Frangipani, Monoi or Tahitian gardenia, Gardenias, Shea, Oranges, Tuberose, Musk, Roses, Cocoa, Neroli, Sugar, Salt and Pepper.
Or, in other words – my signature scent – I want my skin to always smell like a beach holiday layered with luxury – velvety, floral, creamy, and kissed by the tropics.
In this article
And I might have just discovered the perfect combination of Vegan and Cruelty-Free body care for my everyday shower routine, leaving the most amazing, luxurious, long-lasting signature scent on my skin. I’m taking a break from other body mists or eau de parfum this season.
I’m sharing my signature scent layering ritual using four products that redefine what it means to smell divine – without a single drop of synthetic eau de parfum.
Since my first-ever job at The Body Shop, I have been constantly working on creating a self-care routine based on olfactive senses and creamy textures to keep my skin hydrated and silky.
Twenty years ago, when I discovered and started using the Shea body butter while working as a sales assistant at The Body Shop, I stopped needing the use of perfume. My budget for Eau de toilette and Eau de parfum drastically lowered. I was in absolute awe with the scent of the Shea body butter that was discreet but powerful, nutty, feminine, long-lasting, and incredibly sexy. I was ready to ditch my alcohol-based perfumes, focus on skin-first scent rituals, and start working on creating the body care lineup to get me that golden ticket.
My senses and tastes have changed with age, and looking back, I absolutely love how I grew up. The whole process of self-awareness is magic. Not focusing on chasing and buying perfume bottles and brands has shifted my attention to the list of ingredients for all body lotions, creams, butters, oils, and shower gels. I was looking for shea, Frangipani, monoi oil, and, of course, that feeling of “discreet but powerful, nutty, feminine, long-lasting, and incredibly sexy.”
I have also realized that the best next thing to having a signature scent created from a carefully curated body care is a healthy, glowing, soft skin. I started layering fragrance in a skin-loving way, and unknowingly, I also supported clean, ethical, and luxurious beauty brands – many of which are homegrown or female-led.
Surprisingly, an aromatic, skin-loving experience that lasts all day does not cost as much as anyone would expect, and you can feel like a Queen at home spending as little as, well, we will see below.
I never face the day without perfume.
Elizabeth Taylor
Here’s my idea for upgrading my self-care ritual to match the vibe of a five-star spa in the Maldives.
Signature Scent 1: The Body Shop Shea Shower Cream
Let’s talk Shea – the butter, the scent, the skin-coddling benefits. The Body Shop has been celebrating fair trade shea butter long before ethical sourcing was trending, and their Shea Shower Cream continues to deliver.
Since day 1 as a sales assistant at The Body Shop, the Shea range has been my obsession. Its fragrance is soft, comforting, and subtly nutty—perfectly unisex and ideal if you want something less floral but still indulgent.
I always thought it had the kind of scent people lean into when you hug them. It’s cozy, understated, yet so memorable.
This shower cream is a comforting, nutty, floral scent that covers the skin in moisture while cleansing with a gentle, soap-free formula. This is not your average body wash. It’s a low-lathering cream that respects your skin barrier while building the perfect canvas for scent layering.
When it comes to shower gels and creams, I’m also a big fan of Molton Brown, Elemis, Clarins, Espa, Caudalie, Laura Mercier, and many others; I somehow make sure The Body Shop Shea Shower Cream is always in my shower cabin.
And here are a few reasons why:
- Shea Butter. From Ghana. Provides intense hydration without heaviness.
- Its creamy scent lingers, setting the stage for my body care routine.
- It’s soap-free and ideal for dry and sensitive skin in the UAE’s harsh climate.
It’s creamy, not foamy, which makes it ideal for those post-sunburn moments that are part of life in the Middle East.
Price: 55AED
You can buy it here: https://thebodyshop.ae/en/shea-shower-cream-250ml-217262212
Signature Scent 2: Dr Noor Natural Product Rose Body Scrub
It’s always a good idea to continue with a body scrub. And for this next layer, I chose a Rose Body Scrub.
Every luxe scent journey begins with soft skin, and nothing does that quite like a body scrub. Enter: Dr Noor Rose Body Scrub – a Made in UAE hero product infused with real Damask rose petals, sugar, and essential oils. I wrote more about it here.
The scent of roses and the herbs used for this formula, slightly green and earthy, mixed with the sugar, leaves my skin polished and perfumed before I even moisturize.
I simply adore it, and here are a few reasons why:
- It is locally made, sustainably sourced, and proudly made in the UAE; Dr. Noor Natural Products is fast becoming my go-to for ethical beauty rooted in regional heritage.
- A perfect blend of rose essential oil, herbs, coconut oil, and sugar; unlike synthetic rose fragrances, this one is fresh, light, and slightly sweet. Think roses after a rainstorm. It preps my skin for all the goodness that follows and subtly perfumes it in the process.
- It boosts circulation, removes dead cells, and leaves the skin glowing and scented.
It’s perfect for sensitive skin, and thanks to its vegan, paraben-free, and sulfate-free formula, it fits seamlessly into any clean beauty routine.
What I adore most is the slow, grounding ritual of using it – massaging it into my skin while the steam rises and the scent blooms, turning my every shower into a self-care, relaxed experience.
Price: 105AED
You can buy it here: https://drnoor.shop/products/%D8%B3%D9%83%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B2-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%B3%D9%85-rose-body-scrub
Signature Scent 3: Elemis Frangipani Monoi Body Cream
An award-winning sensory experience, this body cream is my passport to an island spa moment right after the towel off.
It’s lush, exotic, and subtly seductive. The texture? Rich but never greasy, melting into my skin like warm butter on sun-drenched sand.
It’s a beautifully British-born product with global cult status. Elemis is proudly cruelty-free, leaning into wellness-infused beauty. The formula nourishes deeply and is ideal for dry skin in UAE climates, where constant sun exposure and indoor AC strip away moisture.
Elemis’s formula brings out the best of Frangipani and the Monoi oil’s scent.
- Intensely moisturizing without greasiness.
- Tahitian Monoi oil is a sacred Polynesian ingredient known for hydration and scent longevity.
- It smells better than any niche fragrance and costs less per use.
Price: 159AED
You can buy it here: https://ae.elemis.com/60820.html?lang=en_AE&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw782_BhDjARIsABTv_JCXwndJIk8ag4Jjx_rItdgFW6GtANzgg3FoWt5MUfusAQ5I04uHbqgaAu-JEALw_wcB
Signature Scent 4: OUAI Hair & Body Mist St. Barts
To seal the deal, this is the final featherlight veil of scent: OUAI Hair & Body Mist St. Barts.
It is an absolute vacation in a bottle: orange blossom, dragon fruit, tuberose, musk, and Baltic amber. It smells expensive, minimalist, and modern – never overpowering. The formula is alcohol-free and multi-purpose; it won’t dry out the skin or hair, which makes it perfect for the UAE climate.
Created by celeb stylist Jen Atkin, this mist isn’t just Instagram-worthy – it’s the definition of summer in a bottle.
- It’s lightweight, non-drying, and can be used on hair, clothes, and skin; it leaves a trace of a sensual island-inspired scent.
- Vegan and cruelty-free.
- Perfect for a midday refresh or pre-dinner spritz after a beach day.
The OUAI brand philosophy is all about effortless luxury, and this mist captures that perfectly.
OUAI Hair & Body Mist St. Barts is the scent enhancer that allows every note in my body care routine to shine. Plus, it doesn’t compete with my natural oils or the base notes of my body cream.
Price: 155AED
You can buy it here: https://www.sephora.me/ae-en/p/hair-and-body-mist-st-barts/P10058049?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw782_BhDjARIsABTv_JAJRImweyiBYWijK8fF2h1kVcaDe9aI_jtX5HP0wcMwA9-89_EiKf8aAkAkEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
And there you have it. My signature scent this season has a total cost of 474 AED.
With this body care layering technique, I get:
- Longer-lasting fragrance
- More hydration
- A tailored signature scent that evolves throughout the day
- Ethical peace of mind because I’m using cruelty-free, vegan body care brands and products.
This body care routine is about reinventing your signature scent using high-performance body care that smells as good as it feels. And because each product has its own signature scent profile – from creamy shea to spicy rose, tropical Frangipani, and musk – you get a multi-dimensional fragrance experience without a single spray of conventional perfume.
What started as a quest to avoid synthetic perfumes during the heat of summer turned into a full-blown love affair with sensory body care. Each of these four products offers its own story, its own olfactory signature – but together, they create a daily signature scent that’s intoxicating, empowering, and speaks volumes about me.
So, if you’re looking to reinvent your signature scent through luxurious body care, I invite you to skip the traditional Eau de Parfum for a week and immerse yourself in a scent-laced body care routine.
The Founder
If you are an expat in the Middle East facing skin concerns and want to share your story, send us a message at [email protected]
*Disclosure: I received no compensation for this review. This is solely based on my personal experience and assessment.
