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Frequently Asked Questions
🌿 Oud & Arabic Perfumery
Oud (also called agarwood or aloeswood) is a rare, precious aromatic resin formed inside the heartwood of Aquilaria and Gyrinops trees. When these trees become naturally infected with a specific mould, they produce a dark, fragrant resin as a defence response — this resin-rich wood is what we call oud.
Oud has been used for centuries in Arabic, South Asian, and Middle Eastern perfumery, prized for its rich, woody, and complex aroma. It's considered one of the most luxurious ingredients in the world, often called "liquid gold."
Oud differs from regular perfume in five key ways:
- Origin: Oud comes from naturally infected agarwood trees; regular perfume uses synthetic chemicals and essential oils.
- Aroma: Oud is rich, woody, and resinous; regular perfumes range from floral to fruity.
- Concentration: Oud is sold as 100% pure oil; perfumes come as Eau de Toilette or Eau de Parfum (diluted).
- Longevity: Oud lasts 24+ hours; regular perfumes last 4–8 hours.
- Cultural value: Oud carries deep cultural and spiritual significance in Arabic traditions.
Our Dehnal Oudh is 100% pure and natural, while most mainstream perfumes contain up to 95% synthetic ingredients.
Oud oil is a pure, concentrated aromatic extracted directly from agarwood, containing over 150 natural aromatic compounds. Attar is a traditional perfume oil made by blending essential oils (including oud) with a base like sandalwood or carrier oil.
Oud oil offers a more intense, single-note experience. Attars provide a layered, blended fragrance. Both are alcohol-free and long-lasting.
For beginners, we recommend starting with milder ouds before exploring intense varieties:
- Cambodian Oud — sweet, slightly floral, smooth.
- Laos Oud — sweet, creamy, fruity hints.
- Malaysian Oud — sweet and woodsy with a smoother profile.
- Indian Oud — varies from sweet to spicy and floral.
Try our Oud Discovery Set to sample multiple types and find your favourite.
Authentic oud has a powerful yet subtle, spiritual fragrance with deep complexity. Synthetic or diluted oud feels dull, leathery, and one-dimensional — and often causes headaches within seconds.
All Reeh Al Madinah ouds are 100% pure, ethically sourced, and tested for authenticity. Genuine oud also improves with age — synthetic blends degrade over time.
Yes — oud is unisex. While women may initially prefer sweeter ouds (like Cambodian) and men may lean toward deeper, muskier varieties (like Indian), oud has no gender. Many of our most loyal customers are women who love bold Indian ouds, and many men adore softer, sweeter varieties.
A 3ml bottle of pure oud oil typically lasts 6 to 8 months with daily use (one swipe per application). For special-occasion users, a single bottle can last over a year.
Unlike synthetic perfumes that degrade over time, pure oud actually improves with age — older oud commands premium prices for its mature aroma.
Pure oud oil is increasingly seen as an alternative investment, alongside gold and art. Wild-harvested agarwood is becoming rare, driving prices up rapidly. Raw agarwood that sold for under $10,000 a few years ago now sells for hundreds of thousands of dollars in Asian markets.
A 3ml bottle of premium oud today could be worth significantly more in 5–10 years — especially since oud appreciates in value as it ages.
🌸 OUR PRODUCTS & INGREDIENTS
We offer a complete range of luxury Arabic perfumery:
- Eau de Parfums — for men, women, and unisex
- Dehnal Oudh — pure, concentrated oud oil
- Mukhallats — traditional blended attars
- Perfume Oils — alcohol-free for men and women
- Nasmah Collection — luxurious all-over body sprays
- Bakhoor & Oud Muattar — home incense
- Oud Chips — burnable wood chips for traditional fragrance
Our Dehnal Oudh, Mukhallats, and traditional perfume oils are 100% alcohol-free. Our Eau de Parfums contain alcohol denat (a standard cosmetic solvent), clearly labelled per product. If you prefer alcohol-free fragrances, choose our oil-based collections.
Yes. All our musk and oils are 100% Halal, vegan, and cruelty-free. Our perfume oils blend natural and synthetic compounds to create long-lasting, ethical fragrances. We never test on animals and never use animal-derived musk.
Yes. None of our oud oils are exposed to pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Most of our oud is distilled from fully matured wild agarwood trees that grow naturally with rainwater alone. Our plantation-grown ouds use only organic soil enhancement methods.
- Eau de Parfums: 8–12 hours
- Dehnal Oudh & Mukhallats: 24+ hours
- Bakhoor: Fills a room for 4–6 hours per burn
Oils last longer than sprays because they're concentrated and don't contain alcohol, which evaporates faster.
Our attars and oils are made from natural ingredients, which are generally less likely to cause reactions than synthetic fragrances. However, individual sensitivities vary. We recommend:
- Patch test: Apply a small amount to your inner wrist and wait 24–48 hours.
- Check ingredients: Review the product page for known allergens.
- Consult a dermatologist if you have a history of allergies.
For sensitive skin, we recommend our pure oil collections over alcohol-based sprays.
📦 ORDERS & ACCOUNT
Browse our collections, add your favourites to the cart, and checkout. You can either create an account or checkout as a guest. Creating an account lets you track orders, save delivery details, and view order history.
No, guest checkout is available. However, registered customers enjoy:
- Faster checkout with saved details
- Real-time order tracking
- Order history access
- Exclusive offers and early access to new launches
Orders can be cancelled or modified within 2 hours of placement, before dispatch. After dispatch, cancellation isn't possible — but you can return the item once received. Email us immediately at admin@reehalmadinah.com for cancellation requests.
Orders are dispatched within 24 hours of acceptance, Monday–Friday (10am–5pm UK time, excluding bank holidays). Orders placed after 12pm Friday are processed the following Monday. Pre-orders and high-volume periods may take slightly longer.
Contact our Customer Care Team at admin@reehalmadinah.com within 48 hours of delivery. Please:
- Keep all original packaging
- Provide photos of the damage
- Include your order number
We'll arrange a replacement or full refund quickly.
🚚 SHIPPING & DELIVERY
We ship worldwide. Our main markets include:
- United Kingdom (free over £40)
- United Arab Emirates & Gulf Region
- Europe (free over £100)
- United States & Canada
- Rest of the World (rates calculated at checkout)
Reeh Al Madinah is headquartered in the UAE, with a UK branch for European fulfilment.
Yes:
- UK orders over £40 — Free Standard Delivery
- EU orders over £100 — Free Standard Delivery
- UAE orders — Local free delivery available
International orders outside these regions have shipping calculated at checkout based on weight and destination.
We offer 4 UK delivery options:
- Standard Delivery — 3–5 working days — FREE over £40
- Second Class — 2–4 working days — £3.50
- First Class — 1–3 working days — £5.50
- Express Delivery — 1–2 working days — £8.50 (order before 12pm)
- Europe: 8–10 working days (£15.50, free over £100)
- USA & Canada: 7–14 working days
- Gulf Region (UAE, Saudi Arabia, etc.): 5–10 working days
- Rest of the World: 10–21 working days
Customs duties and import taxes may apply and are the customer's responsibility.
Once dispatched, you'll receive a confirmation email with a tracking link. You can also:
- Log in to your account → Order History
- Receive SMS updates from our courier
- Contact admin@reehalmadinah.com for status updates
🔄 RETURNS & REFUNDS
We offer easy returns with a full refund guarantee. Items must be:
- Unused and in original packaging
- Returned within 14 days of delivery
- Accompanied by proof of purchase
For full details, visit our Return Policy page.
- Email admin@reehalmadinah.com with your order number and reason for return.
- We'll send return instructions and address.
- Pack the item securely in original packaging.
- Ship back via tracked post.
- Refund processed within 5–7 days of receipt.
Refunds are processed within 5–7 business days after we receive and inspect the returned item. Refunds are credited to your original payment method. Bank processing may add 2–3 additional days depending on your provider.
💳 PAYMENT & GIFTS
We accept:
- Cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express
- Digital Wallets: Apple Pay, Google Pay, Shop Pay
- PayPal
- Klarna (UK only — buy now, pay later)
All payments are processed through encrypted, PCI-compliant gateways. Your card details are never stored on our servers.
Yes! We offer:
- E-Gift Cards — instant delivery, customisable amounts
- Premium gift wrapping — selectable at checkout
- Curated gift sets for Him and Her
Perfect for Eid, weddings, anniversaries, and special occasions.
Yes. We provide private label and corporate gifting services for businesses, hotels, and event planners. Custom branding, packaging, and bulk pricing available. Visit our Corporate page or email admin@reehalmadinah.com for a quote.
