Rasasi
Founded 1979
Family business founded in 1979 by Abdul Razzak Kalsekar, who opened a small perfume shop in Murshid Bazar in Deira. It opened its first factory in the Jebel Ali Free Zone in 1986 and still makes perfume there, according to the free zone.
Hours and prices change, so check with the shop before you go.
Rasasi, from one Deira shop to Jebel Ali
Rasasi Perfumes 1979 was founded in Dubai in 1979 by Abdul Razzak Kalsekar, who opened a small perfume shop in Murshid Bazar in Deira. He wanted to honour the scent traditions of the Gulf with traditional Arabic ingredients. All six of his sons joined the business, and his grandsons Omeir and Talha Kalsekar now lead it.
In 1986 the family set up its first factory in the Jebel Ali Free Zone, built for making and distilling oud oil perfumes, then a second in 1989 and an aerosol unit in 1999, according to the free zone. Blue Lady, its first Western-style perfume, became a flagship. The range today runs from oud oils and attars to sprays such as Hawas and La Yuqawam.
Rasasi runs its own shops across Dubai. Its store list includes Rasasi Perfumes 1979 at 7 Souk Deira Street in Al Buteen, Deira, plus shops in Deira City Centre, Mirdif City Centre and Mina Bazar. On its UAE web shop Hawas for Him costs AED 155 for 100 ml, and a 20 ml bottle of Attar Al Oudh Red costs AED 35. Try a concentrated oud oil such as Attar Al Oudh Red first, since oud oil perfumes are what its first factory was built to make.
- Blue LadyThe house's first Western-style perfume, which grew into a flagship of the range.
- Hawas for HimA fresh 2015 scent of bergamot, apple, cinnamon and sea notes over ambergris and driftwood.
- La Yuqawam Pour HommeNamed for the Arabic word for irresistible, a leather scent opening on raspberry, saffron and thyme.
- Attar Al Oudh RedA concentrated perfume oil of soft flowers and saffron over agarwood.
- Dhan Oudh Al CambodiA spray version of the house's Cambodian oud oil, with woods, amber and musk.
Where to buy
- Rasasi Perfumes 1979, 7 Souk Deira Street, Al Buteen, Deira, Dubai
- Rasasi Perfumes 1979, Deira City Centre, Dubai
- Rasasi Perfumes 1979, Mirdif City Centre, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Dubai
- Rasasi Perfumes 1979, Mina Bazar, Dubai