Choosing a perfume is no longer only about finding one signature fragrance. For Gen Z, scent has become a way to express personality, mood, style, and even a particular moment. Almas Anfar Kathuria, a third-generation perfumer and the person leading the next chapter of Al Anfar Perfumes, is embracing this change with a fresh approach to fragrance.
Her message to younger fragrance lovers is simple: choose a scent that feels like you, and do not be afraid to have more than one.
Who Is Almas Anfar Kathuria?
Almas Anfar Kathuria is an entrepreneur, third-generation perfumer, couture designer, philanthropist, and the owner of the Northern Warriors cricket franchise. She is also helping bring her family’s long fragrance history into a modern era.
Al Anfar’s fragrance story began in 1950 with Haji Anfar Ali and a focus on agarwood and Dehn Al Oudh. The family later expanded its fragrance business into the Arabian Peninsula. Today, Almas is carrying that heritage forward while introducing fragrance ideas designed for a younger audience.
Why Gen Z Is Changing the Way People Choose Perfume
Traditional perfume shopping often focused on technical terms such as floral, woody, oriental, amber, or musk. Gen Z often approaches fragrance differently.
Younger shoppers may choose a perfume based on a mood, aesthetic, memory, outfit, occasion, or even a social-media trend. A scent can feel like a “coffee date” fragrance, a “night out” fragrance, or a sweet everyday fragrance.
This makes perfume more personal and less formal.
Almas Anfar Kathuria’s approach fits this change because she encourages people to see fragrance as part of their personal style rather than something that has to follow strict rules.
Choose Your Personality Before Choosing Your Perfume
One of the key ideas behind Almas’s fragrance philosophy is to think about personality first.
Ask yourself:
- Do I like fresh and clean scents?
- Do I enjoy sweet and dessert-like fragrances?
- Do I prefer traditional oud?
- Do I want something floral and soft?
- Do I like bold and mysterious fragrances?
- What scent matches my everyday style?
These questions can make perfume shopping easier.
For example, someone who enjoys sweet fragrances may prefer caramel, strawberry, chocolate, or vanilla-inspired scents. Someone who likes traditional Middle Eastern perfumery may be more attracted to oud, amber, musk, or woody notes.
The important point is that there is no single correct fragrance for everyone.
One Perfume Does Not Have to Do Everything
The idea of having one perfume for every situation is becoming less important.
Just as people have different clothes for work, travel, parties, weddings, and casual days, they can also have different fragrances for different occasions.
A light fragrance can work well during the daytime. A deeper oud or amber scent may feel more suitable for an evening event. A sweet gourmand fragrance can add a playful touch to a casual day.
This creates what can be called a fragrance wardrobe.
Instead of asking, “What is my one signature perfume?” Gen Z can ask, “What do I want to smell like today?”
Gourmand Fragrances Are Making Perfume More Fun
Sweet fragrances have become an important part of the modern fragrance conversation.
Almas Anfar Kathuria has highlighted scent ideas such as chocolate, strawberry, caramel, espresso, and chocolate oud. These familiar names make fragrance easier to understand because people already know the emotions and memories connected with these smells.
Chocolate can feel rich and comforting. Strawberry can feel playful and youthful. Caramel can create a warm, sweet impression, while espresso can bring an energetic café-inspired feeling.
Chocolate oud is especially interesting because it combines a modern gourmand idea with the deep character of oud, a major part of Middle Eastern fragrance culture.
Fragrance Is Also About the Bottle
For today’s fragrance shoppers, the experience does not always stop at the scent.
Bottle design, packaging, colors, names, and unboxing can all be part of the attraction. A beautiful perfume bottle can become part of a bedroom, vanity, handbag, or social-media collection.
This is why collectable fragrance formats can appeal to younger consumers. Smaller bottles and different scent options can allow people to experiment without committing to just one fragrance.
The goal is not simply to own many perfumes. It is to create a collection where every scent has its own personality.
Affordable Luxury Matters to Gen Z
Having several fragrances can become expensive, so accessibility is another important part of the conversation.
Almas has emphasized the idea of offering attractive fragrances that do not require younger consumers to spend excessively. This connects with the growing interest in accessible luxury, where customers want premium-looking products and enjoyable experiences at prices that feel more realistic.
For Gen Z, this can make experimenting with different fragrance personalities more achievable.
New Gen Z Fragrances Coming in October 2026
Almas Anfar Kathuria is also preparing a new Gen Z-focused fragrance launch for October 2026. The announced lineup includes Maison Umama, Florayne, and Scent Charms.
The collection is expected to explore playful, gourmand, floral, and pink-focused aesthetics while keeping the idea of luxury within reach.
The launch reflects a broader shift in fragrance: younger consumers want perfumes that feel expressive, memorable, collectible, and connected to their lifestyles.
Final Thoughts
Almas Anfar Kathuria’s advice to Gen Z can be summed up in one idea: perfume should express who you are, not define who you have to be.
Whether you love oud, musk, florals, amber, chocolate, caramel, strawberry, or something completely different, the best fragrance is the one that makes you feel comfortable and confident.
With her family’s fragrance heritage dating back to 1950 and her modern focus on younger consumers, Almas is helping connect traditional Arabian perfumery with a new generation of fragrance lovers.
