This Dubai-Based Perfume Brand Created a Scent Inspired by Palawan and Calamansi
Rayhaan Perfumes teamed up with Noel Thomas, a half-Filipino fragrance content creator, to bring the scent to life.
by Kyla Villena
Published on Oct 13, 2026
Palawan is no longer just a beautiful island in the Philippines. It’s also a perfume!
Rayhaan Perfumes, a Dubai-based fragrance house in the United Arab Emirates, recently released a scent named Palawan. The perfume evokes a spontaneous trip to the island, an adventure with “no itinerary, no expectations. Just the feeling of somewhere new.”
About Palawan by Rayhaan Perfumes and Noel Thomas
With the eau de parfum having launched less than a week ago, the fragrance house hasn’t released its complete list of notes yet. However, calamansi, also known as the Philippine lime, is at its heart. The citrus note hints at a fresh, vibrant scent that captures the fruit’s bright character.
Rayhaan Perfumes teamed up with Noel Thomas, a half-Filipino fragrance content creator, to bring Palawan to life. In an Instagram Reel, Thomas shared that his earliest memory of calamansi was of his mom making freshly squeezed juice from fruits she picked from the tree in their front yard.
He added that the scent reminds him of his trip to the namesake island, with its turquoise lagoons and pristine landscapes. “I really felt at home,” Noel said, recalling the “surreal” experience of picking calamansi himself. “I think this fragrance perfectly embodies my trip to Palawan. It’s tropical, it’s energizing, it’s feel-good. It puts a smile on your face when you wear it.”
The perfumer behind the fragrance is Margherita Carini, who describes it as “modern, addictive, bright,” with fresh, citrusy, and aquatic qualities. Noel, meanwhile, thinks the word “luminous” best captures the scent. He continued, “It’s a very diffusive, bright-off-the-skin, expressive, tropical getaway.”
Would you wear Rayhaan Perfumes’ Palawan?
Kyla Villena loves a good lip gloss and a trip to the art gallery. She is Preview's beauty girl, who doubles as a self-proclaimed motivational speaker.