Oud is central to the Middle East’s cultural DNA. Mornings often begin with the ritual of perfuming abayas and kanduras, the delicate wisps of oud smoke curling from burning charcoal. But contrary to popular belief, its origins aren’t Middle Eastern. Oud can be traced back over 4,000 years to ancient India. Indian royalty was privy to the many benefits of Oud and the royal women would use and burn it to purify themselves after childbirth. This spiritual and cultural connection laid the foundation for Oud’s journey to the Middle East, where it evolved into a symbol of hospitality, luxury, and identity. Today, its warm, woody, and balsamic complexity continues to shape the world’s top fragrances, carrying with it the echoes of history, ritual, and refinement.
The rural region of Assam in India serves as the cradle of Ajmal’s legacy. The verdant town of Hojai is home to sprawling agarwood plantations, where the story of oud, a precious resin harvested from the agarwood tree, comes to life. Abdulla Ajmal, CEO Ajmal Perfumes, explains, “Agarwood are trees native to India, particularly Assam. When the tree is injured – whether by natural stressors or microbes – it produces a resin to heal itself”. The agarwood tree, devoid of value in its natural state, transforms through resilience. This resin, painstakingly harvested and processed, becomes the prized oud oil, one of the rarest and most expensive ingredients in perfumery.
Founded by the Late Haji Ajmal Ali in the early 1950s, Ajmal is a true ‘farm-to-fragrance’ success story. While celebrated as one of the finest manufacturers and suppliers of oud, Ajmal’s impact goes far beyond creating luxury fragrances. Their commitment to uplifting women, particularly in the regions where oud is cultivated and their fragrances take form, is just as profound as the scents they produce.
The empowerment of women has become a vital conversation in India over the past few decades. Reports from various United Nations agencies have repeatedly stressed that addressing gender equality must be a top priority in the country. Women in India have been subject to a rollercoaster of change throughout history, from the decline in their status from the ancient to medieval times, to the eventual advocation of equal rights. At the heart of this journey today in rural India is the Ajmal Foundation, which has been steadfast in its mission to uplift marginalised women. Since its inception, the foundation has gone beyond simply providing aid, it has created pathways for lasting empowerment. One of the foundation’s most impactful initiatives is its work in education. The Maryam Ajmal Women’s College of Science & Technology and the Maryam Ajmal Women’s College of Arts were established to provide women with access to quality education. Through its programs, the Foundation also encourages women to take active roles in community governance, fostering leadership and political participation. These efforts ensure that women are not just beneficiaries but active agents of change in their communities.
This ethos extends to the production of oud, too. Local women in Assam are being trained in oud carving and grading – fields once considered a male stronghold. In the agarwood plantations where oud is cultivated, women are stepping into roles like tree inoculation and resin harvesting, further reinforcing Ajmal’s mission to centre women at every stage of the process. Besides crafting some of the world’s most coveted fragrances, women of the region are reclaiming spaces long closed to them. As Ajmal continues to expand its global presence, its commitment to women remains unwavering. The brand’s vision is clear: to empower women not just as participants in the fragrance industry but as leaders and innovators shaping its future.
Much like the agarwood tree, which produces its precious resin only under stress, women in underserved communities flourish when given the right opportunities and support. For the women who wear Ajmal’s fragrances, the experience goes beyond mere indulgence – it’s a celebration of strength, beauty, and perseverance. Each drop of oud encapsulates this spirit, serving as a reminder of the power women bring to the world. The true essence of oud, perhaps, is about the way it makes you feel – empowered and celebrated.
Ajmal’s global success lies in its power to intertwine commercial success with profound social responsibility, uplifting the very community that nurtures its primary resource. Each bottle of Ajmal fragrance carries a story of transformation – not just of a tree and its resin, but of the women whose lives have been forever changed. That is an impact that lingers far longer than any ordinary scent ever could.