The Scent of Celebration: How Fragrance Weaves Memory & Modernity Into Eid 2025

TOFA Crescent Platter by Intiki Inspired by the sighting of the moon; image credits: Sourced from Intikistories. All rights belong to the respective creators

Eid is a festival of sensory abundance. From the rhythmic sounds of laughter-filled gatherings to the indulgent textures of embroidered fabrics, every element is intentional. But it is scent that works in the most intimate way—subtle yet powerful, deeply personal yet communal, a thread that ties generations together.

Long before synthetic perfumery, fragrance was an organic part of daily life. It was attar—hand-pressed from petals, distilled in small glass vials—that became a signature scent, unique to the wearer. It was bakhoor—delicate wood chips soaked in musk and amber—that defined the atmosphere of a home. And it was oud—rich, resinous, and revered—that signified luxury, lineage, and a love for the ephemeral.

A beautifully crafted brass bowl filled with dates, showcasing intricate designs against a dark, elegant backdrop.

Now, as fragrance trends shift, these elements are not disappearing; they are transforming. This Eid, perfume is less about a single scent and more about a layered experience—a curated combination of oils, sprays, and incense that builds throughout the day, evolving with the celebration itself.

The Mughal Eid Ritual: Perfume as an Offering

A finely crafted Mughal glass perfume bottle from India, circa 1800, adorned with intricate floral designs and a brass stopper, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship and artistic elegance; image credits: Sourced from christies. All rights belong to the respective creators

For centuries, fragrance has been more than adornment—it has been a gesture of generosity, an offering of goodwill, a gift that lingers long after the moment has passed. During the Mughal era, gifting perfume was one of the highest forms of Eid etiquette.

It was customary for nobles and courtiers to exchange vials of attar, their glass flacons brimming with rose, sandalwood, and amber. Oud-infused oils were considered symbols of prosperity, meant to be applied before morning prayers, while bakhoor—housed in intricately carved burners—was shared among families to scent their homes for the celebrations ahead.

Beyond the opulence of royal courts, markets in Delhi and Lahore came alive with the scent of Eid. Small bottles of attar, carefully wrapped in silk, were sold to those looking for the perfect gift—an enduring tradition that still lingers in the bazaars of the modern world.

Though centuries have passed, the ritual remains. A bottle of perfume gifted on Eid is more than an object—it is a lingering memory, a fragrance that becomes part of someone’s story, an invisible thread tying past and present together.

Eid 2025: The Fragrance Trends Defining a New Era

Oud wood pieces displayed on a textured fabric, showcasing the natural beauty of this key ingredient in crafting luxurious attar perfumes; image credits: Sourced from Oud Attar. All rights belong to the respective creators

The Oud Renaissance: Softer, Lighter, More Wearable

Oud has long been the crown jewel of Middle Eastern and South Asian perfumery—its deep, smoky presence is a hallmark of Eid fragrance. But in 2025, oud is shedding its traditional intensity in favour of sheer, airy interpretations.

Perfumers are balancing oud with lighter accords—sandalwood for a creamy softness, citrus for an unexpected brightness, vanilla for a delicate warmth for a modern oud that feels intimate rather than overpowering, sophisticated yet effortless.

Trend to watch: The new wave of translucent ouds—Byredo’s Oud Immortel, Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Oud Collection, or niche blends that pair oud with unexpected notes like violet, fig, or fresh spices.

The Art of Layering: A Fragrance That Evolves With the Day

Fragrance is no longer just a finishing touch—it is a ritual of layering, a multi-sensory journey that moves through different phases of Eid.

The layering begins early, with scented oils massaged into the skin before dressing—a quiet moment of indulgence, an unspoken connection to tradition. It continues with attars pressed onto pulse points, setting the foundation for a long-lasting scent. By evening, a final mist of a modern perfume—a blend of old and new—seals the olfactory story of the day.

Start your morning with oud or sandalwood-infused body oils for a soft, lingering base. Then midday, opt for a floral or citrus-heavy attar to refresh and evening, a contemporary fragrance—something bold, yet familiar, that carries the spirit of the day into the night. This layering technique is not just about longevity—it is about creating depth, a fragrance that shifts and evolves like the celebration itself.

Elegant attar bottles showcased against a warm, gradient background, perfect for layering unique fragrances.

The Return of Bakhoor: Fragrance Beyond the Skin

While perfume is personal, bakhoor is communal—it transforms the very air of a space, wrapping it in warmth, nostalgia, and quiet luxury. In 2025, bakhoor is stepping beyond tradition, becoming a statement of ambiance and modern sensibility.

What’s trending: Luxe sculptural bakhoor burners that double as home decor. Minimalist brass designs, and ceramic vessels that seamlessly blend into contemporary interiors.

New scent profiles: The rise of unconventional bakhoor infusions—rosewood and fig, saffron and citrus, amber and green tea—is bringing a lighter, fresher take on a centuries-old practice.

In 2025, bakhoor is more than just a home fragrance—it is an extension of personal scent, a way to make the intangible feel tactile, to turn a home into a sanctuary.

A luxurious silver incense burner releases fragrant wisps of bakhoor, enveloping the room in a rich, aromatic embrace.

The Attar Revival: Intimate, Alcohol-Free, and Timeless

As the world shifts towards clean beauty, attars—alcohol-free, oil-based perfumes—are making a quiet but powerful comeback. Unlike mass-market fragrances, attars are deeply personal, adapting to the wearer’s skin chemistry to create a scent that feels almost bespoke.

Trending Notes: Rose & Amber – A timeless pairing, both delicate and opulent.

Musk & Saffron – A sensual, golden warmth that lingers for hours.

Citrus & Oud – A fresh, contemporary take on a heritage classic.

Attars are also at the heart of the slow perfumery movement—where small-batch, artisanal blends are becoming the antidote to fast, commercial fragrance trends.

The Rise of Minimalist, Genderless Scents

While Eid fragrances have historically been bold, extravagant, and deeply tied to regional identity, there is an emerging shift toward understated, gender-fluid perfumery. Brands like Le Labo, Diptyque, and Jo Malone are crafting scents that defy labels, blending woods, musks, and florals into compositions that feel both modern and timeless.

What’s different? Clean, skin-like scents—Musks, soft ambers, airy sandalwoods.

Subtle incense blends that whisper rather than shout and a focus on intimacy over intensity, scents that feel effortless yet magnetic. This reflects a larger cultural shift—as fashion becomes more refined, with a focus on craftsmanship over excess, fragrance following suit, favouring depth over drama.

Where Tradition Meets Reinvention

A woven basket overflowing with pink and red roses lies beside a lush scattering of delicate rose petals, creating a soft and romantic scene.

Fragrance is the invisible thread that ties past to present, nostalgia to reinvention, and heritage to modernity. This Eid, let scent be more than just a detail—let it be a memory in the making, a quiet yet powerful statement of who you are and where you belong. Because long after the lights dim and the celebrations end, it is the scent that lingers—the last whisper of joy, warmth, and belonging.