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Fragrance

Kajal Perfumes Paris

Kajal Perfumes Paris is a niche fragrance house founded by Moe Khalaf and Ibrahim Faris.

Under review5 sources
Kajal Perfumes Paris
Kajal Perfumes Paris
Kajal Perfumes Paris
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Summary

Overview

Kajal Perfumes Paris is a niche fragrance house founded by Moe Khalaf and Ibrahim Faris. The brand presents itself as a Parisian house — its public address is on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées — but editorial coverage places the house's origin and headquarters in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with fragrance composition carried out chiefly in France [7]. It remains active: the house launched new fragrances and exhibited at major niche-perfumery trade shows through 2026 [3].

The founding date is recorded inconsistently across sources. Most editorial coverage, including ScentXplore and CaFleureBon, gives 2013 [9][8]; one aggregated summary attached to The Perfume Society's coverage gives 2012 [7]. The brand's own site states no founding year. All sources agree the first fragrance launched in 2014, a date the company reinforced by marking the line's tenth anniversary in 2024.

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

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Origin & founders

The house was built around the partnership of Moe Khalaf and Ibrahim Faris. Khalaf, described as the founder and chief creative officer, came from a career in the fragrance trade: he began around 2000 at YSL Beauté, managed the brand in Saudi Arabia, and later joined the Estée Lauder Companies, where he oversaw twelve Middle East territories from a Dubai subsidiary [9]. That background — Gulf-based commercial work paired with European perfumery — shaped the brand's stated identity as a meeting of "East meets West" [7].

The name carries a deliberate double meaning. In Indian tradition, kajal refers to kohl-lined eyes, which the company frames as a symbol of allure; it also echoes the Arabic Khajal, which the house associates with humility, modesty and treating others with dignity. Khalaf has named gratitude, respect and appreciation as the brand's guiding values.

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Philosophy & positioning

Kajal positions fragrance as "scented art" and frames each release as a sensory experience rather than a single product. According to the company, its fragrances are "an elaborate blend of diverse inspiration, spiritual essence, and a deep love for the artistry of geometric design," and it draws openly on Arab geometric tradition in both scent and packaging. The eight-pointed star that appears on the fragrance caps — known as Khatim in Islamic art — is central to the brand's visual identity; Khalaf describes it as representing balance, infinity and protection.

The Perfume Society characterised the house as one built around a worldview rather than a single perfumer or city, "operating on a deliberate cross-cultural axis: Gulf Oriental tradition meeting French perfumery technique" [7]. The brand's tagline is "Natural, Sustainable, Opulent," and it has recently introduced ethanol-free fragrances such as Dahab Absolu and Lamar Caviar.

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Products & innovation

Kajal works in the luxury niche tier, producing eau de parfum, extraits de parfum and discovery sets across several named collections, including the Classic, Gold, Gem and Wardè ranges. Rather than employing a single in-house perfumer, the house commissions an external roster; named perfumers across its sources include Christian Carbonnel, Valérie Garnuch-Mentzel, Kevin Mathys and Marc Daniel Heimgartner [7].

The flagship is Kajal Eau de Parfum, composed by perfumer Chris Maurice and launched in 2014 [8]. CaFleureBon described it as a clean, powdery amber scent, built on top notes of Amalfi lemon, Calabrian bergamot and mandarin, a heart of Turkish rose and orris, and a base of musk, amber, Madagascar vanilla, tonka bean and Mysore sandalwood. Later releases include Aican, Lamar Noir, and fragrances unveiled at trade shows such as Ruby (2025) and Dahab Absolu (2026).

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Recognition

The house drew editorial recognition in 2024 from CaFleureBon, whose editor-in-chief Michelyn Camen named Khalaf Best Creative Director of the year [5]. The same publication named Aican Best Fragrance Name of 2024 and placed it among its top ten perfumes of the year, while Lamar Noir appeared in an editor's best-of-2024 list.

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Current status

The brand is active and operating internationally. Its most recent activity dates to 2026, when it unveiled Dahab Absolu at Esxence in Milan and launched "The Whispering Oud" at Niche in London [3]. Across recent years it has exhibited at niche-perfumery events in Europe, North America and Latin America, including Pitti Fragranze in Florence and Esxence in Milan, and operates through authorised retailers internationally. The house appears to be independently held by its founders; no parent company is recorded in the available sources.

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References

Sources

T1 primary · T2 secondary · T3 note
  1. [3]T2kajalperfumes.com/pages/eventskajalperfumes.com (brand site)
  2. [5]T2kajalperfumes.com/blogs/blog/in-profound-appreciation-honoured-by-the-recognition-of-cafleurebonkajalperfumes.com (brand site)
  3. [7]T3perfumesociety.org/inside-the-house-of-kajal/perfumesociety.org
  4. [8]T3cafleurebon.com/kajal-perfumes-kajal-eau-de-parfum-review-chris-maurice-2014-plus-10-year-anniversary-giveaway/cafleurebon.com
  5. [9]T3scentxplore.com/scentxpress-kajal/scentxplore.com
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