Walk into the Arabic perfume world for the first time and the vocabulary alone can be confusing — attar, mukhallat, oud oil, EDP, extrait de parfum. Unlike the Western high-street model, where almost everything is an alcohol-based eau de toilette or eau de parfum, Arabic perfumery has kept several distinct formats alive, each with a different feel, strength and purpose.
What Is Attar?
Attar (or ittar) is the oldest format: a concentrated, alcohol-free oil, traditionally distilled from botanicals like rose, oud or saffron into a carrier oil base such as sandalwood. Because there is no alcohol to evaporate the top notes quickly, attars tend to develop slowly on skin and sit close to the body rather than projecting outward. They are also the preferred choice for anyone avoiding alcohol for religious or personal reasons.
What Are Perfume Oils?
Perfume oils are the modern commercial cousin of attar — a fragrance compound blended into a carrier oil rather than an attar’s traditional distillation process. Oils last a long time on skin, do not need topping up as often as sprays, and are travel-friendly since there is no pressurised alcohol content.
What Does “Mukhallat” Mean?
Mukhallat simply means “blended” — a custom or house blend combining several oils or attars into one signature scent, historically mixed to order by a perfumer for a specific customer.
Eau de Parfum Explained
Eau de Parfum (EDP) is alcohol-based, typically 15–20% fragrance concentration, and is the format most UK shoppers already know from designer perfumery. Most of our Lattafa and Reef sprays, including Reef 33 and Lattafa Khamrah, fall into this category.
Extrait de Parfum
Extrait de Parfum / Parfum sits at the top end, 20–30%+ concentration, alcohol-based but richer and longer-lasting than EDP.
Which Concentration Should You Choose?
If you want something discreet that lasts all day without reapplication, oils and attars are the better fit. If you want a scent that fills a room, EDP or extrait is the better choice.
FAQ
Is attar the same as perfume oil?
They are closely related but not identical — attar traditionally refers to a distilled botanical oil blend, while a perfume oil is a fragrance compound blended into a carrier oil.
Does alcohol-free perfume last longer?
Oils and attars generally last longer on skin per application than alcohol-based sprays, though they project less.
Is EDP stronger than EDT?
Yes — EDP has a higher fragrance concentration than EDT.
What does mukhallat mean?
It means “blended” in Arabic, referring to a custom or house blend of oils or attars.
Ready to try a concentration for yourself? Browse our full collection.
