Widian, a house from the Emirates
With Widian, Ali Aljaberi set out to create contemporary perfumes that stay connected to Arab roots and tradition. The house describes its style as a play of contrasts, where intense ingredients and rich spices are softened by citrus and flowers.
Widian fragrances in our selection
The Black collection: Black III and Black IV
On the official website, Black III is an aromatic scent with spearmint, leather and woods, and the house describes it through the image of an intimate day: an old leather armchair, travel memories and a view of the Mediterranean at first light. Black IV, subtitled Voyage of Love, is a fruity floral with black currant and plum. The house calls it subtle and playful and links it to the story of a delicate love, made of a stolen glance and the shy wait for a sign.
The Sapphire collection: Aswan and Granada
The Sapphire collection is the one the house dedicates to cities around the globe.
Aswan is dedicated to Egyptian culture and the ancient city of Aswan, in Egypt. The house presents it as a meeting of classic tradition and modernity, born from a perfumer's imagination and the story of the world's treasures, and the notes listed on the official website include raspberry, cedar and violet.
Granada pairs rose and juniper with black pepper and cinnamon, over a base of amber, musk, vetiver and patchouli.
Hair fragrances: Liwa and Black II
Widian also offers fragrances for the hair. The first is Liwa Hair Fragrance, inspired by the Liwa Oasis, in the heart of the Rub' al-Khali, the Empty Quarter desert. It's a smoky floral built around an incense accord, with saffron in the opening, powdery jasmine and a soft patchouli base. Then there's Black II Hair Fragrance, which the house describes as a fragrance of sweet Arabian seduction, fresh and energizing like a walk through a secret garden, with citrus, oriental, gourmand and woody notes brought together in one composition.
How to choose a Widian perfume
If you love spice, start with Granada, while incense lovers will find it in Liwa, which is a hair fragrance. For an aromatic scent with leather and woods there's Black III, and for a fruity floral, Black IV. If you like violet and cedar, go for Aswan. Among the body perfumes in our selection, there are only extraits de parfum.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Widian?
Widian was founded in 2014 in Abu Dhabi by Ali Aljaberi, and the house's full name is Widian by AJ Arabia. It's based in the United Arab Emirates and offers contemporary perfumes rooted in Arab culture, such as the extraits of the Black collection and Aswan from the Sapphire collection, which you'll find in our selection.
What does the name Widian mean?
Widian means "valleys" in Arabic and is the plural of wadi, the valley or dry riverbed typical of desert landscapes. The desert landscape also comes back in the fragrances, starting with Liwa Hair Fragrance, named after an oasis in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
What inspired the Widian bottles?
Widian bottles are inspired by the domes of Arab architecture. The house presents this choice as a balance between tradition and innovation, the same one it seeks in its compositions, where intense ingredients and rich spices are softened by citrus and flowers, as in the spiced rose of Granada.
What's the difference between Widian Black III and Black IV?
Black III and Black IV are two extraits from the Black collection with different characters. Black III is about warmth and intimacy, and the house describes it through the image of a leather armchair and travel memories of the Mediterranean. Black IV, Voyage of Love, is subtle and playful, built around the idea of attraction at first sight.
What is Widian Aswan?
Aswan is an extrait de parfum from Widian's Sapphire collection, dedicated to Egyptian culture and the ancient city of Aswan, on the Nile. The house describes it as a modern fragrance that combines classic tradition and modernity, born from a perfumer's imagination and the story of the world's treasures.
What hair fragrances does Widian offer?
In our selection, Widian offers two hair fragrances, Liwa Hair Fragrance and Black II Hair Fragrance, each with a different character. Liwa is a smoky floral built around incense, while Black II is fresh and energizing, with a citrus and gourmand side.
Which Widian perfume should I choose for incense?
If you're looking for incense, the Widian scent to start with is Liwa Hair Fragrance, a smoky floral built around incense, with saffron in the opening and a base of jasmine and patchouli. It's a hair fragrance: none of the extraits in our selection puts incense at the center of its description.
Which Widian extrait should I choose if I love spice?
If you love spice, the Widian extrait to try is Granada, which pairs delicate rose and juniper with black pepper and cinnamon, along with amber, musk, vetiver and patchouli. The house describes it as a symphony of burning passions and calm breezes and links it to the appeal of Chilli Woods.
