Frequently Asked Questions

Sillage (pronounced "see-yage") is the French term for the degree to which a fragrance projects or leaves a scent trail in the air.

To control the scent bubble of your highly concentrated Extrait de Parfum or Attar:

• Apply less — start with one spray or one small swipe of oil
• Apply to uncovered pulse points to help the scent project more gradually

Perfumes are built in layers:

• Top notes — the first impression, often citrus or fresh, and fade first
• Middle (heart) notes — appear next, usually florals or spices, and last a few hours
• Base notes — such as oud, amber, woods and musks sit closest to the skin and form the long-lasting dry-down

• Perfume oils / attars — highly concentrated, alcohol-free blends that sit closer to the skin but often last 6–12 hours or more
• Eau de Parfum (EDP) — alcohol-based spray with around 15–20% oil, giving good projection and longevity of around 8 hours
• Extrait de Parfum — even higher concentration (20–40% oil), feels denser, richer, and very long lasting (10-12+ hours)

Oils are not diluted with fast-evaporating alcohol. They are heavier molecules that bond with the natural oils in your skin and release scent slowly over time.

Sprays use alcohol to push the fragrance into the air for projection, so they tend to bloom faster but also fade quicker than pure oils.

Arabian fragrances are usually stronger and longer lasting than most high-street designer scents. They tend to use higher oil concentrations and heavy base notes such as oud, amber, musk, vanilla, and saffron.

Many are also designed to be layered with oils. If you are new to this style, start with fewer sprays and build up as you get used to the intensity.

Performance varies by scent and skin type, but high quality extraits and attars usually last at least 6–8 hours, and often 12 hours or more.

Rich compositions built around oud, amber, resins, and musks tend to cling to skin and clothing for the longest time, especially on moisturised skin.

Three simple steps help most fragrances last longer:

1. Apply an unscented moisturiser on pulse points before spraying
2. Spray on warm areas such as neck, wrists, inner elbows and chest so body heat can lift the scent
3. Do not rub your wrists together after spraying — this can crush the top notes and shorten the life of the scent

Apply a small drop or swipe of oil to clean, moisturised skin. Focus on pulse points like wrists, inner elbows, behind the ears, and the base of the neck.

Let the oil settle instead of rubbing hard. Start with a tiny amount, as attars are very concentrated, then add more only if needed.

Yes, layering is a big part of Middle Eastern fragrance culture. Here are some ideas:

• Use a soft musk or vanilla oil as a base and spray a fresh or floral scent over the top
• Pair oud oil with amber, rose, or leather-led sprays for extra depth
• Add a warm Arabian base under a light citrus designer scent to create your own signature

Always test on a small area first.

Layering maximises performance by building a scent foundation. The best combinations are:

• Oud Base: Use a soft Oud Attar (oil) on your skin first, then spray a Rose or Saffron EDP on top
• Musk/Vanilla Base: Apply a clean musk oil or rich vanilla body lotion as the foundation before spraying any alcohol-based fragrance

Applying perfume to your hair can boost sillage as hair holds scent well. It is generally safer to use a dedicated hair mist or Attar (oil) very lightly on the tips.

Warning: High-concentration alcohol sprays (like EDPs) can be drying to the hair shaft with frequent use.

It is not bad to wear the same scent every day, but rotating your perfumes every few weeks is highly recommended.

This practice helps prevent olfactory fatigue (nose blindness) where you become unable to smell your own scent. Rotating keeps your nose "fresh" and ensures you appreciate your entire fragrance wardrobe.

Yes. On dry skin, scents often fade faster, so moisturising before applying perfume helps.

On oily skin, fragrances may project more and last longer, but the natural skin oils can shift the scent slightly.

Temperature, humidity, clothing, and how much you apply all play a role too.

This is known as olfactory fatigue or nose blindness. Your brain filters out smells it recognises as "background" so it can focus on new information.

Your fragrance is usually still projecting and other people can smell it, even if you stop noticing it after a while.

Most modern perfumes keep their character for around 3–5 years after opening, sometimes longer if stored well.

• Keep bottles in a cool, dark place away from sunlight, radiators, and temperature swings
• Avoid steamy bathrooms
• Always close caps tightly

Heavy oud and resin blends often age very well when stored correctly.

Spray perfumes are usually safe on most fabrics and can last longer on clothing than on skin. Avoid spraying delicate materials such as pure silk at close range.

Perfume oils and attars can leave marks on light fabrics, so they are best applied to skin only and allowed to radiate onto clothes naturally.

To safely pack perfume for air travel:

1. Place all liquids in sealed zip-lock bags to prevent leakage from air pressure changes
2. Use a sturdy, padded travel case for full bottles in checked luggage
3. Decants are ideal for carry-on luggage, ensuring they meet the required volume limit (typically 100ml or less) for the security liquids bag

Oud is a dark, aromatic resin that forms inside the Aquilaria tree when it becomes naturally infected with a specific mould. It has a complex scent that can be smoky, sweet, woody, and animalic at the same time.

Because this process is rare and harvesting is labour-intensive, natural oud is one of the most expensive perfume ingredients in the world and a symbol of luxury in Arabian perfumery.

Natural oud is distilled from real agarwood resin and has a deep, evolving scent that changes over hours on the skin.

Synthetic oud is an accord built from aroma chemicals designed to mimic that smell. Most designer perfumes use synthetic oud, while many traditional attars use natural or blended oud oils.

Natural oud is usually richer, denser, and longer lasting.

Three key notes shape much of Middle Eastern perfumery:

• Oud (agarwood) — gives a dark, woody, resinous base
• Amber — adds warm, sweet, resinous depth, often blended with vanilla or benzoin
• Musk — provides a soft, sensual and very long-lasting foundation

You will also often see saffron and Turkish or Damask rose in many Zamoori fragrances.

Musk is a vital base note with several varieties:

• White Musk — light, clean, and airy, used to replicate the smell of fresh laundry
• Clean Musk — a refined, powdery version of white musk
• Black Musk — the deepest variety, often smelling animalic, spicy, or earthy

Black musk is favoured in traditional Arabian blends for its immense projection and longevity.

Vanilla and gourmand notes are trending due to their comforting, addictive, and sensual qualities, often providing a long-lasting base in perfumes.

Arabian perfumery excels here, favouring deep, non-synthetic vanilla blended with notes like Amber, Saffron, and Tonka Bean.

Look for Extrait de Parfums in our collection that list "Absolute" for the richest scent profile.

A sample is a small amount of fragrance, usually 1–2 ml, for first impressions. A decant is a larger amount, such as 5–15 ml, transferred from the original bottle into a quality travel atomiser. A full bottle is the factory-sealed product from the brand.

Zamoori focuses on high quality decants so you can test a scent properly before buying a full bottle.

We offer several decant sizes so you can test a scent properly:

• 1 ml — about 15 sprays, good for first impressions
• 2 ml — about 30 sprays, enough for several full-day wears
• 5 ml — about 75 sprays, ideal to live with a scent for a few weeks
• 9 ml — about 135 sprays, great travel size or wardrobe bottle

For most people, 2–5 ml is the sweet spot for testing.

Yes. We check products before they go live and again when we decant and pack orders. We look for clean atomisers, correct labels, no leaks, and no obvious changes in colour or scent.

If something does not meet our standards, it does not ship. If a problem ever slips through, contact us and we will fix it.

Zamoori is a UK fragrance house specialising in Arabian perfumes, concentrated perfume oils (attars), bakhoor, and authentic designer perfume samples (decants). We focus on long-lasting scents from Middle Eastern, niche, and designer houses, and offer them in full bottles and smaller decant sizes so you can live with a fragrance before committing.

Yes. All our designer fragrance samples and decants are taken from genuine retail bottles sourced from brand-authorised retailers or trusted distributors. We decant by hand into clean glass atomisers, store them away from heat and light, and we do not sell fakes, copies, or grey-market counterfeits.

Because fragrances are hygiene products, used or opened items and decants are non-returnable.

If your order arrives damaged, faulty, or incorrect, contact us within 3 days with your order number and photos. We will review the case and arrange a replacement, store credit, or refund in line with UK consumer law and our policy.

Full details are on our Returns page.

We offer a range of UK delivery options, including standard and tracked services.

Free UK delivery or reduced-rate offers may be available above a certain order value or during promotions. The most accurate and up-to-date delivery information will always appear in your basket and at checkout.

We ship within the UK only, subject to local customs rules and courier restrictions on perfumes and flammable liquids.

At checkout you will see which services are available, along with estimated delivery times and prices. If your country is not listed, get in touch and we will confirm if we can ship to you at an additional cost.

We accept most major debit and credit cards. Depending on availability, we may also offer PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or buy now, pay later options such as Klarna or Clearpay.

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