Malaysia’s Halal Perfume That Lasts 72 Hours: When Battery Science Meets Islamic Values
Dr. Mohd Azri Ab Rani, a 41-year-old chemistry lecturer at UiTM Shah Alam, accidentally discovered a revolutionary perfume compound in 2020 while conducting battery electrolyte research during the COVID-19 pandemic.
by Fernando Fong · TRP Msia · JoinWhile most perfume makers are busy trying to smell fancy, Dr Mohd Azri Ab Rani was solving a problem that affects 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide: finding a fragrance that’s both long-lasting AND halal-certified.
Halal perfume that lasts 72 hours, to be exact.
This battery chemist from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) didn’t just stumble into perfumery – he revolutionised it by obtaining halal certification from the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) for his alcohol-based fragrances.
The whole thing started in 2020 when Dr Azri was minding his own business, trying to make better batteries, when his experiment went rogue.
Instead of getting the usual “A plus B equals C” result, he got some mysterious sticky compound that shouldn’t have existed.
Any reasonable person would’ve discarded it and started over, but Dr Azri saw this chemical accident and saw an opportunity.
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The 72-Hour Challenge
Here’s where it gets interesting: most perfumes, including those fancy international brands that cost more than your monthly salary, last about 7-9 hours max.
Dr Azri’s creation? Seventy-two hours, three full days of smelling like you just stepped out of a fragrance commercial.
The secret is his “fixative” – a compound that acts like molecular superglue, slowly releasing fragrance while maintaining the perfect balance of top, middle, and base notes.
It’s so precise, they call him Malaysia’s “fragrance surgeon.”
Understanding the importance of “halalan toyyiban” – what is halal is better – Dr Azri made sure his perfumes meet Islamic standards.
In a world where Muslims often have to choose between long-lasting fragrance and religious compliance, he said, “Why not both?”
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The Numbers Don’t Lie
Since launching in 2021, he’s sold over 100,000 bottles of Dr Azri’s Perfume.
That’s 100,000 people who can now smell amazing for three days straight while staying halal-compliant.
His personal favourite? “Journey” – a blend of lemon, jasmine, and amber that represents his career’s twists and turns.
This isn’t just about making perfume that lasts longer than most relationships.
Dr Azri is building Malaysia’s fragrance research ecosystem, proving that local innovation can compete globally while respecting Islamic values.
When a battery chemist from Felda Keratong 2 in Pahang can accidentally create a halal perfume empire, you know Malaysia’s got some serious scientific talent hiding in unexpected places.
Parts of this story have been sourced from Bernama.
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