The Trade in Kadi Perfume Oil in Aden — A Testament to the History of the Global Perfume Trade
The pages of history shine brightly, telling us the story of Aden not merely as a commercial port, but as an aromatic gateway connecting East and West.
Among the most notable commodities for which Aden was renowned in ancient times was Kadi perfume oil, which helped establish the city's name in the historical records of the international perfume trade.
This historical account is supported by Nigel Groom, an internationally recognized historian and expert on the history of perfumes, in his book The Perfume Handbook, which documents the pivotal role of the port of Aden in the trade of this precious substance in ancient times.
Among the key points mentioned in the book are the following:
The kadi plant grows along the coasts of southern Arabia, particularly in Hadramawt and Al-Mahrah, as well as along the coasts of East Africa.
The account also indicates that Aden was not merely a place where the oil was extracted, but a major international centre for collecting, storing, and exporting kadi perfume oil to markets in India, the Mediterranean basin, and beyond.
In ancient international trade, kadi perfume oil was known as “Idhīr” or “Itir,” a name said to derive from the Arabic word ‘itr (عطر), meaning perfume.
Quotation
“The aromatic oil, known as Idhīr or Itir… was a valuable commodity in the ancient incense trade, with major trading centres in Aden and Socotra, from where it was shipped to India, the Mediterranean, and beyond.”