence in Jebel Ali, the last spanning over 1,500 m². Here, perfumers, analysts, and production operators collaborate in synergy. Our local sales office manages key areas with a highly skilled team of managers, sales executives, and marketing associates. The Dubai R&D centre offers a competitive edge, addressing luxury, niche, and industrial markets, including price-sensitive sectors like candles, detergents, and toiletries. Dubai fosters creativity, real-time collaboration, and strategic participation. As a business hub for Africa and the Gulf, proactivity is essential for effective operations and expansion into the Far East. PP : WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION OF DUBAI? AG : On my first trip here in 2004, I fondly remember the warmth of the people—welcoming me with tea or coffee and engaging in hours of conversation, not always about fragrances, but always building genuine human connections alongside business. Over the years, I’ve grown to appreciate the rich olfactory profiles of oriental fragrances, particularly notes like amber, incense, and, of course, oud—the celebrated raw material that reigns in this region. PARFUMPLUS : DOMINIQUE MOELLHAUSEN, WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE REASONS FOR MOELLHAUSEN’S ACKNOWLEDGED SUCCESS IN THE MIDDLE EAST? Dominique Moellhausen : Our family’s mix of different cultures, along with curiosity and extensive travelling, have made us privileged partners in regions with distinct cultural differences from the West. We’ve invested heavily in understanding Middle Eastern olfactory preferences, known for rich, opulent, and bold notes featuring traditional, high-performing ingredients. By blending these elements with a creative and innovative approach, we've crafted fragrances that honour tradition while offering a contemporary mark, fully tailored to the region’s unique fragrance culture.. PP : YOU’VE WON THE "BEST PERFUMER" AWARD AT THE BEAUTYWORLD MIDDLE EAST AWARDS IN BOTH 2020 AND 2023. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE SECRET TO CREATING A CAPTIVATING FRAGRANCE? DM : The balance of creativity, market expertise and technical skill. Every fragrance is born from an intuition, an idea that must be developed into a consistent and distinctive concept. However, it ” We've crafted fragrances that honour tradition while offering a contemporary edge “ P A R F U M P L U S 38