How Sheikha Hind Bhawan Has elevated the Middle East’s fragrance landscape through her brand OJAR.
What inspired you to launch OJAR?
OJAR was born as a tribute to the Middle Eastern perfume rituals I grew up with, and into the rich culture and heritage of Oman – its vibrant contrasts, the warmth of its people, and its unique ingredients, architecture, materials, and colours. My desire was to share the beauty of Omani culture and the art and rituals of Middle Eastern perfumery with the world, but in a way that feels contemporary and relevant. We combine the richness of Middle Eastern perfumery with a Western approach to fragrance, creating something that is both unique and universally appealing.
The entrepreneurial DNA runs strong in your family – can you expand on this?
Entrepreneurship has always been a part of my life. Coming from a family that has a strong entrepreneurial spirit, I was exposed to the idea of creating and building businesses from a young age. Over the years, I have created companies across various industries, but I always knew I wanted to create something that reflected my heritage and passion. OJAR is the culmination of that journey, combining my love for fragrance with my entrepreneurial drive, allowing me to honour both my cultural background and the modern world I live in.
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Fragrance is important in Middle East – what does fragrance mean to you and why do you think women in the region are so fond of it?
For centuries, people in the Middle East have been immersed in a powerful and meaningful connection to fragrance through our traditions and lifestyles from a very young age. Even today, these perfumery rituals are passed down from one generation to the next. It was my mother who first nurtured my love for fragrance and the art of layering perfume ingredients when I was a child. Since then, I have become fascinated by the art of blending scents, and that passion has only grown stronger over the years.
Can you tell us more about the creative process for your latest collection?
The creative process for each OJAR collection begins with a story and a vision of blending East and West. I start by selecting the finest key ingredients, then work closely with our perfumers to blend these elements in a way that transforms this vision into reality.
Frankincense and Oud both pay homage to Oman – how have you incorporated these ingredients into OJAR?
Frankincense and Oud are entrenched in the culture of Oman and Middle- Eastern perfumery. We have seamlessly incorporated them into our fragrance collections by honouring their traditional use while reimagining them with a modern twist. Frankincense is often associated with spiritual rituals in Oman, we have combined it with more contemporary ingredients to create something unique. Similarly, Oud which is rich and complex, has been blended with unique accords to create fragrances luxurious and wearable for a global audience.
What do you love most about fragrance?
What I love most is the creative process of blending and elevating key ingredients to transform them into a narrative that captures emotions, memories, and moments.
What are the hero ingredients in your perfumes?
The ingredients in OJAR’s collections, including Frankincense, Rose, Honey, Musk, Oud, and Sandalwood, are our key pillars. Three of them are directly inspired by Oman: the rose from Jebel Akhdar, the honey from Rustaq, and the frankincense from the Dhofar region. All of these ingredients are staples in Middle Eastern perfumery and central to our creations.
What is your best advice when it comes to layering fragrances?
Fragrance layering is part of the Middle-Eastern perfume ritual and OJAR philosophy. We are encouraging perfume lovers to experiment and create their own unique scent blending several fragrances and express how they feel and who they are through perfume. Fragrance is your signature that you take with you wherever you go. To layer, I encourage to start with the Absolute perfume oil as a base that delivers a first long-lasting layer on your skin. Then, you can complement it with our Eau de Parfum.
Many of the scents are influenced by your travels – tell us more.
Travel has always been a major source of inspiration for me. Every place I visit offers something new, whether it’s local ingredients, scents, or the rituals of the people. These experiences allow me to infuse our perfumes with diverse elements while keeping our Middle Eastern roots.
What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?
I would advise myself be to trust the process and embrace the journey. Success doesn’t
happen overnight, and there will be challenges along the way, but each obstacle is an opportunity to learn and grow. I would also remind myself to stay true to my vision and not be afraid to take risks.
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This is The Bold Issue – what does being bold mean to you?
Being bold means having the courage to follow your own path, staying true to your culture, values and heritage, and taking risks to achieve your vision. For me, launching OJAR was a bold step – bringing something unique to the highly competitive global fragrance market. Boldness is about daring to innovate while staying rooted in who you are.
