Abdulla Ajmal: Master of Heritage and Innovation in the Fragrance Empire

Who is Abdulla Ajmal? Third-Generation Leader of a Fragrance Empire

Abdulla Ajmal is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the globally renowned perfume brand Ajmal Perfumes. As the first member of the third generation to lead the company, he is both a guardian of traditional perfume craftsmanship and an innovator driving the brand’s globalization. Under his leadership, Ajmal Perfumes has grown from a family business rooted in Oriental spice trading into a multinational fragrance empire with operations in over 50 countries, more than 300 retail stores, and over 1,000 products. His leadership combines respect for family heritage with forward-thinking business vision, earning him numerous honors such as inclusion in Forbes Middle East’s “Top 100 Indian Businessmen” and the Divya Chakra Award, making him a highly influential figure in the perfume industry.

The Journey of Abdulla Ajmal: From a Fragrance Dynasty to a Global Perspective

Abdulla Ajmal was born into a perfume family in Mumbai, India. His family’s perfume business was founded in 1951 by his grandfather, Haji Ajmal Ali. Immersed in a world of spices and scents from an early age, his passion for perfume “was almost in his genes.” After moving to the UAE with his family in 1988, he pursued further studies in the UK, earning a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and an MBA in International Relations. This experience instilled in him a global business mindset.

In 1996, Abdulla officially joined the family business, starting from entry-level positions. His growth was greatly influenced by his uncle, the legendary perfumer Nazir Ajmal, from whom he systematically learned everything from scent memory to the complexity of formulations, laying a solid foundation in perfumery and the industry. With his keen insight into market trends and deep understanding of traditional craftsmanship, he gradually rose through the ranks, becoming Chief Operating Officer (COO) in 2017 and officially taking over as CEO in 2023, becoming the helm of Ajmal Perfumes.

How Abdulla Ajmal Merges Heritage and Innovation?

As a third-generation leader, Abdulla Ajmal’s core strategy is to innovate while preserving heritage. He has always been guided by his grandfather Haji Ajmal Ali’s values of “integrity, honesty, and excellence,” adhering to the brand’s “farm-to-fragrance” vertically integrated model—controlling the entire chain from agarwood cultivation to finished product sales to ensure quality and authenticity. To date, the brand has planted over 10 million agarwood trees in northeastern India, practicing sustainable development long before it became a mainstream industry trend.

At the same time, he boldly promoted the modernization of the brand: cooperating with French manufacturers to introduce Western craftsmanship and launch French-style perfume lines; creating innovative products such as “Oriental perfume sprays” to cater to the preferences of young consumers; and collaborating with world-class perfumers like Dominique Ropion and Alberto Morillas to launch perfume collections that blend Eastern and Western aesthetics. This “respect for the past and courage to modernize” has allowed Ajmal to maintain its traditional positioning as the “King of Oud” while winning over a global young audience.

Abdulla Ajmal’s Globalization Strategy

Under Abdulla Ajmal’s leadership, Ajmal Perfumes has accelerated its global expansion. He has identified Saudi Arabia, the United States, and India as core markets, using precise localization strategies to meet different regional needs—such as emphasizing Oriental scents in the Gulf region and highlighting innovative formulations in European and American markets. The brand is currently present in over 50 countries and plans to expand to 100 more.

In terms of channel development, he has not only expanded the physical retail network but also attached great importance to digital transformation: building a strong e-commerce platform, using social media and collaborating with influencers to reach young audiences; at the same time, 深耕 the travel retail channel, creating immersive brand experiences in 76 duty-free stores in hub airports such as Dubai, London, and Frankfurt. This omni-channel layout of “online + offline + travel retail” has allowed Ajmal’s fragrances to reach every corner of the globe.

Abdulla Ajmal’s Breakthroughs in Perfume Art

The “The Untold Stories” series promoted by Abdulla Ajmal is a model of innovation in the perfume industry. He invited five world-renowned perfumers including Maxime Exler and Nathalie Lorson to create with an open-ended proposition of “no brief, no restrictions,” breaking the traditional perfume development model and demonstrating respect for artistic freedom. The series, accompanied by a launch event at the Atlantis The Royal Dubai and multi-platform marketing, became a talking point in the luxury perfume sector.

Targeting Generation Z and millennials, he launched younger lines such as “Prose,” with fresh scents and modern packaging to appeal to young aesthetics; his personally 参与 in creating fragrances like “Ajmal Violet Musc” and “Aurum Summer/Winter Perfume,” which blend elements such as violet and musk, combining Oriental charm with modernity, have been well-received since their launch. In addition, he initiated the “Ajmal Oud Tour,” inviting global creators to visit agarwood-producing areas in India, allowing the brand’s heritage to be continued through immersive experiences.

Abdulla Ajmal’s Honors and Influence: A Benchmark in the Perfume Industry

Abdulla Ajmal’s achievements have been widely recognized by the industry and media: he has been repeatedly listed in Arabian Business’ “100 Most Influential Indians in the Gulf,” nominated as “Asian Newcomer of the Year,” won the “Retail ME Icon Trail Blazers” award in 2023, and the Ajmal Perfumes under his leadership has become a representative brand of Middle Eastern perfumes going global.

His influence is not limited to the business field but also reflected in promoting the spread of perfume culture and sustainable development. Under his advocacy, the brand uses recycled plastic packaging, explores renewable energy, and integrates environmental protection concepts into the entire production process; by supporting agarwood cultivation, it not only protects precious resources but also creates jobs for local communities. This “business + responsibility” model has set a new benchmark for sustainable development in the perfume industry.

Conclusion: Abdulla Ajmal’s Future Vision—Let Scents Cross Borders

For the future, Abdulla Ajmal aims to build Ajmal Perfumes into a “top global lifestyle brand.” He plans to continue increasing investment in research and development, exploring the application of artificial intelligence in personalized scent recommendations, making perfume “an art that connects memories and emotions”; at the same time, further expanding into European, American, and African markets, so that the charm of Oriental perfumes can benefit more consumers.

Under his leadership, Ajmal Perfumes is writing a legend about scents, family, and globalization with “heritage as the root and innovation as the wing.” As Abdulla said: “Perfume is a borderless language, and we want Ajmal’s fragrance to become a resonance across cultures.”