Simply Abu Dhabi XXVII

A brand new and exciting launch is upon us, celebrating the Middle East and its culture. Widian AJ Arabia brings us the Sensual Velvet Collection of two beautiful fragrances: Liwa and Delma. Both encompass the classical and modern heritage of the UAE and all its precious offerings. Warm and floral yet light and velvety, each will take you on a sensory journey you're sure to never forget. The first thing you’ll notice is the beautiful bottle. Using dark and light colours whilst taking a respectful nod to the East and West, it's mysterious presence is undeniable. The architecture of theMiddle East is renowned and recognised the world over. Sheikh Zayed’s designs of the Grand Mosque and the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi are clearly an influence for the packaging of these two scents. Standing proud with elegance, great design perfectly intertwines form and function. Liwa, named after the Empty Quarter Desert in Abu Dhabi, is a fragrance with jasmine, saffron, bergamot and artemisia as its top notes but with a smoky grounding. The intensity from sandalwood and incense oud reminds us of the East while the powdery notes and the soft patchouli base lighten the mood. Vetiver allows some freshness to enter the mix, with geranium and familiar amber wood completing the cocktail – one which will be hard to resist. In turn, Delma references the island in the heart of the Arabian Gulf. This unisex scent is perfect for all to enjoy. Saffron will ignite the senses, with mandarin and bergamot adding fruitful zestiness. Rich vanilla, leather and marshmallow sweeten the senses, contrasting against the green notes. Both are available at selected vendors worldwide – be sure to experience them as soon as you can! Add them to your collection for a classic take on a contemporary perfume. Having been in the industry since 2012, Mr Ali Aljaberi has had extensive experience with all the elements required to create a unique fragrance. I asked him some questions to shed light on his impressive professional life and to give us an insight into his personal inspirations… What do you consider your most powerful skills? It is very hard for a person to evaluate himself, but I hope listening to customers is considered a skill. What is your background? I have a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and master’s in management, marketing, communication and media. This Velvet Collection looks very special. What sparked the inspiration to create this line? I tried to glorify the flowery heritage of the UAE in perfumery. When people think about Arabic perfumes, they tend to think of heavy, intense ingredients such as oud, amber, sandalwood and so on. The Velvet Collection is telling people that our heritage and region are about far more than just these ingredients. Explain in your own words the difference between Liwa andDelma. Liwa is a smoky, light incense fragrance with a hug of white flowers which has a touch of sweetness at the bottomof it. Delma is a very sensual fragrance, with a flowery bouquet which I see as more feminine than Liwa. The bottles the fragrances come in are so intricate and beautiful. How did you decide on this presentation? I wanted to design the perfect gift regardless of the scent itself. Since different people have different tastes, I created a box that represents the heritage of UAE architecture with a modern touch. We were inspired by old wooden house windows in our region, which we cut piece by piece using laser technology into our bottle shape. With its oriental influence and the red and black packaging, please explain what these shades mean to you. Red is used as a royal colour so often around the world. It also represents the red flowers which are a main ingredient in this collection. WidianAJ Arabia 2 2 0 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I