RahabaFloral Vanilla Perfume Extract

Rahaba by Anfas is a niche vanilla, floral and gourmand parfum extract, unisex, created by master perfumer Christian Carbonnel. In Arabic, rahaba means both welcome and spaciousness — the space one makes for another.

A house where every fragrance starts with an Arabic word

Anfas (أنفاس) means “breaths” in Arabic, and the house’s theme is Arab hospitality — that way of welcoming others which, according to its founder, is something you can breathe in the Emirates. It was founded in the United Arab Emirates by Asim Al Qassim, an architect by training and the first certified Emirati perfumer. His method is straightforward: start with an Arabic word, trace back to the emotion it carries, and then translate that into a fragrance formula — fragrances that are not inspired by Arab culture, but made from it. His architect’s eye is evident in the bottle: the rim is adorned with palm leaves depicting the sun, a flower opens in the center of the cap like a gift presented on a tray, and each bottle features an Arabic engraving. This one is signed by Christian Carbonnel, the Spanish master perfumer who created Erba Pura for Xerjoff.

An opening of pineapple, gin and orange

Pineapple opens with juicy, slightly tart flesh, orange brings its radiance, and a gin accord — juniper, sparkling, almost spicy — adds a lively edge. It is a festive opening, exactly as the house describes it: arriving at your host’s home, the glass they hand you.

A heart of Damask rose, Grasse rose and iris

Two roses complement each other: the Damask rose, honeyed and spicy, and the Grasse rose, greener and more powdery. Iris root envelops them in a cool powder. They are like freshly cut flowers discovered upon entering.

A base of vanilla, tonka bean, sandalwood, almond, amber and Tolu balsam

Vanilla, tonka bean and almond create a comforting gourmand sweetness, sandalwood makes it creamy, and amber and Tolu balsam — a South American resin with notes of vanilla and cinnamon — complete its warmth. In parfum extract concentration, the trail is long and enveloping.

The house’s signature touch

Two roses from two different origins in the same heart. It is a rare and costly choice: most fragrances settle for a single rose. Christian Carbonnel brings together two with opposing characters — the damascena, warm and honeyed, grown in the Middle East and the Balkans, and the centifolia from Grasse, green and powdery, harvested in France in May. The theme demanded it: rahaba is spaciousness, the space made for another. Two roses instead of one is quite literally setting an extra place at the table.

For whom, and for what occasions?

Vanilla, floral and gourmand, this parfum extract is for those who love generous roses and comforting bases. It shines from autumn through winter, in the evening as well as at family gatherings, and is equally suited to women and men.

With Rahaba Anfas, Christian Carbonnel bottles Arab hospitality and the word that names it.