Moe Khalaf: The Heart Behind Kajal Perfumes

Written by Ally Santos

Moe Khalaf didn’t grow up surrounded by bottles of perfume. In fact, his father had allergies to fragrance, so he had to sneak around to get a whiff.

Photos from the personal album

“My first memory of scent was sneaking sprays from other people’s perfumes,” he laughs. “CK Obsession for Women was one of the first. That warm lemony-amber scent, I was obsessed.”

Born in Kuwait and raised in the leafy, garden-filled neighborhood of Al Mahdi, Moe spent summers at his family’s farm in Jordan. “We had olive trees, grapes, figs, jasmine, lavender; it was a place full of scents. Fragrance was everywhere, even if we didn’t talk about it that way.”

From Sun-Dried Tomatoes to Tom Ford

Moe’s path to perfumery wasn’t linear. After studying agriculture, his first job was helping a friend run a business that specialized in sun-dried tomatoes. He eventually moved to Qatar, where he joined a company’s fragrance division and from there, things moved quickly.

“One month in, I was already handling YSL fragrances. Four years later, I was working in the Saudi market, and eventually joined Estée Lauder, managing the Tom Ford fragrance line across 12 countries in the Middle East.”

But even with all the luxury names and business milestones, what really captured Moe’s heart was the creative side. “The storytelling behind fragrances that’s what resonated with me.”

In 2012, Moe moved to Canada and registered his own brand: Kajal Perfumes.

The Spirit of Kajal

The name Kajal was inspired by the traditional eyeliner used in many Eastern cultures, symbolizing beauty, protection, and reflection. “Our first fragrance had a mirrored cap,” Moe says. “We wanted people to see themselves in it, literally. Beauty, inside and out.”

Kajal quickly became known for combining the richness of the East with the elegance of French perfumery. But for Moe, it’s always been about more than notes and bottles.

“I want every fragrance to tell a story,” he says. “And I want people to feel something; comfort, love, passion.”

Deeply Personal Creations

Two of the most personal creations to Moe are Almaz and Masa. “Masa was inspired by a poem written by my mom’s best friend,” he shares. “Her son, a brilliant designer, created calligraphy. The cap was made by a jeweler in France. It all came together in the most meaningful way.”

Moe’s favorite part of the process? “Usually, it starts with a story. But sometimes,” he admits, “you fall in love with a scent first and the story follows, like with Dahab.”

He works closely with perfumers but gives them space to express themselves. “That’s where the magic happens,” he says. One standout? Lamar Noir, created by a young perfumer still in training, Patrick Müller. “It was amazing watching him bring it to life.”

A Legacy of Kindness

One of Moe’s guiding philosophies came from his mother: “Do one more good thing every day.” You’ll even find it hidden in the design of Kajal bottles; Aican, short for “I can,” was engraved on the Dahab cap back in 2015. In 2024, it became a fragrance of its own.

“It’s a message I carry with me every day. It reminds me to stay grounded, stay kind, and always try.”

That same humility is woven into Kajal’s DNA. “Have fun, never be arrogant, and always respect others,” Moe says. “That’s the spirit of Kajal.”