ParfumPlus Arabia

In Thai cuisine, you blend the same ingredients differently to create unique flavours. Golf clubs are tools, but vision and precision determine the outcome. Watercolours flow unpredictably, yet create unexpected beauty. Perfumery follows the same path. We work with the same raw materials, but artistry lies in combining them to evoke emotion, a balance of control and surrender, precision and imagination, a journey toward harmony. PP : THE MIDDLE EAST HAS A RICH HERITAGE OF BOLD, OPULENT SCENTS. HOW DO YOU BALANCE REGIONAL TRADITIONS WITH GLOBAL FRAGRANCE TRENDS IN YOUR WORK AT IBERCHEM? MB : The Middle East has an extraordinary olfactive heritage, with bold, opulent scents. My role is to honour this tradition while translating it for a global audience. I draw on regional preferences, weaving them into creations for international brands, sometimes subtly, sometimes boldly. For example, Dubai chocolate, a sweet syrup note with pistachio, began as a local favourite and became a global trend. This shows how regional scents can inspire worldwide innovation when approached creatively and respectfully. Ultimately, it’s about balance: staying true to the Middle East while crafting fragrances that resonate universally, bridging cultures through the invisible language of perfumery. PP : IF YOU WERE TO CREATE A FRAGRANCE THAT CAPTURES ‘THIS MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE,’ WHAT STORY WOULD IT TELL, AND WHICH NOTES WOULD DEFINE IT? MB : If I were to capture this moment in my life as a fragrance, it would reflect the many cultures and experiences that have shaped me. Just like a perfume, my journey has been built in layers, each chapter leaving its own imprint. The base: oud, incense, and a touch of praline, depth, warmth, and richness. The heart: rose and pink pepper, a balance of tenderness and energy, representing passion and creativity. The top: coriander, bergamot, and freshly cut grass, bright, invigorating, evoking my roots and my drive for renewal. This fragrance tells a story of harmony between cultures, a journey of contrasts and connections, much like my life and path as a perfumer. PP : WHAT MESSAGE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE WITH PARFUMPLUS READERS? MB : We live in challenging times. It’s important to care for yourself and others, pause, breathe and find moments of peace and happiness. Fragrances can comfort, calm and bring quiet joy. Wear a perfume that makes you feel serene and truly yourself. Personally, I find that vanilla, lavender and soft musks create a cocoon of warmth and tranquillity. Nurture your senses, spirit and connections. These are the true luxuries of life. parfumplusmag.com P A R F U M P L U S 40