Celebrating NPA Graduate MD Abdullah Al Roman’s International Perfumery Award

Celebrating NPA Graduate MD Abdullah Al Roman’s International Perfumery Award

We are incredibly proud to congratulate Natural Perfume Academy graduate MD Abdullah Al Roman on winning the Grand Jury Prize (Rosendo Mateu Award) at the Mouillette d’Argent 2025 International Perfumery Contest! This prestigious contest – widely recognised as an “international benchmark” for perfumers – held its 8th edition awards ceremony in Barcelona, drawing 139 entries from 49 countries across all continents. Abdullah’s winning creation, Ámbar Magnifique, captivated the judges, featuring a prominent dose of natural labdanum (rockrose resin) that perfectly embodied the event’s theme. While joining the gala virtually, this achievement marks a phenomenal moment for Abdullah and a proud occasion for Malaysia on the global fragrance stage.

MD Abdullah Al Roman seated in his perfume laboratory surrounded by shelves of natural aromatic materials, where he creates award-winning fragrances.

A Prestigious International Award in Perfumery

The Mouillette d’Argent International Perfumery Contest celebrates creativity, artistic sensitivity, and technical excellence in perfumery. In 2025, the expert jury – including renowned perfumers like Ramón Monegal and Christian Carbonnel – recognised three exceptional creations. MD Abdullah Al Roman received the Jury Prize (Rosendo Mateu Award), the contest’s top honor (with a €5,000 grant), for Ámbar Magnifique. Described as a “radiant amber masterpiece,” its rich cistus labdanum note resonated powerfully with the competition’s Mediterranean cistus theme. “This award challenges me to surpass myself and deepen my knowledge of materials… I am deeply grateful to the organisers for creating such an inspiring space to share our art with the world,” Abdullah expressed. His words highlight the contest’s significance for independent perfumers to test their creativity and connect emotionally through raw materials. Winning the Grand Jury Prize in such a competitive field, decided by an international panel, is a resounding testament to Abdullah’s exceptional artistry and skill as a Master Perfumer.

The 2025 contest saw strong global participation with 139 perfumers from 49 countries submitting entries. It also featured a Public Audience Award, where over 650 perfume lovers voted on the finalists, demonstrating how Ámbar Magnifique impressed both experts and the public alike.

Abdullah Al Roman: Master Perfumer and NPA Graduate

MD Abdullah Al Roman’s journey reflects a deep passion for fragrance. A 2019 alumnus of the Natural Perfume Academy’s diploma program (achieving NPA Qualified Professional Natural Perfumer status by 2021), Abdullah developed a profound appreciation for natural materials during his studies. “From my earliest memories… the ‘scent of my life’ is oud,” he recalls, describing childhood days spent at his family’s oud (agarwood) distillation plant. This early immersion ignited his love for natural aromatics like oud. After completing his NPA training, he quickly demonstrated his talent, winning the 2020 New Luxury Awards (Graduate category) with his student perfume “Oriental Queen” – a creation rooted in natural perfumery principles.

Today, MD Abdullah Al Roman is an independent perfumer, brand consultant, and founder of House of Perfumer’s consultancy. He also serves as co-founder and Artistic Director of Perfumer’s Lab Sdn. Bhd. in Malaysia. His impressive portfolio includes numerous natural perfumes and scented products developed for various brands (as noted in his NPA Hall of Fame profile), such as:

  • Oriental Queen (2020) – Award-winning lush oriental (NPA graduate project).

  • Oud Zest & Juicy Vetiver – For C’avenir.

  • Signature Wood & Elegant Rose – For DND.

  • Scarlet Vanilla & Sicilian Summer – For Marc Lois.

  • Classic Oud & CoCo & CoCo Candles – For Vose Vianne.

These creations showcase Abdullah’s skill in blending exotic natural ingredients to evoke deep emotions, a foundation strengthened during his time exploring natural perfumery at NPA.

Shared Values: Ethics, Sustainability, and Craft

What resonates deeply is Abdullah’s commitment to vision and values that align with the ethos often found in natural perfumery. He champions ethical sourcing and sustainability: “With increasing demand for ethically sourced natural perfumery materials, we can encourage farmers to renew their interest in traditional production methods… offer quality products while also preserving nature and saving farmers.” This philosophy of protecting biodiversity and supporting artisan livelihoods is core to his work. While his winning Mouillette d’Argent entry, Ámbar Magnifique, showcased his mastery across perfumery disciplines (incorporating both natural and conventional materials), his dedication to plant-based materials and sustainable practices reflects principles nurtured and explored during his education at the Natural Perfume Academy. The NPA curriculum emphasises respect for nature, botanical ingredients, and traditional techniques, values Abdullah clearly carries forward in his broader practice.

The Natural Perfume Academy (NPA) is honoured to have contributed to Abdullah’s foundational knowledge. His NPA Certified Natural Perfumery Diploma studies provided a deep dive into natural aromatics and refined his creative skillset under expert guidance. We remember featuring him in our Friday Spotlight shortly after graduation, already recognising his potential and passion for materials like oud. His early success with Oriental Queen and now this landmark international win underscore how dedicated study, creative vision, and a strong foundation can lead to remarkable achievements.

A Proud Moment for Our Graduate

Abdullah Al Roman’s Grand Jury Prize win at Mouillette d’Argent 2025 is first and foremost a tremendous personal and professional accomplishment. It is a recognition of his exceptional talent, dedication, and artistry as a perfumer. We at the Natural Perfume Academy are simply delighted and proud to see a graduate reach such prestigious heights on the global stage. His journey, beginning with a deep dive into natural materials at NPA and expanding into mastery across the perfumery spectrum, is truly inspiring. It demonstrates the power of foundational training coupled with relentless passion and innovation.

Congratulations, Abdullah, on this outstanding and well-deserved achievement!  Your success inspires our entire community. We celebrate your artistry and look forward to witnessing your continued impact on the world of fragrance.

Sources:

  1. Fragrantica News – Mouillette d’Argent 2025: Winners and Results of the VIII International Perfumery Contest (Confirming Ámbar Magnifique composition)

  2. Next in Beauty Magazine – El Mouillette d’Argent celebrates the art of perfume in a new edition in Barcelona

  3. Natural Perfume Academy – Friday Spotlight: MD Abdullah Al Roman (Graduate Profile)