In 2004, Ajmal Perfumes set up a new state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Dubai in order to keep up with the region's increasing fragrance demands. Strategically located in Dubai's industrial area and built at a total cost of US$10 million, the 150,000-square foot facility houses manufacturing units, a fully automated packaging division and an extensive Research and Development (R&D) wing.
Ajmal's plant serves as the fragrance house's main source for its complete product range including oriental and western fragrances as well as bath products. One of the best of its kind in the region, the plant explores new techniques to produce creative, quality raw materials and fragrances to meet changing customer preferences and current international trends.
The comprehensive facility, equipped with the latest European technology for key processes such as blending, filling and packaging, has the capacity to produce approximately 50,000 bottles of fragrances per day and meets the demands of the company's network of retail and distribution outlets across the GCC.
The new state of the art manufacturing facility was inaugurated on 11th January 2004 by H. H. Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance and Industry.
Over the past 50 years, Ajmal Perfumes has emerged as an international voice on the manufacture and development of perfumes, not only in the region but also in markets such as South East Asia, Europe and the Americas.
 A
little known fact is that the company also works very closely with several
leading western perfume houses, advising them on how to incorporate natural
and oriental ingredients in their fragrance lines. This apart, the company
is also one of the premier suppliers of raw materials and ingredients
to many well-known international brands. |
Set up in 1994, US$1 million Ajmal Research & Development Wing in Dubai is one of the best equipped such facility in the Middle East. After the idea of a new perfume is conceived, it is passed over to Ajmal's R&D wing, where a series of trials and tests are conducted to come up with the optimum formulation structure.
Ajmal is also one of the first perfume companies in the region to work closely with local and regional bodies such as Gulf Metallurgical Standardization Association towards creating a viable and effective quality standard mechanism in the GCC.
In fact the Saudi Arabian Standardization Organization (SASO), which is the apex body for maintaining quality standards in Saudi Arabia has empowered Ajmal Perfumes with the authority to issue quality certificates on behalf of SASO. What this essentially means is that before any regional or international perfume brand is released in the highly stringent and quality conscious Saudi Arabian market from the UAE, it has to be tested by the Ajmal Research & Development Wing for certain prohibited fats and steroids.
In house manufacturing and development of fragrances
 Ajmal
takes great pride in the fact that, till date, all its fragrances have
been conceived, created, developed and manufactured in house. The raw
materials sourced for the various perfumes that the company manufactures
are sourced only from internationally renowned suppliers, known for their
high-quality standards. These include H&R, IFF, Dragoco, Drom, V Mane
Fils (VMF), etc. Similarly, with a view to ensuring that the packaging
of its fragrances are in line with international standards, Ajmal Perfumes
sources glass bottles from several internationally renowned manufacturers,
such as Brosse, NVM, Heinz Glass, Bormioli, etc. |
After the idea of a perfume is conceived it is first "tested" by a "consumer panel", which consists of a sampling of the target segment.
Using highly advanced quality control equipment, the chief perfumer then ensures that the quality of the blends conform to internationally recognized standards or those set by regional bodies such as GMSO and country-specific organizations such as SASO.
Customized Fragrances
 It
is this unswerving adherence to maintaining the highest possible quality
standards that has made Ajmal one of the most reputed fragrance house
in the region. A number of royal families in the region have commissioned
the company to create a range of customized fragrances for their exclusive
use. Several reputed international airlines in the region, such as Gulf
Air and Saudi Arabian Airlines, have commissioned Ajmal Perfumes to create
special, signature fragrances for them. Burj Al Arab, the world's only
7 star hotel also has an exclusive signature fragrance created for them
by Ajmal Perfumes. |
Patented techniques and fragrances
In 1998, Ajmal Perfumes became the first company in the region to patent a fragrance - Oudh Mubhakar, which was launched after 4 years of research, and went to become one of the bestsellers in the industry.
The precious ingredient Oudh, which is one of the prime components in oriental perfumery, takes approximately 25-30 years to develop. It is the result of a fungus, which attacks a certain kind of Agarwood tree.
At the rate the perfume industry was using this commodity, there was a probability that Oudh would soon be on the "endangered" list. Accepting the need to preserve this vital component, the Ajmal's R&D Center worked on a process to reduce the incubation time of the Oudh tree from 25-30 years to just 10 years, an invention that is now patented in the 6 countries that are the primary source of Oudh in the world.
Environmental Conservation
On yet another front, Ajmal was one of the first companies in Asia to recognize the need to conserve natural resources way back in 1976 and embarked upon a comprehensive afforestration program in the hills of North Eastern India.
Over 200,000 trees have been adopted under this program and Ajmal Perfumes will benefit by consistent supply of Oudh in terms of quality and quantity.