BY RAYNALD C RIVERA
DOHA: Qatar’s new regulations for import and sale of alcohol-based perfumes will not hit the fragrance industry hard as most famous brands have alcohol content below the maximum acceptable under the new guidelines.
“Majority of perfumes, especially the branded ones, do not have alcohol content that high. Makers of these famous brands around the world are producing perfumes considering the health of the end-users,” said Abadi Qataa, Acting Director of Nancita Media, who are organising the first Perfume Exhibition in the country.
Alarmed by reports of widespread misuse of some cologne products in Qatar as intoxicant, the Ministry of Environment recently issued new rules for import and sale of such perfumes.
In addition, the ingredients should include at least one substance that change the natural specifications of alcohol content and make the products unfit for drinking. The products can be used only as sprays and a warning saying “for external use only” should be printed on them in red colour in English and Arabic prominently.
On the sidelines of a press conference at the Grand Heritage Hotel to launch the event, Qataa said Qatar has a huge perfume market and compared to other countries people here have high purchasing power.
“The market for the perfume sector here is huge. People have relatively good income so they can buy what they want. This event will bring a great number of well-known brands from other countries,” he said.
He claimed the exhibition would also be the first of its kind in the GCC and that many exhibitors from GCC will converge in Qatar during the event from April 23 to 26 at the Doha Exhibition Center.
Around 100 to 150 exhibitors from Qatar and the GCC are expected to take part.
An exciting feature of the four-day show is live demonstrations of perfume-making by many companies, which is a rare spectacle in such events even in Europe, according to Qataa.
“We will also have another section for customers, where they would have the chance to meet perfume makers who would help them choose the best perfume fit for them,” he added.
The Peninsula
