Arabian Oud, a luxury perfume store chain based in Saudi Arabia, opened in Tysons Corner Center last Sunday (April 7).
Heba Ashraf, the store manager, told Tysons Reporter that the oil based-fragrances stem from oil harvested from the wood of disease-infected trees. The disease — a type of mold — prompts the trees to produce a fragrant oily resin, which is then harvested.
The scents vary depending on where the tree is from and if the tree flowers, Ashraf said.
Most of the fragrances in the store cost several hundred dollars, Ashraf said. The most expensive item is the $1,500 Royal Oud Set, which is described as a Cambodian oud with a blend of roses and musk. Less expensive items include the $50 Disney fragrances for kids, including “Mickey Mouse” with pear, toffee apples and musk and “Cinderella” with pineapple, rose, musk, jasmine and vanilla.
Established in 1982, Arabian Oud has more than 55 branches across the world, including a location in New York City’s Times Square. Ashraf said that she gleaned from the management that the Tysons Corner Center spot is ideal because of the high-end brands in “one of the biggest malls here in the area,” along with the mall’s proximity to D.C. and its diverse demographics.
“I see people from all over the world [come into the store],” Ashraf said.