Malik Abdul-Zahir, C.E.O. The Custodian of a Sacred Art¯

"I have learned to work with these essences by immersing myself in them and in the rich literature of the perfume masters of a century ago,"¯ said Abdul-Zahir. "I feel privileged to have the opportunity to create with these precious essences, and I see myself as custodian of a sacred art."¯

ObN® Skincare's unique line of personal care products comes “Direct from Nature to You”. Every product reflects a dedication to excellence, a love of nature, and a love of fragrance. In a world full of chemically altered products, we know “natural” is the way to go.

Malik Abdul-Zahir, C.E.O of ObN Skincare, is passionate about fragrance. His keen sense of smell and attention to detail drew him to the perfume industry where he achieved expertise in commercial perfumery. However, his unique philosophy of fragrance is rooted in Islamic culture and traditions. Studying the science of Attars in Egypt and the Sufi science of scents as a healing vehicle, enabled him to develop a deep, spiritual connection to the role fragrance plays in history, religion and healing.

“Even though we’re on earth, every perfumer tries to capture the fragrances of Paradise,” said Abdul-Zahir.

“It took centuries to discover ways of extracting scent from aromatic materials. Yet just as a full palette of natural essences became available, commercial perfumers began to set them aside in favor of synthetic ingredients, which are cheaper, sturdier, and more uniform in quality. Unfortunately, they have none of the richness or complexity of the natural ingredients, and they result in “linear” fragrances that strike the senses bluntly. Natural essences contain minute traces of various materials, which is why Moroccan rose smells different from Bulgarian rose or Egyptian rose. Synthetics can approximate the dominant qualities of the natural essences, but they cannot capture the same subtlety, nor can they mimic the way natural perfumes evolve on the skin in response to body chemistry.” “I have learned to work with these essences by immersing myself in them and in the rich literature of the perfume masters of a century ago,” said Abdul-Zahir. “I feel privileged to have the opportunity to create with these precious essences, and I see myself as custodian of a sacred art.”