Habibi New York

Habibi New York is an American fragrance brand founded in 2016 by the married couple Tabassum Khan and Shakir Ahmed [7]. Though its name comes from the Arabic word for "my beloved," the company is based in New York and makes its fragrances in the United States, drawing on Arabian-style notes such as oud and rose rather than operating as a Middle Eastern house [9].

The brand sells perfumes, colognes and oud-led scents alongside bath, body and home-fragrance products, and positions itself as accessible luxury sold mainly direct to consumers. It remains active, with new releases continuing through 2025.

⚑ Thinner sourcing. The article relies largely on the brand's own statements (T2–T3). Glowpedia is seeking independent sources.

Habibi New York grew out of a career change by its two founders, who were married and raising children while holding established jobs. According to a Grit Daily founder profile, the couple felt "caught up in the daily demands of parenting, their careers, managing relationships" and were worn down by what they described as the negativity and division in the news; they left their careers to build a business around the things they valued [7]. In interviews, the founders frame the venture as "a brand born out of love," tying it to the meaning of the name [8].

Both founders brought professional backgrounds in fields outside perfumery, and the company has said it set out to combine that expertise with design skills to create what it calls accessible luxury. The pair identified what they saw as a gap in the market for premium, long-lasting fragrances at fair prices, and aimed to introduce shoppers to niche, fine perfumery while keeping it affordable.

The name Habibi, Arabic for "my beloved," anchors the brand's identity, and the company connects its New York setting to ideas of diversity and unity, describing the city as a "melting pot" [7]. Its about page frames the work as blending "the opulence of Arabian heritage with the modernity of the bustling metropolis." The founders cite love, unity and diversity as the brand's core values [8].

Habibi New York presents itself as accessible luxury. An independent review by BrandRated called it "a New York-based brand that offers reasonably priced men's and women's luxury perfumes," noting that the company eliminates the margins tied to retail stores to keep prices lower [9]. The brand's stated mission is, in its own words, a reminder "to slow down and literally stop and smell the roses." Its tagline reads "Rare ingredients. Small Batch. An Unforgettable Fragrance."

The brand's range centers on oud-forward perfumes built around notes such as rose, bergamot, peppercorn, jasmine and sandalwood. Among its better-known scents are Desert Oud, Jasmine Oud Absolute, White Moroccan Leather, Magnificent Rose and Sweet Confessions. Beyond fine fragrance, the company offers bath and body products, beard oils, body lotions, scented candles and home diffusers.

Habibi New York states that all of its perfumes are formulated at a 25 percent fragrance-oil concentration, which it describes as the extrait de parfum level [5]. On longevity, the company says most of its scents wear for 8 to 12 hours, with lighter citrus and floral compositions lasting around 6 to 8 hours and richer, oud-heavy blends carrying 10 to 12 hours or more [5].

Blending and bottling take place in the United States. The company names the perfumers Amelie Jacquin, Quentin Bisch and Christian Provenzano as collaborators on its compositions, and says it sources ingredients from suppliers including CPL Aromas [3]. A members-only "scent of the month" collective offers limited-edition, small-batch fragrances on a subscription basis.

Habibi New York describes its fragrances as cruelty-free and not tested on animals, and says its packaging is 90 percent recyclable [3]. The company states that it follows the standards of the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) and works with suppliers it characterizes as ethical to source sustainably farmed ingredients [3]. The founders have also said the business gives back financially each month to causes including women's shelters, education for orphans and disaster relief [7].

The brand's self-reported press page lists coverage in outlets such as PopSugar, which it says featured its Jasmine Oud in a roundup of oud perfumes, and Yahoo News, which it says covered Habibi New York as part of a new generation of independent American fragrance houses. Founder interviews have appeared in Grit Daily and in Authority Magazine's "5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me" series [8]. No formal awards are documented.

Habibi New York operates primarily as a direct-to-consumer brand through its own website, and the company reports retail placement at Bloomingdale's and Nordstrom. It ships internationally to most countries, including across Europe, with delivery typically quoted at 7 to 14 business days.

The brand is active. Its newest fragrance edition dates to 2025, and it maintains an ongoing "New Arrivals" range, a retail presence and worldwide shipping.